4X5 Linhof Bi: The Bi camera had to be a great camera because it was designed to compete with the Sinar Norma. The Norma has only base tilts.....and not everyone is in love with base tilts. The Linhof Bi-axial camera has base tilts and axis tilts. This is better than most Bi's because it has chrome knobs instead of painted knobs--that the paint is always worn off of. It also has the original vintage leather bellows in great condition; no bellows are superior to these. Look closely at the bellows and you will see that there are 3 interior strips, or stiffeners, along each edge of each fold--which provides greater flexibility. Also note that the bellows are longer than the rail, and with the Bi-axial tilt you may take advantage of those longer bellows. Available with camera are extension rails, bag bellows and lensboards listed below. The fold out leather in the fold-up focusing hood (which is almost always deteriorated) has been replaced with extremely strong, light tight bellows material. 3 of the bubble levels are no good; one bubble level is like new. The plain ground glass has a small crosshair or "+" in the middle. There is no Fresnel lens. $1200
Linhof Bi or Kardan Color 45s extension rail, 335mm overall length, slighly less than 34mm diameter. A through threaded rod is attached to the Linhof labeled revolving black end cap. Uncommonly available in any condition and rare in this Mint condition. $250 with the above Bi camera, $300 separately.
Linhof Bi or Kardan Color 45s basic rail, 320mm overall length--not including the end coupler, slighly less than 34mm diameter. The exterior is nice and smooth. The standards move easily along the rail. The coupler has the correct diameter, but does not have the correct pitch to mate with the Bi extension rail. So the coupler is useless for use with the Bi. I do not know if the coupler works with the Kardan Color 45s extension rail. Best to consider it a basic rail with no possibility of adding extension or end caps. $120.
Linhof Bi or Kardan 4X5 bellows frames. The bellows are shot, but there is enough left to use as a pattern for the bellows maker. You may use the frames for making your own wideangle bellows; I will give you instructions with purchase. For $100 I will supply bellows material cut to size for 4X5 bag bellows. You could also send the bellows into a bellows manufacturer to have them copied with new material. $100
Kardan Bi flat lensboard, with Linhof crest, for #3 shutter, 65mm hole, with extension jamb nut and spacer to space the lens forward as required, Mint, $150 with camera, $185 separately. If you do not need the jamb nut and spacer, the price of the lens board by itself is $100 with camera or $125 separately.
Kardan Bi #00 flat lensboard, 26mm hole, Mint, $90 with camera, $120 separately, 2 available
Kardan Bi #0 flat lensboard, 34.8mm hole, with Linhof crest, Mint, $90 with camera, $120 separately
Kardan Bi flat lensboard, 39mm hole, Ex+, $90 with camera, $120 separately
Kardan Bi flat lensboard, 74.8mm hole, with Linhof crest, Ex, $70 with camera, $90 separately
4X5 Technika IV/V/VI to Kardan Bi adapter lensboard (custom), Ex, $150. The adapter accepts flat or recessed Technica lensboards, but will not accept #3 or larger shutters. The recessed lensboard is priced separately. You will find it listed below.
4X5 Linhof Technika model IV/V/VI bed stops. Only 2 sets remain. The top pair is $90. The bottom pair is $75. Photo of some stops in use on a Technika V camera.
LINHOF ELECTRIC RELEASE to fit most handgrips. No batteries included. Battery compartment free of corrosion. Untested. You will need the appropriate lens shutter to use it. Handgrip not included. $150.
LINHOF WIRE FINDER for Technika IV/V/VI. Works with most lenses. A parallax corrected rear peep sight is required. $40
Linhof filter holder for large Linhof filters about 76mm outside diameter, with blank filter holder, with front screw-in knurled ring, will accept Linhof lens shade, designed to slip over the outside diameter of the lens barrel of 70mm diameter--with adapter to slip over lenses of outside diameter of 60mm, Mint-, $60
Small Linhof filter, in frame about 63mm outside diameter, #2 yellow, Mint-, $35
Adaptor, Linhof Technika IV/V/VI lensboards to black Sinar P/C/F board, will fit Norma as well. Will accept flat and recessed Linhof lensboards. Works with #0 and #1 shutters. Does not work with #3 shutters. $275.
Linhof leatherette body covering, tan, die cut by Linhof for use in specific locations, all but one piece is new, pieces for various models, some I know are for the 4X5 Technika, some I know are for the 2X3 Technika. The piece in the upper right hand corner has been sold. This photo is out of date. I have sold a couple of pieces. Will update soon. All remaining for $125.
Linhof Technika lensboard with Linhof crest for #3 shutter to fit 4X5 models IV/V/VI, with extension jambnut and spacer to space lens forward as required. $150 or $100 w/o the extension jambnut and spacer.
Linhof Technika lensboard with Linhof crest with 42mm hole for #1 shutter to fit 4X5 models IV/V/VI, with cable release fitting. $125
Linhof lensboards to fit 4X5 model III Technika cameras and Compur Compound shutter with Linhof factory mounted flange (~59mm threads) properly mounted below center, as illustrated, your choice, $150. This is the size to fit 200 and 250mm Imagons, etc. These Technika III lensboards are very special. The too thin Technika III lensboards require special mounting with 3 screws from the front and 3 screws from the rear. Also, the flange needs to be truncated in the right spot. A 210mm Xenar in Compound shutter is another example of a lens and shutter to fit these lensboards. The lensboard on the lower left and the lensboard in the upper right in the 1st photo have been sold. Note that one of the Technika III lensboards has a notch in the bottom center and the other one does not--check your camera before ordering and order the correct one.
4X5 Technika III flat lensboards, about 94 by 100mm in size, with holes properly located below center, the lensboard on the left has a 34.5mm hole for #0 shutter in a thin black anodized plate the same thickness as the lensboard itself that sits proud of the lensboard and covers a large hole @ $125. The lensboard in the center has a 41.7mm hole for #1 shutter @ $125. The lensboard on the right has a 52.6mm hole and is $70.
4X5 Linhof Technika IV/V/VI recessed black lensboard with #1 hole size. This design allowed Linhof to manufacture one recessed lensboard for many different lenses by adding different extension lenscones. The extension lenscone brings the shutter back out to just the right place to utilize a quick release cable release fitting mounted onto the lensboard. This design also allows your camera to fold up with the lens attached. This will work properly for most lenses mounted in a #1 shutter. This lensboard came in with a 180mm lens attached; it works equally well with the 150mm lens. The 150mm lens is not included. $150.
Generic copy of 4X5 Linhof Technika IV/V/VI black lensboard with #1 flange attached, $125. Flanges are getting hard to find. They stay put! Your lens will not turn on you. You will not need a spanner wrench to install and remove your lens. You may reposition the flange to reposition your shutter in any of 4 positions. Instead of expensive adapter lensboards, buy a flange for each type lensboard and move your lenses. You will have better accuracy than with adapter lensboards.
Technika IV/V 135mm cam with bed scale, $65 Note that I have a 135mm lens on my VIEW CAMERA LENSES web page. Although the serial numbers do not match, experience tells me that usually does not matter.
Linhof leatherette doughnut. The hole is 12.5mm diameter. This is the part that surrounds the tripod socket.....you know.....the part that always gets ruined. $35.
Linhof ground glass retainer. $30.
Linhof angle release. Perhaps not by Linhof, but it was in my Linhof collection of parts. It swivels just behind the knurled section. Rare. $15.
Hardware to hold the Linhof handgrip plate onto the camera body. $30.
Linhof bed scales. The black one accepts scale inserts and is $40. Your choice of the others is $20.
Linhof #2 yellow filter. #51 just below the Linhof name. For the 51mm filter holder. Mint. $30.
Linhof empty filter frame holder. #70 just below the Linhof name. For the 70mm filter holder. $30.
6X9 Linhof lens board for 53mm Biogon lens. This lens board fits the 6X9 camera and the wide angle focusing device for the 4X5 camera. $100.
105mm 6X7 mask for 6X9 Linhof viewfinder. NEW-OLD-STOCK. $15.
Linhof lens board for early Technika. 75.44mm wide. 81.71mm high. 49.96mm hole. $30.
Linhof lens board for early Technika. 82.47mm wide. mm high. mm hole. Notch one side. With 6 screws and threaded holes. $30.
Linhof lens board for early Technika. 106.61mm wide. 107.06mm high with beveled edges top and bottom. 63.87mm hole. $30.
Linhof lens spacers. Various thicknesses. Invaluable when needed. It is extremely difficult to make your own. These need to be stamped out of thin shim stock. Lot. $150.
Box lot of Linhof parts. Judging from the lenses listed on the back folding hood, this was likely a 4X5/9X12 camera. $60.
Kardan Color intermediate standard + bellows with frames to mate with this standard. Early model. Designed to clamp onto 50mm diameter rail. Pinholes in bellows. This could be used as a subject stage by replacing the bellows with a grey card or whatever. It could be used to hold a front surface mirror. $100.
Technika Press helical focusing mount for 95mm lens. Mounted on an 8X10 Calumet lens board.........without altering the focusing mount. Quality Linhof focusing mounts for #1 shutters are RARE. Any #1 shutter will mount on this focusing mount; the distance scale will be off if not a 95mm lens. There is also a limit to the diameter of the rear lens barrel. Newly cleaned and lubricated. $650.
Linhof ground glass for 4X5 camera, with frame lines for 56X72mm, special size and thickness, NEW, $150
Linhof ground glass for 4X5 camera, with center crosshair lines and 4X5 corner lines, special size and thickness, used, $130
Linhof ruled ground glass for 6X9cm camera, with frame lines for 2 1/4 X 3 1/4" and 56X72mm, 10mm grid lines, special size and thickness, NEW, $125
56X72mm mask for 4X5 multifocus optical viewfinder, designed to slip over 50mm round VF, $50 separately, or $25 with purchase of Super Rollex listed below
6X7 (56X72mm) tan Super Rollex for 4X5 cameras with an international back, $350
6X7 black Super Rollex lever wind insert, for use with your 6X9 or 4X5 Linhof IV or V Super Rollex shell, $350
6X7 tan Super Rollex, lever wind, for 6X9 Linhof IV or V, new darkslide, $350
4X5 Linhof double pressure plate filmholders. 5 are shown, but 2 have been sold. What is left? 1 complete filmholders. 2 filmholders missing the top pull bars on the darkslides and one of those darkslides is broken at the top where the pull bar attaches. A copy of Linhof instruction book in German, English and French is included. The extra numbers were sold. Note that Sinar charges not less than $450 for their single sheet pressure plate filmholder. 1 complete filmholder is $125. All 3 filmholders are $200.
