Info about Plaubel Universal II 5x7

[Stefan Dalibor]

I've discovered a 13x18cm (i.e. 5x7) camera, produced by Plaubel, labeled <it>Un iversal II</it> at a local dealer.

It's a (fully) metal monorail w/ base tilts; condition seems to be fine, price a ffordable (about $300). The problem: there are no accessories, and (according to the dealer) it has no i nternational back.

So my question is: Is anybody using such a device? Are accessories like lensboar ds, (reducing) backs etc. still available for this (as it seems rather old) syst em, so I could use it as a cheap entry to LF? Or is it essentially a dead machine, incompatible to the range of accessories av ailable nowadays?

[richard w]

You will not find parts or accessories for this camera. > It is a good camera but dealers will not touch them due to a scarcity of parts. The lens board is 6x6" sheet metal with raised pivits; not an easy lensboard to manufactor. > Look for an old Calumet or Burke & James. They sell in that price range > rw