Press camera

In a press camera is generally understood as a camera in the roll film format for use by members of the press such as magazine reporter or court reporter. Such cameras are designed from the beginning of the 20th century and used to in the 80s. They were from then on handier miniature cameras and the end of the 20th century, this in turn supplanted by DSLRs. Existing cameras of the last series are alive and well today because of the image quality for still motifs are more older collectibles.

Historical Background

With the widespread use of photography in the 20th century, the demand for photos for magazines and newspapers grew. The then relatively poor film emulsions require actually cameras in larger negative formats, such as large-format cameras, if you wanted to obtain a good image quality. Despite the progressive spread of small format photography was seen still a need for shooting in larger formats.

Conventional large-format cameras with two mounted on a base standards in the design of an optical bench were only very limited suitable due to their bulkiness and weight for portable use for reports.

Therefore, the press cameras were developed that (usually roll film with 6 x 7-6 x 9 cm) were significantly more compact, durable and lighter than large format cameras with large format film.

Technical structure

This reduction was achieved through various measures, although not all were found at each press camera:

  • More crate as an optical bench, the lens often retractable
  • Closer distance between film and lens by other objective statement
  • On a front standard has been omitted, or it was a cover in front of the lens used, which was folded down and on the inside a rail had, on the then the lens standard could be moved ( the so-called baseboard, see large format camera ).
  • Robust framework that mitschützt also the lens
  • Focusing not on a ground glass screen at the rear standard, but by means of an optical viewfinder (or even by estimation )
  • Waiver of adjustment as Standartenverkippung and shifting
  • Handles or the like to make the camera without a tripod handle

But nevertheless remained Press Kamers sophisticated devices with extensive possibilities. It could be even more focused by focusing screen often, there was flexibility in the used films ( by changing magazines ) and the lenses were mostly interchangeable.

Despite these limitations, the press cameras were still great, which is why they were increasingly replaced by this in comparison to small -screen or medium format cameras. More or less last survivor is the Linhof Technika.

Some representatives:

  • Mamiya Universal and Mamiya Press
  • Plaubel Makina
  • Graflex Speed ​​Graphic
  • Graflex XL
  • Rapid Omega
  • Zeiss Ikon Ideal 225
Rollfilm Field camera
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