Graflex

Graflex – Brand Review & Overview

Graflex is a legendary American camera maker best known for its large-format press and field cameras—icons like the Speed Graphic and Crown Graphic that defined news and documentary photography for much of the 20th century. Built to shoot 4×5 and other sheet-film formats, these cameras paired rugged, portable bodies with interchangeable lenses and simple, reliable mechanisms that could withstand the daily grind of professional use.

Classic Graflex cameras offer features such as folding bed designs, bellows focus, interchangeable lens boards, rangefinder or ground-glass focusing, and limited but practical front movements, making them versatile tools for landscapes, portraits, and reportage. Today, photographers and collectors prize Graflex cameras for their blend of historical significance, mechanical simplicity, and the uniquely detailed, large negatives they produce—whether used as working cameras or displayed as vintage showpieces.

As you explore this brand, think about whether you want a press-style Graphic for handheld shooting and field work, or an SLR-style Graflex body for studio and portrait use with focal-plane shutter versatility. Choosing the right Graflex model lets you step into classic large-format photography with gear that once captured front-page news and still delivers impressive image quality and tactile shooting experience decades later.