Speed Graphic Camera
1912-1973

The Speed Graphic was one of the most famous type of Press Camera. With applications that could be seen from the 1930-1940 depicting the life in and on the battlefield. This camera was the best of its kind for the time period. The camera features a Focal-plane shutter which has many current advantages to other Press Cameras. This camera was engineered for general purpose commercial photography such as wedding, portraiture, product, documentary, advertising and landscape photography. The common reasons for a high-end camera today. The Speed Graphic is an important piece of history for cameras as for the time the were the somewhat perfect camera.



Origins:

Date: 
1912-1973
Location:
New York

Facts

  • Speed Graphic Camera was used for the iconic Marines raising the American flag on Iwo Jima in 1945.

  • When a picture was missed by the camera, many Speed Graphic camera users at the time had to take a long time to get the camera ready for another picture so the phrase, “Just one more!” was very popular at the time.

  • Arthur “Weegee” Fellig was a popular photo-journalist in the 1930s-1940s that shot all his photos with a Speed Graphic Camera. His work was much appreciated as he was able to get the life of New York in his photographs during the 30’s and 40’s.

Importance


- Focal-plane shutter
- Reflexing Shuttering
- Helped depict the life of WWII with photography.