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Ash
20-Nov-2011, 13:25
I couldn't resist owning this thing.


Mike sold this to me recently. It had a few problems. One was that the focus was fixed and wasn't infinity. The spring back was missing a piece that keeps the holder from falling out the other end. There were a couple light leaks too, because of the leather cracking over time. Finally, the lens is kind of hazy.

For the past few weeks it's sat on my floor in pieces while I decided how to change the front. Eventually I decided to attach the lens on a board in the 5mm gap (between the two side panels) that was previous just cracking leather. The front panels then screwed back on in front. Some wood filler on the rear filled in the gaps, to avoid light leaks.

The lens was put in a focus helical from a previous project. It's 'just' off from infinity, but stopped down the lens hits infinity fine. I couldn't easily get this to infinity without building a sunk lensboard.


Quick and easy fix to put a piece of wood on the back too.



Now, all I really need is new lens elements instead of this 210, since I don't have the tools to re-polish the bad element.


http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/387536_10150410727809725_280018619724_8345378_1732233765_n.jpg

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/377297_10150410727929725_280018619724_8345379_912307794_n.jpg

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/380497_10150410728154725_280018619724_8345382_1244538361_n.jpg

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/388812_10150410728394725_280018619724_8345385_1435642943_n.jpg

Dan Fromm
20-Nov-2011, 13:35
Ash, how old is it? I ask because most aerial cameras used roll film, not sheet or plates, and have no provision for viewing through the lens. Early ones shoot plates, but that ended not long after WW-I. Also, the lens, a post-WW-II Commercial Astragon (probably a rebadged Commercial Congo), isn't a typical aerial camera lens.

It looks more like a home made fixed focus LF point-and-shoot.

Ash
20-Nov-2011, 13:39
Hi Dan,

The lens isn't original, it was one chucked on for good measure before I bought it. No idea of vintage, you may be right about it being a home made p&s. I call it aerial because it was the first word to come to my head.

sully75
20-Nov-2011, 15:25
Is it an early Gowland?

Ash
20-Nov-2011, 16:19
Well that's what Mike said he thought. Someone proposed that a while back I think.

Either way it was in a pretty rough state, for once I've not done too much damage ;)

pchaplo
22-Feb-2015, 12:03
Sounds interesting but i cant see the pics. Could you email one to me? Also, if you ever want to sell it to get a more usable toy, let me know -- I would like to play with it and I have lenses if you want to keep yours. - Paul

vinny
22-Feb-2015, 12:06
I think you're about 4yrs late on this thread...........

Michael Roberts
22-Feb-2015, 17:08
yeah, but this idea keeps surfacing. I've been collecting vintage hand and cycle cameras for the past year and have constructed a wire viewfinder to use with them to hand-hold at eye-level instead of waist-level. I will post a review before long. I've decided to move up from 4x5 hand-held to 5x7 hand-held; I think there are a few folks who would be similarly interested.

pchaplo
22-Feb-2015, 23:04
yeah, but this idea keeps surfacing. I've been collecting vintage hand and cycle cameras for the past year and have constructed a wire viewfinder to use with them to hand-hold at eye-level instead of waist-level. I will post a review before long. I've decided to move up from 4x5 hand-held to 5x7 hand-held; I think there are a few folks who would be similarly interested.

Exactly. 5x7 has a new appeal to me. Also, its worth a shot to see if the user may be playing with a new toy and might consider selling this one. Did I say "dibs" :) Dibs!

Tin Can
22-Feb-2015, 23:29
5X7 cycle cameras are very lightweight and cheap. Most have a little glass viewfinder for aiming and use hyperfocus.

Many have survived quite well because they self case and the bellows were made really well.

Michael Roberts
23-Feb-2015, 06:02
Lightweight and cheap are two of my favorite criteria for gear. Many also have modest front rise, not unlike Graphic 4x5s; and interchangeable lens boards. They have limited movements, which expanded as they evolved from landscape to removable, rotating backs and from single-extension (10 inch) to triple-extension (17-21 inch) bellows length from the early 1890s to the early 1900s.

The limited movements mean several lightweight and cheap (there we go again) 4x5 press and older folder lenses can be used (e.g., 203 Ektar, 152 Kodak Anastigmat).

Basically, they make excellent, near point and shoot 5x7s with limited movements and limited lens options.

They do require modifications of the back for modern film holders and re-aligning the gg, however. So they are not plug-n-play.

I can't do the waist level viewfinders, though. That's the first thing I pull off and set aside. Seems unnatural, like Wilt shooting free-throws granny-style.
(OTOH, there's this: http://discovermagazine.com/2008/the-body/07-physics-proves-it-everyone-should-shoot-granny-style)

djdister
23-Feb-2015, 06:51
This is an example (not actual) of my 5x7 handheld - Graflex Series B, 5x7 non-revolving back. Ten pounds before putting on a bag mag or whatever...

129690

pchaplo
25-Feb-2015, 01:23
yeah, but this idea keeps surfacing. I've been collecting vintage hand and cycle cameras for the past year and have constructed a wire viewfinder to use with them to hand-hold at eye-level instead of waist-level. I will post a review before long. I've decided to move up from 4x5 hand-held to 5x7 hand-held; I think there are a few folks who would be similarly interested.

What is a "cycle camera"? I tried searching but all I get is digital bicycling cameras darn pixels lol

Tin Can
25-Feb-2015, 01:37
http://www.historiccamera.com/cgi-bin/librarium/pm.cgi?action=display&login=poco_3

pchaplo
25-Feb-2015, 01:46
http://www.historiccamera.com/cgi-bin/librarium/pm.cgi?action=display&login=poco_3

Thanks. Love it!

Michael Roberts
17-Feb-2017, 21:06
Well, it's only taken me a year to get back to this.

See this DIY thread for details: http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?137275-Simple-DIY-Wire-Sport-Viewfinder&p=1377738#post1377738

So...handheld 5x7.