exc1 810 engargentumcamera.com/eng/catalogs/exc1_810_eng.pdf · 2020. 7. 25. · Title:...
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excursor I. 8x10” 1 The first camera having excursor system that I built for myself, was 8x10 inch size. This format is very common among the fans of large format photography, since this size is big enough to avoid enlargement. Mostly contact prints are made of 8x10 inch nega- tives. However many are discouraged by the big size, weight and price of such format cameras, when it comes to ordering one. When making my first 8x10 inch camera, it was quite a challenge for me to find out, how to make a camera in this format, that is usable in a practical way, that needs small room, and light enough not having to think it twice when the photographer wants to take the camera out of the studio or even carry it as a companion for a longer expedition. This led to the birth of the cameras having excur- sor system. Since that time, excursor ca- meras were taken to the Himalayas, and to Northern-Africa as well. I made a list of the most important movements that cameras like this, most of all made for landscape pho- tography, should have. These movements are rise and fall of front, and base tilt of both front and rear. The lack of the other move- ments made it possible to decrease the size and weight of the camera dramatically. This construction resulted of course in a very stable structure. The commonly used focu- sing rack was also left, so focusing is done by manual sliding. This should not discour- age anyone, since this method makes focu- sing fast and accurate. To set the focus the user has to slide the rails that hold the rear. The only drawback of this solution is that these rails might get into the frame when using extreme wide angle lenses, so these lenses are not compatible to this camera. It is difficult to say which is the lens that have the shortest focal distance, that still can be used with the camera at infinity, since this depends on the measure of the movement set by the photographer, and also on the for- mat of the photograph, whether it is vertical or horizontal. Considering a not too extreme situation even a 150mm lens can be used while the rails still do not get into the frame. The bellows of the camera is built together with the body, and generally lenses having focal distance in 180-450mm focal range are recommended to use. Rear may be tilted along base axis. The measure of base tilt forward is limited only by the bellows, while backwards it is maxi- mum 20°. Movements of front: - rise: 30 mm - fall: 40 mm - center tilt: limited only by the bellows - base tilt: limited only by the bellows, but maximum 15° forward. (By means of movements of front the maxi- mum extension can be increased by app. 20mm. This is done by tilting the front along the base axis, then setting it in vertical posi- tion by the central horizontal axis, also slightly rising it at the same time.)
Transcript of exc1 810 engargentumcamera.com/eng/catalogs/exc1_810_eng.pdf · 2020. 7. 25. · Title:...
e x c u r s o r I . 8 x 1 0 ”
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The first camera having excursor systemthat I built for myself, was 8x10 inch size.This format is very common among the fansof large format photography, since this sizeis big enough to avoid enlargement. Mostlycontact prints are made of 8x10 inch nega-tives. However many are discouraged by thebig size, weight and price of such formatcameras, when it comes to ordering one.When making my first 8x10 inch camera, itwas quite a challenge for me to find out, howto make a camera in this format, that isusable in a practical way, that needs smallroom, and light enough not having to think ittwice when the photographer wants to takethe camera out of the studio or even carry itas a companion for a longer expedition. Thisled to the birth of the cameras having excur-sor system. Since that time, excursor ca-meras were taken to the Himalayas, and toNorthern-Africa as well. I made a list of themost important movements that cameraslike this, most of all made for landscape pho-tography, should have. These movementsare rise and fall of front, and base tilt of bothfront and rear. The lack of the other move-ments made it possible to decrease the sizeand weight of the camera dramatically. Thisconstruction resulted of course in a very stable structure. The commonly used focu-sing rack was also left, so focusing is doneby manual sliding. This should not discour-age anyone, since this method makes focu-sing fast and accurate. To set the focus theuser has to slide the rails that hold the rear.The only drawback of this solution is thatthese rails might get into the frame whenusing extreme wide angle lenses, so theselenses are not compatible to this camera. Itis difficult to say which is the lens that havethe shortest focal distance, that still can beused with the camera at infinity, since thisdepends on the measure of the movementset by the photographer, and also on the for-mat of the photograph, whether it is verticalor horizontal. Considering a not too extremesituation even a 150mm lens can be usedwhile the rails still do not get into the frame.The bellows of the camera is built togetherwith the body, and generally lenses havingfocal distance in 180-450mm focal range arerecommended to use.
Rear may be tilted along base axis. Themeasure of base tilt forward is limited onlyby the bellows, while backwards it is maxi-mum 20°.
Movements of front:- rise: 30 mm- fall: 40 mm- center tilt: limited only by the bellows - base tilt: limited only by the bellows, butmaximum 15° forward.(By means of movements of front the maxi-mum extension can be increased by app.20mm. This is done by tilting the front alongthe base axis, then setting it in vertical posi-tion by the central horizontal axis, alsoslightly rising it at the same time.)
e x c u r s o r I . 8 x 1 0 ”
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The camera is made of cherry wood that istreated by special oil. The metal parts aremade of silver anodized aluminum, control-ling screws are of natural aluminum, and fixing screws are made of stainless steel.
The maximum diameter of the rear element of the lens: 100 mm
Tripod mounts: 3 holes, 3/8 inch
Dimensions of lens board: 140x140x12 mm
The dimensions of the body when folded:(Without knobs and back.) 310x310x75 mm
The dimensions of the camera when folded:(With knobs and spring back type 2.) 350x330x95 mm
General weight of body made of cherry wood without back:(An 8x10 inch back weighs app. 0.8 kg with ground glass.)
2.1 kg
Maximum extension: 500 mm
Minimal extension: 180 mm
To every argentum camera, including 8x10inch excursor I., two types of back can beordered. When using the more simple version (type 1.) the ground glass has to beremoved before inserting the film holder.Type 2. is spring back system, where by lift-ing an arm, the film holder slides under theground glass. Generally, the back comeswith ground glass that is polished by me.These glasses do not have grid lines. If gridlines are requested, I project the lines on asheet film, then fix the film to the glass by athin plexi as illustrated on the photo. Groundglass made by other manufacturer mightalso be used.
At standard design the camera have 3 tripod mounts on the base of the camera. One falls inthe middle, while the other two are 74mm from each other, making it possible to use doublescrewed tripod heads
