Press camera
From Free net encyclopedia
A press camera is a large format camera suitable for use by press photographers. The most common size film for press cameras is 4×5 inches.
Press cameras were widely used from the 1930s through the early 1960s and had the following features:
- foldable into strong, compact boxes
- easily interchangeable lenses
- accept sheet film, film packs and rollfilm through the use of interchangeable film backs and holders
- ground glass focusing screen
- rangefinder focusing
- handholdable
- equipped with optical viewfinders
- synchronizeable with flashes
A classic American press camera was the Speed Graphic.
Advances in film technology, notably smaller film grain, negated the need for large-format film and the press camera was supplanted by the smaller film formats of 120 film and 135 film. In many types of press photography, these have been replaced by digital cameras.
- Typical user: WeegeeTemplate:Photo-stub