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

Sophie,

"Back in the day" when I worked in a studio, we used a half-dozen of these
daily
for all sorts of work. It's a solid, reliable workhorse of a camera.
In fact, if I were to take up 4x5 again this is one of the first camera
types I would
look for. I should think your sister would be delighted with one.

Henry Bibb

"Soph" wrote in message
om...
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