Process Camera - good deal ? what could I use it for ?

[nick mulder]

Hi,

an item description from a listing here in NZ:

Great old Rank-Xerox Process camera used to make bromides, printing plates and silk screening film positives. Model XB48/1322
Can make up to 16"x 20"
There are two lenses with this Xerox camera :
A Beck 10 1/4" f10 apochromatic No.32931 and a Wray 4" f 3.5 "Supar" No. 216680

In working condition, though a new vacuum compressor would help.

Uses 500w bulbs as light source I can offer a supply of those as well.
Will also throw in several boxes of Agfa Receiver film as well.

I am thinking it will go for around $50US (postage almost doubling that) - its been listed for a long time now, and I'm scared that the owner will dump it soon - what perhaps could someone such as myself possibly do with it ?

Is this a good price ?

I usually shoot MF but have built my own 4x5 recently and have been wanting to get into 8x10 - could I hack this equipment for my own purposes ?

I also enjoy alt. processes (Pt, cyanotype, Gum) and have wanted to get into solarplate/intaglio printing - would this equipment be helpful in blowing up MF film into larger sizes for contact printing ?

Basically interested in any links or info re. process cameras and there uses, typical or otherwise -

cheers,
nick

 

[Dave Parker]

Heck Nick,

$100 bucks for a camera that can go to 16x20 is a good price even if you just use it for a conversation piece LOL

Dave

 

[nick mulder]

Heck Nick,

$100 bucks for a camera that can go to 16x20 is a good price even if you just use it for a conversation piece LOL

Dave

The conversation would go:

"get that peice of junk out of the living room/garage/your side of the bed!"

maybe I could use parts for a ULF ? like the bellows, lenses (?) GG ...

do they use the same film holders as LF cameras ?

 

[John Kasaian]

You could mount it in the back of a flat bed truck and do landscapes!;-)

 

[Donald Miller]

It could be the basis for a large format enlarger. If you ever anticipate getting into 8X10 or larger then this would be an inexpensive start to fashion an enlarger.

There is a fellow in Chicago that uses one to enlarge 12X20 negatives.

 

[bobfowler]

I just mentioned your situation to my wife, her response:

"Sure, just buy me a bigger house"...

I think Liz's response is pretty much universal.

 

[nick mulder]

You could mount it in the back of a flat bed truck and do landscapes!;-)

I was thinking about that



might be stuck with all the same shots as everyone else taken from look out points on the road - so I just need a truck also, hmmm - mind you buying the truck would cut down on the transport costs fo getting the cam here in the first place...

Anyone know about the lenses ?

Wray 4" f 3.5 Supar - that in 8x10 would be supar-doopar wide ??

Beck 10 14" f10 apochromatic ??

Maybe I will get it ...

 

[Donald Miller]

If you are thinking of using those lenses for photographic lenses then the 4 in Wray will not cover 8X10 at infinity...the use in photographic applications is different then their use in a process camera.

The 14 inch may work as a camera lens at infinity on 8X10. F10 is fairly slow..but about average for a lot of process lenses. Consider that the G Clarons are F9.

 

[nick mulder]

If you are thinking of using those lenses for photographic lenses then the 4 in Wray will not cover 8X10 at infinity...the use in photographic applications is different then their use in a process camera.

The 14 inch may work as a camera lens at infinity on 8X10. F10 is fairly slow..but about average for a lot of process lenses. Consider that the G Clarons are F9.

So I could use this as a for macro / close-up work like flowers, still life and wotnot with 16x20 ... Painting with light that is ..

Would the Wray cover 4x5 @ infinity ?

I understand now that process lenses are designed with a flat field of focus in mind - what are the effects this would have on focus at infinity ? or even standard *insert favorite photographic subject here* photography ?

Is the DOF restricted ? However being a slow lens, perhaps not so - hmmm

Perhaps they are even good for some cases like architectural photography applications maybe ?

Sorry - a heap of questions there, I always like to know what I'm getting myself into ...

any help appreciated,
cheers,
nick

 

[David H. Bebbington]

The Wray Supar is a cheap enlarging lens designed for 6 x 9 cm negs. It really does not belong with this camera.

The Beck 10" lens may well have been a secondary lens used with the process camera to take negatives at larger than 1:1 - at same size and above, it probably covers 16x20 (I am sure no more than 8x10 at infinity). The regular lens for same-size and below would have been 600 mm or so and is apparently not with the camera. Don't know the Beck lenses, there is always the risk with process lenses that they will be computed for high resolution with high-contrast films and may have low micro-contrast and thus do not look very sharp when used for pictorial work.

I personally would think it only worth trying to deal with the enormous bulk and weight of this camera if you are going to shoot full-sized negs AND have the room for it at home AND are confident acquisition of the camera is not going to put a fatal strain on any relationship you may be in. It is a major disadvantage that the camera does not come with a good long lens which would cover 16x20 at infinity, also there does not seem to be a filmholder (often a big wooden one with a roller-blind type sheath and possibly a sheet of plate glass inside coated with non-drying adhesive). A vacuum back would be impossible to use out of doors without a REALLY big battery pack!

 

[Dan Fromm]

Nick, if the Beck process lens' serial number was quoted correctly, i.e., is only five (5) digits, the lens is ancient and uncoated. If the s/n is in fact six (6) digits beginning with 3, the lens should be a coated dialyte type made in the '50s. Think Apo Ronar. A 10.5" one won't cover 8x10 at infinity.

The Supar is, as has been pointed out, a triplet enlarging lens. The Vade Mecum says that the Supar is quite good, but there are better enlarging lenses for 2x3.

If I were you I'd run away from the opportunity.

 

[nick mulder]

If I were you I'd run away from the opportunity.

Well, yep from your reply and the previous it looks like I might not go for it after all - if it had at least one lens that got over 8x10 @ infinity comfortably and had a darkslide system I would have snapped it up for conversion - I was thinking it may be good for parts as I am keen to build a 8x10 or larger (have built smaller cams) - just waiting for a good deal on a workable lens before I do so ...