What's this camera and lens?

Tony-S

Subscriber

Joined

Aug 16, 2009

Messages

1,146

Location

Colorado, USA

Format

Multi Format

• Jun 9, 2018

• #1

Looking at an NPR story on David Douglas Duncan and saw this picture of what appears to be a Canon or Nikon camera (based upon the "on" on the prism finder) and a "prismatic" lens. Anyone know what these are?

https://www.npr.org/sections/pictur...-photographer-of-wars-and-picasso-dies-at-102

 

AgX

Member

Joined

Apr 5, 2007

Messages

29,973

Location

Germany

Format

Multi Format

• Jun 9, 2018

• #2

I assume it is a custom made effect attachment.

 

Theo Sulphate

Member

Joined

Jul 3, 2014

Messages

6,489

Location

Gig Harbor

Format

Multi Format

• Jun 9, 2018

• #3

Nikon F2 Photomic



You can tell by looking at the max aperture readout window up and to the right of 'n', the lens release button, and the rewind knob plate. Oh, also by the shiny small flash pin on the side of the Photomic head.

I agree lens is a custom jobbie.

 

Last edited: Jun 9, 2018

macfred

Subscriber

Joined

Nov 6, 2014

Messages

3,839

Location

Germany

Format

Multi Format

• Jun 10, 2018

• #4

Camera is a F2 Photomic (like Theo said). The crank is for rotating prisms in front of the lens.
Duncan published a book about prismatic photography: 'Prismatics: Exploring a New World'
https://i.stack.imgur.com/W78dy.jpg

 

AgX

Member

Joined

Apr 5, 2007

Messages

29,973

Location

Germany

Format

Multi Format

• Jun 10, 2018

• #5

To me though interesting is not using an effect attachment of any kind, but using a crank for rotation of such and not just twisting it by hand.
The crank and the respective gearing add weight to a handheld combo.

The attachment is not (or not only) screwed to the filter thread, but by means of a lug and a levered screw attached to a, likely telescopic, rod which ends at a camera-plate.

Seen the weight of the whole shebang the weight of the crank mechanism though would be less prominent.