Linhof viewing aperture. Threaded on the back side. $20.
Linhof logo insert. $10.
Linhof Master Technika 4X5 owner's manual, 33 pages, copy, $30
First model Linhof "Technika" or Linhof "Standard" owner's manual for 10X15cm format, 16 pages, German, original, $50, copy, $20
First model Linhof "Technika" or Linhof "Standard" fold out owner's manual, for 9X12cm through 10X15cm formats, 12 pages, German, original, $50, copy, $20
Linhof Super Technika 4X5 owner's manual, 20 pages, copy, $25
Linhof Technika III 6X9cm/4X5" operating instructions, large foldout sheet, copy, $10
Linhof Technika III guide, 68 page booklet covering the Technika, the Super Technika and the Standard Press, CA early '50's, about 4X6", copy of, $50
Linhof Technikardan 6X9 & 4X5 9 page operating instruction and accessories list, B&W, copy, $20
Linhof Anatomical Grip instructions, 8 page brochure, about 5X7", VG, $15
Linhof "Exposure control at the ground glass" 4 page info sheet copy, $7
Linhof anatomical grip instructions, 8 page fold-out brochure, covers both left and right hand grips for all formats, Ex, $20
LINHOF 50th ANNIVERSARY CATALOG 1992 reprint of 1937 catalog, in German, 80 pages, 6X8", $90. Both the 50 and 70 year catalogs show views of the factory machinery. In 1937 most machinery was flat belt driven from overhead line shafts, whereas in 1957, machines had their own motors with enclosed V-belt drives.
Linhof's ca. 1953 catalog, 45 pages, in English and German, $50, copy of, $20.
Linhof new product report, 12 page 8.5X11 color brochure covering Kardan Master L, Kardan Standard, tripods and stands, Mint, $15
Linhof Kardan Master L 16 page B&W brochure, 8.5X11", copy of, $15
Linhof Technika large color foldout brochure, covers the Technika family or system, Ex, $50 35mm Technical pan copy negs of same, $20
Linhof "The new Multisystem Camera Generation", covering the Kardan Master GTL, Kardan GT, Technikardan, Reprotronica II NC, etc., 12 pages, 8.5X12", Ex, $20
Linhof Technorama 612 PC, color foldout brochure, 8.5X12", Ex, $20
Linhof Technika Press 2 1/4 X 3 1/4, 6.5X9cm large fold out brochure, copy of, $25
Linhof Bi System, copy of large foldout brochure, $20
Linhof lens shade/filter holder and filters, 6 page brochure, about 4X6", Ex, $25, copy, $7
Linhof Color Compendium 8 page brochure, about 4x6", Ex, $15
Linhof 220 large foldout brochure, Ex, $25
Linhof January 1959 pricelist, Ex+, $15
Linhof Kardan Color, color brochure, 8X8", 32 pages, Mint-, $40.
Linhof Kardan Color, color brochure, 9X12", 25 pages, Mint-, $50.
Kardan Super Color ST, color foldout brochure, 8.5X11", Mint, $20.
Kardan Standard 8X10, color brochure, 8.5X11", 4 pages, Ex+, $15.
Linhof focusing and light measuring bellows and (fixed) reversal mirror attachment brochure, 8 pages about 5X8.5", Ex, $15, and another that covers the vertical/horizontal (nonfixed) right angle mirror attachment, but not the light measurings and focusing bellows, Ex+, $15
Linhof Tripod heads, color foldout brochure, Mint, $15
Linhof Kardan TE/TEL, camera and accessories brochure w/price list, 4 pages, B&W, 1985, Mint, $15
Linhof Master Technika 4X5 single page simple description and price list camera and accessories, B&W, copy, $5
Linhof Super Technika V 6x9 single page simple description and price list camera and accessories, B&W, copy, $5
Linhof Super Technika V 5x7 single page simple description and price list camera and accessories, B&W, copy, $5
Linhof Technorama 6X12 and Technorama 6x17 single page simple description and price list camera and accessories, B&W, copy, $5
Linhof Technar 4X5 single page simple description and price list camera and accessories, B&W, copy, $5
Linhof Technikardan 6X9 & 4X5 2 page simple description and price list camera and accessories, B&W, copy, $7
Linhof equipent for Macro Photography, photomicrography, copying 4 page B&W brochure and price list, $20, copy, $10
Linhof Color 45S 6X9 and 4X5, 4 page 8.5X11" color brochure, Ex+, $15
Linhof Kardan Standard large color foldout brochure, Ex, $20
Linhof passport, blank, with Linhof Crest on stickpin, Mint, $50, or w/o stickpin, $20, 2 each available
6X9cm Plaubel Peco Jr. camera, 11" monorail, lots of front rise, fall and shift, lots of rear swing and tilt, focusing panel with grid-lined ground glass, folding focusing hood, 2 bubble levels on rear standard, rack and pinion focusing front and rear, positive locks, interchangeable bellows, with regular tapered bellows and with wideangle bag bellows, lensboards and lenses priced separately so that you may choose what you need, two 6X9cm Plaubel 120 rollfilm backs, outfit case, instruction book copy, THE HIGHEST QUALITY, LIGHTEST WEIGHT, MOST COMPACT 6X9 MONORAIL VIEW CAMERA EVER MADE. The back accepts also accepts Plaubel single sheet metal cutfilm holders (available below). This camera may be the perfect candidate for a digital back. $1800.
6X18.5cm panoramic format change kit is available for the above 6X9cm camera. Below see the photos of the format change kit, which includes the rear carrier frame with integral bellows, removable GG back with integral focusing hood, and 2 rollbacks and outfit case. Many more photos of the panoramic format change kit installed available on my PANORAMIC CAMERAS page.
Plaubel Peco Jr. 6X9 focusing panel only, for use with Plaubel back that accepts rollholders and Plaubel cutfilm holders, like the one you see on the Plaubel Peco Jr. illustrated above, with ruled ground glass, Mint-, $150.
Plaubel Peco Jr. 6X9 back cover, replaces the ground glass focusing panel, leather covered metal. $25.
Galvin International back adapted to the Plaubel Peco Jr., for use with Graphic or Horseman rollholders and ordinary cutfilm holders. I call it a Graflok back on steroids. I consider the Galvin back a world class back. That's why I bought many of them before Jim Galvin passed away. The Galvin back even opens wide enough to accomodate a Glaflarger cold light head. More pictures of the Galvin back at the bottom of this page. Mint-, $OLD, but I have more new Galvin backs for sale. You may buy one and adapt it yourself. You will find the Galvin backs listed near the bottom of this page. You will also find below a lens board to fit the back of a Plaubel Peco Jr, which will make your job of adapting the Galvin back to the PPJr relatively easy.
Plaubel rollholders, 6X6, VG, $100 each, 35mm, Ex+, $200, Ex, $100. See Plaubel Peco Jr. images above to see rollholder image.
Plaubel Peco Jr. lensboards originally had a foam light trap on the back side--which will virtually always be deteriorated as seen in the lensboard on the left. You can revive the light trap by removing the old foam and glue and replacing it with more durable velvet ribbon as I have done in the example on the right. It is not a difficult task, just unpleasant and time consuming. I will do it for you for $75.
Plaubel Peco Jr. front bellows frames are similar to lensboards. Replacing the light trap on the bellows frame is a more delicate task. I will do it for you for $100. On the left is a deteriorated light trap on a regular bellows. On the right is what the original light trap on the bellows frames and lensboards looked like. I replace the foam with more durable velvet ribbon as you see on the lensboard above on the right.
Very slightly recessed (1-2mm) Plaubel lensboard, 26.7mm hole size, foam light trap material on back side needs replacing, dark grey, $125.
Very slightly recessed (1-2mm) Plaubel lensboard, 35.3mm hole size, foam light trap material on back side needs replacing, light grey, $100.
Because the Plaubel Peco Jr. is a favorite view camera that I use myself, I have some lenses mounted on Plaubel Peco Jr. lensboards. These lenses and lensboards are available. You will find details about the lenses on my lens list. Illustrated are a 75mm F8 Fujinon SW and a 90mm F8 Fujinon SW.
Plaubel Profia lensboard, 166mm square, 67-68mm hole, labeled #3 on back, $60
Plaubel Profia lensboards, 166mm square, 2 #0, $125 each, 2 #1, $100 each
Plaubel Profia flat adapter lensboard, 166mm square, now with new light trap matierial, $250, accepts 120mm square Plaubel lensboards.
Plaubel Profia flat adapter lensboard, custom altered, back filed flat,151mm high, 149mm wide, newer light trap material, $125, accepts 120mm square Plaubel lensboards.
Plaubel Profia recessed lensboard, 166mm square, $175, accepts 120mm square Plaubel lensboards.
Plaubel lensboard for the 4X5 Plaubel Peco, light trap foam deteriorated, may be replaced with velvet strips as illustrated on a smaller lensboard, rare, with only a pilot hole. Illustrated here on the back side of a Plaubel Peco Jr. camera. $150
Plaubel Profia recessed lensboard, 166mm square, $175, accepts 120mm square Plaubel lensboards.
4X5 Plaubel Peco Jr. recessed lensboard, 120mm square. 26.8mm hole size for use with jamb nut for 00 shutters. Cable release fitting built-in. 20mm depth of recess. The foam light trap material is still live; amazing! RARE. $225
Plaubel 8X10 to 4X5 reducing plate, Plaubel part number PG 1/348, NEW-OLD-STOCK, $200.
