Difference between revisions of "Photosphère"

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m (CP>CW + added image_rights. One more link)
(Various changes to the text. Replaced example with one at Westlicht (more and better pictures, and certainty that the site has rights to them), and added other examples.)
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The '''Photosphère''' was a camera designed for use in tropical regions. Therefore it was made of metal. The shutter was formed like a bowl with a hole and placed inside the characteristic hemispheric frontside of the camera (2). Setting different shutter speeds was possible by clamping a spring (1). Napoléon Conti got the patent on this camera in 1888. About 4000 pieces (all variants together) had been produced.
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The '''Photosphère''' is a plate camera designed for use in tropical regions, and therefore made of metal. The front of the body has an unusual hemispherical shape. Within this, the shutter has a hemispherical blind with a hole, which swings under spring tension to make the exposure. The shutter speed is variable by changing the spring tension. Napoléon Conti patented the camera in 1888. About 4000 pieces (all variants together) were made.
  
Different plate magazines were attachable to the camera body's back: a double chassis made of mahagony, a double chassis made of steel, or a magazine for 12 plates made of metal.
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Different plate holders could be attached: double dark-slides made of mahagony<ref name=W9x12>[https://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?f=popup&id=138541&_ssl=off#138541 9x12 cm Photosphère] serial no. 723, with wooden stand and two wooden double dark-slides, sold at the [https://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?id=133117&acat=133117&offset=1&lang=3 November 2008 Westlicht auction].</ref> or steel, or a twelve-plate metal magazine.<ref name=W13x18Pl>[http://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?f=popup&id=116316&_ssl=off#116316 13x18 cm plate magazine for Photosphère], sold at the [http://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?id=112199&acat=112199&offset=2&lang=3 June 2008 Westlicht auction].</ref>
  
 
'''Photosphère n°1'''
 
'''Photosphère n°1'''
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*Films: 8&times;9cm dry plates
 
*Films: 8&times;9cm dry plates
 
*Lens: Cie. Francaise Aplanétique 92mm, or Zeiss Anastigmat 92mm
 
*Lens: Cie. Francaise Aplanétique 92mm, or Zeiss Anastigmat 92mm
*Shutter: bowl-like guillotine shutter
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*Shutter: hemispherical guillotine shutter
*Viewfinder: removeable reflex finder (3)
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*Viewfinder: removable reflex finder (3)
  
'''Photosphère n°2'''
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'''Photosphère n°2'''<ref name=W9x12/><ref name=W9x12S>[http://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?f=popup&id=59057&_ssl=off#59057 9x12 cm Photosphère], serial no. 1998 in original polished silver finish, with [[Krauss]] lens, sold at the [http://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?id=54427&acat=54427&offset=1&lang=3 May 2006 Westlicht auction].</ref>
 
*Type: plate camera
 
*Type: plate camera
 
*Films: 9&times;12cm dry plates
 
*Films: 9&times;12cm dry plates
 
*Lens: Cie. Francaise double symétrique 125mm, or Zeiss Anastigmat 125mm
 
*Lens: Cie. Francaise double symétrique 125mm, or Zeiss Anastigmat 125mm
*Shutter: bowl-like guillotine shutter, 5 speeds
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*Shutter: hemispherical guillotine shutter, 5 speeds
*Viewfinder: removeable reflex finder
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*Viewfinder: removable Watson finder
*[http://johnsrolleionlypage.homestead.com/files/Photosphere_9X12.jpg Image] presented in [http://johnsrolleionlypage.homestead.com/historicallyimportantcameras.html this page of the RolleiOnly website]
 
  
 
'''Photosphère n°3'''
 
'''Photosphère n°3'''
 
*Type: roll film camera
 
*Type: roll film camera
*Films: 13&times;18cm roll film (48 exposures)
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*Films: 13&times;18cm plates<ref name=W13x18Pl/> or roll film (48 exposures)
 
