Difference between revisions of "Foton"

From Camera-wiki.org
Jump to: navigation, search
(+ shutter speed range; present tense throughout; Took out duplicated lens; the Cooke Amotal *is* the T-H lens; + year-cat)
m (Corrected Westlicht links/refs)
(7 intermediate revisions by 3 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
 
''There is also a Russian [[instant camera]] called [[Foton (Instant)|Foton]].''
 
''There is also a Russian [[instant camera]] called [[Foton (Instant)|Foton]].''
 
+
<div class="floatright plainlinks" style="margin:0px 0px 15px 15px;">
 
{{Flickr image
 
{{Flickr image
 
| image_source=http://www.flickr.com/photos/97974762@N00/3112872176/in/pool-camerawiki/
 
| image_source=http://www.flickr.com/photos/97974762@N00/3112872176/in/pool-camerawiki/
 
| image=http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3130/3112872176_d117a857c9.jpg
 
| image=http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3130/3112872176_d117a857c9.jpg
| image_align=right
+
| image_align=
 
| image_text=Foton
 
| image_text=Foton
 
| image_by= John Bosko
 
| image_by= John Bosko
|image_rights= with permission
+
| image_rights= with permission
 
}}
 
}}
The '''Foton''' is an ambitious [[35mm]] camera launched in 1948 by [[Bell & Howell]], with interchangeable lenses and a [[coupled rangefinder]], in a separate eyepiece from the viewfinder. The standard lens is a 'Filmocoted' [[Taylor-Hobson]] 2-inch T2.2 (f/2) Cooke Amotal anastigmat (the aperture is marked in T-stops); a four-inch f/2.5 Cooke Deep Field Panchro, and a twelve-inch Cooke lens<ref name=McK>{{McKeown12}} p123.</ref> were available, and an shoe-mounted viewfinder for the long lenses. The camera has shutter speeds 1 - 1/1000 second, plus 'B'. It also has a 6 frame-per-second [[film advance|spring motor advance]]. In 1949, the camera was advertised for $700 in the July issue of U.S. Camera. In just a few months, the advertised price had dropped to $498 (see the advertisements below).
+
</div>
 +
The '''Foton''' is a high-specification [[35mm]] camera launched by [[Bell & Howell]] in 1948, with a small number of interchangeable lenses and a [[coupled rangefinder]]. The standard lens is a 'Filmocoted' [[Taylor-Hobson]] 2-inch T2.2 (f/2) Cooke Amotal anastigmat (the aperture is marked in T-stops). This can be focused either by twisting the lens itself, or with the focusing wheel on the front right-hand side of the body;<ref name=SPC>[http://www.vintagephoto.tv/foton.shtml The Foton] at [http://www.vintagephoto.tv/index.shtml Scott's Photographica Collection].</ref> The rangefinder is in a separate eyepiece from the viewfinder.
 +
 
 +
The lenses have a screw mount. The focusing helical thread is part of the camera body, not the lens.<ref name=CQ/> A four-inch T4 (f/2.5) Panchrotal was available;<ref name=CQ>[http://www.cameraquest.com/foton.htm Foton], including a picture with the four-inch Panchrotal lens and one with the film chamber open, at Stephen Gandy's [http://www.cameraquest.com/index.htm Cameraquest].</ref> An example has been seen at Westlicht with a Cooke 216 mm (8½ inch) f/5.6 Telekinic and a shoe-mounted rangefinder unit to serve one of the telephoto lenses;<ref name=W>[https://wlpa.auction2000.se/auk/w.Object?inC=WLPA&inA=20140812_1547&inO=438 Foton] serial no. 697076, with Amotal standard lens and Cooke 216 mm f/5.6 Telekinic, and shoe-mounted rangefinder, offered for sale at the [https://wlpa.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?id=4&L=1 27th Westlicht Photographica Auction].</ref> clearly, this suggests that the camera's own rangefinder does not couple with all the available lenses. McKeown states that a ''twelve''-inch Cooke lens was also available.<ref name=McK>{{McKeown12}} p123.</ref>  
 +
 
 +
The camera has a focal-plane shutter with metal blades, travelling vertically, with speeds 1 - 1/1000 second, plus 'B'.<ref name=CQ/> The shutter release is on the front of the body (there is a button on the top housing where a shutter release might be expected; this is the rewind release<ref name=CQ/>). It also has both a 6 frame-per-second [[film advance|spring motor advance]] (with the winding key in the base) and a manual advance knob on the top housing. Advancing the film cocks the shutter; there is a frame counter, and an indicator window beside the film advance knob, to show when the camera is wound on and cocked.<ref name=SPC/> There is a control by the shutter release to select single or continuous exposures.  
  
<br style="clear: both" />
+
There is a film speed reminder dial tucked under the [[hot shoe]].
  
