Last year I purchased a Speed Graphic Pacemaker (2x3, i.e. 6x9 format) in good working condition, with Kodak Ektar 101mm lens and 6x9 roll back.
Here it is:
After a few test rolls, I found out that most of the things are working as they should: the rangefinder needed a bit of adjustment, but that was easy with the information I found on http://graflex.org
Anyway, I was excited about the large negatives (6x9), since the only other MF I ever used was a Flexaret TLR (6x6 format). With the roll back, handling film is easy, and roll film is readily available, unlike individual sheets, which you have to use if you don't have a roll back.
After a while, I realized that having other lenses besides the Ektar 101mm (considered “normal” for 6x9, i.e. 2x3 format) would be a nice thing. However, the price of another (“non-normal”) used lens would be close to what I paid for the whole kit. So, I had to explore other venues. Luckily, lens hacks with Speed Graphics are easy, since a lensboard isn't complicated, and can easily be made from various materials. Since this camera also has a focal plane shutter, that means that you can put pretty much anything on the lensboard and shoot. You could even use 35mm format lenses, but they will not cover the full negative – you'll end up with a circular image. Still, if you're a tinkerer and like unusual effects, you might try it.
As for my efforts, I was lucky enough to get hold of a junked and beat up Rolleiflex 2.8E, which had good lens – about the only thing that could be salvaged from it. So, after some deliberation, I carefully “extracted” the taking lens (Schneider Xenotar 80/2.8), added some modifications (scales for f-stops and shutter speeds), and managed to mount it on a homemade aluminum lens board. BTW, the viewing lens was used to make a DIY loupe, so I used pretty much everything that I could from that old Rollie. ;-)
Here's the final result:
BACK
(showing the improvised light baffle)
FRONT
And here it is mounted on the Speed Graphic:
MOUNTED
The important thing is that the lens covers 6x9 negative area. I think I can see some slight softness in the corners, but from this photo and others I've taken with this lens, it's nothing to worry about.
Here's the byproduct of this hack – the viewing lens from that beat up Rollie ended as a perfect loupe:
A “tele” solution
After having hacked a wideangle lens, I began searching for something that could be used for portraits. An opportunity soon arose in the form of a rather peculiar lens – a German “Repromaster” 210/9 lens – obviously some kind of process lens.
After parting with a negligible sum of money, I obtained the lens, thinking I could hack it for use with Speed Graphic. However, after testing it mounted on a makeshift (cardboard) lensboard, I realized that such a long focus lens won't work too well on the SG. After stretching the bellows to the limit, I managed to get the lens focused on infinity – but nothing closer. I needed longer bellows. Or perhaps something else?
A solution was obvious – I'll have to hack some kind of “lens extender” - i.e. an opposite of a recessed lensboard. After a visit to a local plumbing store, I returned home with several pieces of PVC tubing and various PVC joints. Some will probably be used for lens shades, but one part was a perfect fit for the back of the Repromaster lens.
After applying some glue and mat black spray, the final result looked like this:
A
hacked “tele” lens for Speed Graphic
Here it is on the camera:
Not exactly a “Big Bertha”, but close :-)
The
test negatives came out fine – it's just that I wasn't careful
when making enlargements, and the prints came out with millions of
visible dust specks.
Anyway, you can see two sample photos
taken with the lens described on this page. Not very good scans, I'm
afraid – the
original photos look better.