What is a LF TLR?

Mackinaw

Member
Joined
Jan 2, 2005
Messages
705
Location
One hour sou
Format
Multi Format
Fashion photographer, Peter Gowland, developed a large format 4x5 TLR many years back. Google Gowlandflex for more info.

Jim B.
 

Digger Odell

Member
Joined
Oct 18, 2018
Messages
61
Location
Wisconsin
Format
Medium Format
I don't think that is for a Gowlandflex. I think that is to produce a stereo image on 4x5. I could be wrong through.
 
OP
OP

wyofilm

Member
Joined
Nov 12, 2017
Messages
1,158
Location
Wyoming
Format
Multi Format
Mackinaw said:
Fashion photographer, Peter Gowland, developed a large format 4x5 TLR many years back. Google Gowlandflex for more info.

Jim B.
Click to expand...
Thanks The Gowlandflex is crazy. Here is a youtube video.


The ebay item looks like it fits a 4x5 camera with the lenses side by side and not up and down. To me it looks like a different beast than the Gowlandflex, but I could obviously be wrong about that.
 

AgX

Member
Joined
Apr 5, 2007
Messages
29,973
Location
Germany
Format
Multi Format
And very economic: no need to pay for a muscle shack...
 

removed account4

Subscriber
Joined
Jun 21, 2003
Messages
29,833
Format
Hybrid

Sean ( photrio owner ) has ( had) a gowlandTLR. ( its his profile photo) .
I was within inches of buying a gowland tlr from an eBay dealer in CT, I wish I could remember his name ( jay tepper? )
he would allow you to buy something and if you didn't like it for any reason at all you returned it to him for a complete refund. the one he was selling said GOWLANDCHROME across the front and it was in need of a little TLC ... Peter Gowland was still around and his phone number was on his website. man, what a nice guy, probably one of the nicest people I have ever talked with. anyhow I sent him the link and we chatted about the camera (. he laughed hard at the name on the plate ) he said he would rebuild it for me, but sadly I didn't have enough money for the project. should. have sold my kidney and done the project ... would have been a nice memory ( and camera )

my favorite LF camera maker also made twin lens camera. but it was a stereo camera
( 2 images side by side you look through a stereo-opticon to appear 3D ... or you can cross your eyes )
https://www.ebay.com/itm/S-Szabad-S...819897?hash=item5244c109b9:g:84kAAOSwS~pf8kfa
probably one of the rarest szabads out there, might be as rare as the giant camera made for Saab ( or was it Volvo ) ...
 
Last edited:

alexanderjmarkow

Member
Joined
Nov 3, 2008
Messages
21
Format
35mm
I shot with a Gowlandflex once when I could borrow one from the equipment room at a school I was attending (Oregon College of Art and Craft). It was absurdly bulky, even for large format, but the viewfinder was very nice to use.
 

Bill Burk

Subscriber
Joined
Feb 9, 2010
Messages
9,171
Format
4x5 Format
These are great! One of my friends was buddies with Peter Gowland, maybe he was just an aquaintence. I'll have to ask for some stories.
 

138S

Member
Joined
Dec 4, 2019
Messages
1,776
Location
Pyrenees
Format
Large Format
wyofilm said:
What is it?
Click to expand...

Of course it would be suitable for stereo photogaphy, optimal distance to subject (for natural 3D feel) would be x30 the separation between the centers of the two lenses, so around 3 or 4 meters, the 1/30 rule...

The optimal film format perhaps was larger than 4x5. It could be 5x7 or 8x10, seller does not mention the separation between the glasses. It looks to me that the separation would be better for a 8x10 back, resulting two 8x5" images. If glasses (axis) were separated 5" then this arrangement would be perfect for a 8x10 sheet in the back as each lens axis would nail the center of each of the two images taking each the half of the sheet. If that separation is 3.5" then it would be intended for 5x7" sheets in the back, for a two 3.5 x 7" images.

Of course it also would be good to assemble a TLR accessory in the back, with a roll film back catching the image from a lens and a reflex ocular catching the image of the other lens, but as lenses are horizontally arranged (see lettering direction) then it was intended for stereo. If the lenses were arranged vertically (one ove the other) then than device would probably be for a TLR usage.

Well, with that gadget one can DIY both a TLR or an Stereo device, perfect for both, but IMO it makes more sense for Stereo. Still no shutter is seen, so it looks it was not intended originally for general photography, also it not looks constructed for aerial usage, perhaps it was used in the industrial or scientific realms.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more…