I bought a 100 year old Camera.
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 29 ก.ย. 2024
- I restored an old wood field camera built in 1909 back to working condition. The camera is now good as new, I take the viewer on the journey from my workshop into the field using the camera and shooting some black and white film with it.
@16:00. Thanks for the heads up about the Lisco holders. Can you do a video about the fix? What about Riteway holders?
That was awesome Todd, didn’t expect you to take us from beginning to end of the restoration. And I had no idea the tolerances were something to worry about in ground glass or film holders. Now you’ve got me thinking.
Bill McCarroll yes they were not as precise as we are today. Good luck !
nice camera, if you have to disassemble the bellows frame, why not convert it to interchangable bellows ( ie a clip_on style of frame), as a wide angle set would be beneficial for the wider lenses, and in fact help make this a reality, that is, to allow such a close focus with the bellows, yet still have the movements available. Also a focus scale, like on the Linhof Technika's perhaps even replaceable, so each lens has it's own scale; would aid in finding infinity each time, and know bellows ext. at a glance, for Bellows factor calc's.
Why were the Lisco regal holders not so good?
Some of the older ones were just not made great. The version II were much better.
Do you make your own ground glass or outsource?
No I purchase it from KB Canham Cameras. He makes a great ground glass.
@@toddkorolphoto thanks I appreciate the reply. I’ll have to check them out.
I think it's important to keep these great old cameras alive. Great job.
Thanks, it’s a wonderful camera.
@toddkorolphoto I'm working on a much smaller scale. I'm getting 2 old Voigtlander folding cameras in working order. A Bessa and an Avus 6.5x9cm. I hope to use the Avus to play with paper negitives and Arista Ortho films. Kinda small scale large format. Your videos are helpful. I have to convert a pack film holder to take a ground glass focus screen. The shutter on both need work. I think I have the Bessa shutter working properly now.
That sounds great!
@@davidspidell4270
The metal may be nickel plated
Very Enjoyable and SO Much Great Info that you shared! Thanks!!
Many thanks!!
I love my 5x7 Intrepid
Hi: I don't have the Criterion mine is the Competitor model (bigger lens board and front swings) - My thought is have you ever tried the wooden crutch type tripods from Graflex - say the big #4, I find it to be very stable (surprisingly so). Enjoyed your video - but the metal parts are brass or steel nickel plated.
Thanks. Will check the tri-pod out. And yes I do know that about the metal parts, just misspoke. Cheers
"Stainless Steel"!!??!! Nope! = That is Nickel Plate on the uprights. (Stainless Steel (408) does Not tarnish, nor rust.).
James Kyle Indeed good to know. Yes wasn’t tarnished just dirty. My brain doesn’t work when I’m doing 4 different things at one. 😉
@@toddkorolphoto That ok, Todd... Great VID you have posted. Looks like Nebraska. LOL!!! (Pool Table Flat with the Northeast "corner pocket" lobbed off.)
@@jameskyle4807 Yep, I really need to go there and shoot!
Yes, James is right, stainlesssteel was not used in those days, all metal on the camera's is/was nikkel.
Cleaning tip, we in Europa have some polish called "Brasso" (also used for copper) you must have something similar over there and don't use powertools as Todd did, it gives abrasion marks and scratches, when you use this polish it shines as new ;-)
@@bertcremers3134 Yep! That's what I use. No Abrasives.
Lovely camera, great job. 14:20 Your description of what appeals in the landscape perhaps also reflects your preference for vintage cameras?
Thanks. Sometimes just trying to runaway from it all. 😉
what a beauty!!
Irene Rudnyk It sure is. I love it and giving it a new life of photography.
Interesting video on a great refurbish on your camera, I didn't fall asleep once while watching!
It's great to see you using it, rather than sitting it on the tripod in a corner collecting dust!
Thanks, if you’re going to be part of my family you need to work here, no sitting around 😉
Yay! Finally a new video from Todd... enjoyed it a lot
Franklin This was a big one. Took some time 😉
Todd Korol a lot of effort involved indeed.. but the finished result really looks impeccable, makes it all worth it :)
Same thing with the one Lisco Regal holder I have. Riteways are my favorite by far. You’re much more handy than I am! I just used some gorilla tape for a problem I had on my new/old speed graphic 😂 really enjoying your channel!
You can do a lot with duck tape!
Todd, thanks for the inspiration. It's always great to see your videos. Looking through my holders today to root out offensive Lisco Regal #1s! I look forward to the video where you show some more extreme camera movements. Thank you for taking large format junkies along on the ride.
Thanks, yes it's time for another camera movement one.
Stainless steel was invented in 1913. I'm thinking nickel-plated.
Right you are. My bad. Misspoke.