Plaubel Peco instuction book copy, covers 6X9 to 8X10 Plaubels, ~65 pages, $40
Plaubel Makina (vintage 1955 and earlier) automatic rollholder instruction booklet copy, $10
Plaubel 75 year anniversay book copy, 1902-1977, ~28 pages, $40
One of the smallest, lightest view cameras ever designed. Camera utilizes a Galvin Back. The back will accept Graphic and Horseman rollfilm holders meant for a 6x9 back w/o the need to remove the GG back. Will accept a 6X9cm Grafmatic. Fresnel lens included. Included is a 6X9cm Grafic rollback; addtional rollbacks are available here: VIEW CAMERA ACCESSORIES. Nothing locks down on this camera. Every movement has adjustable tension. Camera has full movements: rise/fall/swing/tilt/shift. The camera is well balanced because the front and rear standards move in and out simultaneously, making for faster focusing as well. A bag bellows is included. Camera has a mint condition 135mm F5.6 Componon lens in shutter. Will allow 1:1 image size. Not much of a tripod is required for this lightweight camera. The table top tripod may not be tall enough for your needs, but it is sufficient--although not included. $1000
Arca Swiss recessed lensboard, 13mm depth of recess, maximum size possible square recess allows easy access, 171mm square O.D., with rounded corners, small pilot hole, New, $70. Note that this lensboard has the double row of light traps around the perimeter on the back side. This is the current style Arca Swiss lensboard.
Similar in design to the Toyo 810M field camera. Although Toyo labels the camera as a 4 3/4 X 6 1/2" camera, Toyo made 6X9cm, 4X5", 4 3/4 X 6 1/2", 5X7 and 6.5X8.5" backs for this camera. Illustrated is one of these cameras with a 6.5X8.5" format change kit that also adds extra extension. Besides the light weight, what I like about this camera most is it's ability to accept wide angle lenses. You may focus on infinity with a 58mm lens on the camera. Works great with a 72mm Schneider Super Angulon-XL. Just about every one of these cameras I have seen has rumpled bellows. Rumpled bellows are a result of operator error. Avoid rumpled bellows by making sure that the front standard is allowed to move up and down freely before closing the camera. I also illustrate one of these cameras with a compendium bellows. These cameras accept 4X5 Crown Grafic lensboards.
4 3/4 X 6 1/2" Toyo Field camera with a 4X5 back. 1/4-20TPI camera socket. Nylon handle. Cold shoe, i.e., a flash shoe or a viewfinder shoe mounted atop the camera body. The latch that keeps the camera closed is missing; the rear tilt lock knobs do an adequate job of holding the camera closed. $900.
Crown Graphic lensboards to fit the Toyo Field camera. Find them listed on my VIEW CAMERA LENS ACCESSORIES web page.
Crown Graphic lensboard to fit the Toyo Field camera, Sinar lensboard, 2 brass lensboards that bayonet into either. Hole sizes are for #0 and #1 shutters. $300
I also have a Mint 180mm F5.6 Caltar II N (Rodenstock Sironar) available on a custom made lensboard to fit the Toyo Field camera. This lens came in with a Toyo Field camera. This lensboard is very special. It has a bayonet mount. A second bayonet mount, also for a #1 shutter comes with the lensboard as well as a flange designed to be mounted on a larger View camera lensboard......so you may use your lenses on both cameras. The lens is on my VIEW CAMERA LENSES web page.
Adaptor, any lens to Sinar and to Crown Graphic or Toyo Field, includes black Sinar lensboard, and 2 brass lensdisks that bayonet into the Horseman board and the Crown Graphic board. Brass disks bored for #1 and #0 shutters. The "apart" view is representative of any of the offerings of brass bayonet lens disks here and elsewhere on my web pages. $300
5X7 back for 4 3/4 X 6 1/2" Toyo Field camera. I do not think Toyo made a 5X7 back because there simply is not enough room to fit the back onto the camera without it extending beyond the perimeter of the camera body. If Toyo did make a 5X7 back, it is rare; you just do not see them. I have made them. I will attach photos of the last 2 5X7 backs I made for the Toyo Field. One was made from scratch, except for the ground glass frame. The other one utilized a commercially made mahogany 5X7 back that was rabbeted as necessary for clearance and added to the plate that I made. I can make a 5X7 back for your Toyo View upon demand.
Toyo 6 1/2 X 8 1/2 extension back for the 4 3/4 X 6 1/2" Toyo Field camera with new bellows and 3 Toyo 6 1/2 X 8 1/2 film holders. The new Nylon bellows have not yet been installed. I offer the outfit w/o the bellows installed for those who wish to save the cost of installation. The old belllows are still present. The new bellows were made in Japan. A fresh tube of cement was supplied with the new bellows. $800 or $1000 with the new bellows installed.
Reducing plate for the 6 1/2 X 8 1/2 extension back made for the 4 3/4 X 6 1/2" Toyo Field camera. This reducing plate was made for a customer who wanted to use his 4X5 through 5X7 backs with longer lenses. This is not in stock, but can be made upon demand.
VIEW CAMERA WITH MOVEMENTS or BOX camera. Designed for ease of operation. With AMERICAN OPTICAL COMPANY HIGH RESOLUTION AERIAL SURVEILANCE AND MAPPING LENS. SERIAL NUMBER 2. COATED LENS. HIGHEST QUALITY. There are many images including 2000 pixel wide images of the negative you see below and a whole lot more on this page: 8X20 GLENNVIEW
8X20 Sinar P camera complete, A GLENNVIEW product with 8X10 Sinar P heavy duty standard bearer, front standard, 18" rail, rail clamp, with new 36" bellows, horizontal format only, you'll have to turn the camera on it's side to do a vertical (this is actually quite possible--by simply rotating the camera on it's rail), made of black lacquered lightweight Mahogany, Mint-, with one rebuilt vintage filmholder that doesn't leak light (up to 10 new filmholders available). There is a bellows tab that keeps the bellows from sagging. Complete with custom focusing cloth which is held onto the perimeter of the rear carrier frame by Velcro. $OLD.
This YAW-FREE 16X20 view camera was eventually built. See an image of the completed camera on a Houston Feerless tripod in the immediately below listing. Film in large formats is readily available today. An alternative to film is Cibachrome positve paper shot directly in camera: CIBACHROME-IN-CAMERA. Although Cibachrome is no longer manufactured, there may be other similar products available. The image of roses was made directly in the camera onto 8X10 Cibrchrome positive paper with a Kodak Portrait lens at wide open aperture. The image of the pregnant tree was made directly in the camera onto 8X10 Cibrchrome positive paper with a 120mm F8 Schneider Super Angulon lens at about F11.
YAW-FREE 16X20 view camera nearly finished. I did receive a commission to finish it. The bellows have been ordered. The customer wisely requested a Sinar front carrier frame. Here are a few views of it.
Beautiful Mahogany finish, with solid brass hardware. As well made, if not better, as any of the vintage wooden cameras. In the 12X20 format, only the Deardorff is comparable in quality, but much more rare, because the Deardorff, when last produced, sold for $10,000. The Deardorff is also much heavier, larger, and less rigid. The Korona and the B&J are not nearly as stable or as well built as the F&S. The camera was designed as a banquet camera, for photographing large groups of people in a confined space with wideangle lenses and only has 22.5" of rail. There is a photo of a 12X20 F&S below with a listing for a custom tripod for a 12X20 F&S. This is an unusual 12X20 F&S because it has 44" of belows extension; I rebuilt the camera, including all 3 new rail sections and had custom bellows made for it. I am presently all sold out of 12X20 F&S cameras, but I have some accessories for the camera:
A customer commissioned a 12X20 F&S-filmholder-compatible Sinar format change kit. That has been sold and shipped out, but I will make another one on damand. See my Sinar web page for photos and description.
Another customer commissioned a 12X20 Deardorff ground glass back be installed on his 12X20 F&S camera. His camera came in with a cherry wood back on the mahogany F&S. After removing the cherry back, I found that whoever had installed new bellows on his camera had used too long screws. It is probable that the screws went through the camera into the original F&S ground glass back frame--screwing the frame to the camera, splitting and destroying the frame. The Deardorff mahogany back looks very much at home on the F&S camera. I have one more Deardorff groung glass back frame available listed below under Deardorff cameras and at the end of this web page under view camera backs. I took the cherry wood back in on trade and that back is also available; you will find it listed with view camera backs at the end of this web page. I illustrate the camera from a frontal view just for your benefit. The handle, the tilt pivots, the double bubble level on top and the back are not original; everything else is. The 12X20 F&S is as well made as any camera. I mentioned to Deardorff once that the F&S was "at least as well made as the Deardorff" (in order to be diplomatic); Deardorff agreed. In fact, the F&S is better made than the Deardorff. The major springs that keep the GG back flat against the camera and against the film holder were made by me. If you need custom springs, I can make them for you. The customer I did this work for said, "The camera with the work you have done looks fabulous!! I am very pleased with everything!! Thank you for all your efforts. I am looking forward to taking some great photographs with my "new" camera!! All the best!!"
12X20 F&S vintage filmholder. Difficult to find at any price. $OLD. I leave this listing up for your information. Note that the 12X20 F&S filmholder is different than the ANSI standard, which is what most other 12X20 filmholders are. If you do not have a F&S camera, do not buy it. If you have a F&S camera, do not buy other filmholders. What is the difference? Instead of a light trap ridge, there is a light trap groove that fits over a brass bar at the filmholder insertion end of the F&S camera. Occasionally a film holder manufacturer made F&S style holders for customers. One of my customers has some Hoffman made F&S style filmholders, but the film to film seat distance was not the same as the original F&S filmholder--SO BE CAREFUL IN BUYING FILMHOLDERS. Another of my customers has some Lotus made F&S style filmholders. If you order 12X20 filmholders from Lotus without specifying that you want F&S style filmholders, you are not likely to get what you need. Make sure you get the filmholders you need.
Custom tripod for 7X17, 11X14 or 12X20 F&S or any other similar folding rail wood cameras. The holes for the camera screw are optimized for the F&S cameras; holes may be added for other cameras. Surveyor's tripod Aluminum legs. 12X13X.25" Aluminum top plate supports the whole width of most flat bed view cameras and the joints between rail sections to provide superior support. 3/8-16TPI camera screw with large easy to handle wingnut for locking down the camera solidly. Removable canvas and Nylon shelf doubles as leg spreader. No tilts. Variable leg extension levels the camera. Rubber tipped feet screw in to reveal spikes. Mounting the legs at the edges of the tripod top provides far superior stability. Illustrated with a 12X20 F&S camera with 44" extension that I built and sold. About 14#. $400.
Custom Saltzman top plates made to fit your camera, about $100 to $200. Typically these will be for dual rail flat bed view cameras. The top plate will replace the original and will be the width of the rail and long enough to fully support the main rail section and the joint between the main rail section and front and rear extension rails and partially support any extension rails. See photo below of custom top plate for another tripod.
