I've been offered this Korona camera, need advise

removedacct1 · Jan 19, 2015

I've been offered a Korona C-1 8x10 Ground Camera, apparently a military-specific model, with film holders and a Schneider Kreuznach Symmar convertible f5.6 lens (210 converts to 370) The seller has not yet told me what price he wants for it, and searches on the web for a similar camera haven't been helpful in establishing a value. Can anyone advise me what a reasonable price is for such a camera? Thanks.

Jon Shiu · Jan 19, 2015

Hard to say without knowing the condition. Check the bellows to see if they are worn in the corners, or stiff or crumbly. Check if the back is 8x10. Check if the rear extension rail is included. Check that the standards move smoothly on the rails. I believe it is just a regular Korona 8x10 made for military contract, like the Kodak 2D was also.

Jon

shutterfinger · Jan 19, 2015

The military nomenclature is meaningless unless you are a military equipment collector. All branches of the government gave a camera an identification number according to the type of photography the camera was set up for. A camera for portrait work would have a number while the same make and model camera with a different focal length lens for say landscape work had a totally different number.

The value will depend on condition, lens included, and accessories such as film holders or extra lens boards.
+1 to post #2. Check that the movements are smooth and the wood base and standards are in good condition, screws not missing, no stripped screw holes, no cracks in the wood, no pieces missing out of the wood. Minor nicks and scrapes are common and unimportant unless an excessive amount exists. The Ground glass should be present and not cracked. The back springs should have 7 to 15 pounds of pull to open sufficiently to insert/remove a film holder.

removedacct1 · Jan 20, 2015

I haven't seen it in person yet - just been shown photos. Yes, it comes with 4 or 5 standard 8X10 Lisco film holders. I listed the lens in the OP. Yes, there is a lensboard.

shutterfinger · Jan 20, 2015

I was referring to additional lens and/or boards. There is one vintage Korona View 8x10 on ebay completed listings that sold for $330. The Symmar will be good at 210 and ok at 370 which might be good for portraits, normal for 8x10 is 300mm. Completed listings for 8x10 film holders is $40 to $80 each so it sounds like the kit is in the $600 to $800 range for very good condition. Test the shutter on 1 second and 1/2 second with the second hand of a wrist watch, easy to tell if they are close or not. 1 second should be .8 to 1.2 seconds; 1/2 second should be .4 to .6 seconds. Trip the shutter just as the second hand reaches a second mark. Check the lens for scratches from cleaning.

ChuckP · Jan 20, 2015

I don't think a 210 Symmar will cover 8x10 that well. Probably Ok if you just do close focus work.

Fotoguy20d · Jan 20, 2015

FWIW I think my 8x10 Eastman 2D is a type C1.

Dan

shutterfinger · Jan 20, 2015

Looking at https://www.schneideroptics.com/inf...arge_format_lenses/symmar/data/5,6-210mm.html the 210mm f5.6 is designed for 5x7 format and has a 297mm image circle @f16 which will for plenty of movements on 5x7 but may vignette on 8x10 which has a 322mm diagonal, 25mm more than the lens covers.

https://www.schneideroptics.com/info/vintage_lens_data/large_format_lenses/symmar/

removedacct1 · Jan 20, 2015

Thank you for the information, but the seller has decided not to offer it to me, since I wanted a landscape camera and I get the impression he doesn't want his camera used for such things.

LJH · Jan 20, 2015

shutterfinger said:
Looking at https://www.schneideroptics.com/inf...arge_format_lenses/symmar/data/5,6-210mm.html the 210mm f5.6 is designed for 5x7 format and has a 297mm image circle @f16 which will for plenty of movements on 5x7 but may vignette on 8x10 which has a 322mm diagonal, 25mm more than the lens covers.

https://www.schneideroptics.com/info/vintage_lens_data/large_format_lenses/symmar/

Schneider uses the actual image area of 194x245 and 312.5mm for 8x10, rather than the nominal 322mm that you mention. Some refer to the usable area as only 305mm.

Still, as you pointed out, still more than the lens covers with Schneider's "acceptable" sharpness (rather than simply illumination).

shutterfinger · Jan 20, 2015

Figures based on Schneider's web site as linked to and Large Format Film Holder Specifications : http://home.earthlink.net/~eahoo/page8/filmhold.html (save the page to your HD for further reference).

wy2l · Jan 21, 2015

"the seller has decided not to offer it to me, since I wanted a landscape camera and I get the impression he doesn't want his camera used for such things."

I find the statement very interesting...

darkosaric · Jan 22, 2015

wy2l said:
"the seller has decided not to offer it to me, since I wanted a landscape camera and I get the impression he doesn't want his camera used for such things."

I find the statement very interesting...

Me too . The seller is obviously emotionally attached to the equipment, for good or bad - but interesting indeed. I was reading that one famous photographer (can't remember the name now - Winogrand?) told his wife that after his death his Leica must go in the hands of the shooter, not collector.

removedacct1 · Jan 22, 2015

darkosaric said:
Me too . The seller is obviously emotionally attached to the equipment, for good or bad - but interesting indeed. I was reading that one famous photographer (can't remember the name now - Winogrand?) told his wife that after his death his Leica must go in the hands of the shooter, not collector.

I can understand it to a point, but this person had to get the camera out of a closet where it had been stored for nearly twenty years to evaluate it for salability. How "emotionally attached" can you be to a piece of technology you haven't even handled for twenty years?? I mean, this person broadcast the information that he had the camera for sale, so he obviously wanted to let it go. Picking and choosing who gets to have it based on how it was to be used seems silly to me. At least I wanted to use it, not just set it over the fireplace to impress guests.

removed account4 · Jan 22, 2015

OP

you might go to EBAY and look at past auctions/completed auctions
it will give you actual market value.
for both the camera and lens and film holders..

good luck !
john

shutterfinger · Jan 22, 2015

Possibly another party or relative spoke for it after it was offered and you had talked to him.

I've been offered this Korona camera, need advise

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