CAMERA TYPE

NOTES

'Press' cameras, prior to the 1960s were generally boxes with drop down fronts with focusing racks. They were made to mount interchangeable lenses, including wide angles, accommodated with a drop bed adjustment of an additional 10-15° with rise and tilt of the front standard. Press cameras generally had wooden cases with leather or plastic covers. Technical cameras are similarly designed, though more often made with metal cases, and they have more movements, usually on both standards, and the range of movements is increased. Virtually all press and technical cameras include ground glass backs that accept sheet film holders; some also accept roll holders. Press cameras, as such, are no longer made, but some of the technical cameras have range/viewfinder options that allow them to be used hand held as press cameras were traditionally used.

In general, technical cameras will not have the range of movements found in monorail designs. As tradeoffs, technical cameras are more compact and lighter, quicker to set up, and provide good protection of normal length and some wide angle lenses when closed. While technical cameras are usually heavier than woodfield cameras, they are about the same size when folded and they generally have about the same range of movements. They are more rigid than woodfields and will stay that way because of their metal construction.

These may serve as good entry level large format cameras if only minimal front movements are required. Rise is usually limited to the short dimension, typically not where it's most needed, since most do not have rotating or reversible backs. While most of these are 50 years or older, they were well made and simple. Make sure that the bellows is light tight, that the front standard moves smoothly on its track, and that the rack runs smoothly.

Graflex Corporation was the largest maker of press cameras with its Anniversary and Pacemaker lines of Century, Crown and Speed Graphics. The Pacemaker is the newer and most usable of this type that is broadly available. The Century Graphic had a molded plastic body, no body release and was made only in the 6x9 Pacemaker format; Crowns and Speeds had leather covered, mahogany wood cases with metal dropdown fronts. They were fitted with rangefinders, usually Kalart, and had body releases; later Pacemakers had a top-mounted, but not optically integrated viewfinder/rangefinder. The Crowns, without the focal plane shutter, weigh about 4 1/2 pounds without a lens. Speeds weigh about a pound more, but with the focal plane shutter can be used with barrel lenses. This is especially useful with older long lenses that were originally designed for process cameras, but often work reasonably well at infinity. Other manufacturers of traditional press cameras included Burke & James (B&J), Busch and Tower. Press cameras typically have front rise and fall, and may have front shift and back tilt; front fall and back tilt are virtually the same movement using the drop bed. Few press cameras have front swing and if they have more extensive back movements they would be classed as technical cameras.

Lenses and shutters on all press cameras are quite varied, largely because of the ease of mounting them. Graphics are more likely to have Kodak Ektars and Schneider lenses, typically of about 130mm which will allow no movements and later Graphics often had Graflex branded lens made by Rodenstock. Kodak did make a 152mm Ektar, which is a better choice for LF work if you can find one. Be especially careful about the condition of older lenses, evaluating them for known lens faults . Lenses from Anniversary Graphics are likely to be uncoated, while Pacemakers were fitted with single-coated lenses. Old shutters are seldom accurate and may have worse problems.

Graphics

Specs

Meridians appeared shortly after WWII and were probably inspired at least in part by the early Technikas. They are about a pound heavier than a 4x5 Crown Graphic, but have rotating backs that allow tilt and swing. They are very friendly to short lenses, via an in-case focusing rack; with the extendable back, they support lenses as long as 15 inches. Build quality was high and mechanics remain usable. Back design limits them to 4 x 5 sheet film and a subset of roll holders.

More in my review or in the external review link at the right.

Wista makes metal technical cameras that used, are usually within the scope of this under-$1000 site. Recent Wista technical cameras come with (RF) and without view/rangefinders (VX and SP); older models are typically of the SP design.Wista technicals support full front movements, including center swings and tilts and center swings and base tilts in the rear and have a 12-inch interchangeable bellows on a double rack that allows for a shorter drop front to improve wide-angle compatibility. The SP has a Microfocus feature that makes rear movements more precise. The lightest model is the VX that weights about 5.8 pounds and sells new for about $1800 and used in the $700-1000 range depending on condition and model. Earlier Wista models may be available in the $400-500 range. Wista offers an unusally large selection of accessories, including a folding reflex finder, special reducing 6x9 back with sliding rollfilm holder and groundglass panel, and a bag bellows/recessed lens board that allows use of very short lenses.

You can see my early impressions of the Wista VX in this review .