One-shot Cameras... any resources?

holmburgers · Dec 8, 2011

Anyone know more about the Mitsumura-Bermpohl Process?

In 1939, Mitsumura imported a Bermpohl Naturfarbenkamera (tricolor camera) from Germany and Kitazumi was given the task of exploring its use as a part of the color printing process. In the years leading up to Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, Mitsumura imported two additional tricolor cameras, National Photocolor Lerochrome and Devin Tricolor, from the US. These cameras were used by Mitsumura to develop a photographic printing process which they named the Mitsumura-Bermpohl Process (MBP).

From Genzou Kitazumi's wikipedia article.

holmburgers · Dec 8, 2011

From Kitazumi's grandson (interesting discussion about him on the yahoo! group), "I believe MBP process is a part of offset printing process in which color separated negatives are directly transferred to glass plates as screened positives thereby reducing the intermediary steps required in older processes. Less intermediate steps resulted in better transfer of halftone values."

holmburgers · Dec 8, 2011

Bermpohl One Shot Cameras.

http://www.vintagephoto.tv/bermpohl_img.shtml

BobCrowley · Dec 15, 2011

This is the best one man thread I've read in a while. Quite a compilation. It's very tempting to delve into this with modern materials. If color film becomes extinct, this will be the Rosetta Stone.

holmburgers · Dec 16, 2011

Hey Bob, thanks very much!

I completely agree with you about the demise of color film... and that's probably one of the biggest reasons for starting to think about how to make one of these awesome cameras.

I guess we should've studied that one at GEH a little closer when we had access to it...

holmburgers · Feb 27, 2012

Curtis Color-Scout & Devin 6.5x9cm Tri-Color Camera

Two gems on eBay currently, and I took the liberty of copying the photographs and preserving them here.

Here is a manual for the Devin -> http://www.cameramanuals.org/booklets/devin_tricolor.pdf

holmburgers · Feb 27, 2012

Devin Diagram

The light path...

holmburgers · Mar 4, 2012

The above Devin camera just sold on eBay for $1500, even though it's mainly just the skeleton.

I bet with $1500 you could construct a working prototype of a 3-color camera, optimistically.

In the pictures above you can see that there are provisions for fine tuning the placement & parallelism of the reflectors. Trying to build the mirrors right into the body without some kind of adjustable frame would be futile, don't you reckon?

When was the last 1-shot camera made? Consider the advances in machining since then! I bet a CNC machine could eat a 3-color camera for breakfast. National Photocolor still exists and can do custom pellicles. A 5x7" one appears to be only $250.

Fun to think about...

MaslowsBinary · Jul 5, 2020

Did anyone manage to build a oneshot? I'm currently trying to figure out how to build one based on the Bermpohl Naturfarbenkamera and would love to ask some questions if you have.

jkf · Aug 23, 2020

MaslowsBinary said:
Did anyone manage to build a oneshot? I'm currently trying to figure out how to build one based on the Bermpohl Naturfarbenkamera and would love to ask some questions if you have.

I haven't built one but have a 5x7 National Photo Color model in the basement that should be in mostly working order if I can muster the balls to clean the pellicles -- happy to take some measurements or provide some photos etc if it's helpful.

gordrob · Aug 23, 2020

jkf said:
I haven't built one but have a 5x7 National Photo Color model in the basement that should be in mostly working order if I can muster the balls to clean the pellicles -- happy to take some measurements or provide some photos etc if it's helpful.

I have a 3 1/4 X 4 1/4 National Photo Color One Shot Camera and was about to try and clean the pellicles. The camera has sat unused for a number of years but it is time it got cleaned up and some film put through it. It is the tungsten model and when I got it the optical viewfinder and the rangefinder were missing so I have been on the look out for the parts for a number of years. If you come up with a method of cleaning the pellicles I would be interested in how you would go about it.
Gord

wtburton · Nov 28, 2020

https://www.flickr.com/photos/183952115@N06/50658929542/in/dateposted-public/

After researching for a week I decided to buy this Devin Tricolor Camera that was at my local antique mall. I got it for 85$. This is a 5x7 Devin Tricolor Camera, the predecessor to the smaller handheld one. Pellicle mirrors are all intact, Filters have quite a bit of cement separation (but I think that will make a really cool color parallax effect). The filter construction seems just Wratten filters cemented between two ~1mm panes of glass. It uses Graflex 5x7 double plate holders. Its one heavy thing, 25 pounds or so of cast iron aluminum. I will need a beefy wooden military tripod to complete the 1930's set... I cant imagine being able to shoot this thing hand held, maybe on a very sunny day?

There is no lens on it, I need to find a lens for it! The lens hole is about 79mm, it has no threads just 3 small screws. Not sure what I should be looking for as the 140mm lens of the small version wouldn't cut it on a 5x7. Please help

wtburton · Nov 29, 2020

It did not take me long but I am pretty sure I found it. A 210mm Dogmar.

wtburton · Nov 29, 2020

210mm Dogmar wont quite cut it actually, Scott said I should look for a lens that can cover at least 12in because its quite deeper from the mirrors

One-shot Cameras... any resources?

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