What exactly do I have here?

[axs810]

My girlfriends neighbor saw me with my 8x10 taking polaroids and came out and gave me this camera. I think her neighbor had it more for decoration because she didn't know anything about it. I'm just wondering what the forum can tell me about this huge 4x5 camera. I'm kind of confused about what the plate on the bottom is used for...and the back just confuses me lol

What are the advantages/disadvantages of this camera? How much is something like this worth and is it worth getting new bellows for?

[axs810]

[mdarnton]

That's a studio portrait camera. It's made to go on a stand with a platform like a table to hold it. It's got a wood tripod tilt platform grafted on the bottom, but that wouldn't be original. The original back is most likely 8x10--that's definitely a Frankenstein of a 4x5 back hung on a sliding carriage for a larger size. In portrait studios they didn't need a lot of bellows or movements--just gross film size, and a front sturdy enough to hang a huge portrait lens on.

[axs810]

Would it be difficult to find an 8x10 back for this? I would love to keep it so I could try using a huge portrait lens on it but I honestly don't know how I would use it without the stand it's made to go on.

[Tin Can]

First, we never do valuations.

Many backs can be adapted, as the last user shows.

A very strong tripod can hold that feather.

Improvisation is the very core of LF and film shooting going forward.

[mdarnton]

I'd get some book tape and try taping up the bellows. I doubt it would be worth buying a new bellows unless you were really into the authentic look. An 8x10 back is going to cost you $100 upwards.

This is not the kind of thing I would throw money at, myself.

[David Lobato]

Looks like you have a Packard shutter. Lucky you, big portrait lenses can be mounted and used. Measure the size of the back and the distance of the locating pins to look for an 8x10 back. There are actually two removable backs which makes it seem more complicated than it looks. You may have an extra back piece to trade. My first entry in 8x10 was an exercise in improvisation to hack parts to make the first exposure.

[Tim Meisburger]

If you can buy any 8x10 back, you can adapt it pretty easily to fit this camera. You could make a back as well, if you are handy. I made both an 8x10 and 4x5 recently. Otherwise, you can sell it, and someone somewhere will dig up or make a studio stand for it.

[David Lobato]

The round emblem looks like Century. There should be parts and 8x10 backs available if you search around.