5x4 camera

Hi,

I apologise now for not knowing what I am talking about!. My sister
has written a PhD about a 1970's photographer who used a 4x5 inch wide
format press camera and I wanted to buy her such a camera for her 30th
birthday. I am not sure what 'press' means but if it means a
professional standard then I don't think it needs to be a press one.

I am not sure exactly how much she will use it - I certainly dont want
to pay the prices of the new professional ones I have seen. I have
found some vintage (1940s and later) examples on the american ebay
website which are about £150 for ones that they say work, if a little
stiff etc.

I am not clear whether these working cameras are purely working
collectables or you could get the negatives (or plates or whatever you
need) to be able to actually use them.

What I would like is a nice looking camera (e.g
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...tegory=15 247)
that she could use, although probably not very often.

I would be willing to pay up to £200ish. Do you think I could find
such a thing?

Sophie

Yes, you should be able to find one. What you have
referenced on the Ebay site is a Pacemaker Speed Graphic,
first introduced in 1951 and made for some years. "Press"
means the type of camera used by newspaper photographers.
They don't use them any more; switched to 35mm and now digital.

Here is a website which links to dealers; they may all be in
the U.S., but should get you started.

http://www.graflex.org/speed-graphic/where-to-get.html#

Bill Yowell



Soph wrote:
Hi,

I apologise now for not knowing what I am talking about!. My sister
has written a PhD about a 1970's photographer who used a 4x5 inch wide
format press camera and I wanted to buy her such a camera for her 30th
birthday. I am not sure what 'press' means but if it means a
professional standard then I don't think it needs to be a press one.

I am not sure exactly how much she will use it - I certainly dont want
to pay the prices of the new professional ones I have seen. I have
found some vintage (1940s and later) examples on the american ebay
website which are about £150 for ones that they say work, if a little
stiff etc.

I am not clear whether these working cameras are purely working
collectables or you could get the negatives (or plates or whatever you
need) to be able to actually use them.

What I would like is a nice looking camera (e.g
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...tegory=15 247)
that she could use, although probably not very often.

I would be willing to pay up to £200ish. Do you think I could find
such a thing?

Sophie