Difference between revisions of "Folding"

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''To have a list of folding cameras, see the [[:Category: Folding]].''
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''For a list of folding cameras, see [[:Category: Folding]].''
  
A '''folding''' camera is a camera with a [[bellows]] that can be folded to hold less size. Not all bellows cameras can be called foldings: the monorail [[view camera]]s have a bellows, but they cannot be folded to a more compact size. The more sophisticated press cameras (like the [[Busch]] Pressman, see [http://www.vintagephoto.tv/busch4by5.shtml]) are both in one: bellows camera (for photographical flexibility) and folding camera (for compactness). That's because the unfolded bellows' geometry can be changed for optimization of the image plane. The better press cameras and some other sophisticated amateur folders have that flexibility that allows making proper reproduction and architecture images.
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A '''folding''' camera is a camera with [[bellows]] that can be folded to occupy less space. Not all bellows cameras can be called folding: a monorail [[view camera]] has bellows, but it cannot be folded and instead provides flexibility for "movements" (as well as allowing some compression for relative ease of transportation). The more sophisticated press cameras (like the [[Busch]] Pressman<!--, see [http://www.vintagephoto.tv/busch4by5.shtml]-->) are both in one: bellows camera (for photographical flexibility) and folding camera (for compactness). That's because the unfolded bellows' geometry can be changed for optimization of the image plane. The better press cameras and some other sophisticated amateur folders have that flexibility that allows making proper reproduction and architecture images.
  
The common folding cameras don't support more than one working distance of bellows frontside (lens&shutter) to image plane. That reduces the function of the bellows to ordinary making small those cameras for easy camera placement in one's pocket or luggage.
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Normal folding cameras more or less perfectly force the lens board and image plane to be parallel, and the lens and image frame to centre on an axis perpendicular to these two planes. This reduces the function of the bellows to ordinary making small those cameras for easy camera placement in one's pocket or luggage.
  
We usually distinguish between three architectures:
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The scope of the term ''folding camera'' is unclear. While there is no dispute that the [[Agfa PB 20]] is a folding camera, cameras such as the [[Plaubel Makina]] that employ bellows and hinges to collapse when not in use, but for which neither the lens assembly or its cover is hinged in relation to the body, are regarded by some people as ''strut folding'' cameras, but are regarded by others as not folding cameras.
* 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&times;24 mm to at least 18&times;24 cm.
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Putting aside strut folders (if they are indeed folders), we can divide folders into two. A minority, exemplified by the [[Voigtländer Vitessa]], have "barn doors": a symmetrical pair of doors. The others have a single door. A distinction is sometimes drawn between whether the bed hinges vertically or horizontally, but other than for square format (e.g. 6&times;6) cameras, normally only held in one way, this distinction too is ambiguous as it is not clear what "vertical" and "horizontal" mean.
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There have been folding cameras in all kinds of format, from 18&times;24 mm to at least 18&times;24 cm.
  
 
{|
 
{|
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|| [http://www.flickr.com/photos/89864432@N00/186689148/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://static.flickr.com/71/186689148_48cc1cbc5d_t.jpg] <br/> a folding bed camera ...
 
|| [http://www.flickr.com/photos/89864432@N00/186689148/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://static.flickr.com/71/186689148_48cc1cbc5d_t.jpg] <br/> a folding bed camera ...
 
|| [http://www.flickr.com/photos/89864432@N00/149845564/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://static.flickr.com/47/149845564_a2157dad10_t.jpg] <br/> ''a strut folding camera ...''
 
