Difference between revisions of "Bergheil"

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The '''Bergheil''' is a series of well-specified folding plate cameras made by [[Voigtländer]] in Braunschweig (Brunswick) from 1911 until the Second World War.<REF>These dates are given in [http://www.earlyphotography.co.uk/site/entry_C69.html notes on the Bergheil] at [http://www.earlyphotography.co.uk/index.html Early Photography]. </REF> It was available for a range of smaller plate sizes: 4.5x6 cm, 6.5x9 cm, 9x12 cm and 10x15 cm (the largest size is fairly unusual). It is metal-bodied, with leather covering. In some (but not all) examples, 'Bergheil' is impressed in the leather of the focusing screen, and/or in the carrying handle.
 
The '''Bergheil''' is a series of well-specified folding plate cameras made by [[Voigtländer]] in Braunschweig (Brunswick) from 1911 until the Second World War.<REF>These dates are given in [http://www.earlyphotography.co.uk/site/entry_C69.html notes on the Bergheil] at [http://www.earlyphotography.co.uk/index.html Early Photography]. </REF> It was available for a range of smaller plate sizes: 4.5x6 cm, 6.5x9 cm, 9x12 cm and 10x15 cm (the largest size is fairly unusual). It is metal-bodied, with leather covering. In some (but not all) examples, 'Bergheil' is impressed in the leather of the focusing screen, and/or in the carrying handle.
  
Most examples seen have a Compur shutter; early ones may be seen with a Compound, or even an [[Ibsor]] or [[Pronto]]. The cameras are equipped with a wide range of Voigtländer's own lenses; Heliar in particular are very common on later cameras. On later cameras, the lens and shutter may be interchangeable (attached with a bayonet).
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==Standard model==
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The standard '''Bergheil''' cameras are covered with black leather, and have black bellows, for most of the period they were made (for a few years after 1932, the 6.5x9 cm and 9x12 cm cameras were only made with ''green'' leather<ref name=McK></ref> (see below; these cameras are often described as 'de luxe', and are discussed here with the true de luxe model).  
  
The cameras have rack-and-pinion bellows focusing, with a focusing knob on each side of the front of the bed. There is usually a focus scale on the left of the bed, and of course a ground-glass screen can be attached. They have front rise, adjusted with the knurled knob at the top of the right hand post of the front standard, and sometimes also geared shift. On many later cameras, there are red or yellow spirit levels inlaid in the focus and front-rise knobs.
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Most examples seen have a Compur shutter; early ones may be seen with a Compound, or even an [[Ibsor]] or [[Pronto]]. The cameras are equipped with a wide range of Voigtländer's own lenses; Heliar in particular are very common on later cameras. On later cameras, the lens and shutter are interchangeable (attached with a bayonet), to allow the use of a long-focus lens. All the cameras have double-extension bellows, which would facilitate both a long-focus lens and close focus with the standard lens. The (fixed) lenses available on earlier cameras included the Collinear, a double-anastigmat; it should be possible to remove the front group of such a lens, and use the rear group as a long-focus lens.
  
Almost all the cameras have a [[brilliant finder]] mounted on the lens standard; depending on the age and model, this may be mounted centrally above the lens (common especially on the smallest size), or offset to the left. Most cameras (except for the smallest) also have either a wire-frame finder or a folding [[Viewfinder#Newton finder|Newton finder]] on the side of the body.
+
The cameras have rack-and-pinion bellows focusing, with a focusing knob on each side of the front of the bed in most examples. There is usually a focus scale on the left of the bed, and of course a ground-glass screen can be attached. They have front rise, adjusted with the knurled knob at the top of the right hand post of the front standard, and sometimes also geared shift. On many later cameras, there are red or yellow spirit levels inlaid in the focus and front-rise knobs.
 +
 
 +
Almost all the cameras have a [[brilliant finder]] mounted on the lens standard; depending on the age and model, this may be mounted centrally above the lens (common especially on the smallest size), or offset to the left. Most cameras (except for the smallest) also have either a wire-frame finder, or a folding [[Viewfinder#Newton finder|Newton finder]] (only on early cameras) on the side of the body.
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 +
The examples shown here show two different styles of bed strut; the curved style on the camera shown to the right is the later one. McKeown states that this style was used from about 1927; he shows some earlier examples with simpler, straight struts.<ref name=McK></ref>
 
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{| class="floatright plainlinks" style="text-align: center; margin:0px 0px 10px 15px;""
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| [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/4826721580/in/pool-camerawiki/ http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4099/4826097733_972f06b9a2_m.jpg] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/4826097489/in/pool-camerawiki/ http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4123/4826097489_2124e212bb_m.jpg]
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|-
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| [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/4826097611/in/pool-camerawiki/ http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4141/4826097611_d93228ab13_m.jpg] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/4826705636/in/pool-camerawiki/ http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4081/4826705636_1e3ec6bfcd_m.jpg]
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|-
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| [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/4826705324/in/pool-camerawiki/ http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4097/4826705324_a9b9128590_t.jpg] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/4826705178/in/pool-camerawiki/ http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4140/4826705178_5d1ddb2690_t.jpg] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/4826097183/in/pool-camerawiki/ http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4123/4826097183_49484fff2b_t.jpg] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/4826096795/in/pool-camerawiki/ http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4119/4826096795_4e6f16a76e_t.jpg]
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|-
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| 4.5×6cm ('Baby') Bergheil with dial-set Compur shutter.<br /><small>Pictures by {{image author|eBayer Yalluflex}}.</small> {{with permission}}
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|}
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The example shown here is unusual; perhaps an early camera (the bed-struts are of the earlier type). McKeown shows a 4.5x6 cm camera with the same style as the larger cameras.
  
