Field camera

Baseboard cameras are cameras whose front standard can be moved on rails along an opened drive tray ( Frame with lens).

There have been usually amateur cameras and press cameras whose main use was in the years around 1910 to 1940, ie before the time -mm film. The film format most commonly used for baseboard cameras is the sheet film 4 " x 5" (10.16 cm x 12.7 cm).

The dimensions of a bed camera are in the collapsed state approximately that of a paperback book. From the vertical posture ( to loop or occasionally on the strap ) a page is moved down to 90 degrees by mostly a release button is pressed, and the baseboard at two hinge struts is locked exactly in the 90 - degree position to the camera. On the baseboard, the lens together with its standards holder can then push out. The bellows unfolds. At the lens is usually the sighting device, usually a small mirror with magnifying glass. The better run ground cameras also allow a high adjustment of the lens out of the optical axis ( "Shift ") to hold the small distortion of vertical lines in architectural photography. Further adjustment may pivoting and shifting the lens standard or the film plane (eg Linhof Technika ).

The advantage of this design is a compact and relatively lightweight body provides good protection for bellows and mechanics and still has a view camera adjustment.

Before the advent of 135 mm cameras the ground running cameras for dedicated amateurs were the most important photo device. Today, modern baseboard cameras are used as a portable professional cameras mainly for architectural and landscape photography.

Numerous adjustment of the front and rear standard

When closed bellows and lens are protected

• Camera