Camera Talk

Dunno, Robert. I went down the google rabbit hole last night at about 2:00 am. Could not find anything that actually has the same capabilities and design. I'm trying to find some sort of forum somewhere to ask about it. It has more movements than any tailboard camera I've ever had, so I'm not sure i...

Starting this thread so I can dump everything in one spot... I'm still trying to positively ID this camera. Looks about 90% like a B&J Watson Portrait view camera, but those 1. Have front swings (mine does not) and 2. Does NOT have a metal brace on the front standard (mine DOES). Mine has the B&...

Thanks, Robert. Gonna be fun. Camera arrived Saturday but I only got to open it a bit ago. It is, in fact, a Watson Portrait View. It does have front tilt - has these cool little retractable strips to retain the lensboard until you want to tilt. Works great. ALSO, has front rise/fall, shift, rear sw...

So, someone asked me about lenses for 10x12 recently. Waxed nostalgic about a B&J Ajax #2 portrait Petzval I used to have. Thought I'd set up a search on eBay for one. Then this came up: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54556133814_33a34102e9_c.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54556285...

Hi, all - Finally finished the inaugural roll in the Retina II (014). Had forgotten it actually started in Manhattan sometime late last summer. Also ended up in Delaware, some shots in Lancaster, PA, and finally finished up in Birdsboro where my wife went strolling with me to burn film for the first...

Well, hell - that seems pretty conclusive. Exactly how mine works. I feel better - thank you for posting this!

Thanks, Julio. I will *never* buy again. I think I can do a bit of modification to the camera to improve function and results a bit, but overall I don't want to change it much. This shoots 127. My first time using that format. I like it a lot, but have no functional way of scanning it effectively. A...

Hi, all - I posted about this camera in June, 2023. Have finally finished the first roll, presented, warts and all, below. Images from Birdsboro, PA, and Lewes, DE. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54490656237_abd0df3704_z.jpg img208 by Scott , on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/544906...

Okay, thanks guys. Maybe my expecations are too high. Here's a video of the Retina opening, compared with the Fujica, Super Regent, And Speedex. Maybe these all open as nicely as they do based more on packing of the bellows? Dunno. The Retina seems golden beyond that (I'm scanning the first roll as ...

Ah, we're talking about two different things: I'm talking about the lens standard/front door. You're talking about the film compartment door. Sorry - I reread my post and it's entirely vague. I will post a video a little later of what I'm talking about. I apparently need to up my caffeine intake aga...