  
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The '''4.5×6cm model''' (or "Baby Bergheil") is quite different from the larger models, notably differing in the shape of the folding struts and the position of the brilliant finder. -->
 
The '''4.5×6cm model''' (or "Baby Bergheil") is quite different from the larger models, notably differing in the shape of the folding struts and the position of the brilliant finder. -->
  
{| class="plainlinks" align="center" style="text-align: center;"
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| [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/4826721580/in/pool-camerawiki/ http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4099/4826097733_972f06b9a2_m.jpg] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/4826097489/in/pool-camerawiki/ http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4123/4826097489_2124e212bb_m.jpg]
 
|-
 
| [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/4826097611/in/pool-camerawiki/ http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4141/4826097611_d93228ab13_m.jpg] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/4826705636/in/pool-camerawiki/ http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4081/4826705636_1e3ec6bfcd_m.jpg]
 
|-
 
| [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/4826705324/in/pool-camerawiki/ http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4097/4826705324_a9b9128590_t.jpg] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/4826705178/in/pool-camerawiki/ http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4140/4826705178_5d1ddb2690_t.jpg] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/4826097183/in/pool-camerawiki/ http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4123/4826097183_49484fff2b_t.jpg] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/4826096795/in/pool-camerawiki/ http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4119/4826096795_4e6f16a76e_t.jpg]
 
|-
 
| Voigtländer Baby Bergheil, 4.5×6cm, dial-set Compur shutter.<br /><small>Pictures by {{image author|eBayer Yalluflex}}.</small> {{with permission}}
 
|}
 
  
  

Revision as of 17:36, 22 January 2012


The Bergheil is a series of well-specified folding plate cameras made by Voigtländer in Braunschweig (Brunswick) from 1911 until the Second World War.[1] It was available for a range of smaller plate sizes: 4.5x6 cm, 6.5x9 cm, 9x12 cm and 10x15 cm (the largest size is fairly unusual). It is metal-bodied, with leather covering. In some (but not all) examples, 'Bergheil' is impressed in the leather of the focusing screen, and/or in the carrying handle.

Standard model

The standard Bergheil cameras are covered with black leather, and have black bellows, for most of the period they were made (for a few years after 1932, the 6.5x9 cm and 9x12 cm cameras were only made with green leather[2] (see below; these cameras are often described as 'de luxe', and are discussed here with the true de luxe model).

Most examples seen have a Compur shutter; early ones may be seen with a Compound, or even an Ibsor or Pronto. The cameras are equipped with a wide range of Voigtländer's own lenses; Heliar in particular are very common on later cameras. On later cameras, the lens and shutter are interchangeable (attached with a bayonet), to allow the use of a long-focus lens. All the cameras have double-extension bellows, which would facilitate both a long-focus lens and close focus with the standard lens. The (fixed) lenses available on earlier cameras included the Collinear, a double-anastigmat; it should be possible to remove the front group of such a lens, and use the rear group as a long-focus lens.

The cameras have rack-and-pinion bellows focusing, with a focusing knob on each side of the front of the bed in most examples. There is usually a focus scale on the left of the bed, and of course a ground-glass screen can be attached. They have front rise, adjusted with the knurled knob at the top of the right hand post of the front standard, and sometimes also geared shift. On many later cameras, there are red or yellow spirit levels inlaid in the focus and front-rise knobs.

Almost all the cameras have a brilliant finder mounted on the lens standard; depending on the age and model, this may be mounted centrally above the lens (common especially on the smallest size), or offset to the left. Most cameras (except for the smallest) also have either a wire-frame finder, or a folding Newton finder (only on early cameras) on the side of the body.

The examples shown here show two different styles of bed strut; the curved style on the camera shown to the right is the later one. McKeown states that this style was used from about 1927; he shows some earlier examples with simpler, straight struts.[2]

The example shown here is unusual; perhaps an early camera (the bed-struts are of the earlier type). McKeown shows a 4.5x6 cm camera with the same style as the larger cameras.


Bergheil De Luxe

Brown leather

The true Bergheil Luxus (or De Luxe) from 1923-27 is finished with light brown leather covering and bellows, and has gold-finish standard and fittings, after the style of a tropical camera. It was only made in the 4.5x6cm size.

Green leather

There are also cameras with textured green leather covering and bellows, but with the same black-painted fittings as the standard Bergheil. These are often described as 'de luxe' cameras. McKeown dates them to 1932-6 (some years after Voigtländer stopped making the brown-leather camera), and rather dismisses them as a step up from the black models, but [..] not truly 'Luxus' models; all 6.5x9cm and 9x12cm cameras after 1932 had this green leather. McKeown states that the green leather of the bellows tends to darken with age, so that the 'green' cameras are often not particularly green.[2]





Interchangeable lenses

Later Bergheil cameras have an exchangeable lens/shutter unit, attached via a bayonet. Many of the standard lenses are Heliars. The usual long-focus lens is the Tele-Dynar.


Notes

  1. These dates are given in notes on the Bergheil at Early Photography.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 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). p950-1.

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