Big Camera - Any info?

[Tom J McDonald]

Hello,
I found this camera on ebay. http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/antique-industrial-Lieipzig-bellows-camera-big-BIG-HUGE-/250920570745?pt=AU_Vintage_Cameras&hash=item3a6c080f79
Look at the size of that thing!
does anyone here have an info on this camera?

[Michael E]

I'm in Leipzig (where this camera was made), but I doubt I'll find any info here.

Without doubt, this is a graphic arts/repro camera (confirmed by the brass sign). It was part of a fixed installation, not moveable. I'm not sure, but the back might be a vacuum back.

This would make a great 1:1 portrait camera for studio use. If you can find a lens that will cover the format. Or put in the bed of a truck and make landscape pinhole images. But then you will have to make film holders.

Michael

[Tom J McDonald]

Thanks Michael.

Any idea if the film or plates would have been some standard size?

Tom.

[Keiske]

I don't know whether the followig link may help. Also google hoh & hahne.

http://www.kameramuseum.de/0-fotokameras/falz-und-werner/hohlux-Fabrik.html

Keiske

[Tom J McDonald]

Keiske,
Thanks for that. I had a read and could only find a 30x30cm camera.
The ebay link states a 70x70cm film area, though that could be incorrect.
Tom.

[Steven Tribe]

The 70x70cm given by the lister is probably 60x70cm. The "hole" is 70x70 - but this has to serve the inserted plate in horiz. and vert. positions.
They were also made in 70x80 and 80x100cm!

[Michael E]

Thanks Michael.

Any idea if the film or plates would have been some standard size?

Tom.

If you look at the photo of the opened camera back, you'll notice white markers for different film sizes, probably every standard size from 9x12cm to 60x70cm. The sheet film was unsensitized or orthochromatic and was put into the camera with the red light on. It was affixed either with a vacuum back or maybe magnets/tape. No film holder was used.

Michael

[Tom J McDonald]

Michael, thanks. I see it now. Also I can see it on the focusing screen.

So, any idea which lens could cover 60x70cm?

I could load paper in it in the darkroom to make negatives!

[Steven Tribe]

Lots of process lenses will cover this size. Wray (reasonable prices) and the Cooke Process Series (not so reasonable) spring to mind. And meniscus lenses made out of the front or rear cell of a largish damaged RR (very reasonable prices).

[Tom J McDonald]

OK, what about something like this:
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/221MM-221-8-FUJI-PROCESS-LENS-BARREL-144436-/380379121433?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item58905cc719

Or this?
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/360-f9-Apo-Ronar-Process-Large-Format-Lens-/220863291620?pt=UK_Lenses_Filters_Lenses&hash=item336c7a60e4

[Michael E]

Too short. Both of them. If my math skills haven't left me, 60x70cm has a diagonal of 922mm (Is this correct? Anyone?). The mentioned Apo Rodagon covers 318mm at infinity. At 1:1 I would expect twice that figure. Still not enough. Process lenses often cover only about 45°, so you need a pretty long lens.

Michael

[Steven Tribe]

They are nowhere near big (focal lengthwise) enough!
The Cooke series Vb is made in sizes up to 48" and the Wray Lustrar Process went up to this size as well. I think F went down to F16 on the sizes over 24" so they are not huge.

[Tom J McDonald]

Jesus.

Thanks for your assitance gents.