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Thread: Agfa Ansco 5x7

  1. #1

    Join Date
    Nov 1999
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    740

    Agfa Ansco 5x7

    Hello. I'm looking for any advice/information on an Agfa/Ansco 5x7 camera that I've got on *bay! It hasn't arrived yet but it looks okay from the photos and it has been fitted with a new set of bellow by CameraBellows here in the UK.I don't know any of the history/background to this particular make. I understand it has limited movements available but I'm planning on using it for contact prints with a 110XL (if it can be used with the camera??)ANY help would be greatly appreciated.

  2. #2

    Join Date
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    Agfa Ansco 5x7

    Paul: I used one of these for some time. There are two downsides, which may or may not bother you, and a lot of things in its favor. They don't fold very thin and they aren't lightweight. On the other hand, they are well made (much better than the Burke & James ones) and work well and are versatile. This was considered high quality equipment in its day, not quite in the Deardorff class but for professionals who'd really use it. Removing the plate on the front will even add front swing with some loss of sturdiness on the front standard. The built in 3rd extension is very nice. Geared front rise is nice -- slide the focus knob to the side to lock it in the track. They don't seem as prone to sag in the middle as with the B&J.) Lensboards are bonehead easy to make. You may find some loose joints which have to be glued, which is easy to do. (Push it apart, get some modern wood glue in there and clamp it. Problem solved.) If painted battleship gray, you have a later one. The earlier ones are a stained wood finish, often with little hanging pendulum-type levels on them on the side. The gray ones are admittedly ugly, and in nice condition the older ones can look pretty nice. Reduction backs seem to often be available used. I can't remember for certain if it can handle a 110 mm lens but I think so. These are underappreciated, in my opinion, which means they are a nice value for someone getting started in LF. In short, it is a nice, usable camera.

  3. #3

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    Dec 2003
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    West Sussex
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    8

    Agfa Ansco 5x7

    So Paul, you bought it did you ! I had my eye on it as it looked a nice camera. I would be interested to learn how you get on as I am about to move on a similar camera privately. I have been looking at half plate but the film is currently difficult to obtain in UK. What process will you use it for ?

  4. #4

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    Agfa Ansco 5x7

    There is a huge amount of historical background on the make. The AGFA part of the name stands for Aktien Gesellschaft fuer Anilin-Fabrikation, which means something like corporation for the manufacture of aniline products, aniline being a family of dyes. It was a major photographic firm in Germany, producing not only film but many cameras. Ansco stands for Anthony plus Scovill, two American firms whose history goes way back. Scovill got into the photographic business by making the metal plates for daguerrotypes, many of which were used by Anthony. They were great rivals before joining together.



    The combined name dates your camera between 1928, when the German and American firms came together, and 1943, when as a result of WWII, the companies were again separate.



    Regarding the camera, it was very well regarded in its time. It was sturdy. There were actually several models, one of which was then regarded as having good movements, though as you say, they are rather limited by modern standards.



    Regarding its usability with a 110XL, I'll have to let someone with first hand knowledge answer that one or, of course, you yourself answer it when the camera is delivered.

  5. #5

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    Agfa Ansco 5x7

    Paul,

    I've got one. Its an old cherry or mahogany finish with brass knobs---very classy. 4x5 backs are pretty commonly available too. IMHO they are fine cameras if they have not been abused. Mine provides more movements than I'll ever use for landscape work. I find it quite easy to use and has a great deal of bellows(I don't remember how long, but it easily accomodates my 14" Artar with maybe 12 inches more to spare. FWIW, mine came with a 10.3" Cooke Anastigmat in a No.4 Betax shutter---a real "heavy-duty Judy" of a lens that dosen't tax the old camera one bit. There are lighter cameras, but compared to my 8x10 'dorff its a featherwieght. It(mine anyway) is a triple extension flatbed. For a flatbed camera of the 1920's-40's it was widely regarded as one of the best and I believe can still hold its own if I do my part. Ansel Adams used an 8x10 version that was reputed to be one of his "faves" if that is any assurance. I don't think you'll have any problem with your 110XL...the camera is reversable on it's bed and is usually kept in the "tailboard" configuration anyway.

    Enjoy! You're a lucky guy!

    -----Cheers!
    "I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority"---EB White

  6. #6

    Join Date
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    Agfa Ansco 5x7

    I owned one for about six months. I sold it only because I was wrong when I thought I'd be happy with 5x7 contact prints. I'd echo what others have said, it's a excellent camera, well built, solid, things that were supposed to lock down did, adequate movements that operated very smoothly, easy to use, easy to set up and take down, a little on the heavy side but not so heavy it can't be taken on hikes. I don't know what you paid for yours but very nice ones in excellent condition could be bought for around $500 when I bought mine and at that kind of price I think they are one of the great bargains in large format photography.

    There were only two things I really didn't care for (other than the gray paint). One someone else has already mentioned. Since it's a "tailboard" rather than a "clam shell" design, it is quite thick when folded and that made it difficult to get in and out of my back pack and a little unwieldy to mount on the tripod. The other wasn't mentioned and since I had the camera only for a short time and it's been several years my memory is a little vague on this one. However, as I recall there was a tiny screw or knob on the front that had to be loosened to do something, maybe front tilt or maybe front rise, sorry I can't be more specific. However, whatever it was and exactly what function it affected, it had a tendency to fall out and it was so small that losing it would have been very easy and probably not so easy to replace. I ended up putting tape over it and then removing the tape when I needed to use whatever function the screw controlled.

    There were several versions of this camera. One, the nicer one IMHO, had bright nickel or similar metal knobs, a later version had black plastic knobs. When I was buying mine I couldn't find out much about it. However, I did get some information by doing a Google search. The person who knew the most was Richard Knoppow. He owns several of them and you might ask him for information by e mail.
    Brian Ellis
    Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you do criticize them you'll be
    a mile away and you'll have their shoes.

  7. #7

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    Agfa Ansco 5x7

    I should have mentioned two other things. Wisner makes an adapter board that will allow you to use your Linhof/Ebony lens boards on the camera. It's a little on the pricey side - around $100 as I recall. I bought mine from The F Stops Here. Also, the camera was sold in both natural wood and painted gray. In its day painted cameras apparently were valued more highly than natural wood so the gray painted version was the more expensive. Today, of course, most of us would probably find the natural wood more attractive. I don't remember whether the differences between the two versions were solely the finish or whether the more expensive painted version had other features that were lacking in the natural finish version. You can find all of this stuff out, and more, with a Google search.
    Brian Ellis
    Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you do criticize them you'll be
    a mile away and you'll have their shoes.

  8. #8

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    Agfa Ansco 5x7

    Paul,

    One more item you might like: when folded, the Agfa/Ansco (mine, anyway) will allow you to carry your lens aboard your camera, as most lens/shutters will fit quite nicely with the camera folded up and along with the attached rail it makes for a simple, if a bit boxy, package to take afield. Also, because of the way the back is inletted to accept the gg, you'll notice that the gg will have substantially clipped corners. This isn't an issue for me, I've gotten used to it, but I could imagine this as annoying to some(at least at first.) ---Cheers!
    "I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority"---EB White

  9. #9

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    Agfa Ansco 5x7

    Another plus for it is front axis tilt.

  10. #10

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    Agfa Ansco 5x7

    Paul, just teasing, but it's not an *b*n* camera!!! No seriously, I have also been thinking about 5x7 and I would be keen to see some contact prints once you have got set up and out in the field! All the best.

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