This is topic Any info on a Kalart camera? in forum Film-Yak at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.


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Posted by Adam Wilbert (Member # 1184) on 04-27-2006, 04:50 PM:
 
I recently came into posession of my grandfathers old Kalart 3.25x4.25 camera and am trying to find out information on it. Can anyone direct me to a pdf manual for this camera or suggest a good source for large format information? Do any of you shoot large format stills? Its something i've been interested in for a while so am excited to take this camera out and see if it still works! Any and all info would be appriciated.




 

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Posted by Stephen Furley (Member # 1277) on 04-27-2006, 05:37 PM:
 
Adam,

That's a nice looking camera. Try looking at this site. It's mainly about the various cameras made by Graflex, but there's a lot of information there that's applicable to other cameras too.

Is it for roll or sheet film, and if sheet, what type of back does it have; can you post a picture of the back. This format can be a problem; large format roll film hasn't been made for many years; neither have film packs, but sheet film is still available, but only in a very limited range, and difficult to find. 5x4 sheet film is readily available, and it's not difficult to cut this down to the smaller size in a darkroom.

There may well be pinholes in the corners of the bellows; if they're small they can probably be filled in with a drop of rubber solution with some black pigment in it. If the bellows are beyond repair, and yours don't look like they are from what I can see in the picture, new bellows can be made for almost any camera by Camera Bellows in England. The quaality of their work is very good, and they're not that expensive.

If the camera has been out of use for some time the shutter may will be sticking, or the speeds irregular. And decent camera shop should be able to clean and lubricate the shutter, or send it for this work to be done.

I see your lens has a shutter with the old bi-pin flash sync connection; if you want to use this, and you don't have a cable for it, or the one you have is perished, they are available from Paramount Cords, in the Bronx.

Hope this helps.

Large format is fun, but a very different art to 35mm or digital phoography; take your time.
 

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Posted by Jack Ondracek (Member # 1466) on 05-01-2006, 12:29 PM:
 
Thanks for the link, Stephen.

My dad has a Speed Graphic. Seeing the history of the camera was interesting.

Jack
 

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Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 05-01-2006, 01:01 PM:
 
When I was photography editor of my high school yearbook, my workhorse camera for candids was a Graflex Graphic-35 rangefinder camera and Kodak Tri-X film:



For formal group shots, we still used a Speed Graphic and sheet film.

Kodak still sells lots of sheet film:

Kodak Sheet Film

quote:

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When you want a convenient,simple way to shoot your 4 x 5 images, the KODAK PROFESSIONAL READYLOAD Single-Sheet Packet offers the ideal solution. Choose from your favorite Kodak 4 x 5-sheet films—but without the bother of standard sheet-film holders,darkrooms,or loading bags.

The READYLOAD Single-Sheet Packet offers quick and easy daylight handling and loading while keeping dirt and dust away from the film—providing superb system performance. The sealed packets are designed to be used with the KODAK PROFESSIONAL READYLOAD Single-Sheet Packet Film Holder. The packets clearly identify the type of film inside, and handy "Exposed" stickers prevent mistakes and double exposures.

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quote: Jack Ondracek

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My dad has a Speed Graphic. Seeing the history of the camera was interesting.

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