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. Not all bellows cameras can 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). 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.
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 18×24 cm.