2 1/4 x 3 1/4 press camera

[abruzzi]

I know technically this isn’t “large format” but this seems more in keeping here than in the medium format section...

I was at a garage sale today, and there was a very good condition Busch Pressman 2.25x3.25 camera for sale. I played around with it and everything seemed to work, but I didn’t buy it because I didn’t know anything about this little thing.

It seems to be a bit of a rarity, I don’t know that I need it, but it seems like it would be fun to play with, and they weren’t asking much for it.. Unfortunately it didn’t have film holders, and availability of cut film seems almost nothing (Freestyle has Arista 100 and 400 and Ilford FP4+ and HP5+.)

- I see film holders on eBay, but I don’t know about compatibility. Are different brands interchangeable?
- I’ve seen at least one mention that cutting up 120 film in 3.25 inch segments isn’t an option, as 120 is too wide. is that correct?
- can any roll film back be adapted to this camera?
- the lens is a 105mm f4.5 Voigtlander Anastigmat Skopar lens. Is there any information on lenses that are compatible?

 

[shutterfinger]

I know technically this isn’t “large format” but this seems more in keeping here than in the medium format section...

A dedicated 120 roll film camera is medium format, a 2x3 that takes sheet film is large format.

I see film holders on eBay, but I don’t know about compatibility. Are different brands interchangeable?

2x3 double sided sheet film holders will fit the camera.

can any roll film back be adapted to this camera?

There are slip in roll film holders that may work, the focus panel of the spring back will have to be removed to mount a roll film holder and retainer clips made to secure the rfh to the camera. The rangefinder will have to be calibrated to the lens mounted on the camera for accurate focusing.
101mm and 105nn Kodak Ektars come to mind. There should be a verity of lens that will work.
That dial set Compur shutter and Anastigmat lens are from the 1930's, the body may be from the 1940's or 1950's. I do not know the years of Manufacture for Busch Pressman cameras. They were also sold as (Sears) Tower Press.
The 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 is a C, the 4 x 5 is a D.
http://www.cameramanuals.org/pdf_files/busch_model_c.pdf

 

[jim10219]

I have one, though it has a different lens. Judging by the lens board, that’s probably not the original lens. It’s called a Busch Pressman C, and they’re not that rare. I use mine as a 6x9 camera and shoot 120 roll film with it using an Adapt-a-Roll 620. With the Adapt-a-Roll, you don’t need to make any modifications to the camera. You can load regular 120 film into it, but you have to use a 620 as the take up spool. If you develop your own film, it’s not a big deal. If you send your film out to be developed, ask them to send your take up spool back so you don’t have to keep buying them. It’s a fun little camera to use, and the rangefinder and sports finder make it pretty useful 6x9 handheld camera. The biggest issue with it, besides figuring out a way to use film with it, is finding lens boards for it.

You can also cut down 4x5 film for it, if you want to use sheet film (roll film won’t lay flat and would be more difficult to use). Some people also shoot Instax Mini film in those sheet film holders. That requires a small modification to the holder, and you have to put the film back into an Instax camera to develop them. Or come up with some other way to smoothly squeeze all of the chemicals onto the film.

 

[Ian Grant]

I have one with a 105mm Ektar, I'd disagree with Shutterfinger it's definitely not a large format camera Mine will take Graflex roll film backs, I use an RH10 which is 6x7, but you can use an RH8 6x9 as well.. A major downside is lens boards aren't readily interchangeable, they are secured by four large screws on the model shown so while easy to change at home not practical in a working situation.

The rangefinder only works with the standard lens, you'd need to make your own lens boards, easy enough they are plain aluminium with rounded corners.

The Skopar is just an uncoated 1920's or early 30's Tessar type lens off a 6x9 Voigtlander camera, it'll be quite a reasonable lens but with less contrast than a coated Ektar, it's probably not the original lens.

Ian

 

[Dan Fromm]

I've had a 2x3 Pressman, sold it and standardized on 2x3 Graphics. The 2x3 Pressman is a nice little camera, in some ways nicer than the comparable Graphics (Century, 2x3 Crown), but apparently held down by small and hard to find lens boards and a spring back that makes using commonly available roll holders impossible.

Ian didn't explain how he uses Graflex backs, but other users have reported swapping their 2x3 Pressmans' spring backs for 2x3 Graflex-made Graflok backs. And that solves the roll holder problem. Jim10219 mentioned Adapt-A-Roll 620 roll holders. These are insertion types. I use them with my 2x3 Graphics, prefer them to Graflex roll holders. Another solution to the roll holder problem. Busch made an insertion type roll holder that uses 120 film for the 2x3 Pressman. Completely unfindable.

OP, your Pressman has a Kalart rangefinder that can be adjusted -- painfully, and not in the field -- for a range of focal lengths. Mine had a Hugo Meyer RF that was good for only one focal length, Ian may have been thinking of that one.

OP, tastes differ. I like system cameras, i.e., cameras that can be used relatively easily with more than one focal length. This is why I got my Graphics. But and however, I use a normal lens with them more than any other. If you want to shoot 2x3 with a camera that offers modest movements -- more than the equivalent Graphic, but still modest -- and can use only a normal lens, go for it. If you want a 2x3 system camera with a rangefinder that's good with only one focal length, get a Graphic. If you want a 2x3 system camera with useful movements and an RF that's good for multiple focal lengths get a Horseman.

 

[Ian Grant]

Dan, my Busch Pressman has springs that hold a Ground glass screen holder, film/plate holder or Graflex roll film back in place. These may have been later conversion items, I'm not sure.

My understanding is the Kalart range-finders need different arms for different focal length lenses and it's the Hugo Meyer range-finders that have far more adjustment, at least the one I have does.

Ian

 

[abruzzi]

Thanks all for the info. Whether the camera is worth $100 will probably depend on how much it would cost to get the other bits to make it useful. I could just buy some film holders and content myself to shooting HP5 and FP4, but roll film would not only give me more choice, but would be easier to process since I’m already processing 120 at home, and I wouldn’t have to tray process (I’m not sure what other processing options are out there.)

 

[shutterfinger]

My understanding is the Kalart range-finders need different arms for different focal length lenses and it's the Hugo Meyer range-finders that have far more adjustment, at least the one I have does.

Kalart or Hugo Meyer rangefinders have a different actuating arm for each format camera body. One each for 2 1/4 x 3 1/4, 3 1/4 x 4 1/4 and 4 x 5.
Hugo Meyer rangefinders on cameras sold in the U.S. are for one focal length only with enough adjustment to accommodate the variance of the nominal focal length. I have adjusted a 135mm HMRF for a 127mm lens before, the 127 was closer to 129 or 130 in actual focal length.
The Kalart can be adjusted for 101mm to 105mm in 2x3 format, 120mm to 165mm in both 3x4 and 4x5 formats according to the table in this instruction manual http://www.cameraeccentric.com/html/info/kalart_1.html
Without the original factory specs its hard to say definitively what the limits are based on a few examples as the range may have changed over time for Hugo Meyer but Kalart stayed the same.