It's a 9x12 plate camera. The Avus was the middle-grade model between the Vag and the Bergheil; as far as I know it always comes with a Skopar lens. You have front rise/fall and shift but no further movements (the silver knobs on the front standard). It looks like a fairly late model to judge from the rimset Compur shutter---late 1920s or early 1930s, probably.
I don't see any film holders in the pictures (oops, edit: and you mentioned not having any); they can be bought separately sometimes, but probably the easiest way to find them is bundled with another camera (this is a major reason for so many of us to have a ton of plate cameras).
That back isn't original; the original ground glass backs say "Voigtlaender" across the diagonal. Does it have glass in it?
These are pretty simple cameras, and as long as the bellows doesn't have leaks and the shutter works, you should be in good shape. The Skopar is a Tessar-type lens, perfectly good for most purposes, especially for large format.
-NT
From what little I know, it doesn't seem to be a Tessar type. I've taken the front elements off and they appear to be sandwiched not separated by air. But maybe I'm not able to see it clearly.
Voïgtlander Avus plate cameras exist in 6,5X9, 9X12 and 10X15.
There are two 9X12 vertical models, made from 1914 to 1935; and yours is the later.
As far as a Zeiss lens on a Voigtlander camera, I would expect that the lens was replaced at some point, as Voigtlander cameras came with Voigtlander lenses. However, I hesitate to say "always," because you have to leave open the possibility that the camera was ordered with a Zeiss lens.
Please can you measure the width of the focussing screen, accurately, in millimetres?
9x12 cm is the measurement of the opening for the image area, exactly.
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ICA didn't make lenses -- just cameras. It used a third party to supply lenses, including Carl Zeiss Jena.
The thing that is suspicious about my ICA camera is not so much that it has a Zeiss lens as the fact that it is a bottom of the range camera with a Zeiss Tessar lens and compur shutter - I would have expected it to have had a more humble optic... either an ICA badged 'Helios' or a Geortz anastigmat or something similar.
As far as a Zeiss lens on a Voigtlander camera, I would expect that the lens was replaced at some point, as Voigtlander cameras came with Voigtlander lenses.
It is a Tessar type. I went through some trouble when I wanted to clean the front and second element. I had to use a friction tool to unscrew the retaining ring for the front element. I hate this kind of lens mounts.From what little I know, it doesn't seem to be a Tessar type. I've taken the front elements off and they appear to be sandwiched not separated by air. But maybe I'm not able to see it clearly.
It is a Tessar type. <snip> <snip> <snip> Now the Skopar is clean, but I didn't find it sharp enough for my taste (sample variation, as many Skopars are very sharp)
I don't know if my mind is thinking the prevailing thoughts or if I'm out on my own limb, but I have this stigma about the very old camera manufacturers that were still around until just a few years ago, and Voigtlander being the first manufacturer, it is rather nostalgic for me. So, what I'm trying to say is I'm going to leave it stock with the Skopar lens unless I can find an upgrade in the Voigtlander line.
I'm thinking about making a couple of bayonets that I can use with the other lenses I have.
If somebody were to sell such bayonets, I'd buy them. I've got a bunch of lenses that I'd like to try, but I'm simply too lazy to make them myself.
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