Poco King

Whiteymorange

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I have a Poco King 8x10 camera that is currently on loan. I'm wondering if I should make the man an offer for the thing. It seems to be in great shape, minus a small hole or two in the bellows (patchable.) No lensboard, no lens, but the wood and brass and glass are very nice. Anyone have experience with this camera and is it worth buying as my first 8x10? I like the fact that it's light and compact and I will probably never do much that will require much in the way of movements. I have another camera by the Rochester Camera Manufacturing company, a Poco Cycle 4x5 and I have a Folmer Schwing 5x7, so I know something of the joys and shortcomings of old wooden beasts... and I certainly don't need another camera but... it's so pretty!

Guess at value?
Thanks in advance
Whitey
 

papagene

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Go for it Whitey... go for it!!!

gene
 

Charles Webb

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Whitey,
I really should not be responding to your post, as I have absolutely no experience with an 8x10 Poco. But I do have a lot of experience with a lot of other 8x10 boxes. I have always leaned towards wood cameras built strong enough to double as bomb shelters. I still have two B&J's that most likely will see very little use in the future because they are so damn heavy and bulky. I simply can no longer handle and set them up by my self. I think if I found a lighter camera in the same format, that perhaps was a bit less sturdy I would most likely jump on it. I am today using more and more 5x7 simply because I can't handle the 8x10 B&J's by my self. Also I have come to believe that justification is totaly unnecessary if I see it, Like it, can afford it,
I buy it! Have fun with your new Poco!

Charlie..........................
 

wfwhitaker

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You've used it, who'd know better? If you like it and it meets your needs and budget, buy it.

I have a 5x7 Rochester which, while lacking many movements, is both very light and quick to set up. In fact, that whole kit weighs less than many 35mm kits and fits in a small shoulder satchel. There's a lot to be said for some of the older cameras.
 
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Whiteymorange

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Thanks guys. I found that I really couldn't do the bellows repair while it was somebody else's camera, so I haven't used it yet. That said, I already went back to the place where the guy works and tried to make an offer. Wouldn't you know it? He's not in today! Came home to make a lensboard anyway and started to drool.

Deep breath, Whitey... deep breath... you can wait it out.
 

rbarker

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This sounds like the tale of the sailor having trouble resisting the mermaid on the ROC.

The ROC Poco King looks interesting and well-made, Whitey, but I've only seen pictures - never handled one. From these pictures it appears it might be limited with front tilt, though. The limit on the front tilt bracket looks like it would allow backward tilt, but not forward tilt. Is that true of the one you have in hand?
 
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Whiteymorange

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I think all of the movements are somewhat limited. The front standard is a folding affair, in the English field camera style, so you might be able to shift with the center of the lens being your pivot point, but I haven't played with it yet. I'm waiting to approach the man on Monday and beg to be given custody of it for a nominal fee and eternal gratitude. Then there will be lenses.... Oh God, what I have I gotten myself into? I have some old brass that will cover, but not in shutter. I have a couple of Compur #1 press shutters, but no lenses for them... The possibilities for pissing off my wife and having far more gear than I'll ever use are endless here.
 
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Whiteymorange

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Ah well... The dreams have come to naught. The King Poco camera is destined to grace the top of a display cabinet from which this man sells those "other" cameras, the ones we don't talk about here. Seems that it is meant to give legitimacy to the shop...

But he has lent it too me - and is generally a very nice guy - so I can't fault him too much. Still, the beast is a thing of beauty, and I'd love to use it regularly - better that than have it get all dusty and tired sitting on top of a case filled with electronic wonders, right?

Maybe it was the paltry sum I offered as an opener... perhaps a more focused approach and a practiced bit of ingratiating myself. Perhaps...
 

rbarker

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I believe it was Sun Tzu, in a little-known photo-oriented follow-up to "The Art of War", who described the art of acquiring the reluctant camera as being a matter of strategy. Have a young, digitally-oriented person go into the shop and question the shopkeeper's validity as a purveyor of d-goods based on his display of antiquated technology. Then (and only then), follow-up on your previous offer.
 
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Whiteymorange

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Perhaps a group of my very wealthy students speaking in stage whispers about how they should buy from a place where the owner doesn't care so much about old "junk"?
 

papagene

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Drats!! I was hoping to see you walking in to the VPC carrying that Poco on the 25th.
Another one will come along soon enough Whitey... they seem to know you are a kind soul to old cameras.

gene
 
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