I continue to toy with the idea of buying a vintage LF camera. I currently shoot a Shen Hao 4x5 and love vintage lenses. Also shoot 1914 Kodak 6x9 and 1937 Bessa. I was thinking of trying wet plate, but I think it's just too limiting for me, an outdoor shooter. I'm now looking hard at dry plate cameras. I was thinking of trying something that can shoot both dry plate and 4x5. Dry plate when I want the look, sheet film when I want the convenience and faster ISO.
What I would want is something fancy! Very striking and well made--no 1880 Holga! I think I'm looking at time period 1880 to maybe 1900. I've read that the best American cameras came from American Optical. T. Anthony doesn't look bad either. Many of the British cameras look nice--Lancaster, Sanderson, etc. I've also consider a Pickard & Thornton because of the cool looking shutter! These seem to be more fro 1900-1920 though. I really like their look though. I want something reasonably portable--no big studio cameras LOL. The English field cameras are so elegant!
I'm thinking of half plate. That would be cheaper to shoot dry plate, easier to haul around and set up. I've also been reading that I can take a half plate holder and "glue" (with honey!) a sheet of 4x5 onto the glass and shoot it just fine. Is this true? If so, I think that's what I'm looking for.
One final thought is to skip the half plate deal and for a mini-camera made in the 20s or 30s that shoots either 6.5x9 or 9x12, such as an Avus, Bergheil, or Zeiss Ideal. I almost bought the little 6.5x9 on eBay yesterday (brown & brass one from 1925.) I'm thinking the smaller the camera, the more likely I am to bring it along and keep using it. Downside is they aren't as old or as fancy looking.
One final question. Sheet film and dry plate seemed to exist side by side for about 50 years. Why was that? If dry plate had an ISO of "1" and film was at least ISO 12, who would still shoot dry plate? It was a hassle to make, didn't have a long shelf life, and seemed to have mostly disadvantages. How come it didn't quickly disappear as sheet film become widely available in the 1890s? This puzzles me.
So, what are some of the top fancy brands of half plate/4x5 from 1880--1900, 1915? Something I can likely find available--not too esoteric! What about shooting film in the half plate holders?
Kent in SD
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