Folding Camera Question

[Darryl Roberts]

Hi, this may, to you, be a stupid question; can a folding camera like this, comfortably, be rotated and used as a landscape aspect?

Thank you.

 

[Dan Daniel]

Yes. Looks like a 6x4.5 camera, actually. So the position it is in in your photo is 'landscape' mode and with the front door to the side it will give you portrait mode. Open the back and check the opening for the film.

Most cameras are relatively stiff mechanism driven by internal springs and such. Orientation can make a difference, sometimes in surprising ways, but in general spin and shoot however you need to and the camera will take care of itself.

 

[MattKing]

I don't see any viewing aid on that camera.
The effectiveness of that is what tends to determine for me how "comfortable" it is to use these sort of cameras.

 

[Alex Benjamin]

It's a Welta Perle. As other 645 cameras, you can use it any orientation you want.

Some info here: https://connealy.blogspot.com/2014/06/welta-perle.html

 

[Alex Benjamin]

Digging a bit more, found there was also a 6x9 model.

Good info here: http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Perle

 

[Alex Varas]

I have done photos with folding camera in vertical position. If it’s a 6x9 it will have a tripod thread in the opening gate.
For the smaller 6x4.5 as that Pearl I use small plumbing rubber for sealing tubes for helping me to keep the camera vertically and stable.

 

[henryvk]

I've shot a frame or two "vertically" with a Zeiss Ikonta 6x45 with the little pop-up finder similar to the one on the Welta. It felt a little unusual at first but framing was actually much more accurate than I would have expected. Maybe not a bad idea to have a simple crosshair painted or etched onto the fron lens of the viewfinder (as one sometimes sees with these kind of finders), though, to help with orientation.

 

[Donald Qualls]

I've got three 6x9, a 6x4.5, a 6x6 with 6x4.5 masks, and two 35 mm folders. I use all of them in both vertical and horizontal format, just as I would a solid body camera. Changing orientation does require changing your grip (because the bed changes between one side and underneath), but I won't find it makes things harder or easier...

 

[Sirius Glass]

View attachment 340366 Hi, this may, to you, be a stupid question; can a folding camera like this, comfortably, be rotated and used as a landscape aspect?

Thank you.

In a word? Yes

 

[Radost]

All my folders are 6x6.

 

[guangong]

I've got three 6x9, a 6x4.5, a 6x6 with 6x4.5 masks, and two 35 mm folders. I use all of them in both vertical and horizontal format, just as I would a solid body camera. Changing orientation does require changing your grip (because the bed changes between one side and underneath), but I won't find it makes things harder or easier...

My lineup is similar, only I prefer the handling of 67 to 69, although 69 is probably a more useful format. One “folder”, Makina 67, I find a little nose heavy but its solid construction allows a firm grip. Again, no problem with vertical/horizontal orientation.

 

[Donald Qualls]

I prefer the handling of 67 to 69

The only "folding" camera I have that can shoot 6x7 is my Century Graphic, which with its 2x3 Graflok mount can shoot 6x4.5, 6x6, 6x7, and 6x9. I have only a single lens for it, a 101/4.5 Ektar, however, so it goes from normal to portrait length as smaller frames are chosen. And yes, I can and do shoot both horizontal and vertical framing with it (unless it has a 6x6 back mounted, of course).

 

[ozphoto]

I have a Kodak Brownie Junior 620 folder (6x9) and happily use it in both portrait and landscape situations. Love it - simple to use and the Ektar lens is incredibly sharp!

 

[dave olson]

I have my Fuji 6x7/6x6, no need to turn it.