Gandolfi Whole Plate Camera Photos

Anton Lukoszevieze · Sep 6, 2007

Hi
here are some jpegs of my Gandolfi Whole Plate camera which I bid fanatically for on a well known auction site. It belonged to a commercial photographer who had lots of funny stories about life as a photographer in the 1950's. He bought the camera from the Gandolfis in 1958 in delightful Peckham, London, notable for being where William Blake saw an angel once..... Anyway, it works, is used, but not abused, and a joy I must say. I cannot stretch to the 8000 dollars + for a new Ebony(!). It has a lot of movements and is very solid and smooth to use. Much more sophisticated than my Kodak 2D and Korona 5x7 cameras. It also comes with a fine 5x4 back made especially by Gandolfi and is also only 3.5 inches think when folded up. Lastly, it is not heavy at all. Thought people would be interested given the current flurry of interest in whole plate. I'll upload some images taken with it soon, just waiting for the multi-million expensive film holders to come.............
So there you have it.
Anton

Roger Hicks · Sep 6, 2007

Lucky Anton!

I'd rather have the Gandolfi than an Ebony anyway. You know Gandolfi can also supply a 5x7/13x18 back for it...

Have fun with it. I'm sure you will.

Cheers,

Roger

Anton Lukoszevieze · Sep 6, 2007

Gandolfi

Thanks Roger,

actually it was your Medium and Large Format book that got me interested in whole plate size. You talk of it being such a fine and well proportioned format. To begin with I cut some paper to 6.5x8.5 inches and stuck it on my wall and compared it with my 5x7 and 8x10 contact prints. It is to my eyes a finer format size.

Anton

Steve Smith · Sep 6, 2007

Harry Hollis said:
actually it was your Medium and Large Format book that got me interested in whole plate size. You talk of it being such a fine and well proportioned format. To begin with I cut some paper to 6.5x8.5 inches and stuck it on my wall and compared it with my 5x7 and 8x10 contact prints. It is to my eyes a finer format size.

When I first set up my darkroom, the only paper I had was 6.5" x 8.5". I agree that it is a good ratio and size. I prefer it to 8" x 10".

I have that book too.

Steve.

markbb · Sep 6, 2007

Roger Hicks said:
Lucky Anton!

I'd rather have the Gandolfi than an Ebony anyway. You know Gandolfi can also supply a 5x7/13x18 back for it...

Have fun with it. I'm sure you will.

Cheers,

Roger

Can't say I agree wth you, Roger. I've compared an Ebony side-by-side with a Gandolfi, and the former is far more 'steady'. Of course, the Gandolfi could have been a poor example.

PS I live in Peckham!

Anton Lukoszevieze · Sep 6, 2007

wobble

My Gandolfi doesn't wobble!

Roger Hicks · Sep 6, 2007

markbb said:
Of course, the Gandolfi could have been a poor example.

I think it must have been. I've never put the two side by side, but I've handled quite a few Gandolfis and a few Ebonies. I remember the Ebonies as heavier, and more complicated, but I'd not hesitate to use a Gandolfi for any kind of photography, and it strikes me as a lot more elegant.

Presumably you're not planning on moving to Andover, then outside...

Cheers,

Roger

Ole · Sep 6, 2007

markbb said:
Can't say I agree wth you, Roger. I've compared an Ebony side-by-side with a Gandolfi, and the former is far more 'steady'. Of course, the Gandolfi could have been a poor example.

PS I live in Peckham!

It must have been a poor example - the only camera I've handled that is steadier than my two Gandolfis was the 13x18cm Linhof Technika, which outweighed both Gandolfis together...

Sal Santamaura · Sep 6, 2007

Harry Hollis said:
...Lastly, it is not heavy at all...

Would be interested to hear the exact weight if you ever put it on a scale.

Now get out there and shoot with it. Ilford's next special order period will roll around in approximately 1/3 year; buy lots of film!

Anton Lukoszevieze · Sep 6, 2007

weight

Sal

I will attempt to weigh it on my digital weighing machine.....and let you know.
I don't like Ilford film (well Pan F yes, but HP5 and FP4...yuck) is that awful?
I have a lot of NP 100 asa whole plate film. I like this film, seems like Fomapan, which I also like. I may eventually try to get a special order of Adox or Fomapan whole plate sheet film from Berlin.
Well, I have enough now for the Autumn. Will be shooting next week.
Let the whole plate renaissance continue. Seems like a totally logical and historically 'correct' format to me, don't know why it fell out of general usage really.....

Anton

Anton Lukoszevieze · Sep 6, 2007

Gandolfi weight

Sal

it weighs 3.2 kgs.

Feels a lot lighter than my Kodak 2D 8x10! Fits nicely in my rucksack too.

Anton

Roger Hicks · Sep 6, 2007

Harry Hollis said:
Sal

it weighs 3.2 kgs.

Feels a lot lighter than my Kodak 2D 8x10! Fits nicely in my rucksack too.

Anton

Dear Anton,

For those unaccustomed to Godless Commie Measures you should have added that this is almost exactly 7 lb.

Cheers,

Roger

Anton Lukoszevieze · Sep 6, 2007

ah yes,
well, just trying to aid our friends across the Atlantic.
I am normally a feet, inches, lbs and stones chap.......

Roger Hicks · Sep 6, 2007

Harry Hollis said:
ah yes,
well, just trying to aid our friends across the Atlantic.
I am normally a feet, inches, lbs and stones chap.......

Dear Anton,

Oh, bugger! I missed out there! I should have said, "Almost exactly half a stone." Then no-one outside the UK would have understood.

Cheers,

R.

Justin Cormack · Sep 6, 2007

Ah I saw that camera on that site and hoped it would find a good home.

davekarp · Sep 6, 2007

Looks beautiful.

Gandolfi Whole Plate Camera Photos

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