Hi all,
I recently acquired this old camera from a laboratory I used to work for. It seems to be a 4x5 view camera (although doesn't seem to allow for tilt/shift movements), but I really don't know what else to make of it. I'd really appreciate some help identifying what I've gotten my hands on, and what I could do with it.

The back part of the body (where the film would go) has "Ernst Leitz Wetzlar Germany" etched in to it, and the lens is a "Rodenstock Eurygon" 35mm f4. I've read that the lens is intended for macro, but can't find much more information than that.

Oooooh, that is a lovely specimen! I am unsure of what it is but I am interested as well being that I collect old cameras for my office in my studio. I am hoping someone here may know what it is. It looks like an old macro style camera from its styling. I tried googling some of the cameras I have in my collection and I always come up with the same outcome of needing to buy an expensive book about the cost, era, value of old cameras, so good luck on your search. I have a few, 2 or 3 are supposed to be from the 1890's though I have yet to confirm

rosscova wrote:
The back part of the body (where the film would go) has "Ernst Leitz Wetzlar Germany" etched in to it,


That should make the camera worth ten time more than it would be otherwise.

Your images of the camera probably made some Leica collector wet his pants.
;-)

I love the built-in tape measure. The 1Dmk3 should have one of those.

It is probably a bespoke product for reproduction made by Leitz in the 1950-ies. I have never seen this one before, but in those years Leica would produce one-off constructions for individual customers. The paint is correct for the period too.

OK, you guys are starting to get me all excited here. It's sounding like this thing may actually be worth something. I honestly didn't start this thread with the curiosity of how much it's worth, just whether I should try to use it, or leave it on the mantle. But now you're making me curious about the value of it as well!

Does anyone know what it might take to bring the camera back to working order? And what kind of photography it might be suited to?

Thank you all for the replies so far. I'd love to have more information about the origins of the camera, so please keep the comments coming. If you're curious to see specific details, please let me know and I'll post more pics.

Ross

One thing I noticed myself (and is visible in the second image), is the ten aperture blades in the lens... I do like the style of those Germans.

Ross

Really nice looking camera, and a wonderful find! My Guess is a Macro 4x5 camera of some sort as the only way the 35mm Rodenstock could cover 4x5 is in a Macro (enlargment) mode. As mentioned earlier, the tape measure is a nice touch, and most likely to measure Bellows Extension for exposure calculations.

Too bad the ground glass is missing, but that is easily replaced and should have no inpact on value. It should have a spring loaded back that will allow insertion of 4x5 film holders, the polaroid back or best of all a digital scan back! There might be some kind of lock on the spring loaded back, but otherwise pulling on one side should allow the back to come out to allow the film holder or back to be inserted. A photo of the rear of the camera would be nice to see if there is a lock of some sort. Also would be nice to see a photo of the other lenses.

Interested in what other lenses were included, as the shutter is mounted rear of the lens, assume all lenses are standard M39 mount. Probably all German lenses, but could be valuable, if one is a 105mm Apo-El-Nikkor that alone would sell for over $1000 at auction.

This would be a good camera to use as a Macro with a scan back, but you might want to put it up for auction, list it under both Large Format and Leica, and you might be pleasantly surprised at the price people will pay for rare Leica gear.

Cool, thanks for that input ACElkins. I'll get a shot of the camera back to show, and will get the other lenses over the weekend (they're at my parent's house).

I am able to take the viewfinder shade off the back, and there is a spring-loaded slot where the ground glass would go, but the Polaroid film holder I have doesn't seem to fit in to replace the viewfinder. I'll get a shot or two of that as well and see what you think.

I would be interested to know what it would be worth at Auction, although I doubt there is a 105mm in the lenses. Fingers crossed, I'll let you know.

Ross

rosscova wrote:
One thing I noticed myself (and is visible in the second image), is the ten aperture blades in the lens... I do like the style of those Germans.

Ross
my old New York made 4x5 and 8x10 lenses have lots of blades, around 15 each I believe Does New York style not suite you?



Ross, I'm guessing that it's probably some sort of 'copy camera', designed to make copys of documents or enlarging things for detailed views? Interesting camera, I've never seen one like it! Not sure if it's worth much though. Maybe post it up on large format photography forum? there are some guys there who might be able to identify it.

Daniel you Patriot, you... I have no problem with the New York style. I especially enjoy the bagels, very nice! Not a big fan of the subway though

To fill you in a little on it's possible past life, the lab I worked for where this was stashed is an imaging laboratory, using mostly optical and scanning electron microscopes. If it was indeed used in that lab, then it was likely used for macro purposes only. It had never occurred to me that the camera may be made specifically for the purpose or perhaps even the customer, but that would have been it's purpose.

Here's a few pictures of the back end as requested.

rosscova wrote:If it was indeed used in that lab, then it was likely used for macro purposes only. It had never occurred to me that the camera may be made specifically for the purpose or perhaps even the customer, but that would have been it's purpose.
if that's a 35mm focal length lens, being extended that far would certainly make it a macro setup. In order to focus at the horizon (infinity) the lens would need to be 35 milimeters away from the film, less than 1.5 inches! I doubt a lens that short would cover a 4x5 sheet of film! I wonder just how much magnification that sucker would give, when fully extended?

Those belows look like they could extend pretty far, look around, you may find some extensions to the main beam, to let it extend even farther! How heavy is it? It looks like it's solid metal!

That's right Daniel, solid metal all 'round here. My guess (I don't have scales) is that the setup as you see it weighs around 4kg (8.8lb). Not an accurate guess, but it's a beast alright, much heavier than my clunky RB67.

Ross