12X20 F&S front rail hook. This is the flat brass plate that swings about a pivot screw mounted on the top of the main camera body and attaches to a screw on the front end of the front fold up rail to keep the rail in the vertical folded position for transport. I had to make a custom extra long hook for the 44" model so this was available. I do not remember what camera the 2nd hook is from. It too has been sold. I leave this up for your information.
12X20 F&S lensboards. 6 uncut lensboards in black plastic. 1 uncut lensboard in unfinished Baltic birch. $50 each. 1 black stained Baltic birch lensboard with a hole cut for a #4 Ilex with a 14" Dagor mounted in it (73mm hole size), $75.
12X20 F&S front bellows frames. 2 available, $75 your choice. Top one is thicker than the bottom one. The bottom one is for the front tilt bellows. Each is 9.5X12".
305mm F5.6 American Optical Co. Type 1, coated, complete with yellow and red center filters, front and rear lenscaps, very wide angle, looks like a Hypergon w/o the fan, covers 12X20 with movements! Sharp and rectilinear (resolves 100 line pairs/mm), but decidedly soft focus @ F5.6. It's a true soft focus, too, similar to the Kodak Portrait lens in performance. It gradually, but rather quickly becomes sharp as you stop down. At f8, 3/4 of the soft focus effect is gone. At F11, almost all of the soft focus effect is gone. the center filters in that huge size would cost about $2000 each today. Center filters help even out the exposure on extreme wide angle lenses. Lens in barrel with water house stop set from F5.6 to F90, + 2 soft focus stop sets (similar to Imagon stop sets), + 4 blank stops, with manual slide shutter, New-old-stock, $2000. Also available in barrel with F45 fixed aperture mounted on Sinar lensboard @ $1500.
480mm F9 Rodenstock Apo Ronar, coated, barrel, stops down to F260, filter slot, 1/4" scratch front element, otherwise Ex, $200
480mm F9 Rodenstock Apo Ronar CL, coated, barrel with diaphragm and slot for filters, with slide in gel filter holder. The Apo Ronar CL is Rodenstock's best Apochromatic lens. It has 6 elements instead of4 like the Apo Ronar, the Apo Artar, the Apo Nikkor. The Apo Ronar CL is recommended for map making and other situations that call for higher resolution. Mint-, $600
480mm f11 Goerz Red Dot Apo Artar, coated, barrel, front reversing prism, the prism has protected the front element, Mint-, $650. I have the front cover ring for this lens. It screws onto the lens front and covers the external threads that the prism screws onto.
Plus lenses to cover 16X20 and 14X17" listed above
The 7X17 F&S banquet camera is just as well made as the 12X20 F&S, but with less competition, as Deardorff never made a 7X17. 7X17 F&S banquet cameras are all sold out. Below is a photo of a customer's 7X17 F&S that was sent to me for repair work. You will note that the camera needs new bellows. All of the bellows manufacturers have big negatives as well as positives. I am currently working on this problem. I have found a new-to-me and probably new-to-the-industry bellows manufacturer. I have received a sample bellows from this manufacturer that I am quite pleased with. I am awaiting a price quote. One of the problems with this manufacturer is that they will not install the bellows in the camera and are reluctant to install the bellows on the frames. Those are big negatives. Removing and installing the bellows on the F&S frames and in the camera is a really tedious job. Also, the bellows need to collapse enough to fit within the folded up camera and extend out enough for full extension and full tilt in the case of the front filt bellows. If the manufacturer does not accept the job of installing the bellows on the frames and/or on the camera they will not even know if they did the job right until they get feedback from the installer. I do know how to manufacture bellows, but it is not a job I relish. Hopefully I will not have to make the bellows for this camera.
While I am searching for a new bellows manufacturer with more positives than negatives, I am making some other repairs on this camera. The camera did not sit straight with the bellows extended because the rail was cracked and the bellows were stiff. It may be that the stiff bellows caused the rail to crack. F&S cameras are the best made vintage cameras. Even so, they have their weaknesses. One of their weaknesses is the rail. The rail on the F&S camera is usually made of a secondary wood. This rail was made of cedar. Cedar is a light weight wood, but it is not a strong wood and it is prone to splitting. I gave the customer a choice. I would replace the split member of the base rail section for $400 or I would remake the complete base rail section for $700. You may see a made-from-scratch F&S rail that I made for a 12X20 F&S a little way above on this page. In this case the customer opted to have me replace just the cracked rail member. The rail was well glued; I had to cut it apart. I was able to do this without losing any of the wood on the other base rail members. I used mahogany for this repair. I did not use just any old mahogany. I used some vintage mahogany that I purchased from Deardorff. I still have some of that mahogany in stock. After finishing to match as well as possible, it will in time match even better as the newly finished member develops an aged patina and gets some dirt ground into the side that rests on the tripod.
The 7X17 F&S bellows saga. The bellows manufacturer tried really hard to provide me with a fine set of bellows--and they did so within 4-6 weeks. Their bellows looked as good as their sample. They were very neatly attached to the bellows frames. However, even though I stamped a "T" to indicate "top" into the inside of the bellows frames and told the bellows manufacturer that those bellows frames needed to be installed in the same orientation, they were not. Also, the "perky" bellows material was wrapped around the inside of the frames--covering the screw holes. Those screw holes now angled in the wrong direction. And the front bellows did not collapse enough. These problems made the bellows impossible to install in the camera. I returned the bellows to the manufacturer. Actually, I was reluctant to have this manufacturer remake the bellows for me. The manufacturer did not return the old bellows to me and now I did not have those old bellows to give to another manufacturer to use as a guide. I knew that the manufacturer was experienced and capable; that is why I sent them the bellows in the 1st place. The manufacturer now had my money and my bellows. The manufacturer then took about 6 months and some serious prodding to get the 2nd set of bellows to me. This 2nd set of bellows has only a single light tight layer. There are no stiffeners nor is there an inner layer; they do collapse well within the confines of the folded camera and they were properly attached to the bellows frames. F&S banquet camera bellows are never easy to install, but because of my previous experience, I was able to install them as effortlessly as possible. Of course, I checked for light leaks after having installed the bellows. I found light leaks around the perimeter of the rear bellows frames. I suspect that the original camera had these light leaks because the bellows were properly installed using the original screws and screw holes. There was no caulk or felt or anything to prevent these light leaks on the original bellows installation. I solved the light leak problem invisibly. Here are some photos of the end result. The bellows were installed using original screws, screw holes, and bellows frames to preserve the integrity of this antique camera. I also sold the camera owner several lensboards that I made out of black plastic. The camera owner was from outside the US. He emailed to tell me he would be in NYC for 3 days. I did not even have time to total up the bill. I quoted him an approximate bill, which he paid immediately, and shipped off the camera to his hotel. Later I sent him a detailed invoice with a request for an additional $250, but I told him it was not mandatory. He sent the additional money promptly with a nice note telling me how happy he was with his camera--which he had already field tested. Such experiences with bellows manufacturers are common. This manufacturer stood behind their work. I have ordered from them since. There is another bellows manufacturer who will not accept any returns. I have ordered from them and may order from them in the future under some circumstances. But I am hesitant to do so. The last bellows they made for me were 12X20 belows. They were made out of multiple pieces of cloth. They reminded me of patchwork leather items made in the orient to use up scraps of material. Bellows should--whenever possible--be made out of a single piece of material. I was not happy with the bellows, but due to their policy had to accept them. However, it was that experience that sent me looking for a new bellows manufacturer. Another quite capable bellows manufacturer called me to ask if I really wanted all that bellows extension on the front 12X20 tilt bellows. I said that I did because that length of bellows was required to achieve full tilt. I had provided an extra 1/4" of space for those front tilt bellows in the 12X20 F&S camera that I had altered to provide additional extension. You will see that camera illustrated above a little ways on this web page. When I got that camera with new bellows installed back over a year later, I found that the manufacturer had not given me what I had asked for. The front tilt bellows were not made long enough and would not tilt to the maximum amount they were supposed to. After waiting over a year for the camera to be returned to me, I did not want to send the camera back to the manufacturer to have the bellows remade and reinstalled in the camera. I have used that manufacturer since, but each of the next 2 times I had problems with that manufacturer. There are no good bellows manufacturers in the US today. When I got a commission to complete the above listed 16X20 camera that I designed and built, I had to find a great bellows manufacturer. I did find one.....overseas. I have had them make 6 bellows for me. I now have the best bellows manufacturer I have ever worked with.
Custom tripod for 7X17, 11X14 or 12X20 F&S. See listing with photos under the 12X20 F&S listed above.
Original 7X17 F&S lensboard. Slightly smaller than 5" square. Between 125 and 126mm square. 68.8mm hole size. $70
newly manufactured out of Baltic Birch plywood, $50 each. 2 available.
2 fiberglass developing trays for 7X17", Ex, $90
See lenses to cover larger formats listed above
Beautiful Mahogany finish, as well made, if not better than any of the wooden cameras. Skyscraper design with extra tall bellows that allow 4.5" lensboard rise--w/o the bellows even moving! Rear swing and tilt. Great wideangle architectural camera. Also good portrait camera. The 8X8" lensboard will allow very large lenses like the 405mm Kodak Portrait lens to be used. 27" hinged rail, composed of 6" section and 21" section, designed to fold up with the camera in the most compact way possible. Weighs 20-21#. 6.5X18X22" folded. New bellows of the highest quality. Ex+/Mint-, $OLD. Accessories listed below. I will leave this up for your information.
11X14, 12X20 FOLMER & SCHWING HARDWARE. BED RAIL, FOCUSING KNOBS AND SHAFTS, LOCK KNOBS, GEAR RACK, SPUR GEARS, GEAR SHAFTS, etc. Specialized components from a F&S copy camera. If you are restoring one of several F&S cameras, many of these parts are likely to be compatible with your camera. The focusing knobs, lock knobs, gear rack and spur gears are compatible with the 11X14 and 12X20 F&S cameras I have had in stock. The wood base rail with gear rack is compatible with an 11X14 F&S camera with extension rails that I had, but not with the currently in stock tailboard 11X14 F&S. You get: almost 6' of 32 pitch gear rack, 8 32 pitch spur gears, 4 wood focusing knobs, 4 brass lock knobs, 4 focusing shafts, etc. $500 or $400 without the 4 brass right angle brackets, which I have a use for.
