Seneca / conley cameras question

[Candlejack]

I was wondering if anyone knew if the old seneca cameras /conley fold outs, premos etc. that were 4x5 will take standard film holders? Im shopping around and when i read short, and i mean short, articles I see they say "made for film packs" if they say anything at all.

 

[Candlejack]

I will add, I have read about shims needed to adjust focal planes on some to use modern cameras. Would that go between the focus glass and camera to push the focus glass back?

 

[Rick A]

I've used modern 5x7 film holders with Seneca cameras no problems, I don't see why 4x5's should be different.

 

[Candlejack]

I've used modern 5x7 film holders with Seneca cameras no problems, I don't see why 4x5's should be different.

Sounds good. Im looking at some pocket senecas and I think they would be fun to add to the collection and use .

 

[Pioneer]

I use a Conley #1 8x10 on a regular basis and it works just fine with standard film holders. The Conley cameras were sold through Sears for many years so I suspect that they were all pretty compatible with standard film holders.

 

[Candlejack]

I use a Conley #1 8x10 on a regular basis and it works just fine with standard film holders. The Conley cameras were sold through Sears for many years so I suspect that they were all pretty compatible with standard film holders.

Thats great news! Helps me widen my net! Thank you.

Now we just gotta find out of the premos work with them

 

[Pioneer]

If it helps at all, I own an Empire State 5x7 and a Universal 8x10 that were both manufactured by Rochester Optical Company. They both require a non-standard film holder.

 

[Ian Grant]

Some of the original plate holders varied slightly, for instance a 5x4 Century No 46 holder has the same dimensions as a Kodak Prem holder the actual position of the plate is offset closer to the bottom with the Premo's. So the Premo holderfits but doesnt match the back opening on the Century despite the holders being branded Eastman Kodak. More modern plate/film holders do fit perfectly but another difference is older original holders tend to have slightly shorter light trap area, the only issue is modern holders don't fit inside tha carrying case.

Seneca's are standard, like (Agfa). Ansco, Dan's just mentioned Rochester Optical Company, my ROC 5x4 film pack holder is standard and is marked for Premo, so at some point Eastman Kodak brought their Premo cameras in line with their other brands at least with 5x4.

Our modern International backs are based on Eastman Kodak and Kodak Ltd's standardisation. So the pre-WWII UK made Kodak Half Plate "D cameras take Half Plate plate/film holders with identical outside dimensions to the US 7x5 holders. This paved the way for the post WWII International Standards sizes where 9x12 & 5x4 holders have the same outside dimensions,, 7x5 ,Half plate and 13x8.the same and then18x24 and 10x8.

Ian

 

[Candlejack]

Some of the original plate holders varied slightly, for instance a 5x4 Century No 46 holder has the same dimensions as a Kodak Prem holder the actual position of the plate is offset closer to the bottom with the Premo's. So the Premo holderfits but doesnt match the back opening on the Century despite the holders being branded Eastman Kodak. More modern plate/film holders do fit perfectly but another difference is older original holders tend to have slightly shorter light trap area, the only issue is modern holders don't fit inside tha carrying case.

Seneca's are standard, like (Agfa). Ansco, Dan's just mentioned Rochester Optical Company, my ROC 5x4 film pack holder is standard and is marked for Premo, so at some point Eastman Kodak brought their Premo cameras in line with their other brands at least with 5x4.

Our modern International backs are based on Eastman Kodak and Kodak Ltd's standardisation. So the pre-WWII UK made Kodak Half Plate "D cameras take Half Plate plate/film holders with identical outside dimensions to the US 7x5 holders. This paved the way for the post WWII International Standards sizes where 9x12 & 5x4 holders have the same outside dimensions,, 7x5 ,Half plate and 13x8.the same and then18x24 and 10x8.

Ian

Wow! You are super knowledgeable about holders! Thanks! Have you written any articles on them?

 

[MattKing]

Wow! You are super knowledgeable about holders! Thanks! Have you written any articles on them?

If you add all together Ian's posts here about holders, you will have a veritable holder encyclopedia!

 

[Ian Grant]

If you add all together Ian's posts here about holders, you will have a veritable holder encyclopedia!

US holders are easy. British Book form holders were made to fit a camera back if you wanted more you sent the back tote company ensure the new ones would fit, as for pre WWII German holders unusually they had no common standard instead about a dozen different edge fits.

So I have two 9x12 Patet Etui's the smallest and lightest LF camera ever made (except for the Japanese copies) and they take different edge thickness palte/film holders. More recently I acquired a 6.5x9 Patent Etui, I already had 2 cased sets of three plate holder, but finding a Rollex or Rada 6x9 120 back that will fit is difficult,they were nade though.

German/British/rest of Europe metal plate holders I had quite a few hundred ff someone a few years ago, Ive not taken stock lately, but bought more recently. I'm waiting for the same seller to let me buy afew shelves full of Book form holders, and more typically modern style plate/film holders.

Ian