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View Full Version : Anyone Have any Insight on This 8x10 View Camera?



ctalmadg
18-Feb-2007, 00:26
Trying to find a lens for this camera and also trying to find out who made it. The film plates do say "Made by Folmer Graflex for Eastman Kodak", but the camera has no makings. It is VERY well made and came with a nice case. Seems to be from about 1900+/- and is in MINT condition... any help would be appreciated.

Thx!

Charlie

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n292/alaskanH/view5.jpg

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n292/alaskanH/view4.jpg

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n292/alaskanH/view2.jpg

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n292/alaskanH/view9.jpg

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n292/alaskanH/view7.jpg

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n292/alaskanH/view6.jpg

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n292/alaskanH/view3.jpg

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n292/alaskanH/view8.jpg

Walter Calahan
18-Feb-2007, 08:16
First off, I have no idea who made the camera. Just want to say how pretty it is, and enjoyed the various views of your kitchen (grin).

Do you want to go modern or vintage with the lens choice?

ctalmadg
18-Feb-2007, 09:01
First off, I have no idea who made the camera. Just want to say how pretty it is, and enjoyed the various views of your kitchen (grin).

Do you want to go modern or vintage with the lens choice?


;) I'm emabarrassed the kitchen was a mess!!


I would actually like to use the camera, so I would like to find something modern.

Gene McCluney
18-Feb-2007, 09:37
That looks like an 8x10 camera. If so, the so called NORMAL focal length would be 300mm, or 12 inches (same thing). Lots of choices available.

ctalmadg
18-Feb-2007, 09:42
That looks like an 8x10 camera. If so, the so called NORMAL focal length would be 300mm, or 12 inches (same thing). Lots of choices available.

Thanks Gene, correct..it is a 8x10 and I did identify it.
It is a German Reisekamera.
http://www.ringerikes.museum.no/buskerud.fylkesfotoarkiv/

Doug Howk
18-Feb-2007, 10:03
As far as make & time period, check American Made Field Cameras (http://www.fiberq.com/cam/index.htm)

ctalmadg
18-Feb-2007, 10:09
I found out where and who made this camera.


It is a German Reisekamera made by Neumann Wien as far as I can tell. It was made between 1900 and 1930. Now to find a lens..

Ernest Purdum
18-Feb-2007, 10:46
Austrians would cry foul. "Wien" means Vienna. "Reisekamera" means travel camera and it looks like a very nice one.

The camera would take a huge range of focal lengths, so you have great latitude in choosing a lens.

Ole Tjugen
19-Feb-2007, 00:50
From what I've found out, there must have been hundreds of makers of these cameras German, Austrian, French, Swiss, and so on. It seems that just about every cabinet maker made cameras in their "spare time"!.

The "Reisekamera" or "Travel Camera" is a special type, distinguished from the "Englische Kamera" or "English Camera" by just about everything except the folding. The reisekamera has a fixed front with rise and fall on the lens panel, and often limited tilt and swing on the rear. The "Englische" folds from the front, with the lens panel going between the bed and the back; the Reisekamera from the rear, with the back going between the front and the folded bed.

There's pictures of one of each type HERE (http://www.bruraholo.no/Cameras/Reisekamera.html).

Not only can the Reisekamera take a wide range of focal lengths (my 24x30cm {9.5x12"} can take anything from 35mm to 800mm), but the rigid front also means they can cope with the heaviest lenses

Ole Tjugen
19-Feb-2007, 00:59
I knew there was a picture of my 24x30 somewhere, it's right here: http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showpost.php?p=197964&postcount=4

It's folded to make room for the rest of the stuff. It's also got a universal iris lens mount for ease of use.
And some of the lenses I can use on it...

ctalmadg
19-Feb-2007, 08:06
I knew there was a picture of my 24x30 somewhere, it's right here: http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showpost.php?p=197964&postcount=4

It's folded to make room for the rest of the stuff. It's also got a universal iris lens mount for ease of use.
And some of the lenses I can use on it...

Nice collection of glass.

What has me puzzled about the tailboard I have is the fact that it accepts the kodak/graflex 8x10 film holders and does not look like it was modified in any way. I figure that these German cameras would orginally be used with metric plates.

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n292/alaskanH/view5.jpg

Ernest Purdum
19-Feb-2007, 08:42
It is unusual that a camera of this type is made to take 8X10 holders. You are fortunate. On the other hand, as Ole Tjugen points out, these were made by many craftsmen and it is not surprising that one would be made to the cutomer's specification. Age is not necessarily a factor since the design of our present standard 8X10 holder goes back many years.