CASE for 11X14 F&S, made for Hinelight (on my lighting equipment list), perfect size for the camera, thin tough hard fibre case, interior partition will have to be removed, $250, consider buying a Hinelight @ $450 or $500 to get the case.
Custom tripod for 7X17, 11X14 or 12X20 F&S. See listing with photos under the 12X20 F&S listed above.
newly manufactured out of Baltic Birch plywood or black expanded PVC, $50 each. See photo above of an expanded black PVC lensboard on the camera with UDL attached.
11X14 FOLMER & SCHWING LENSBOARD, 66mm hole, Mint-, $200. This one is extra thick and would be a good candidate for an adapter lensboard.
8X10 F&S Skyscraper front standard. Stripped, appropriate holes filled, not yet completely assembled, all ready for final preparation and finish. Geared rise and fall + lock hardware present, lensboard retaining hardware missing. 10" wide by 15.5" tall overall. Accepts 7" square lensboards. Beautiful Mahogany. You cannot buy Mahogany of this quality today. $250
See lenses to cover 7X17 and larger formats listed above + some lenses on my lens list
14X20, 12X20 and 8X20 Deardorff backs available--listed under Deardorff--found below on this list. You will find illustrations of these backs there.
WHY CHOOSE the 8X10 KODAK MASTER VIEW: It's a lightweight and compact folding field camera, ~13#, slightly smaller than a Deardorff. It's a great wideangle camera, accomodating lenses as short as 47mm. Front and rear standards may be centered over bed so that the bed isn't in the way and centered camera is stable. It has 27.5" maximum extension. The film back is ventilated; the ground glass therefore doesn't need or have cut corners. The original 8X10 ground glass has clear lines delineating 5X7 and 4X5, clear center crosslines and clear diagonal lines. These clear lines allow you to see the lens aperture from the corners of the ground glass and to focus on the aerial image and aid in aligning vertical and horizontal subject lines. I have never seen a factory made 4X5 back for the Master view. Camera has gross front rise, geared front rise, front shift, front swing and tilt, rear swing and tilt. The back is reversible. There is a front tripod socket for use of a 2nd tripod or monopod to add additional support to the front end when using heavy ong focal length lenses. The original and properly made replacement bellows have bellows tabs that allow you to clip the bellows to hooks at the rear of the front standard to keep the bellows from sagging into the path of the image forming light. The camera isn't perfect, however. The lensboards are made out of a very soft aluminum that is difficult to machine. Kodak Master view camera lensboards are also extremely difficult to find. The slide locking bar for the lensboard rides on 2 tiny and fragile #2-64TPI shoulder screws--which are often missing. I recommend that the front standard be converted to take another lensboard.
8X10 Kodak Master view, with new heavy duty original color brown bellows, with original ground glass with lines for 5X7 and 4X5 and with diagonal lines going out to the corners that allow you to view the lens diaphragm along the diagonals. The camera back is an original KMV 8X10 back with new springs, new light trap felt and new paint. The camera has a new leather handle. The camera has been adapted to accept Sinar lensboards. This eliminates the major imperfections of the camera. Sinar lensboards are available new in any quantity and they will fit your Sinar camera as well as this Kodak Master view. Now you may have the best 8X10 field camera that accepts lensboards of the best studio camera. Isn't life wonderful! Lensboards priced separately. The next improvement I will make to this camera is to replace the 1/4-20TPI tripod socket with a 3/8-16TPI socket. One has to be made from brass stock to fit the camera. $OLD. I illustrate it for your education and to show you the front standard adapted to accept Sinar lensboards. This Sinar adaptation is available as a service--see below. Also, I make and install new leather handle coverings for your Kodak Master view.
A new leather handle covering made for your Master View and installed. This is hand sewn in place. No glue is used. See photos above. $75.
3/8-16TPI replacement tripod socket for your Master View which always came with a 1/4-20TPI socket when new, Mint, $150. I just made one for a customer. Although I am all sold out of these, I can make more on demand.
1/4-20TPI original tripod socket for your Master View. The buyer of the Master View ordered it with the 3/8-16TPI replacement tripod socket, so the original is now available. $100
5X7 Kodak Master view original ground glass, water damaged, $20 as is
An assortment of Kodak Master view parts: Rarely offered. 3 lensboard slide locking bar shoulder screws, 3 washers, 1 stop pin and 4 bellows frame screws. $120.
Kodak Master view lensboard slide locking bars, $50 each or $75 for the pair. You do not have to use these on the KMV. They would look good and work well on other cameras as well.
Kodak Master view lensboard lower hook bar and lensboard retaining cover bar, $80 for the pair. 2 sets available.
Master lensboards all sold. I do have an empty box. $20
Jack Deardorff "Aged to Perfection" at about age 68. Jack was the last of the Deardorff family to be actively engaged in camera manufacture. Jack is seen framed by a 12X20 Deardorff rear carrier frame. Jack is at his workbench in his last "factory" holding his last camera model, a 5X7. Jack was without a doubt one of the more interesting and knowledgable people in the camera business. Jack passed away at about age 70.
8X10 Deardorff NEW-OLD-STOCK (NOS) mahogany base for the latest Deardorff cameras. The base is constructed of some of the best wood available. This particular base is decades old, so the wood is even better than what is available today. If your Deardorff base is bad this is what you need. It is probably the only NOS one in existence. $400 for the base or $700 with the NOS base plate listed below. You save $100 by buying the base and the base plate together.
The NEW-OLD-STOCK (NOS) L. F. Deardorff & Sons, Inc. parts that I currently have in stock will probably be the last that I will be able to get. In the 1st photo you see a deep incised Deardorff logo base plate with 3/8-16TPI hole with 1/4-20 TPI insert with insert screwdriver and set of screws. I bought this Deardorff logo base plate in the early 1990's from Deardorff. I still have the receipt. This Deardorff logo base plate is the latest and greatest and is available for $250. In the 2nd image are ground glass spring clips--available at $25 each. In the 3rd image are spring shackels for 11X14" and banquet camera backs illustrated beside an 8X10 back so you can see that they are larger than those supplied for an 8X10, @ $35 each.
Below are photos of an 8X10 Deardorff that I refinished. This camera was built in the 1940s. The front swings were added later. The bellows are some that I installed about 10 years ago for this customer; they look like new. The base was badly scratched when the camera came to me. There were other problems. New parts were supplied where needed and available. Used parts were also used where new parts were not available. In the last 3 photos you see the refinished camera next to a 1970 model that has not been refinished. Note the differences in the color of the finish. Deardorff stains his cameras then coats them with stain in the top coat in order to even out the differences in wood color. The result is a more evenly colored camera, but the beauty of the grain is hidden. Mahogany is a beautiful wood. Why not show it off? I no longer refinish cameras. I do restore and repair cameras. See some Deardorff items below that I have restored and scattered throughout my web pages find some cameras that I have restored.
4X5 Deardorff Triamapro, field camera, no rangefinder, wire finder with peepsight, original light tight leather bellows, 19" bellows extension, revolving spring back, folding focusing hood, front rise/fall, forward and backward tilt, swing, shift, geared wideangle focusing of front standard inside body (not on front bed) via knob on side of body, front bed drop, front bed also tilts up for additional front rise, double bubble level on camera top, original leather side handle is like new, 3 tripod sockets, very tight camera--shows virtually no wear from use, with copy of original Triamapro literature from Deardorff. Deardorff's best designed and best built camera. I understand the appeal of a beautiful wooden Deardorff, but cameras are for taking pictures. This camera does a better job. $1800
Wood baseplate, used, vintage finish crazed, wood edge damaged, separation along one diagonal line from corner to center, $50
2 Baby Deardorff reversible back pins. They just happen to be taped to the back of a Baby Deardorff lens board envelope. Envelope stays with the lens board. NEW-OLD-STOCK, $20
Baby Deardorff lensboards listed below with other Deardorff lensboards
Deardorff ground glass retaining clips with screws, nickel plated spring phosphor bronze, will fit any size Deardorff camera, NEW, $25 each
8X20 Deardorff back. Note that the wood and the finishing is by L. F. Deardorff & Sons, Inc. The SS hardware is by Deardorff. The springs were made by GLENNVIEW according to instrcuions by Jack Deardorff. SOLD. I leave this listing up for your information.
Ground glass focusing panel for 12X20 Deardorff back. Made by L. F. Deardorff & Sons, Inc. SOLD. I leave this listing up for your information.
14X20 Deardorff backs, the last ones made--from vintage parts dating from the time of Merl Deardorff, the springs are unplated, w/o ground glass, NEW. All banquet camera backs have now been $OLD. Why 14X20? It is the largest format that will fit the Deardorff 12X20 camera. Each to his own format. Deardorff made this format back for one customer (Kenro Izu) and made 2 and 1/2 extra ones for whoever might want them. This one customer is a very highly respected photographer and he thinks it is the ideal format. Dearforff only made 2 16X20 field cameras and their whereabouts are unknown for decades. Deardorff isn't going to make another 16X20 camera. This is as close as you can come to a 16X20 Deardorff today. I bought the 2nd and 3rd 14X20 backs + the front half for the only 3 and 1/2 14X20 backs Deardorff made, and these are probably the only 3 and 1/2 14X20 backs by any manufacturer in existence. Note: I only have the front half of a 14X20 back left. Illustrated with an 8X10 Deardorff back for size comparison. Not just the last such NEW parts available anywhere, but aside from Izu's camera back and what I have already sold these are the ONLY SUCH PARTS EVER PRODUCED BY L. F. DEARDORFF & SONS, INC.. I bought the last Deardorff banquet camera backs in the Deardorff inventory. I had 8X20, 12X20 and 14X20. Some of those were sold back to the company that bought rights to the L. F. DEARDORFF & SONS, INC. name. Others went to individual photographers. But alas, they have now all been sold. I leave this listing up for your information.
