Kodak Plate Camera

Justin Cormack

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retrophotographic dont stock plates in that size (half plate). The ones they do have might fit vertically in half plate holders or they might not. They are very expensive too. Most people use film stkcj to glass instead.
 
OP
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digiconvert

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Justin Cormack said:
retrophotographic dont stock plates in that size (half plate). The ones they do have might fit vertically in half plate holders or they might not. They are very expensive too. Most people use film stkcj to glass instead.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that , I had misread the retro site. As you say they stock half plate film ( the slavich plates are eye wateringly expensive !) presumably I get glass cut to size and place this in the holder with film on the front, how can you stick the film to the glass without affecting processing ?

Cheers ; Chris
 

David H. Bebbington

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This looks like a quite good example of what is otherwise known in the UK as a Kodak Specialist II (there was also a Mark III which was (IIRC) a monorail). Desirable accessories include the bolt on extension rail (present in this case) and the 4x5" back (not present). The format of the back offered here is half-plate (6 1/2 x 4 3/4"), the spring back of the camera will accept 1/2-plate, 5x7" and 13x18cm filmholders (same outside dimensions in all cases). The holders with the camera are more likely to be for film than plates, if for plates they might have film inserts in them, there is little time to ask the seller, who seems in any case to be unskilled at measuring! A quite solid camera (if in good order) - obviously the seller does not know enough to answer questions. I have used one of these in the 1960s.

Regards,

David
 

roy

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I have a couple and expect to start using them in the coming weeks now that I have some chemicals on the way. Half-plate film is obtainable from Retro, as you know but I have yet to ascertain if it is cut to exact dimensions or cut to fit into half-plate holders. Film holders can often be bought at camera fairs. I have several but do not know if they are all in a workable condition. The additional back, if with the camera, will give you
1 : 1 reprodUction. You might try MXV as they often carry several sizes of fim holder.
 

Ole

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Half-plate film is supposed to fit in half-plate film holders, so it's cut a tiny bit smaller than half-plate plates. That's so that it will fit inside the film adapter sheaths for plate holders, which have the same external dimensions as the plates.

At least that's the way it works all the way from 6.5x9cm to 8x10"!
 

roy

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Ole said:
Half-plate film is supposed to fit in half-plate film holders,
Click to expand...

I know Ole but I was once supplied with a box of film cut to the nominal size. It was however, replaced with one to fit.
 

Nathan Smith

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Considering the lens, this could be a good buy. You may well be able to buy or adapt 5x7 and 4x5 (excuse me, 5x4 ) backs for which film is more readily available. I have not seen one of these cameras, but I know B&J backs are an easy adaptation for 5x7 Eastman 2D's -- and they're painted gray already!

 

Jerevan

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I'd take a chance with it. As Phototone suggested, I'd be surprised if it was a plate camera, if it made as late as 1940-ish. And if, in the end it really is, there's always a way to get it to work.
 

David H. Bebbington

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Just to emphasize again - you do NOT need to buy a new back to make this camera work. At most you need to buy new 5x7" filmholders, which will fit the existing back!
 

Ole

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Will someone please buy it now before I do? I already have a 5x7" / 13x18cm / half-plate camera, a 13x18cm plate camera and a 8x10" camera with 5x7" and half-plate (plate) backs, and would have a serious problem explaining this one to my wife.
 

David H. Bebbington

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Ole said:
Will someone please buy it now before I do? I already have a 5x7" / 13x18cm / half-plate camera, a 13x18cm plate camera and a 8x10" camera with 5x7" and half-plate (plate) backs, and would have a serious problem explaining this one to my wife.
Click to expand...

Temptation will be with you for a while yet, Ole. It's been re-listed and in answer to a question, the seller says the holders are for sheet film, so it's a complete outift ready to go!

Regards,

David
 

roy

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Will someone please buy it now before I do?
Click to expand...


I suppose I could always add it to my two !
 
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