Difference between revisions of "Photosphère"

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(Commented out two of the links; one displays photos that it may not have rights to, one is not there any more.)
(Changed caption to image author template. A couple of typos. Noted Early Photog statement about Eastman roll film back. Simplified specification bullet-lists)
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|image_text= Photosphère. <small>Scan by [[:Category: Image by Uwe Kulick|Uwe Kulick]].</small>
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|image_text= Photosphère. <small>Scan by {{image author|Uwe Kulick}}.</small>
 
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|image_rights=public domain 1923
 
|image_rights=public domain 1923
 
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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.
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The '''Photosphère''' is an unusual plate camera, designed and patented by Napoléon Conti in 1888, and made in several sizes by the [[Compagnie Française de Photographie]] in Paris. It was 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 (''behind'' the lens) 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. 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, or roll-film holder.<ref name=W13x18>[http://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?f=popup&id=190243&_ssl=off#190243 13x18 cm Photosphère] with magazine (described by the auctioneer as for roll film, though it is not clear from the photographs how the magazine works), sold at the [http://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?id=185090&acat=185090&offset=1&lang=3 May 2010 Westlicht auction].</ref><ref name=W13x18Pl>[http://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?f=popup&id=116316&_ssl=off#116316 13x18 cm 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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Different plate holders can 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, or roll-film holder.<ref name=W13x18>[http://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?f=popup&id=190243&_ssl=off#190243 13x18 cm Photosphère] with magazine (described by the auctioneer as for roll film, though it is not clear from the photographs how the magazine works), sold at the [http://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?id=185090&acat=185090&offset=1&lang=3 May 2010 Westlicht auction].</ref><ref name=W13x18Pl>[http://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?f=popup&id=116316&_ssl=off#116316 13x18 cm 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'''
*Type: plate camera
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*Type: 8&times;9cm dry plates
*Manufacturer: [[Compagnie Française de Photographie]]
 
*Year of patent: 1888
 
*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: hemispherical guillotine shutter
 
*Shutter: hemispherical guillotine shutter
*Viewfinder: removable [[Viewfinder|Watson finder]]<ref>The finders on some examples are simply Watson finders (a reflex finder with a ground-glass screen); others also have a screen at the back, allowing eye-level use. The finders have hinged metal covers over the glass. An example of the [http://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?f=popup&id=238540&_ssl=off#238540 eye-level/Watson viewfinder] was sold at the [http://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?id=232078&acat=232078&lang=3 November 2011Westlicht auction].</ref>
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*Viewfinder: removable [[Viewfinder|Watson finder]]<ref>The finders on some examples are simply Watson finders (a reflex finder with a ground-glass screen); others also have a screen at the back, allowing eye-level use. The finders have hinged metal covers over the glass. An example of the [http://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?f=popup&id=238540&_ssl=off#238540 eye-level/Watson viewfinder] was sold at the [http://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?id=232078&acat=232078&lang=3 November 2011 Westlicht auction].</ref>
  
 
'''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>
 
'''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
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*Type: 9&times;12cm plates (McKeown states that the 9x12 camera could also take a special back for the newly-introduced Eastman roll film<ref name=McK>{{McKeown12}} p209-10.</ref>)
*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: hemispherical guillotine shutter, 5 speeds
 
*Shutter: hemispherical guillotine shutter, 5 speeds
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'''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>
 
'''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
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*Type: 13&times;18cm roll film (48 exposures)<ref name=W13x18Pl/>  
*Films: 13&times;18cm or roll film (48 exposures)<ref name=W13x18Pl/>  
 
 
*Lens: Cie. Francaise double symétrique 165mm, or Zeiss Anastigmat 165mm
 
*Lens: Cie. Francaise double symétrique 165mm, or Zeiss Anastigmat 165mm
 
*Shutter: hemispherical guillotine shutter
 
*Shutter: hemispherical guillotine shutter
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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>
 
'''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
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*Type: 9x18 cm plates
*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 hemispherical guillotine shutters
 
*Shutter: 2 simultaneous hemispherical guillotine shutters

Revision as of 15:32, 8 July 2012

The Photosphère is an unusual plate camera, designed and patented by Napoléon Conti in 1888, and made in several sizes by the Compagnie Française de Photographie in Paris. It was 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 (behind the lens) 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. About 4000 pieces (all variants together) were made.

Different plate holders can be attached: double dark-slides made of mahagony[1] or steel, or a twelve-plate metal magazine, or roll-film holder.[2][3]

Photosphère n°1

  • Type: 8×9cm dry plates
  • Lens: Cie. Francaise Aplanétique 92mm, or Zeiss Anastigmat 92mm
  • Shutter: hemispherical guillotine shutter
  • Viewfinder: removable Watson finder[4]

Photosphère n°2[1][5]

  • Type: 9×12cm plates (McKeown states that the 9x12 camera could also take a special back for the newly-introduced Eastman roll film[6])
  • Lens: Cie. Francaise double symétrique 125mm, or Zeiss Anastigmat 125mm
  • Shutter: hemispherical guillotine shutter, 5 speeds
  • Viewfinder: removable Watson finder

Photosphère n°3[2]

  • Type: 13×18cm roll film (48 exposures)[3]
  • 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[7]

  • Type: 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 Photosphère with magazine (described by the auctioneer as for roll film, though it is not clear from the photographs how the magazine works), sold at the May 2010 Westlicht auction. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "W13x18" defined multiple times with different content
  3. 3.0 3.1 13x18 cm magazine for Photosphère, sold at the June 2008 Westlicht auction.
  4. The finders on some examples are simply Watson finders (a reflex finder with a ground-glass screen); others also have a screen at the back, allowing eye-level use. The finders have hinged metal covers over the glass. An example of the eye-level/Watson viewfinder was sold at the November 2011 Westlicht auction.
  5. 9x12 cm Photosphère, serial no. 1998 in original polished silver finish, with Krauss lens, sold at the May 2006 Westlicht auction.
  6. 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). p209-10.
  7. 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