*Lens: Cie. Francaise double symétrique 165mm, or Zeiss Anastigmat 165mm
 
*Lens: Cie. Francaise double symétrique 165mm, or Zeiss Anastigmat 165mm
 
*Shutter: bowl-like guillotine shutter
 
*Shutter: bowl-like guillotine shutter
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*Extra: water-level
 
*Extra: water-level
  
'''Photosphère n°4 stéréoscopique (2 n°1-Photosphères in one)'''
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'''Photosphère n°4 stéréoscopique'''<ref name=W9x18>[http://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?f=popup&id=37080&_ssl=off#37080 9x18 cm stereo Photosphère], serial no. 182, with Extra-Rapid Rectilinear lenses, three wooden double dark-slides and focusing screen, sold at the [http://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?id=35259&acat=35259&lang=3 May 2005 Westlicht auction].</ref>
 
*Type: plate camera
 
*Type: plate camera
*Films: 18&times;9cm dry plates
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*Films: 9x18 cm plates
 
*Lens: 2&times; Cie. Francaise Aplanétique 92mm, or Zeiss Anastigmat 92mm
 
*Lens: 2&times; Cie. Francaise Aplanétique 92mm, or Zeiss Anastigmat 92mm
*Shutter: 2 simultaneous bowl-like guillotine shutters
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*Shutter: 2 simultaneous hemispherical guillotine shutters
*Viewfinder: removeable reflex finder
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*Viewfinder: removable Watson finder
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==Notes==
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<references/>
 +
 
  
 
==Links==
 
==Links==

Revision as of 14:45, 8 July 2012

The Photosphère is a plate camera designed for use in tropical regions, and therefore made of metal. The front of the body has an unusual hemispherical shape. Within this, the shutter has a hemispherical blind with a hole, which swings under spring tension to make the exposure. The shutter speed is variable by changing the spring tension. Napoléon Conti patented the camera in 1888. About 4000 pieces (all variants together) were made.

Different plate holders could be attached: double dark-slides made of mahagony[1] or steel, or a twelve-plate metal magazine.[2]

Photosphère n°1

  • Type: plate camera
  • Manufacturer: Compagnie Française de Photographie
  • Year of patent: 1888
  • Films: 8×9cm dry plates
  • Lens: Cie. Francaise Aplanétique 92mm, or Zeiss Anastigmat 92mm
  • Shutter: hemispherical guillotine shutter
  • Viewfinder: removable reflex finder (3)

Photosphère n°2[1][3]

  • Type: plate camera
  • Films: 9×12cm dry plates
  • Lens: Cie. Francaise double symétrique 125mm, or Zeiss Anastigmat 125mm
  • Shutter: hemispherical guillotine shutter, 5 speeds
  • Viewfinder: removable Watson finder

Photosphère n°3

  • Type: roll film camera
  • Films: 13×18cm plates[2] or roll film (48 exposures)
  • Lens: Cie. Francaise double symétrique 165mm, or Zeiss Anastigmat 165mm
  • Shutter: bowl-like guillotine shutter
  • Viewfinder: 2 reflex finders inside the camera body
  • Extra: water-level

Photosphère n°4 stéréoscopique[4]

  • Type: plate camera
  • Films: 9x18 cm plates
  • Lens: 2× Cie. Francaise Aplanétique 92mm, or Zeiss Anastigmat 92mm
  • Shutter: 2 simultaneous hemispherical guillotine shutters
  • Viewfinder: removable Watson finder


Notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 9x12 cm Photosphère serial no. 723, with wooden stand and two wooden double dark-slides, sold at the November 2008 Westlicht auction.
  2. 2.0 2.1 13x18 cm plate magazine for Photosphère, sold at the June 2008 Westlicht auction.
  3. 9x12 cm Photosphère, serial no. 1998 in original polished silver finish, with Krauss lens, sold at the May 2006 Westlicht auction.
  4. 9x18 cm stereo Photosphère, serial no. 182, with Extra-Rapid Rectilinear lenses, three wooden double dark-slides and focusing screen, sold at the May 2005 Westlicht auction.


Links