I'm not a photographer, but I love antiques, and restore a lot of old furniture and other antique items. Your videos are very interesting! I'm glad parts are available for the old cameras. We bought an antique oak plate camera stand that I'm refinishing. I don't know why the rectangular top is hinged to flip up and reveal a sort of cobbler's stool-shaped surface? @@toddkorolphoto
Great job, Todd! I look forward to see more of the images that you capture with it!
Thanks, going to go out this week with it.
Your channel has become one of my fast favorites on TH-cam. Great stories, very useful information, and high quality. So glad to see this 1909 camera made its way right back where it belongs, in the hands of Todd Korol. Cheers!
Thank you very much, I really appreciate the note. The 5x7 is a beauty!
Fascinating that a century ago whoever made this beauty would have it restored and displayed on the interweb :) Great content
Thanks. It was a wonderful project
make sure that new ground glass has the corners trimmed for air flow
Good job and impressive giving it a second life! Enjoyed the walk through as well as mid-western fields there or think mid-west.
Looks similar to a Rochester Optical Co. Empire State 6.5x8.5 that I had. Nice to see you fix this up to working condition again!
Thanks, those are really nice as well.
nice Work.
✌️
Nice looking camera! Thanks for the tip on the buffing wheel on the Dremel, my 8x10 and 5x7 Deardorff cameras could use that.
Works really well, just watch you don’t mail the wood and make a mark.
great job repairing this camera and yet another example of the camera doesn't matter, it's the users vision.
Thanks, it really doesn’t matter, but, you kind of have to have a connection with it to take it out and want to use it. I love this one!
Please continue making this wonderful videos I’m really enjoying what you are doing!!❤️👋🏻
Thank you, I will try.
I don't need a new project camera
I don't need a new project camera
I don't need a new project camera
*starts scouring eBay*
Oh yes, been there!!!
Hi sir. I current working on a similar project and have a question: where did you order the leather handle? Thank you!
I just took the old one to a leather smith and had him copy it. Find someone that works with leather they will be able to help you out.
Lots of information! Holders always "a need to check". Note is only to 5x7 prints, my Leica and slow film, good lenses 35,mm Summaron will equal your images! I could NEVER afford sheet film. Bravo!
I too love me a Leicas. My next two videos are with my Leicas. Thanks for watching.
Thanks for this video. I am currently downsizing from 8x10 to 5x7 and looking for potential cameras to buy. I am trying to decide between buying a modern 5x7 or an older camera like this Korona.
Really depends on how much movement you want on your camera. I really don’t need much so one of these older cameras work fine for me. And they are super light!
Great and successful project, thank you very much for sharing it with us! I look forward to seeing more of the 5x7 from you!
Seb, from Germany
Thanks so much for watching, glad you enjoyed it, more to come from this camera.
Nice work! I have one I am going to tr y to rebuild, but it does not have a lens. Do you have any recommendations?
Thanks. Well I have been using the slightly wide 180mm, it's about a 35mm in 35mm terms. A 210mm is close to a normal lens. I like the slightly wider view because I shoot mostly landscapes with this 5x7 camera.
Thanks for the info. What do you transport the camera in? I have a 1903 Century 8x10 it's in great shape but I'd hate to damage it.
Well I use mine, I just carry it around in a padded ThinkTank camera bag.
What a smart looking camera. Where you also going to do tin-type photography and using equipment & chemicals for such?😊
I have thought about tin types, but not sure I want to go down that rabbit hole. 😉
beautiful camera! But why wearing gloves? Are you afraid of being infected by the vintage virus?
Ha not quite, a friend of mine who works with old wood advised me to try and not get any grease on the wood until I looked at it well. Also I was working with glues and such that I did’t want to get my fingers stuck together like I always seem to do. 😉
Amazing camera! It looks well designed!
They were very well designed and built back then. The only thing I wish it has was front tilt. But still works great.
Hi i bought my wife a 1890 kodak long focus poco camera but we cannot get it opened...any suggestions
I'm not sure, but I would guess there is a little bump on the outside of the camera somewhere either on the side or top, push that down and it should be a little latch to release the front of the camera so it should open.
I just picked up a 2D Kodak 5x7. This is really useful info and inspiring!
Oh those 2Ds are really nice. That’s fabulous good luck.
Sometimes the backs come with exposed but undeveloped film that can be developed in a darkroom. I developed three glass plates over a hundred years old in this fashion and got images of victorian women.
That sounds great would love to see the photos.
What a beautiful camera! It's unfortunate that the only original piece of the camera is the frame itself.
I know. But time takes it toll.
Amazing video! Thank you for sharing!
You should rebuild and resell them for those of us who don't have the technical expertise or the optical engineer friends :)
Funny you should say, I've been reached out by a few people to do just exactly that.
@@toddkorolphoto well from the video we can see that any other person without the knowledge would have bought a camera that wouldn't have worked!
