Difference between revisions of "Photosphère"
(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''' 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. | + | The '''Photosphère''' is a plate camera designed for use in tropical regions, and therefore, unusually for the time, made of metal. The body is brass, with a silver-coloured plating, usually very tarnished. 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<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> | 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> | ||
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*Viewfinder: removable Watson finder | *Viewfinder: removable Watson finder | ||
| − | '''Photosphère n°3''' | + | '''Photosphère n°3'''<ref name=W13x18>[http://westlicht-auction.com/index.php?f=popup&id=9713&_ssl=off#9713 13x18 cm Photosphère] body with 180 mm f/8 Rectilinear lens, sold at the [http://westlicht-auction.com/index.php?id=8138&acat=8138&lang=3 November 2003 Westlicht auctioon].</ref> |
*Type: roll film camera | *Type: roll film camera | ||
*Films: 13×18cm plates<ref name=W13x18Pl/> or roll film (48 exposures) | *Films: 13×18cm 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: | + | *Shutter: hemispherical guillotine shutter |
| − | *Viewfinder: 2 | + | *Viewfinder: 2 Watson finders, fitted inside the body, for horizontal and vertical orientation |
| − | *Extra: | + | *Extra: bubble levels for horizontal and vertical orientation |
'''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> | '''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> | ||
Revision as of 15:00, 8 July 2012
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| Photosphère. Scan by Uwe Kulick. (Image rights) |
The Photosphère is a plate camera designed for use in tropical regions, and therefore, unusually for the time, made of metal. The body is brass, with a silver-coloured plating, usually very tarnished. 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)
- 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[4]
- 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: hemispherical guillotine shutter
- Viewfinder: 2 Watson finders, fitted inside the body, for horizontal and vertical orientation
- Extra: bubble levels for horizontal and vertical orientation
Photosphère n°4 stéréoscopique[5]
- 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
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 9x12 cm Photosphère serial no. 723, with wooden stand and two wooden double dark-slides, sold at the November 2008 Westlicht auction.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 13x18 cm plate magazine for Photosphère, sold at the June 2008 Westlicht auction.
- ↑ 9x12 cm Photosphère, serial no. 1998 in original polished silver finish, with Krauss lens, sold at the May 2006 Westlicht auction.
- ↑ 13x18 cm Photosphère body with 180 mm f/8 Rectilinear lens, sold at the November 2003 Westlicht auctioon.
- ↑ 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
- Photosphère No. 2 at Early Photography
- Photosphère n°1, n°2, n°3, and n°4 at declic87.free.fr (French, main source of this page)
- Other Photosphère variants description at Tigin's Classic Cameras (German/English)
- Page about historically important cameras at RolleiOnly, with pictures of two different Photosphère variants
- Photosphere Price Guide at collectiblend
