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 folder |
||
... unfolded, hinged lid flapped aside |
...unfolded |