Difference between revisions of "Mars 99"
(Doubt about this camera: the catalogue picture here is a box. The one at Westlicht is a falling-plate camera.) |
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The '''Mars 99''' is a camera for 9x12 plates, made in about 1895<ref name=McK>{{McKeown12}} p1018.</ref> by [[Emil Wünsche|Wünsche]] of Dresden. It is wooden-bodied, with black leather covering. It has a 150 mm f/12 [[Aplanat]] lens (the same design as a Rapid Rectilinear), and a rotary shutter.<ref name=McK></ref> | The '''Mars 99''' is a camera for 9x12 plates, made in about 1895<ref name=McK>{{McKeown12}} p1018.</ref> by [[Emil Wünsche|Wünsche]] of Dresden. It is wooden-bodied, with black leather covering. It has a 150 mm f/12 [[Aplanat]] lens (the same design as a Rapid Rectilinear), and a rotary shutter.<ref name=McK></ref> | ||
− | The camera illustrated here differes significantly from an example sold at Westlicht.<ref name=W>[http://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?f=popup&id=18245&_ssl=off#18245 Mars 99] sold at the [https://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?id=17322&acat=17322&lang=3 May 2003 Westlicht Photographica Auction] in Vienna.</ref> Most importantly, the camera sold at Westlicht has a plate-changing mechanism, with a lever on the front, between the two viewfinders, and a plate-counter dial on the top (that is, it is a falling-plate [[magazine camera]]). The one shown here lacks the plate-changing lever, and appears to have a viewing hood at the back (if there is a ground-glass screen, there can hardly be a magazine of plates). Also, the example illustrated here shows viewfinders with hoods, and thus probably of the [[Viewfinder#Watson finder|Watson type]] with a small ground glass; however, the camera sold at Westlicht clearly has [[brilliant finder]]s. The lens and shutter unit appears the same on both cameras, however. | + | The camera illustrated here differes significantly from an example sold at Westlicht.<ref name=W>[http://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?f=popup&id=18245&_ssl=off#18245 Mars 99], serial no. 897, sold at the [https://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?id=17322&acat=17322&lang=3 May 2003 Westlicht Photographica Auction] in Vienna.</ref> Most importantly, the camera sold at Westlicht has a plate-changing mechanism, with a lever on the front, between the two viewfinders, and a plate-counter dial on the top (that is, it is a falling-plate [[magazine camera]]). The one shown here lacks the plate-changing lever, and appears to have a viewing hood at the back (if there is a ground-glass screen, there can hardly be a magazine of plates). Also, the example illustrated here shows viewfinders with hoods, and thus probably of the [[Viewfinder#Watson finder|Watson type]] with a small ground glass; however, the camera sold at Westlicht clearly has [[brilliant finder]]s. The lens and shutter unit appears the same on both cameras, however. |
The camera, if actually a magazine [[:Category:Detective cameras|detective camera]], is a successor to the earlier [[Mars Camera]], which has a rather more cumbersome plate-changing method, using a sliding wooden box on the outside of the body to move plates between the magazine and the exposing position. | The camera, if actually a magazine [[:Category:Detective cameras|detective camera]], is a successor to the earlier [[Mars Camera]], which has a rather more cumbersome plate-changing method, using a sliding wooden box on the outside of the body to move plates between the magazine and the exposing position. |
Revision as of 23:34, 29 January 2012
Illustration from a Wünsche catalogue. Scan by Uwe Kulick (Image rights) |
The Mars 99 is a camera for 9x12 plates, made in about 1895[1] by Wünsche of Dresden. It is wooden-bodied, with black leather covering. It has a 150 mm f/12 Aplanat lens (the same design as a Rapid Rectilinear), and a rotary shutter.[1]
The camera illustrated here differes significantly from an example sold at Westlicht.[2] Most importantly, the camera sold at Westlicht has a plate-changing mechanism, with a lever on the front, between the two viewfinders, and a plate-counter dial on the top (that is, it is a falling-plate magazine camera). The one shown here lacks the plate-changing lever, and appears to have a viewing hood at the back (if there is a ground-glass screen, there can hardly be a magazine of plates). Also, the example illustrated here shows viewfinders with hoods, and thus probably of the Watson type with a small ground glass; however, the camera sold at Westlicht clearly has brilliant finders. The lens and shutter unit appears the same on both cameras, however.
The camera, if actually a magazine detective camera, is a successor to the earlier Mars Camera, which has a rather more cumbersome plate-changing method, using a sliding wooden box on the outside of the body to move plates between the magazine and the exposing position.
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 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). p1018.
- ↑ Mars 99, serial no. 897, sold at the May 2003 Westlicht Photographica Auction in Vienna.