I was testing a lens. I was having trouble focusing the lens. I switched to a Deardorff GG. Focusing was much easier. It was the GG. The other GG looked good, but simply didn't perform well. Deardorff has been in the business for decades. He knows view cameras. He knows suppliers. He supplies a quality product. Once, when Deardorff was out of GG, I ordered a GG from Wisner. Wisner's GG performed well, but Wisner didn't inform me that they had different thicknesses of GG available. Wisner simply gave me a price on their least expensive and thinest GG in order to make the sale. Deardorff's GG is full thickness and is less fragile. Also, Wisner will only sell GG with square corners. I needed GG with cut corners. Wisner does not sell GG with cut corners because there is risk in breaking the GG when cutting the corners. Wisner allows you to bear that risk. Deardorff cameras and most wood cameras require cut corners because the wood turns up at the corners. Also, most photographers prefer GG with cut corners so they may see the lens aperture. With most lenses, if you can see the full circular aperture from the GG corner, the lens will cover that corner.
GROUND PLASTIC. I am now making my own ground plastic in any size. See my VIEW CAMERA ACCESSORIES web page.
Sinar GG is listed on my Sinar web page. Linhof GG is listed with Linhof cameras and accessories on this web page. Generic GG is listed on my View Camera accessories web page.
All Deardorff lensboards are new-old-stock original L. F. Deardorff & Sons, Inc. lensboards unless otherwise noted. A lens board with the size hole you want already bored in it is more valuable than a blank lens board. Boring holes in wood lens boards is difficult to do neatly. How many crudely bored or jig sawed or hand filed lens boards have you seen. To do it right and to do it neatly requires operator skill and professional equipment. THE MOST VALUABLE LENS BOARD IS THE LENS BOARD BORED TO ACCEPT YOUR PARTICULAR LENS.
Baby Deardorff lensboard with an about 52mm hole + flange screw holes and a little bit of corner damage on the back side only. $40.
Baby Deardorff custom lensboard, stained and painted plywood, uncut, $30
Deardorff metal plates for use with Baby Deardorff or any other wood lens board. These were purchased by me from Deardorff. Both have an interior hole size of 34.5mm for #0 shutters. These work better with shutters with jamb nuts than do wood lens boards--which would have to be counterbored + they would be weak. These will be largely hidden behind the shutter. The larger one has a 70mm outside diameter. The smaller one has a 58mm outside diameter. One is NEW-OLD-STOCK in envelope with screws @ $50. The smaller one is used, without screws @ $30
4x4" square-cornered lensboard, 68.25mm #3 Alphax hole, Ex-, $40
4.5x4.5" square-cornered lensboard. NEW, $65
4.5x4.5" round-cornered lensboard, #3 hole, NEW, $95
6X6 square-cornered adaptor lensboard, accepts 4.5x4.5" square-cornered Deardorff lensboards, with Deardorff gold painted hardware, Mint-, $150
6X6 round-cornered lensboard. Baltic Birch plywood lens board for Deardorff. 87mm hole size with solid brass mounting screws. $50
6X6 round-cornered lensboard, #5 Ilex hole size. Flange not included. Add $50 for the flange. 85.5mm hole size. The board is counterbored on the rear to 109mm diameter. $125
Remember....the most valuable lens board is the lens board bored to accept your lens. When boring lens board holes, some lens boards will be ruined...even when the work is being done with the best equipment by the best operator. It is inevitable. Mahogany is beautiful, but fragile.
6X6 round-cornered lensboard, #5 Compound 99.5mm hole size. This lensboard came in with a 300mm Imagon lens mounted in a #5 Compound shutter. Solid brass screws included. These screws should fit the holes in your #5 Compound flange perfectly. $125
6X6 round-cornered lensboard, #5 Compur Compound 97mm hole size. Flange not included. $125
Deardorff to Sinar adapter lensboard. Originally this was a Deardorff 6X6" to 6X6" front mount Packard shutter housing and extension. This Packard shutter housing was in pretty bad condition and would no longer mount onto a Deardorff camera, but that did not matter for this purpose. I milled the rear of the Packard shutter housing, plugged numerous holes, and added a Sinar lensboard to the rear, using machine screws that go through the wood into threded holes in the metal, making for a very secure connection. I could have adapted this Packard shutter housing to virtually any camera. I have sold this item, but if you supply me with a Deardorff Packard shutter housing I can adapt it to your camera. I have Sinar and Linhof Kardan and many other lensboards in stock, but you may want to or have to supply your own lensboard for the camera you want the Packard shutter housing adapter to. Price will be about $200 for the labor, depending upon the work involved, which will vary with different cameras. In the last photo you see it mounted on a Sinar Norma, which requires more clearance than a Sinar P.
6X6 round-cornered aluminum lensboard, 67mm hole, $180. This lensboard could be made into an adapter lensboard or it could hold a very large and heavy lens that a wood lensboard would not safely hold.
6X6 round-cornered 6" deep recessed lensboard, designed to accept 4.5" square reducing lensboard--included, NEW, $200. If it is too deep for your needs, it can be shortened. Note: since this photo was taken, the lensboard was dropped. One corner has been damaged, so now it is only $100.
6X6 square-cornered 2"-recessed lensboard, 52.5mm hole (Compur #2), with #1 shutter metal reducing plate with screws. $150
Deardorff lensboard rise lock hardware. This probably fits all sizes of the Deardorff camera. For sure it fits the 8X10 Deardorff. NEW. Set of knurled and tube, $25
4X5 Deardorff image dividers, 2 sets available available, $50 per set
Shakles, for 4X5 cameras, used on the camera back to hold the springs, will clean up. Used. $25 for a set of 4, 2 sets available
Ground Glass spring clips, for all formats. Used ones sold. New ones still available for $25 each
Deardorff camera leather handle with retaining hardware. 6.75" long. Used. Still usable. The hardware will accommodate handles 11/16" wide (where the handles go through the hardware). You can find new handles and new hardware, but it will not be the same size, shape and appearance as the original Deardorff parts. $30
Rivets for Deardorff leather handles. NEW. 4 for $10
Deardorff large format back parts. Pins are .136" diameter and about 1 3/8" long. The short, rounded posts are 1/4" in diameter. $40
Deardorff adapter screws. Converts 3/8-16TPI socket to 1/4-20TPI socket. 2 different vintages, all Deardorff. These mount from above. They go through your existing 3/8" mounting socket and sit about flush with the bottom of the bed plate. You can see one mounted on the Deardorff bed plate near the beginning of my Deardorff listings. NEW. $25. $15 for the brass adapter screw. The Brass one has the center hole slightly off center, but it functions as intended.
Vintage Deardorff 1/4-20TPI base socket for Deardorff cameras with no base plate. Brass. This mounts from above. It goes through the bed and sits flush with the bottom of the bed. Used. $35
Deardorff base plate screws. Stainless steel. NEW. Set of 16, $10
Deardorff bellows and reducing back screws. Blackened. Set of 12, $12
On a visit to the L. F. Deardorff & Sons, Inc. factory at 315 S. Peoria Street, I was given this offcut--waste from the manufacture of a revolving reducing back. Although a byproduct of camera manufacture, Deardorff did not consider it worthless because they finished it. It was given to me as a good will gesture. I stashed it away wrapped up in a 1985 newspaper section from the Chicago Tribune. Just came across it. It is 1/2" thick, 7 1/4" diameter, with a 4 3/8" square hole. You are looking at an oblique view of it showing that the inside and outside edges and the face are finished with the Deardorff camera finish. Tongue and groove joinery, of course. Mahogany, of course. $50
L. F. Deardorff & Sons, Inc. Baseplates. The one on the left is also illustrated below with the majestic head and above with some other new-old-stock Deardorff parts. This is the only Deardorff Baseplate I have seen with such relief in the lettering. I bought this baseplate from the Deardorff factory in the 1970's; i still have the recipt for it. A decade or 2 later I bought dozens of Deardorff baseplates like the one on the right. I sold many of those on Ebay until a camera store bought out my remaining inventory. The Deardorff baseplate on the right shows very little releif in the lettering. The one on the left has a 3/8-16TPI threaded socket with a 1/4-20TPI threaded insert. It comes with a custom screwdriver (supplied by Deardorff) for removing the reducing socket. Both baseplates come with a set of attachment screws. Both baseplates are new and unused. The baseplate on the left is $250. the baseplate on the right is $100.
Majestic head customized, idealized for use with 5X7 or 8X10 Deardorff. The 6X7" platform has 4 screws added to it that keep the Deardorff base plate centered + 2 pieces installed in the camera screw slot that keep the 1/4-20TPI camera screw centered. These alterations make it easy to attach a Deardorff to the head; without looking, place the baseplate onto the head and tighten the camera screw. No more fumbling to center the camera and locating the camera screw into the baseplate! The Majestic head is quite sufficient for the 8X10 Deardorff camera. The crank tilt is good to have for a heavy camera. That 5 7/8" diameter Deardorff base plate is NEW-OLD-STOCK and is listed on my VIEW CAMERAS web page. This head is designed to clamp down upon a 1.5" diameter shaft. I offer a T-adapter that allows you to use the head on virtually any tripod. $220 without the T-adapter or $300 with T-adapter.
Calumet C2 Reducing back plate, made of black anodized aluminum with attachment screws, with Korona Foto-Roll 70mm film back attached. It would be easy enough to convert this to a 4X5 reduction back by removing the rollback and installing a 4X5 back. I do not have a C2 to try this on. I believe it is for a C2 because the C2 is the only camera I can think of that has those attachment screws. The plate is 11 11/16" square, the moat on the front side is .339" wide, and the attachment screws are 10-32TPI. The Foto-Roll has possibilities. It has a film plate with slots for the film that could serve as a film guide for a 70mm camera. The shell itself would make a good 120 or 70mm rollfilm panoramic camera body. You get a C2 reducing plate, a sliding back, 6X9 ground glass, 2 ground glass clips, 70mm rollback. Lots of possibilities! $100
6X9cm and 4X5" view camera, International backs in both formats accept Grafic or Horseman rollholders and other accessories, 350mm monorail, 350mm extension, 2 lensboards, 4X5 regular bellows, 6X9cm regular bellows, 6X9cm bag bellows, calibrated controls with zero detents, 40mm rack & pinion fine focusing front and rear with depth-of-field scale, 83mm rise/fall front and rear, 70mm shift front and rear, 30 degree swings front and rear, 60 degree base tilt front and rear, yaw free, instruction book, system accessories book. The 6x9cm camera is one that was sold and returned as new to Calumet. It is not quite Mint, but close. I bought the 4X5 rear carrier frame new from Calumet. The 4X5 regular bellows and the 6X9 leather bag bellows are used, light tight bellows. The lensboards are used. This is an ideal camera for use with a digital back. The standards will touch each other with no bellows installed; you will have no trouble using short digital lenses on this camera. $2200
4X5 format change kit for 23SF, includes 4X5 carrier frame with international (Graflok) back, tapered bellows, plugs into 23SF rear standard bearer. I bought the 4X5 rear carrier frame new from Calumet. I bought the 4X5 back used in like new condition. The 4X5 regular bellows are used, light tight bellows. $500
Lensboards for 6X9 Cambo cameras. Various vintages. The one on the left is marked in pencil on the rear that it is for a Hasselblad adapter; this one is $50. The one on the right is a Crown Grafic adapter lensboard; this one is $125. The other lensboards are $25 to $50 each.
