For my son's high school graduation, I'm giving him my deceased father's Graflex camera. (See my posting of 4/18). As I have proceeded to look for accessories and just basic background, I've become a bit confused about the exact camera that I have.

1. The camera has the name "Century Graphic", with dimensions of about 5 1/4"W X 5 3/4"H X 3"D so there should be no mistaking that I have a Century. However, in some literature I've seen references to the Century as actually a miniature Graphic, and in this web site's model history, the Century Graphic description shows dimensions of 2 1/4 X 3 1/4. Do I indeed have a Century Graphic or another model? My camera has a Serial # of 514190.

2. In looking for an owner's manual for this camera, I've identified two for the Century Graphic; one for a camera with an f/2.8 lens and one for f/3.5. My camera actually has neither - it has an Optar f/4.5. I'm assuming it won't matter which manual I obtain. Is that correct?

3. I live near Washington, DC and will also soon be in New York City. Does anyone have good experience with camera stores that can help with Graflex cameras in either city?

Thank you very much. Jim

I'm glad to learn that you're going ahead with your project, which seems a very worthwhile one.

The "Century Graphic" might be imagined as a plastic-bodied simplification of a miniature "Crown Graphic," but that's beside the point...

The 2¼X3¼-in. measurement is the size of the negative; it is common to describe large-format cameras in that way, e.g. "4x5 Speed Graphic." The actual body size of the "Century" is a little less than 5¾ ins. high x 5 ins. wide, but its format is 2¼x3¼ ins.

In general, "Century Graphics" were supplied with f:4.5 lenses of 101-105mm. (4-in.) focal length, and I'd expect yours to have one of those. Some people have mounted 100mm. f:3.5 and 80mm. f:2.8 Zeiss "Planar" lenses to the "Century" (the 80mm. lens would be used with a 2¼x2¼-in. rollfilm back on the camera). I'd be surprised if an instruction manual for the "Century Graphic" ever was written specifically for one with an f:3.5 lens, let alone an f:2.8.

Note that "Century" was a trademark owned by Graflex for decades and generations, and it was applied to a variety of things. What you're looking at may be a manual for something other than a "Century Graphic."

Probably the two surviving NYC camera stores that would know what a "Century Graphic" is, are B&H Photo (near Penn Station) and Adorama (also on the West Side, but farther downtown). There also are a couple of large-format specialist dealers, but if I were doing it, I'd start with those two.

...concerning the instruction manual, you might find it helpful to visit Craig Camera's website, http://www.craigcamera.com. From the start page, scroll down to the "Graflex" listings button and open that page. The manual you want will be titled "Century Graphic Camera, 2x3" and, when I looked, Craig had five of them, some original and some reprints. They were #GRA 100, #GRA 210, #GRA 060, #GRA 240 and #GRA 064.

The term "2x3" (or just "23"), like "3x4" or "34," is shorthand for 2¼x3¼ or 3¼x4¼ inches.

Lens & Repro with a web site at:
http://www.lensrepro.com/services.html
Knows very well about Graflex cameras. The owner has written articles about them and personally likes them. They do tend towards the 4x5's though, but they have lenses and accessories for most Graphic cameras. If I was to visit NY, I would stop in there just to say hello, and probably leave with a lens...

Ah, for the not-so-long-ago "Good Old Days"! When the late lamented "A Photo Place" bookstore was still in business in lower Manhattan, they offered a nice reprint, on coated stock, of the Century Graphic instruction manual, for the princely sum of $5. Glad I bought one when I did!



<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Henry on 2004-05-17 04:41 ]</font>

Lens & Repro was a fascinating place, twenty years or so back, and I dare say it still is: lots of interesting things to look at. They have a tantalizing website. I got a compendium lens shade for my "View II" from them, and am glad to learn they are keeping up a great tradition.

I do think that a dealership like that might be one's second stop, if one were walking around with a wholly unfamiliar camera. The first would be a retailer that caters to the general public as well as to specialists, and that would be Adorama, or B&H.

I, too, miss A Photographer's Place (talk about lots of interesting things to look at!) Zucker was sending out feelers about going online with a photo-oriented bookstore, and I voted for it, but never heard any more about it.

Thanks, t.r., for correcting my faulty memory. It was indeed "A Photographer's Place," not "A Photo Place." Somewhere around here I thought I had saved their last several catalogs, which I used to receive regularly by mail, but just when you need 'em you can't find 'em. I do recall that Zucker stated in his final catalog that he just wasn't up to putting in the time, energy, and other resources that would be needed to launch into cyberspace, so the enterprise vanished. A pity.