For getting the perfect action-packed shot during activities like car races and sports games, professional photographers used the Graflex Speed Graphic camera.
Originated by Graflex, a quality camera producer from Rochester, New York, the Speed Graphic device was quite portable. From the 1930s to 1950s, Graflex cameras became the go-to press apparatuses for shooting public events. It had an optical viewfinder, held sheet film, and could be implemented as a handheld camera. The lenses could be changed very easily and photographers selected which viewfinder they wanted to use including ground glass, wire frame, or optical. The three focusing settings were ground glass, scale, or rangefinder, while the two shutter options were front leaf shutter or real focal plane shutter. When shooting in the field, photographers knew that using a shorter focal length would result in a wider field of view. This view opened numerous photographic possibilities for members of the press who wanted to capture more of the full picture of what event was getting coverage.
This camera was not automated, hence photographers had to pay attention to each component while shooting to not overexpose photos or accidently shoot blanks. It was constructed from aluminum chassis, wood, and steel to make it durable and robust, weighing 5 pounds. The astounding speed of 1/1000 second exposure time worked well with barrel mount lenses like a 380/5.6. The shutter speed was enabled by the user by a mechanical key-twisted tension spring.
During World War II, this camera was a popular tool used by reporters to capture many crucial images. One of the most notable users of this camera was Arthur “Weegee” Fellig, a prominent and influential photographer from NYC.
The overall Graflex Speed Graphic concept was a predecessor to digital modern SRL cameras. Graflex’s Speed Graphic cameras were then discontinued in 1973 when other camera models from brands like Kodak began hitting the market.
Story via Photo.net
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