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 ...	reserved for ...	modern Polaroid, unfolded	reserved for repro camera
... unfolded, hinged lid flapped aside	...unfolded	... barn door folder	press camera, folded	reserved for other folder

Links

• bellows cameras
• press cameras