 +
In 1949, the camera was advertised for $700 in the July issue of U.S. Camera. In just a few months, the advertised price had dropped to $498 (see the advertisements below).
  
{{Flickr_image
 
|image_source=http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/6111532422/in/pool-camerawiki
 
|image=http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6063/6111532422_b930472a3d_n.jpg
 
|image_align=left
 
|image_text=B&H Foton, Jul 1949 U.S. Camera
 
|image_by=camerawiki
 
|image_rights=public domain
 
}}
 
{{Flickr_image
 
|image_source=http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/6111586132/in/pool-camerawiki
 
|image=http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6072/6111586132_95582eaed3_n.jpg
 
|image_align=left
 
|image_text=B&H Foton, Nov 1949 U.S. Camera
 
|image_by=camerawiki
 
|image_rights=public domain
 
}}
 
 
<br style="clear: both" />
 
<br style="clear: both" />
  
=References=
+
 
 +
{|class="floatright plainlinks" style="margin:0px 0px 15px 15px;"
 +
|[http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/6111532422/in/pool-camerawiki http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6063/6111532422_b930472a3d_n.jpg]
 +
|[http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/6111586132/in/pool-camerawiki http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6072/6111586132_95582eaed3_n.jpg]
 +
|-
 +
|colspan=2|<center>Advertisements in ''U.S. Camera'', July (left) and November (right) 1949.<br/><small>Scans by {{image author|camerawiki}}</small> {{public domain US no copyright}}
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
==Notes==
 
<references />
 
<references />
  
=Links=
+
 
* [https://westlicht-auction.com/index.php?f=popup&id=189934&_ssl=off#189934 Foton] with two-inch f/2 Amotal, sold at the [https://westlicht-auction.com/index.php?id=185087&acat=185087&lang=3 May 2010 Westlicht Photographica Auction]
+
==Links==
* [http://www.vintagephoto.tv/foton.shtml The Foton] at [http://www.vintagephoto.tv/index.shtml Scott's Photographica Collection]
+
* [https://wlpa.auction2000.se/auk/w.Object?inC=WLPA&inA=17&inO=512 Foton] with two-inch f/2 Amotal, sold at the [https://wlpa.auction2000.se/auk/w.objectlist?inC=WLPA&inA=17&inSiteLang= 17th Westlicht Photographica Auction]
 +
 
  
 
[[Category: 35mm rangefinder system]]
 
[[Category: 35mm rangefinder system]]

Revision as of 16:08, 6 July 2020

There is also a Russian instant camera called Foton.

The Foton is a high-specification 35mm camera launched by Bell & Howell in 1948, with a small number of interchangeable lenses and a coupled rangefinder. The standard lens is a 'Filmocoted' Taylor-Hobson 2-inch T2.2 (f/2) Cooke Amotal anastigmat (the aperture is marked in T-stops). This can be focused either by twisting the lens itself, or with the focusing wheel on the front right-hand side of the body;[1] The rangefinder is in a separate eyepiece from the viewfinder.

The lenses have a screw mount. The focusing helical thread is part of the camera body, not the lens.[2] A four-inch T4 (f/2.5) Panchrotal was available;[2] An example has been seen at Westlicht with a Cooke 216 mm (8½ inch) f/5.6 Telekinic and a shoe-mounted rangefinder unit to serve one of the telephoto lenses;[3] clearly, this suggests that the camera's own rangefinder does not couple with all the available lenses. McKeown states that a twelve-inch Cooke lens was also available.[4]

The camera has a focal-plane shutter with metal blades, travelling vertically, with speeds 1 - 1/1000 second, plus 'B'.[2] The shutter release is on the front of the body (there is a button on the top housing where a shutter release might be expected; this is the rewind release[2]). It also has both a 6 frame-per-second spring motor advance (with the winding key in the base) and a manual advance knob on the top housing. Advancing the film cocks the shutter; there is a frame counter, and an indicator window beside the film advance knob, to show when the camera is wound on and cocked.[1] There is a control by the shutter release to select single or continuous exposures.

There is a film speed reminder dial tucked under the hot shoe.

In 1949, the camera was advertised for $700 in the July issue of U.S. Camera. In just a few months, the advertised price had dropped to $498 (see the advertisements below).



Notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 The Foton at Scott's Photographica Collection.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Foton, including a picture with the four-inch Panchrotal lens and one with the film chamber open, at Stephen Gandy's Cameraquest.
  3. Foton serial no. 697076, with Amotal standard lens and Cooke 216 mm f/5.6 Telekinic, and shoe-mounted rangefinder, offered for sale at the 27th Westlicht Photographica Auction.
  4. McKeown, James M. and Joan C. McKeown's Price Guide to Antique and Classic Cameras, 12th Edition, 2005-2006. USA, Centennial Photo Service, 2004. ISBN 0-931838-40-1 (hardcover). ISBN 0-931838-41-X (softcover). p123.


Links