VIDAX press Vintage camera w/ 8cm f/3.5 Xenar Lens Less than 100 made - Rare! Just like seen on the photos.. In Used Conditions and in working order. Please check all my photos for exact Conditions.... A Great Addition to your camera collection.......
In Used Conditions, and in working order. Please Check all my Pictures above for exact conditions. You will get exactly what you see on the Photos above. I ts quite interesting to answer the last question first.
During the last decades before the World War II, press photographers were mainly equiped with 4x5 huge cameras such as the Speed Graphic. These cameras were not only heavy but also very troublesome to use. Before the roll film holder was brought on the market, photographers had to work with plate holders and later sheet film holders with one plate or film on each side of the holder.
Before going to an event, photographers loaded a number of plate or sheet film holders in the darkroom, which is almost an act of art and craftsmanship to tinker the plate or sheet film into the holder, making sure that the right side of the film is pointing in the direction of the lens. Once arrived on the scene, the photographers had to prepare the camera for shooting by estimating and adjusting the subject distance, metering the light and setting the exposure time on the shutter. They had to decide what shutter to use: The front or the focal plane shutter, as most of the Graflex cameras had two shutters: The fast focal plane shutter and the in- between lens shutter on the front standard.
The Focal plane shutter had a number of different slits from wide open for time- exposures up to a narrow slit of some millimetre for the fastest speed shutter time of 1/1000 second. Using the front shutter demands a wide open back-shutter and using the focal plane or back shutter demands an open front-shutter.
They had to decide which one of the shutters to use and set the camera appropriately. Beside that they had to insert the holder, pull out the dark slide before shooting and push it back again after exposing. After the first picture had been taken, they had to pull out the complete film holder, turn the front side of the holder in the back position, replace the holder in the back of the camera, cock the shutter, pull the dark-slide, shoot and so on... It's obvious that photographers who had a lack of experience, often missed a shot or took a blank or a double exposure back at the office. It now becomes clear that the request one more, Mr.
Was very popular with the White House press photographers at the time Harry Truman was President of the United States. American camera designers were working on new concepts to make the camera lighter and smaller and more reliable and easier to handle.
One of these new "compact" camera types was the Kalart camera. And the other one was the Vidax. It is a bellows type folding camera constructed largely of alloy castings and is suitable for sheet and roll film in various sizes. A new concept of build in film mask makes it possible to shoot 8, 12 or 16 frames.
Easy film transport, easily interchangeable rangefinder coupled lenses. The focusing track rides on dual racks and pinion.
The name Vidax comes from a contraction of some names from those people who worked on the design of this camera. It is obvious that Vi stands for Victor Yager. The same camera maker who designed the famous and legendary Meridian Press Camera.
Though the Vidax is a superb design, from the commercial point of view, it was a serious mistake. Some 75 to 85 cameras were produced according to the Mckeowns Price guide.
Other sources say that the production was less than 200 cameras. Under-capitalization was the main reason the factory got bankrupt. Very sad as the Vidax was the most ingenious and ambitious 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 press camera ever produced in USA. No doubt that this is the reason that this camera is much sought and have become a collectors item of the first rang. Beside of the fact that it is an excellent collectors item, it is for all a perfect clever deigned, unique and for all still usable camera.
It is a roll film camera which can take 620 Film and for all the still available 120 film. One of the great advantages of the Vidax. Camera were the three different film sizes in one camera and on one type of roll film.
The lack of a frame mask, which easy can be lost, is one of the big advantages of this camera. The frame masks were of the -build in- type and easy to set.
The camera was comparing to its competitors relative small and handhold able but very The other was the fine design and easy to handle and not to forget, it's ruggedly construction of specially hardened aluminum alloy so it could easily survive a fall of 10 feet. More than one model was made before the first Vidax was manufactured. All thinkable bugs were eliminated after several try outs.
Comparing to its competitor the Kalart Camera it lacks the double exposure protection. The October 1948'Giant Directory' issue lists the Vidax for the first time.
You are purchasing EXACTLY what you see in the pictures! We strive to provide excellent customers service to our buyers. The item "VIDAX press Vintage camera with 8cm f/3.5 Xenar Lens Less than 100 made Rare" is in sale since Monday, November 4, 2019. This item is in the category "Cameras & Photo\Film Photography\Film Cameras".
The seller is "villagegoodies" and is located in Bakersfield, California. This item can be shipped worldwide.
- Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
- Type: Press
- Film Format: 2-1/4 x 3-1/4
- Focus Type: Manual
- Brand: Vidax