Graflex Super Speed Graphic

The Graflex Super Speed Graphic, produced from 1959 to 1970, represents the pinnacle of the press and press-type Graphic camera line, renowned for its rugged reliability and rapid operation for 4x5 inch sheet film. Designed for photojournalists and demanding professionals, it excelled in situations requiring quick setup and precise timing, particularly in sports and fast-paced news gathering. A key innovation was the integrated Synchro-Compur shutter offering synchronized flash capabilities up to 1/500th second (1/1000th sec for flash), significantly faster than the leaf shutters on earlier Graphics, a critical advantage for stopping action. While sharing the basic Graphic design concept with a focal plane shutter and rising front standard, the Super Speed variant emphasized speed and robustness, often featuring all-metal construction and simplified controls for efficient operation under pressure. It was a trusted tool for many photojournalists during a dynamic period in news photography, valued for its durability and functional design in the field.

The camera's character is defined by its utility and responsiveness rather than cutting-edge optics or sleek aesthetics. Typically paired with Graflar or other press lenses of moderate speed (e.g., f/4.5 to f/5.6) mounted on a Graflex 3-cell or similar lensboard, it provided a practical solution for photographers needing large format quality without the bulk and slower speed of view cameras. Its focal plane shutter allowed interchangeable lenses and wide open apertures for viewing, while the combination of the focal plane shutter and the faster Synchro-Compur leaf shutter on the lens enabled precise exposure control and high sync speeds. The Super Speed Graphic embodied the workhorse ethos of mid-20th-century press photography, a reliable, sturdy instrument built to perform consistently in challenging environments, leaving a significant mark on the practice of photojournalism and documentary work during its production run.