4X10 format change kit for 23SF, includes 4X10 carrier frame with 4X10 spring back, tapered bellows, plugs into 23SF rear standard bearer, a GLENNVIEW product, made upon demand. $1600 minimum, depending upon bellows.
CAMBO 4X5 MASTER, THE MOST PRECISE VIEW CAMERA I HAVE EVER WORKED WITH. 16" rail, regular pleated bellows, lever open ground glass back, L-frame standards, geared focusing front and rear, geared shift front and rear, geared rise front and rear, variable axis swing and tilt front and rear, depth of field scale, all movements calibrated, incredibly precise glass-smooth movements, many accessories available--listed below. This is a really high quality camera. You know I am a Sinar fan, but I would take this camera over a Sinar P; it is much better built. Note the 40mm scales in 2 places on the GG focusing panel. Also note the 40mm vertical scale between the L-standard and the carrier frame. You may position the tilt axis anywere within that 40mm range. You may also swing on an off axis vertical line up to 35mm left or right of the GG center line. Sinar first came up with off axis, but fixed, tilt and swing. The Cambo Master takes it one step further--allowing you to decide where that tilt should be located. At nearly 14# w/o a lens, this camera is extremely solid. It is also tight. There is no excess play in any of the movements. There is a lever open GG so you do not disturb your settings while inserting the filmholder which really is not needed on this camera, but it is nice to have just the same. The tilt is so tight that a tilt lock is not even supplied--or needed. The bubble levels are set into grooves machined into the camera--assuring proper adjustment. There are at least 2 versions of the Cambo Master; this is my favorite. In the last image, the GG back is tilted upon a line 40mm below the center line and swung upon a line 35mm to the right of the centerline. $700
4X10 format change kit for 45N or similar cameras with 1" square monorail, includes 4X10 carrier frame with 4X10 spring back, tapered bellows, rail riding rear standard bearer with friction focusing drive, a GLENNVIEW product, made upon demand, Ex+, $1500
Calumet/Cambo Legend front standard, bubble level missing, from 8X10 camera, knobs say "Pro 3D" instead of "Cambo," Mint-, $200
Calumet/Cambo C-168 4X5 ground glass back, New in box, $200, another, Mint-, $175
Calumet/Cambo SC2/3/4 4X5/5X7/8X10/45N and all current Cambo cameras MC adapter lensboard, with 2 MC lensboards to fit it, one with 68.8mm hole, one with 81.5mm hole, all 3 with extra screwholes, otherwise Ex, $80
Calumet/Cambo SC2/3/4 4X5/5X7/8X10/45N and all current Cambo cameras lensboard, bored for #1 shutter, Mint-, $40 each
Cambo SC3 5X7 board to fit the rear standard and possibly the front standard. Use this as a lensboard or to make a reduction back for the rear standard. $100
Cambo SC2 4X5 rail rider, fully functional, designed to ride on a 1" square monorail, upside down because it would sit flat that way, $65
Cambo SC2 parts, $20
SC1/2 end cap for vertical riser rod, black plastic with vertical grooves with brass threaded insert. Although for the black model, will fit the grey model. $25
SC1 (maybe also for SC2/3/4) set of 2 end caps for vertical riser rod, anodized black Aluminum with 3 horizontal grooves with threaded end. Although for the grey model, will fit the black model. $35
SC1 (6X9cm format) parts, $130
SC1 6X9cm leather bag bellows, for earlier SC1's, a little tight on the current 23SF, Mint, $175
SC1 6X9cm bellows frame, for earlier SC1's, a little tight on the current 23SF, $35
SC1 6X9cm lensboards, black, for earlier SC1's, a little tight on the current 23SF, new, $75 each
SC1 6X9cm lensboards, black, for earlier SC1's, a little tight on the current 23SF. From left to right: 65.68mm or 2.585" hole size, $40. 52.51mm or 2.061" hole size, marked in pencil on back "121mm Super Angulon" $50. 47.13mm or 1.855" hole size, $30.
SC1 adapter lensboards: on the left is one marked on the back side "Hasselblad adapter" $50. On the right is an SC1 6X9cm adaptor lensboard that accepts Crown Graphic lensboards. Both lensboards are or earlier SC1's, will fit later SC1's, a little tight on the current 23SF, Crown Graphic lensboard and flange not included. $125
Black SC1 6X9cm carrier frame, with screws that hold the bubble level on, but without bubble level, $100
Black SC1 6X9cm carrier frame with connecting arms to mate with 4X5 SC2, with screws that hold the bubble level on, but without bubble level, $150
Bellows support for Calumet/Cambo SC2/3/4 4X5/5X7/8X10/45N and other cameras with 1" square monorail, $35 each as illustrated. If you want me to install new felt, add $10 each. If you want me to send you a piece of felt cut to fit, with self-stick backing, that you will install, add only $3 each.
A little known great feature of the Crown Graphics is that the inside the body front standard storage track is actually a focusing track that is coupled to the fold-down bed focusing track, allowing you to use wide angle lenses with relative ease. This camera deserves more credit than it receives. It is actually a fairly precise machine compared with your average wooden field camera. After all, wood expands and contracts with changes in humidity and warps too. You can achieve far greater precision tolerances with metal because you don't have to allow for such changes as wood undergoes. Linhof made a wooden camera around the turn of the century, but soon realized the limitations of precision in wooden cameras. This applies to wood and metal cameras in general.
4X5 Graflex Crown Graphic, top mounted rangefinder/viewfinder, Graflok back with Fresnel lens, body release, flashgun bracket, handle mounting brackets but no handle, no cam, no lens, with lensboard, $OLD. I leave it up for your information.
Graflex Vulcanoid Handicase, cat. no. 4268, 9X11.5X18.5" long, 6 compartments for press or field camera, film holders, accessories, lightweight hard fiber. Shown with 4X5 Crown Grafic and accessories--not included. Ex+, $60
Graflex Vulcanoid Handicase, 9X13.5X20.25", 3 compartments for 5X7 press or field camera, film holders, accessories, lightweight hard fiber, with key. Shown with 5X7 Technkia III and filmholders--not included. Ex, $60
Crown Graphic to Grafic View 4X4" adapter lensboard, will fit some other cameras, Meridian B, etc.
Graflex optical viewfinder, Ex, $40
"The all new SUPER GRAPHIC", very nice 9.5X17" 12 page color brochure, Ex+, $70
As SLR's with a lookdown viewing screen and sufficient bellows extension Graflex camera's are ideal macro cameras as well as great portrait cameras. I like them because you may mount other lenses on them.
Instruction manual for 5X7 Graflex Home Portrait, copy, 4 pages, $20
lensboards for 5X7 Graflex Home Portrait, made out of highest quality Baltic Birch plywood, $50 each undrilled. 3 for $100. 3 in stock.
5X7 Graflex film pack adapter, could be converted to a ground glass focusing panel, Mint-, $50
4X5 GRAFLEX/SINAR/GLENNVIEW camera with 20" maximum bellows extension. Actually, I could make it into a 33" maximum extension camera with a 2nd bellows, an intermediate standard and a 13" extension rail. The customer asked for a Graflex camera capable of use with a 305mm Kodak Portrait Lens on a Sinar lens board. A Sinar Alpina with 2 rear standard bearers to support the heavy 4X5 Graflex was the best choice for this project. Fine focusing is done with the Sinar rear standard focusing knob on the rail right side. Gross adjustment of the front standard is possible. Swing and tilt of the front standard is also available. The customer said "Hey Glenn, I have the camera. It is exactly what I was looking for! Thanks so much! Stay safe and well."
I love Graflex cameras, but they are designed for flexible young eyes. My eyes will no longer focus close enough to use a Graflex as designed. I made an alternative viewer for this beautiful Super D for a customer with similar eyesight. The camera was unaltered. In the 2nd image, I made a magnified viewfinder for a Graflex 3A.
Graflex 45 RH8 120 rollfilm holder, 6X9cm for 4X5 camera, 2 available, Mint, $350
Graflex 45 RH12 120 rollfilm holder, 6X6cm for 4X5 camera, Mint, $200 Note: RH22 can be converted to 6X7 or 6X9 by enlarging the window in the shell and replacing the insert with 6X7 or 6X9 insert
4X5 Graflex cutfilmholder, one available, needs replacement of a piece of wood (that the hinge tape attaches to) and hinge tape, and painting, definitely repairable. $20 as is
Top hinged hood and top handle from 4X5 Auto Graflex, handle holddown straps need replacing, otherwise Ex, $25.
31/4 X 4 1/4" R. B. (revolving back) Graflex Super D, coated 152mm Kodak Ektar with automatic diaphragm, factory original bi-post synch terminal, ground glass back, 34RH8 6X9cm 120 rollfilm holder, 5 sheetfilm holders, flashgun with reflector and synch cord, instruction book, newly cleaned, lubed and adjusted shutter with viable curtain, camera, Mint-, glass Mint, $800 Note: Assuming that you prefer to use the 6X9cm rollback, unless you want to use a wider focal length lens, the 3X4 camera is superior to the baby Graflex because the lens has an automatic diaphragm--a significant advantage. The longer lens is also better for portraits. The camera accepts rollbacks and Polaroid back listed below. The camera also accepts the Verito lens (SOLD) and the 250mm Tele-optar lenses listed below. Do not be afraid to cut down film; given a world class trimmer like the Kutrimmer (I have one available on one of my darkroom lists) or even a simple and inexpensive, but well designed Dahle Cutcat it is easy to cut film to size. A camera like this makes it worthwhile. The image, "Starry Night" was inspired by Van Gogh's "Starry Night;" it was made with the Verito with the special diaphragm, and, yes, it is completely out of focus--purposely. This camera also accepts a 250mm F5.6 Graflex Tele-Optar. Listed below is a lensboard and jamb nut for this camera and that lens.