Also, you know how much a camera is worth without overpaying haha
I see it as a win win
as a note, this camera style is called a "tail_board" camera, as it has a 'bed' on the rear, and a "rigid" front standard, in effect a reverse linhof Technika design, which I think is termed a "field/technical camera", a camera reserves the 'Technical' designation if movements are limited, or just shift & rise/fall, for architecture shooting, like the Ebony RS45 ( which is a rigid camera, no back movements).
I'm curious how you dated it to 1909. Is there a table of serial numbers somewhere on the net? I'd like to be able to date mine more accurately. It's listed in Gundlach catalogs until at least 1925. Yours must be a deluxe model of some sort as the others I've seen are chrome plated rather than the then brand-new stainless steel on yours. Great cleaning job, looks new!
Thanks. The guy who sold it to me his grandfather bought it and the receipt was still in the case.
@@toddkorolphoto such luck!
Were the original film holders any good?
They are but are harder to load.
Super great video. Love it, Todd.
Thank you very much😉
the landscape is so flat this has to be saskatchewan 😂
Gotta love Saskatchewan!
What fun! It must be very satisfying to give an old beauty new life!
How funny I’ve been wondering on 5x7 but couldn’t really find any pictures. I want something wider than 4x5. I notice not many film is available for 5x7.
I love in uk so ilford has me covered. In colour lol forget it
Ilford makes pretty much anything you would want, Delta 100, FP4 and HP5, Kodak still makes Tri-x, and then KB Canham still does special orders of Kodak colour films for it.
@@toddkorolphoto oh cheers. Thanks for Info
Yes, very nice, I'll order one from you right away! ---Wonderful! Really a gorgeous camera!
Stainless steel in 1909?
Nope, Nickle plated, sorry for the mistake.
Also, if you are in need of good film scanns, i have a top of the line AGFA scannera, capable of scanning up to a3 in transparency, with 8000 theoretical, and 5000 proven DIP resolution.
Yes I've heard those are really good, would love to try one out.
Always wear gloves?
No, it was advice I received from a friend of mine that works on old items made of wood. He said until you know what it’s like, it’s good to wear gloves so you don’t get any grease or stains on the wood. So I was just being cautious. And working the garage my hands were always getting dirty.
Love your videos !
Thanks!, And thanks for watching more coming.
very interesting video Todd! thanks for share this trouvaille!
I have two Kodak 3-A (with the Tessar lens and the coupled rangefinder), both over 100 years old, which I remodeled to accept 120 film (instead of their original 122 film). These are two of the cameras which I have always in one of my wheelchair bags, one loaded with b&w film and the other with color film. I sometimes use them for architecture, sometimes for landscape or cityscape, but mostly for full body portraits. I really like these two old guys.
Those sound great! Something wonderful about using these old cameras. Thanks for watching 🙏
just bought a similar camera, in similar shape. wish me luck in terms of getting it working again. i will be using the original beck lens, since i like old lenses. Though ill have to make new film holders, as i only get 1 for it.
Ill likely have to completely disassemble it, restore all the brass, and give the wood some good french pollishing.
Sounds great, the original lens that came with this camera is just getting a service right now, can't wait to try it out.
Hi; I inherited a Rochester Optical Pony Premo #2 which apparently was bought new by my great Aunt around 1897. I haven't restored it but have used it with success. I did use modern modern filmholders as all 3 of the originals were in degrees of rough shape. That prompted me to go out and get a Chamonix 45. I'm up in northern AB (Beaverlodge) so pretty much on my own with respect to large format. Love to find some original holders for the Premo but no luck yet.
That sounds like a great camera. I will keep my eyes peeled for a holder.
Newbie question here, but in general, do you have to worry about light leaks with film holders in direct sun? I've wondered about that. (Also going to check my holders for Lisco Regal!)
I try not to keep them exposed in direct sun, but good holders should be fine. You just have to watch how you handle them.
this was so good
Thank you, it was a fun project for sure.
Great episode! Inspiring! Love the old wood cameras! Thanks, for sharing your journey in bringing it back to life!!
Thanks. I love that camera. Something great about making it work again✌️
hi todd, great job. you inspired me to take the leap into LF, I love my chamonix 45n-2, i hope this doesnt follow, rebuild projects 👍
Great news. Let me know if you take on a project👌
What a joy to watch this, Todd. Lovely content and such a pleasure to see you refurbish the camera and THEN ... use it. Very enjoyable. Last week I bought two 5x7 double dark slide film holders and will acquire some more, in anticipation of finding a camera. ATB
The beauty of 5x7 is there are a lot of nice camera out there for not a lot of money.
Great video!
Thanks!
Loved everything about this; the rebuild info and content was cool and loved seeing the camera up and working.
Thanks, it was a fun project, camera works great now.
Another great Video. Good to see the full restoration process as I’ve just got an early 5x7 Szabad camera of very similar form factor to yours.
