Pacemaker Speed Graphic, 1955 - 1968

Graphic press cameras from Graflex were made in a number of variants and in several formats. "Speed" was added to the names of certain models; this refers to the high shutter speeds available from the rear focal-plane shutter--usually to 1/1000s. The "Super Speed Graphic" carried on this tradition without the focal plane shutter: instead it had an extra-high speed leaf shutter as a standard fitting that also allowed a top speed of 1/1000s. (The vast majority of leaf shutters do not go up to 1/1000s, and those that do often will not do so at wide apertures.)

These cameras are all designed for versatility. They can be solidly mounted on a tripod and used as a view camera, with a ground glass focusing screen standard on all models, or they can be used handheld with rangefinder focusing. The lenses are fully interchangeable, with lensboards available for a large variety of large-format lenses. They have various limited front movements, as outlined below.