Press camera

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A press camera is a medium or large format camera suitable for use by press photographers.

Press cameras were widely used from the 1930s through the early 1960s and commonly had the following features:

  • collapsible into strong, compact boxes
  • easily interchangeable lenses
  • accept sheet film, film packs, and rollfilm, through the use of interchangeable film backs and holders, often conforming to the "Graflock" standard set by Graflex
  • bellows focusing
  • optical rangefinder focusing
  • ground glass focusing
  • handheld operation
  • synchronized flash
  • reduced number or absence of movements, in contrast to field cameras

Press cameras most commonly employ the 4×5 inch film format. Models have also been produced for the 2×3 inch format, and various 120 film formats from 6×6 cm. through 6×12 cm.

One of the most well-known users of press cameras was the reporter-turned-artist Weegee. The press camera is still in wide use in photoreportage and among fine art photographers. Advances in film technology, notably finer film grain, have obviated the need for large-format cameras for most press assignments, however. In news photography, the press camera has been largely supplanted by the smaller formats of 120 film and 135 film, and more recently by digital cameras.

[edit] List of press cameras

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[edit] External links

[edit] See also


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