That sounds great. I love these old 5x7 cameras.
Very enjoyable watching you restore the camera. I have a Conley 5x7 of similar vintage and condition that could certainly benefit from such care. Interesting about the GG holder tolerances. Would that be due to warping or a fault in the original manufacture?
Conleys are very nice as well. Probably a little bit of both, wood of course of time changes, but my friend Bill said they really didn't have set standards back then. They were definitely not as precise as they are today.
Great video. Is the bottom bed extending so far past the rear standard inconvenient in using the loupe on the GG with short focal lengths? Appears so, wondering if there is a work-around. Thank you for sharing.
I thought it was going to be as well, but it's really not, especially with a nice big ground glass like that. It might be a bit tricky with really wide angle lenses. But I'm not worried about that because this is going to be a one lens camera.
Did you have to make any changes to the camera to fit the Lisco holders? I have a similar, although a bit older cycle camera that I'm restoring and only the original holders fit.
No my back fit any new 5x7 holder perfectly, I suspect you might have an odd size camera back, there were many variations and weird sizes until they started to standardize. I had a light leak from an actual Lisco holder, and not the camera back itself. Good luck with your camera.
Thanks for sharing your re-build. How long did it take? Great tip on the holders. What's next ULF?
I started June 2, had the camera going Aug 20, but just over a month of that was waiting for the bellows.
Absolutely magnificent
How much does the camera weigh? Is it tough to hike around with? What is the longest lens you can use on it?
Great job on the restoration!
It’s really light just under 3 pounds. I put a short bellows on it because I knew I wouldn’t use long lenses. But I could put a 300mm on it. I use a 180 for it now.
Glad to see you also enjoy the broad horizons of the prairies along with your love of the west coast. Sort of have to be lucky on setting up the camera in the middle of the road and not have a combine wanting to go through. Great job on the camera, nice that you brought it back to life and better then being in a museum, it is out capturing images.
Exactly, out taking photos where it should be. I always think even if my cameras are bouncing around and getting dropped in the dirt, they are happy, beats sitting on some shelf.
Great walk through of the restoration - lovely camera! Also good advice on re setting up the camera for use. I am about to start same on my Kodak Specialist 2. The metal parts look very similar but I worry they may be chromed rather than stainless. Any advice on cleaning them up?
Research a product called Flitz. I wouldn't use a polish that has abrasive in the product.
Fantastic work! Love to see this old gem being back to life
Great work. Where did you get your ground glass and bellows?
The ground glass is from KB Canham cameras and the bellows is from Camera Bellows in England. Both very good products.
Well done on the refurb, Todd. It's so relaxing to watch how you approached each stage and I learned a lot. It gives me the courage to try and breathe new life into an old camera. Thanks, George.
I hope you do. Send me a photo if you get one done thanks!
Dang, that's a piece of art to make even more art :) Gorgeous!
Thanks so much!!
Oh wow! You really did a great job with your restoration! The test shots really show the potential of the camera. Even the shot with the light leak looked beautiful.
Thanks! The camera is fully ready to go, the light leak was from the holder as well, excited to use it, stay tuned.
Amazing job!!
Todd, Your video inspired me to find an old camera to keep alive, i.e. Graflex RB Tele 4x5 c.1920. No dust collector for me. Testing Jena 180mm, Heliar 210mm and Jena 300mm lenses now. Thanks for the encouragement.
Awesome, do it!! Send me photos.
@@toddkorolphoto Video sent. Photos next. Thanks Stuart
Glad to learn of the bellows company in England. I have a B&J Orbit/Calumet C-2 8x10 with a bellows that's held together with book binder tape and a dark flexible adhesive cement. It's light tight for the moment, but replacement is inevitable.
They are a great company to work with, and frankly film is too expensive to mess with a leaky bellows ;-)
@@toddkorolphoto True that. I can remember paying 11 bucks (American) for a box of tri-x 4x5, 25 sheets. That's been a minute.
Excellent job on the restoration and photos.
Thanks. It’s a beauty!!
What a cool project. As a bit of a history nerd and someone who enjoys photography, it is great to see an old camera come back to life
Thanks it has a good home and is working away :-)
Holy. Nice work man
Thank you!
Super interesting video. I would have been curious to see the budget it took to put it back into shape.
Budget ended up being $300 for the camera, $200 for the bellows and $100 for the new ground glass, the rest was just work I did, so not horrible.
Todd Korol yeah it’s not too bad to bond with a new camera 🙂
Truth to be told. It isn't amazing and ain't great. The only thing you kept original are the things that don't intervene with the image quality of the pictures. You just kept the frame all else is brand spanking new. If you would stuff a new lens, lens board, ground glass and slides and back and Bellows in a cardboard box your pictures would be just as good nay dare I say it? Even better.
But still nice work, it looks good.