Folding

To have a list of folding cameras, see the Category: Folding.

A folding camera is a camera with a bellows that can be folded to hold less size. All bellows cameras won't be called foldings: the monorail view cameras have a bellows, but they cannot be folded to a more compact size. The more sophisticated press cameras (like the Busch Pressman, see [1]) are both in one: bellows camera (for photographical flexibility) and folding camera (for compactness).

We usually distinguish between three architectures:

• the folding bed cameras (see Agfa PB 20 for a picture)
  • variation 1: hinged lid to flap down
  • variation 2: hinged lid to flap aside
• the strut folding cameras (like the Plaubel Makina)
• the barn door folding cameras (like the Voigtländer Vitessa)

There were foldings in all kinds of format, from 18×24 mm to at least 18×24cm.

common folding cameras			special folding cameras
a folding bed camera ...	a strut folding camera ...		modern Polaroid, unfolded
... unfolded, hinged lid flapped aside	...unfolded		presscamera, folded

Links

• bellows cameras
• press cameras