I am going thru my late husband's and my cameras and found that I have 2 2x3 and 3 4x5 Graphic cameras. I am trying to decide which to keep. First decision is between the 2x3 cameras.

The Century 2x3 has a 120 graflex roll file holder attached to the Graflok back. When I removed it there is nothing to focus with. Is something missing? I have a viewer back with out a hood on the Speed Graphic, but it is not a Graflok back. The 2x3 Speed Graphic has no lens.

Which is easier to make workable?

And would this roll film back fit my Mamiya Universals camera? Is the Mamiya with 3 lenses a better camera? I will be back with the 4x5 questions later. Thanks for any help ! I am in the process of lightening my load of cameras on EBAY and don't want to sell the wrong one.

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On 2005-04-06 19:57, JanetQ wrote: I am going thru my late husband's and my cameras and found that I have 2 2x3 and 3 4x5 Graphic cameras. I am trying to decide which to keep. First decision is between the 2x3 cameras. The Century 2x3 has a 120 graflex roll file holder attached to the Graflok back. When I removed it there is nothing to focus with. Is something missing? I have a viewer back with out a hood on the Speed Graphic, but it is not a Graflok back. The 2x3 Speed Graphic has no lens. Which is easier to make workable? And would this roll film back fit my Mamiya Universals camera? Is the Mamiya with 3 lenses a better camera? I will be back with the 4x5 questions later. Thanks for any help ! I am in the process of lightening my load of cameras on EBAY and don't want to sell the wrong one.

Which 2x3 is easier to make workable? Hard question.

The Century would benefit from having a focusing panel. That's the assembly that has the ground glass and hood. They're not easy to find.

The 2x3 Speed has a spring back, no hood, no lens. Lenses are easy to find, hoods harder. And a roll holder can't be attached, so the camera can be used with sheet film, limited choices, or with 120 film in an Adapt-A-Roll 620, that few people seem to like.

So that's a hard decision.

The Mamiya is no finer a camera than the Graphics, but somewhat easier to use. If its three lenses will do what you want, keep it and sell the Graphics. The Universal will accept roll holders for 2x3 Graflok backs IF you remove the M-frame, which accepts Mamiya Press roll holders, and replace it with a G-frame. These exist and can be found. If I were in your situation, I'd stick with Mamiya roll holders and sell the Graflex one.

Condolences, good luck,

Dan

Thanks for the response Dan. I think I will do what you suggest, pull out my Mamiaya (can't spell) and sell all the Graphic cameras except one 4x5 with a Graflok back. What fill holder would fit it?

I just sold off my Retina collection and that was hard to identify. Thanks again, Janet