Re: [Leica] f/8 and be there

[John Coan <jcoan@alumni.duke.edu>]

So, Perry, I have a question.

How long does it take to load another sheet of film in a Speed 
Graphic?  (How "speedy" is it?)

I always admired the old news photographers with those cool cameras.  Seems 
like you either got the shot the first time, or it was gone.  Of course, 
back then celebrities actually liked to get their picture taken "Just one 
quick shot, Miss Harlow."  and they would stop and pose with a big smile.

And didn't they all wear fedoras with a card saying "Press" in the hat band?

It's enjoyable seeing the evolution of press cameras in newsreel 
footage.  Seems from my casual observation that during the late 50's the 
Speed Graphics were being replaced with TLR's (mostly Rolleis) in the 
US.  Whereas, in old WWII footage from Germany those guys used Rolleiflexes 
back then.

At 11:49 AM 06/15/2000 -0700, you wrote:
>"Sal DiMarco,Jr." wrote:
> >
> > Lug Nuts,
> >         It is said in the very early days of news photography (1920s & 
> 30s),
> > all one needed to know was "ten feet, f/8 and be there."
> >         It's the simplest guide to photography. Remember back then, they
> > shot was a 4x5 Speed Graphic and flash bulbs.
> > Happy Snaps,
> > Sal DiMarco, Jr.
>
>Ten feet put's em in the back row with the Graphlexes, Sal!
>Mark (Perry White) Rabiner
>
>When the Speeds came out (leather covered mahogany boxes that float) the 
>word was:
>smash to the left, smash to the right, then fire (you wanted to get a 
>clear shot)!!!?