Graflex Graphic 35 (1954-1957)

The Graphic 35 was made by Graflex, Inc. in Rochester, NY, from 1954 to 1957. Production totaled 68,269 cameras.  It came in two versions, one with an f/3.5-f/22 lens and one with an f/2.8-f/22 lens.  

Front

Back

Top

Bottom

Interior

This camera has a coated f/3.5 50mm Graflex Graftar lens made by Rodenstock (Munich, W Germany) in a set-and-release Prontor-SVS shutter made by Gauthier (Calmbach, W Germany). The Graphic 35 uses a coupled, split image range finder or a distance scale on the lens for focusing. It has unique push-button focusing. The photographer holds the camera with both forefingers on the buttons. Pressure on the left button moves the focus in and pressure on the right button moves the focus out. Close focus is 3 feet. The right middle finger pulls a lever to release the shutter. It is a different camera and takes a little getting used to. Shutter speeds are 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125 and 1/300. A lever can be set to M to synchronize the shutter with flashbulbs, X for electronic flash or V to engage the self timer. As is commonly the case with old shutters, the self timer on this shutter will not run, probably because it is gummed up with old grease. The camera has a flash exposure calculator coupled to the lens. The photographer sets the flash guide number on a scale at the bottom of the lens. The photographer focuses on the subject and a color code appears next to an index on the top of the lens. The photographer then sets the aperture to the same color code to have a correctly exposed flash picture. The back comes completely off to load film. Film has to be loaded for the shutter release to work. The plastic focusing buttons get brittle with age and you often find cameras with broken or missing buttons. List price for the f/3.5 version was $77.50 in 1955. The Graphic 35 was preceded by the Ciro 35. The next Graflex 35 mm camera, the Century 35, was made for Graflex by Kowa in Japan.

Construction in the neighborhood.

[Update] I've since acquired a Graflex 35 with an f/2.8-f/22 lens, also by Rodenstock.