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View Full Version : Kodak 2D 5x7 with Ilex Portronic Paragon 6 3/8"



GabrielSeri
9-Jan-2011, 14:35
Hi,

I just won this camera off ebay. I don't know what to expect haha. I mean I'm fairly sure I will like the camera even though it lacks a front tilt and swing, it does in the back. Any pointers on what I should look for? The bellows and gears look good and the finish is great. I will post photos when I receive the camera.
My other question is has anyone ever seen this lens before? I never heard of it in my life. Is that a telephoto or a normal lens? Any examples out there?

Thanks.

GabrielSeri
9-Jan-2011, 15:09
Pictures from the seller.

http://silverpiscis.com/Photography/5x7one.JPG
http://silverpiscis.com/Photography/5x7two.JPG
http://silverpiscis.com/Photography/5x7three.JPG
http://silverpiscis.com/Photography/5x7four.JPG

Nathan Smith
9-Jan-2011, 17:31
The 2D is a good camera and will serve you well. Looks like it has a 3 1/4 x 4 1/4 back as well.

I'm not familiar with the Portronic, but it sounds like it may be off of one of those school photo rigs. Doesn't look as if it has a shutter. I'd plan to look for a new lens in a shutter - or a Packard.



Hi,

I just won this camera off ebay. I don't know what to expect haha. I mean I'm fairly sure I will like the camera even though it lacks a front tilt and swing, it does in the back. Any pointers on what I should look for? The bellows and gears look good and the finish is great. I will post photos when I receive the camera.
My other question is has anyone ever seen this lens before? I never heard of it in my life. Is that a telephoto or a normal lens? Any examples out there?

Thanks.

GabrielSeri
9-Jan-2011, 17:58
Cool thanks I was thinking about using it with my Schneider 90mm 5.6, it will cover 5x7 and I bought a recessed lens board as well. Would this be a good landscape camera?

DanK
9-Jan-2011, 18:11
Cool thanks I was thinking about using it with my Schneider 90mm 5.6, it will cover 5x7 and I bought a recessed lens board as well. Would this be a good landscape camera?

The 2D is an excellent all-around camera IMO, nice to see you have the rear rail and two backs....

Should be excellent for landscape, as well as just about any other subject....there are limitations, but can usually be compensated for ... few cameras have it 'all' - there's usually a trade off somewhere....

Congrats and Good luck....they are Great ( I use two, a reg 2D and an Improved)

Thanks,
Dan

Bill_1856
9-Jan-2011, 18:22
...they are Great ( I use two, a reg 2D and an Improved)

Thanks,
Dan

What's an "improved" 2D?

DanK
9-Jan-2011, 18:32
What's an "improved" 2D?

"Eastman View No.2 - Improved Model of Century View and Empire State No. 2"

Early with different front rise gear assembly, and fancier hardware...

Dan

GabrielSeri
11-Jan-2011, 13:37
I ordered a recessed lens board today. I believe the dimensions are 4-1/2X4-1/2 inch square, 1/4 inch thick around the edge.

Steven Tribe
11-Jan-2011, 14:56
The ilex portronic paragon is apparently a tessar design made in both F4.5 and F.3.5 versions.
I have doubts about whether a 6 3/8" will cover 5x7"!
Portronic was also a Cooke tradename at some point.
Doesn't appear in cameraeccentric's ilex catalogues - so was probably made for only a few years.

GabrielSeri
11-Jan-2011, 17:18
That's weird because that is the lens that is coming with the camera. I am planning on putting on one of my lens on it so it should work. I was curious about the lens maybe I should sell it.

Michael Cienfuegos
11-Jan-2011, 19:09
That's weird because that is the lens that is coming with the camera. I am planning on putting on one of my lens on it so it should work. I was curious about the lens maybe I should sell it.

Rather than sell it, you should use it, try it out, you might be pleasantly surprised. Some of those old Tessars may not be the sharpest, but they have a unique quality all their own.

Steven Tribe
12-Jan-2011, 01:41
Not really strange. It would have been an OK size in connection with the smaller back that came with the camera.

Drew Bedo
12-Jan-2011, 05:52
There was a thread about lack of front movements and how to work around it on this board last fall. I think the camera in question was a 2-D in 8x10.

Jan Pedersen
14-Jan-2011, 19:02
The camera is back on the auction site for a very reasonable price.
Did the sale not go through?

GabrielSeri
15-Jan-2011, 19:43
A sudden bill came up and the wife wants me to sell it. I will try again in a few months and buy another 5x7. Once I receive the camera I will take pictures and put it here on the largeformat forum to sell with extra holders.

GabrielSeri
18-Jan-2011, 13:42
Turns out that I am not selling this camera after all and I am now quite excited to get it. I am expecting it in the mail today. I might sell it in the future but will enjoy it for now. I will post photos of the camera when I receive it in case anyone is interested and then will post photos I make with it.

GabrielSeri
22-Jan-2011, 17:41
I still haven't received this camera. I'm getting a little impatient, it was shipped from Illinois on the 11th by an ebay seller. I contacted the seller and he said that I should receive it soon. I can't wait to try it out and report back to the forum. My first 5x7!

