Speed Graphic a View Camera or not?

[TheDeardorffGuy]

In another thread I said a Speed Graphic was NOt a view camera. A responder said it had a ground glass it was a view camera. To my way of thinking a Speed graphic is not a view camera. It is a Large Format camera that has limited movements to enhance focus and shift when mounted on a tripod. To be a true View camera rear perspective movements are needed. Even my Deardorff Triamapro is not a View camera. No rear movements. Do not flame this post. I'm just looking for others thoughts.

[Vaughn]

I would call it a press camera that is sometimes pressed into service as a view camera.

They do have front tilt (backwards and forward, using the drop bed) and rise. So it can be used as a view camera with limited movements.

Other than that, it all depends on one's particular definition -- which no law or regulation states precisely. So there is no wrong or right in the matter -- call it what ever one wants. Definitely not worth arguing about, unless one just likes to argue!

Vaughn

[banjo]

Yes and minty of 5x7s & 8x10 don't have any front movements!!! SO!!
a ground glass makes it a view camera AS not all Crown or speeds have
a rangerfinder!!

[Roger Thoms]

My thoughs are that yes they are view cameras since they have a ground glass that can be used for composing and focusing, but that they are a specialized type since they can also be used without ever looking at the ground glass, have limited movements, and can even used hand held.

Roger

[cyrus]

This is really an arbitrary definition. Graphics are technically "press cameras" - I suppose they can be seen as a subset of view cameras but which are handheld and usually the ground glass is NOT used on these cameras (old time press photographers would not have had the time to carefully compose a shot, and then insert the filmholder etc.)

[Leigh]

To my mind any camera that has movements, regardless of the specifics, is a "view" camera.

The point being that it enables the user to change the "view" of the subject.

In the specific case of press cameras...
Those movements are never used for press photography (at least I never used them when doing newspaper shots with a Graphic).

- Leigh

[Leo Salazar]

What makes a View Camera ?

The image viewing system or the movements ?

Having a groundglass makes a View Camera ?

Or having "ALL" movements make a View Camera ?

Wouldn't it be that Press cameras are a sub cathegory of View Cameras designed to be hand held ?

Bearing this distinction then Press cameras are view cameras.

How about Technical Cameras ?

These, having more movement freedom can still be hand held but are closer to having more movements.

But both have groundglasses -along with other viewing systems-

Wich would we think is the purest iso type of view camera from wich to establish the norm...?

Monorail ? Flatbed ?

Thanks !

Leo

[Dan Fromm]

Who cares?

[David de Gruyl]

To be completely honest, it never occurred to me that the number / type of movements had anything to do with a camera being a view camera. To me, if you could see a direct projection of the image on the ground glass (as opposed to via a mirror) the camera in question is a view camera.

Press cameras are usually also view cameras, although they are tough to operate that way.

Field cameras are a subset of view cameras.

Studio cameras are the ones you can bend into a pretzel.

While I am at it: rear movements are not required. Every rear movement can be made by moving the tripod / tripod head and compensating with the front. That being said, they are convenient.

[Jim Jones]

Rolliflex has convenient ground glass focusing. That hardly makes it a view camera. Nor is a Speed Graphic. Press camera is a better term for it, and technical camera for the Linhoff. A B&J Rembrandt has some rear movements, but is hardly a view camera. Perhaps portrait camera best describes it. My Kodak 2D has limited movements, but may best be called a view camera.