Greetings from France

[Vaalma]

Hi all,

I am Victoria, an Art and Design student from France. I learned a bit about analog photography and enjoyed it, so I began to practice with my grandfather's 35mm camera. He had too, from his father, a 1920 9x12 folding plate camera I have now, and I'd like to understand better how it works before trying one (probably not this one, the mechanism works fine but it isn't in really good condition). I'd like to try medium and large format photography and this forum seems really informative and helpful.

I look forward to learn more from you, thank you.

[Jeff T]

Bonjour Victoria, welcome to the forum. Nice to have you from France. I wish you a great journey into large format photography and a lifetime of enjoyment.

[Old_Dick]

Hi Victoria, welcome to a group of wonderful, smart and helpful people.

[Peter De Smidt]

Welcome!

[Rainymac]

Hi Victoria, welcome aboard. I'm fairly new to large format photography too, only about 6 months since I first picked up a 4x5. It is addictive. You will find answers to most of you questions here in the forums as many of our questions are very similar as we build some confidence. I have found the forum and its very knowledgable and experienced members a wonderful resource. Enjoy the experience. Lorraine

[Emmanuel BIGLER]

Hello from Besançon, France, Victoria.

Welcome on board. This is a truly International group with many active Europeans, including French!

Regarding the 9x12 [cm] camera you inherited, by all means, keep it preciously, even if you cannot use it easily.

One problem with pre-1940 9x12 European cameras is that there were many different "film" holder types, moreover those "film" holders ("châssis", in French) were design to take glass plates, not film.

Fortunately, as of 2019 there is a modern fabrication of 9x12 cut-film adaptors to use your pre-WW-II 9x12 camera and original glass plate holders with modern 9x12 cm cut-film. English for those adaptors is "sheath".
See this vendor in Poland ; "Film sheath 9x12cm"
http//alternativephotographicsupplies.com/category/large-format-photography/wkladka-negatywowa-9x12-cm

Now there are several other problems you may encounter with an old plate camera.
The bellows can be out of order and no longer light-tight. There exist a couple of companies who will re-fabricate a replacement bellows for your camera.
The other problem is that the lens can be in such a bad condition, that no picture can be taken.
If the shutter is, for example, a German Compur shutter, most probably it can be repaired.
But if lens elements are damaged or affected by fungus, and if you cannot change the lens, like in many "fixed-lens" old glass plate cameras (for example, the Voigtländer Avus is not designed to easily change one lens to another), then ... keep the camera as a part of a precious heirloom, and buy a modern view camera!

[John Kasaian]

Welcome aboard!

[Alan Klein]

Bonjour from New Jersey, USA.

[Peter Collins]

Bienvenue! M. Bigler is a very knowledgeable contributor to this Forum and he should be able to help you with French and other European sources for equipment and supplies. Look at the number of posts ("messages") he has contributed! I have learned much from his contributions.

[Leszek Vogt]

Welcome to LF forum, Victoria.

Les