|| [http://www.flickr.com/photos/89864432@N00/149845564/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://static.flickr.com/47/149845564_a2157dad10_t.jpg] <br/> ''a strut folding camera ...''
||  <br/> ''reserved for ...''
+
||  <!-- <br/> ''reserved for ...'' -->
 
|| [http://www.flickr.com/photos/erichz/97255477/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://static.flickr.com/39/97255477_68678572b7_t.jpg] <br/> modern Polaroid, <br/> unfolded
 
|| [http://www.flickr.com/photos/erichz/97255477/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://static.flickr.com/39/97255477_68678572b7_t.jpg] <br/> modern Polaroid, <br/> unfolded
||  <br/> ''reserved for repro camera''
+
||  <!-- <br/> ''reserved for repro camera''-->
 
|-
 
|-
 
|| [http://www.flickr.com/photos/89864432@N00/186689140/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://static.flickr.com/75/186689140_e93cc17e1b_t.jpg] <br/> ... unfolded, hinged <br/> lid flapped aside
 
|| [http://www.flickr.com/photos/89864432@N00/186689140/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://static.flickr.com/75/186689140_e93cc17e1b_t.jpg] <br/> ... unfolded, hinged <br/> lid flapped aside
 
|| [http://www.flickr.com/photos/89864432@N00/149850818/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://static.flickr.com/51/149850818_d8b45e2048_t.jpg] <br/> ''...unfolded''
 
|| [http://www.flickr.com/photos/89864432@N00/149850818/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://static.flickr.com/51/149850818_d8b45e2048_t.jpg] <br/> ''...unfolded''
||  <br/> ''... barn door folder''
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||  <!-- <br/> ''... barn door folder'' -->
 
|| [http://www.flickr.com/photos/89864432@N00/207294545/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://static.flickr.com/52/207294545_fb38bfc6f1_t.jpg] <br/> press camera, folded
 
|| [http://www.flickr.com/photos/89864432@N00/207294545/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://static.flickr.com/52/207294545_fb38bfc6f1_t.jpg] <br/> press camera, folded
||  <br/> ''reserved for other folder''
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||  <!-- <br/> ''reserved for other folder'' -->
 
|}
 
|}
  

Revision as of 00:12, 6 August 2006

For a list of folding cameras, see Category: Folding.

A folding camera is a camera with bellows that can be folded to occupy less space. Not all bellows cameras can be called folding: a monorail view camera has bellows, but it cannot be folded and instead provides flexibility for "movements" (as well as allowing some compression for relative ease of transportation). The more sophisticated press cameras (like the Busch Pressman) are both in one: bellows camera (for photographical flexibility) and folding camera (for compactness). That's because the unfolded bellows' geometry can be changed for optimization of the image plane. The better press cameras and some other sophisticated amateur folders have that flexibility that allows making proper reproduction and architecture images.

Normal folding cameras more or less perfectly force the lens board and image plane to be parallel, and the lens and image frame to centre on an axis perpendicular to these two planes. This reduces the function of the bellows to ordinary making small those cameras for easy camera placement in one's pocket or luggage.

The scope of the term folding camera is unclear. While there is no dispute that the Agfa PB 20 is a folding camera, cameras such as the Plaubel Makina that employ bellows and hinges to collapse when not in use, but for which neither the lens assembly or its cover is hinged in relation to the body, are regarded by some people as strut folding cameras, but are regarded by others as not folding cameras.

Putting aside strut folders (if they are indeed folders), we can divide folders into two. A minority, exemplified by the Voigtländer Vitessa, have "barn doors": a symmetrical pair of doors. The others have a single door. A distinction is sometimes drawn between whether the bed hinges vertically or horizontally, but other than for square format (e.g. 6×6) cameras, normally only held in one way, this distinction too is ambiguous as it is not clear what "vertical" and "horizontal" mean.

There have been folding cameras in all kinds of format, from 18×24 mm to at least 18×24 cm.

common folding cameras special folding cameras
186689148_48cc1cbc5d_t.jpg
a folding bed camera ...
149845564_a2157dad10_t.jpg
a strut folding camera ...
97255477_68678572b7_t.jpg
modern Polaroid,
unfolded
186689140_e93cc17e1b_t.jpg
... unfolded, hinged
lid flapped aside
149850818_d8b45e2048_t.jpg
...unfolded
207294545_fb38bfc6f1_t.jpg
press camera, folded

Links