Passing of Dean Jones: Razzle Converted 4X5 Polaroid Cameras

[Andrew K]

I wasn't sure where to post this - I decided this was the most appropriate place.

Dean Jones, the man behind the Razzle 4X5 cameras, plus many other panoramic and other hand made cameras passed away from cancer this morning.

I knew Dean for over 15 years - his enthusiasm for photography was infectuous. He loved to play. He loved to find a old lens and shoot a paper negative to see what result the lens would give. He would take something he found - say a right angle viewfinder from a microscope, and make himself a 5X4 SLR...just because he could.

RIP mate...

 

[Ken Nadvornick]

That's damned sad news. I always admired his work with those 4x5 Polaroid cameras. If I hadn't already had a handheld 4x5 solution that worked great, I would have considered one of them.

RIP.

Ken

 

[Bill Burk]

Andrew K,

I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of your friend Dean Jones. His inventiveness and appreciation of craft will be missed.

Bill

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

His inventiveness was certainly an inspiration. Condolences to his family and those who knew him well.

 

[Oren Grad]

Wow... I'm very sorry to hear that; but appreciate your sharing. I bought a Razzle from Dean, and though in the end I concluded it wasn't quite right for me and sold it on, the purchase experience was just fine in every way. And indeed, his spirit of play and his evident delight in inventing things were an inspiration.

Condolences to all his family and friends.

 

[removed account4]

i didn't know dean personally but only read his words and saw his works.
he was someone i admired.

my condolences to his family and friends.

 

[Mick Fagan]

I spoke with Dean last year at Melbourne's Photographic Flea Market, he mentioned then that he was tired, and the current camera he was converting would probably be his last. I never knew he was tired from being ill as he never mentioned anything about his health in the years that I knew him.

I will miss his gravelly voice and laugh, I am a proud owner of one of his cameras, it is a beautiful piece of back yard engineering.

Perhaps David may adjust the thread heading, to more reflect the passing of Dean so others will know?

Mick.

 

[SMBooth]

This is very sad news. I had nothing but good dealings and generosity from the few times I meet with Dean.

 

[Richard Man]

Oh man, I bought a Razzle from him, and he is the nicest of gentlemen. This sucks :-/

 

[Steve Smith]

i didn't know dean personally but only read his words and saw his works.
he was someone i admired.

my condolences to his family and friends.

My thoughts exactly.

I always admired his inventiveness.


Steve.

 

[Renato Tonelli]

Condolences to his family and friends.

His enthusiasm was indeed infectious.

 

[SuzanneR]

Moved this thread to the "In Memoriam" section. And my condolences, I know there were a lot of enthusiastic users of his cameras here.

 

[munz6869]

I've admired his cameras for years, and always had a good squiz at his stall at the Camberwell/Box Hill markets. R.I.P. Dean.

Marc