GabrielSeri
3-Feb-2011, 15:22
I just got my camera shipped to work and I think I'm in love. It's really a user I don't need to do anything to it, except maybe put a little extra pledge on the wood. I'm off to buy some 5x7 film tomorrow morning at freestyle! It's a 20 minute drive for me, well worth the wait. I'm going to mount my Fujinon 250mm 6.7 tonight. I will upload photos later.

Gabriel

Ash
3-Feb-2011, 15:39
The camera looks identical to the Kodak half-plate I had.

http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?t=18670
http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?t=23340

Great cameras, rock solid. Damn heavy

GabrielSeri
3-Feb-2011, 15:50
I really like it, I literally got it like half an hour ago. It's not really that heavy I expected more weight. It's probaly 6-8 lbs? I have a cool F64 backpack for it and just think what the masters used to carry around back in the old days. I bet Ansel Adams could juggle this camera on top of the mountains he would climb. haha

GabrielSeri
3-Feb-2011, 16:01
Wow your's looks beautiful! You did an amazing job restoring it. I wish I was more handy, I think the only thing I want to replace at the moment is the groundglass, I would like to get a nice fresnel glass. I might get a canham 5x7 ground glass.

GabrielSeri
3-Feb-2011, 17:15
http://www.silverpiscis.com/Photography/5x7/IMG_8297.jpg
http://www.silverpiscis.com/Photography/5x7/IMG_8298.jpg
http://www.silverpiscis.com/Photography/5x7/IMG_8299.jpg
http://www.silverpiscis.com/Photography/5x7/IMG_8300.jpg

GabrielSeri
3-Feb-2011, 17:15
http://www.silverpiscis.com/Photography/5x7/IMG_8301.jpg
http://www.silverpiscis.com/Photography/5x7/IMG_8302.jpg
http://www.silverpiscis.com/Photography/5x7/IMG_8303.jpg
http://www.silverpiscis.com/Photography/5x7/IMG_8304.jpg

GabrielSeri
3-Feb-2011, 17:16
http://www.silverpiscis.com/Photography/5x7/IMG_8305.jpg
http://www.silverpiscis.com/Photography/5x7/IMG_8306.jpg
http://www.silverpiscis.com/Photography/5x7/IMG_8307.jpg
http://www.silverpiscis.com/Photography/5x7/IMG_8308.jpg

GabrielSeri
3-Feb-2011, 17:16
Does anyone know what the hell this thing is? It's made out of leather.
http://www.silverpiscis.com/Photography/5x7/IMG_8307.jpg

GabrielSeri
3-Feb-2011, 17:21
I'm going to buy some fp4+ 5x7 and tri x film tomorrow!

Louis Pacilla
3-Feb-2011, 17:40
Does anyone know what the hell this thing is? It's made out of leather.
http://www.silverpiscis.com/Photography/5x7/IMG_8307.jpg
Hi There

It's Eastmans design to keep the bellows from sagging . Notice any bellows hoops ?

BTW- Very nice 2D. have fun while using it.

GabrielSeri
3-Feb-2011, 17:46
So it keeps the bellows up? I'm sorry I'm not sure what you mean by bellows hoops, forgive my ignorance. This is my first wooden camera.

GabrielSeri
3-Feb-2011, 17:49
Thanks Louis! I'm really happy about this purchase, I was taking pictures of it at work haha I'm lucky my boss didn't walk in.

jslabovitz
4-Feb-2011, 11:52
I have a Eastman View #2, also in 5x7. Happily, I bought it in excellent condition (from Blue Moon Camera in Portland). While poking around in the innards, I found a date stamped what I suppose would be the front standard: 21 March, 1911. If that indeed represents the manufacturing date, she'll be a 100 in just a couple of months!

Does yours have a date stamped there? (If I recall, it would be right behind that metal piece you're holding up inside the bellows.)

GabrielSeri
4-Feb-2011, 11:58
OH Cool! I was going to ask where I could find the year it was made. Unfortunately I'm at work right now but I'll check when I get home and let you know. I'm really happy about the camera, I was afraid my wife might give me the thumbs down but she fell in love with it, and said it was beautiful. She was even saying we should use it as a display and named it woody. haha. She suggested I get a wooden tripod.. sometimes she really surprises me! lol. I'm going to use a 250 Fujinon and a 180 Rodenstock on it. Ordered some lensboards already.

jslabovitz
4-Feb-2011, 12:11
I do a fair amount of what I'd call "public portraiture." I've only done a little of this with the Eastman, but whenever I do, it turns into a performance: people are intrigued that I'm using this contraption, shooting actual film, etc. So get out there and shoot with it, and see what you discover!

You can see my work at johnlabovitz.com (http://johnlabovitz.com), and if you look in this Flickr gallery (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jslabovitz/sets/72157625848017122), the first four images are with the Eastman with a Velostigmat 12". (Other images are 35mm or MF.)

--John

GabrielSeri
4-Feb-2011, 12:24
Cool! Very nice work, I want to use it for mostly landscapes and some portraits. I will let you know how it goes. I also have a 3 1/4 by 4 1/4 back, I was thinking about using a Polaroid back with it.

jslabovitz
4-Feb-2011, 12:46
Ah, then you will be interested in RA Friedman's Tsirkus Fotografika (http://tsirkus.org), a Philadelphia-based "vintage itinerant photographer."

GabrielSeri
4-Feb-2011, 12:57
That's cool and a great idea. Too bad I'm not on the east coast. I like those retro swimming suits he took at the beach.