Sogno
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| Sogno image by Rick Oleson (Image rights) |
The Sogno is a half-frame 35 mm coupled-rangefinder camera, made by Ducati in about 1950.[1][2] It makes 18x24 mm pictures on 35 mm film, held in special cassettes, which are considerably slimmer than standard 135 cassettes.[3][4] It has a focal-plane shutter, with speeds 1/20 to 1/500 second, plus 'B'. Rick Oleson notes that the shutter is designed differently from that of a Leica; the gap between the two blinds is fixed, but their speed of travel is varied, by varying the spring tension driving them.[5] The shutter is not designed to be synchronised for flash, but examples exist which have been modified to add synchronisation.[6] As a result of the fixed (and wide) shutter-gap design, this modification gives synchronisation at all speeds.[5]
The viewfinder and rangefinder are in separate eyepieces. There is dioptric adjustment (the lever under the shutter speed dial).[5]
The standard lens is a collapsible, coated 35 mm f/3.5 or f/2.8 Vitor, focusing to 0.8 metre. This is interchangeable, with a bayonet fitting. Other lenses made for the Sogno include:
- Dugon 19 mm f/6.3[7]
- Argon 28 mm f/4[7]
- Eltor 40 mm f/2[8]
- Lator 60 mm f/2.8[8]
- Teletor 120 mm f/5.6[8]
Viewfinder accessories were available to serve these lenses, some fitting to the studs on the top housing.[9][10]
Notes
- ↑ Sogno serial no. 09365, with 35 mm f/2.8 Vitor, offered at the May 2012 Westlicht Photographica Auction.
- ↑ McKeown, James M. and Joan C. McKeown's Price Guide to Antique and Classic Cameras, 12th Edition, 2005-2006. USA, Centennial Photo Service, 2004. ISBN 0-931838-40-1 (hardcover). ISBN 0-931838-41-X (softcover). p252.
- ↑ Ducati film cassettes at Phil Aynsley Photography; there are also pictures of other Ducati cameras and accessories.
- ↑ British Patent 657311 (first applied for in 1947, and granted in 1951 to Società Scientifica Radio Brevetti Ducati), Improvements in means for loading film cartridges or magazines with film to be used in photographic cameras, describing a daylight cassette-loader for Ducati cassettes.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Ducati Sogno notes at Rick Oleson's website.
- ↑ Sogno with added PC socket at Phil Aynsley Photography.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Wide and standard lenses at Phil Aynsley Photography.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Long-focus lenses at Phil Aynsley Photography.
- ↑ Sogno with Teletor 120 mm lens and accessory viewfinder at Phil Aynsley Photography.
- ↑ Sogno with Dugon 19 mm lens and accessory frame-finder at Phil Aynsley Photography.