Polaroid back for 3X4 Graflex, Ex+, $200 Note: it is not possible to put the Polaroid film plane in the camera film plane without altering the camera. Very neat adaptation; Polaroid back doesn't interfere with revolving back nor does it interfere with mounting the camera on a tripod, but does require a simple focus adjustment, that is, you turn the focus knob back 1/3 turn before exposure.
Original lensboard with jamb nut for 250mm F5.6 Graflex Tele-Optar and 3X4 Graflex, $100. Just for your information, this lens screws right into a 2X3 Graflex front standard.
Graflex folding focusing hood, not for the 3X4 Super D, but probably for a 3X4 camera, dimensions illustrated, Ex+, $50
6X9 Grafmatic, 2 available, Mint-, $100 each. These 6X9cm Grafmatics fit both the Graflex back and the Graphic back. Illustrated on both types of backs. This is unusual; in virtually every other instance, Graflex and Graphic backs and accessories are not interchangeable.
6X9 Grafmatic, locked up, needs repair, complete and cosmetically Mint-, $50. The inner cassette may be pulled out, but the darkslide may not be pulled out to access the septums.
Copy of "Graflex and Grafic Focal Plane Shutter Photography," enlarged to 11X14, $40
"The All American Cameras......A Review of Graflex" by Richard P. Paine, 77 pages, Ex, $45
Ed Romney's "Graflex camera Repair Text," under 50 pages, Ex+, $15
New front surface mirror for any Graflex, installed, interior vacuumed, $175-225 postpaid, fully insured, via UPS in the lower 48 US.
Instruction Manual for Graflex cameras RB Super D, RB Series B, also earlier models including Series B, RB Series D, Auto, RB Auto, Auto Jr., RB Tele, RB Jr., Original, 29 pages, Ex, $50, copy, $20
with 58mm F5.6 Konica Hexanon lens in modern all black Copal shutter mounted on lenscone with 6X9cm Grafic rollholder and Konica optical VF. the most compact camera possible; the rear of the body is smaller than the rollback, tapering from the rectangular rollback to the circular shutter. Focused at the Hyperfocal distance of 15', the image is in focus from 4' to infinity @ F22, 2' to infinity @ F45. Lens is very soft at larger apertures and very sharp at smaller apertures, moderately sharp inbetween; where else can you find a soft focus wideangle lens. An excellent segmented panoramic camera--5 images gives you 360 degrees. Weighs only 2#! Lens and VF are Mint-, body is Ex+, $500
8X10 TTI reflex viewer and grid lined focusing screen with Fresnel lens. The reflex viewer is 10.5X12" at the camera end. The reflex viewer is made of aluminum with a fitted plastic light shield and a front surface mirror is $OLD. The grid lined focusing screen with Fresnel lens is $150. I converted the copy head to an 8X10 enlarger. See my 8X10 Enlargers, Enlarging Heads, etc. web page for details.
Front tilt hardware, perhaps from a Seneca 8X10 camera--usable on many different cameras. $50.
Seneca 8X10 camera corner spring clips for attaching camera back, $50.
Seneca 8X10 camera backsprings, set of 4, $80.
DEARDORFF camera backs listed above in this list under Deardorff
11X14 to 8X10 Gundlach very high quality mahogany back, no GG, all hardware missing, wood separating at some joints, except for some paint splatters the finish is pretty good yet, 16 7/16" square, 8x10 back 12 1//16 or 12 1/8" square. This also looks like the way Korona made their backs. The 8X10 ground glass frame is solidly glued. $150
11X14 to 8X10 Deardorff mahogany reducing plate only. Reducing back has been removed, 4 pins present, 4 pins missing, 17" square. 8 1/4" square hole. Beefy: the older quality mahogany is 1" thick. Reminds me of a story Merle Deardorff told me about how Deardorff camera bought mahogany bars during the war in order to have the wood needed to build cameras. $100
11X14 to 8X10 B&J reducing plate only. 8X10 back has been removed, all pins present and in proper position, 16 1/4" square. 10 11/16" hole. 11 1/16" rabbeted hole. Closeup shows the unusual shape of the pins. All hardware present. $125
10X12 GG frame only. Mahogany, with solid glued corners, w/o GG, w/o GG clips, $90. Ground glass clips listed under Deardorff cameras above on this page.
8X10 metal ground glass frame with just one ground glass clip. More gg clips listed under Deardorff cameras above on this page. Aluminum with aluminum oxide corrosion. $90
8X10 3# view camera with pinhole lens. Originally designed to be a wood adapter back for a smaller format Japanese view camera. Light weight and compact. Although illustrated with a ground glass, the ground glass was removed after measuring the distance from the front of the back to the ground glass at all sides and corners; it is consistent at 135mm. In use, the ground glass is extra weight and a liability. The bellows are light tight. The camera is air tight too; I tried to unfold the camera with a filmholder in place, but the vacuum prevented me from doing that. This component just begs to be built into a special camera. Several ideas come to my mind. I added a high quality pinhole lens to the camera; the angle of view is about equivalent to what you would get with a 20mm lens on a 35mm camera. The image quality is almost as good as what you would get with a Goerz Hypergon. The pinhole lens is taped onto the camera with painter's tape--which does not leave tape residue. Another possibility for this camera is to use a camera lens in shutter of about 150mm on a short extension lens board. This camera with pinhole lens weighs under 3# and collapses to about 2" thick. To take the image that I did, I collapsed the camera, rode a bus downtown, unfolded the camera and set it on a wide flat stone railing to make the required 8 second exposure. Pinhole lenses provide near infinite depth of field. Pinhole lenses provide absolute rectilinearity. The camera with the pinhole lens is $1000.
5X7 wood back from a process camera, ~1.75" thick frame (if you are building a camera such as an ultralight or a "handy type", consider this because the beefy rear carrier frame is built-in, an integral part of the back), very well made with finger joint construction, w/cracked GG, all hardware present. I put this to use in a 5X7 camera with Hypergon lens that I built for a customer. The beefy construction made the job easier because there was lots of good solid wood to work with. The rear view shows the Filter holder that I added. A filter holder is necessary on a Hypergon lens camera in order to slow down the exposure. With a 2 part exposure required, about the shortest exposure you can utilize is a 3 second exposure. The last 3 images show how I machined the camera to space the lens properly from the film plane and align the lens with the film plane. The ground glass will not be utilized with this camera because the Hypergon aperture is so small and the light falloff so great. The clamp unit I utilized is listed on my TRIPODS web page
4X5 Graflok back. Below is one mounted on a frame that could be useful for building a Handy type camera. A Fresnel lens is included. $250. This is the last "traditional" 4X5 Graflok back that I have.
4X5 Graflok back, from Sirchie Police mug shot camera. The Graflok back itself has been sold. I still have the 2-up black anodized sliding frame available. You get 2 verticle images about 2.25X4" in size side by side. You only see one at a time with the sliding feature of the 2 part back. You could ad a Graflok back and use it for its intended purpose or you could use it as a picture frame. It would be great for a Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hyde dyptich. Disassemble it and both images will be visible at the same time. $50.
4X5 Grafic spring back for press camera, with GG, Ex+, $65
Ground Glass and folding focusing hood retaining clips. 2 types available. The pair on the left is $25. The pair on the right is $35. Add $5 for 4 new stainless steel screws if needed.
Arms and springs for 4X5 Graflok back. $40
8X10 to 3 1/4X4 1/4 F&S back, 10 5/8" X 11 1/2" OD, designed to provide rise/fall, shift and about 30 degrees rotation, beautifully made, no GG, $100. GG is held on by washers with screws holding the washers; 3 washers and screws are missing. This back will clean up nicely with elbow grease; it need not be refinished. Beautiful Mahogany wood and brass hardware. The 2nd image by Martin Konopacki is of a similar back that he used as a picture frame.
6X9 Galvin Graflock back on steroids, will accept Graphic and Horseman rollfilm holders meant for a 6x9 back w/o the need to remove the GG back, with GG, outside dimensions 5X5", illustrated with 23RH10 rollback (not included), the spring does not obstruct the rollholders advance lever, new, $80. Will accept a 6X9 Grafmatic (not included). Will even accept a very thick 6X9 Graflarger back (not included)!
6X9 B&J spring back, with ruled GG, folding focusing hood, some rust on metal GG retaining frame, easily cleaned up, $35
Find other backs listed under camera brand names, Toyo, Super Cambo, Sinar, Linhof, Deardorff, etc.
Polaroid MP4 Special ground glass, with inch markings and metric markings, for sizing your image, also with 3X4 Polaroid markings and 4X5 Polaroid 545 markings, Mint-, $70
Quality 4X5 ground glass. $20 per sheet. 10 sheets or more for $10 each sheet.
DOES YOUR VIEW CAMERA NEED REPAIR? DOES YOUR VIEW CAMERA LEAK LIGHT? DOES YOUR VIEW CAMERA BACK NEED A BAIL? I repair view cameras. Through out my web pages you will see cameras and other camera equipment that I built. You will also see cameras that I repaired. Here is another repair I made for a customer. He bought a new Canham camera and had light leaks. He sent me scans of his negatives. I analyzed the source of his light leaks and recommended a solution. He had light leaks at the film holder and camera film seat interface on his 8X20 camera. He sent me his 8X20 Canham wood back. The Canham camera is very well made, but it is a lot to ask of a 20+" long wood film holder and wood film seat to be light tight. Even Sinar and Linhof metal cameras have a felt light trap on their camera backs. I added a light trap seal to the camera back. I recessed the wood where the light trap seal was placed so that insertion of the film holder would not damage the light trap material. I left wood around the interior of the film holder seat for the film holder to rest firmly against. This way the light trap material is only partly compressed by the filmholder ensuring that the light trap material maintains its loft. I charged $400 for this repair.
While making the repair I noticed that the Canham camera has a very strong spring tension. It would be very difficult to open the Canham camera back without moving the camera out of position. The back needed a bail. I recommended this to the customer. He agreed that it was difficult to open the Canham camera back without moving the camera out of position. I charged $400 to add the bail to the camera + anodizing of the parts. Click on the images to see enlarged images of the finished black anodized parts.
Universal view camera accessories may be found on a separate page, View Camera accessories.