Steve Feldman
3-Jun-2006, 17:55
I've had a 4x5 Burke & James wood view camera for a few years and have had a great, although humbling, experience with it. Even made a few good negs into a few good prints. Luck I suppose. Research into its origins led me to know that these cameras were actually a 5x7 body with a 4x5 reducing back.
Last year I found a 5x7 back for the old grey beastie. Added a few film holders to my kit and started to make 5x7 contact prints. Also humbling.
Recently I found yet another 4x5 B & J on Ebay. It looked, smelled, felt and tasted exactly like mine, but was in better cosmetic appearance. So, I bought it. The first thing I noticed when it arrived was that the back body frame was smaller than my older one. Although it was still indeed a 4x5 camera body, it would not accept the 5x7 back. I thought, erroneously, that all B & J wood view were 5x7 / 4x5 bodies.
Has anyone here made this discovery? Kinda like saying that all cows have four legs, but not all four legged animals are cows.
Last year I found a 5x7 back for the old grey beastie. Added a few film holders to my kit and started to make 5x7 contact prints. Also humbling.
Recently I found yet another 4x5 B & J on Ebay. It looked, smelled, felt and tasted exactly like mine, but was in better cosmetic appearance. So, I bought it. The first thing I noticed when it arrived was that the back body frame was smaller than my older one. Although it was still indeed a 4x5 camera body, it would not accept the 5x7 back. I thought, erroneously, that all B & J wood view were 5x7 / 4x5 bodies.
Has anyone here made this discovery? Kinda like saying that all cows have four legs, but not all four legged animals are cows.