As designed, Cirkut cameras produce a very long and thin image that was suitable only for certain subjects. Although Cirkut camera images could encompass 360 degrees horizontally, they could not encompass a very great angle vertically. A normal lens for this camera is about 250mm. There is, however, nothing to prevent you from using a wideangle lens on the camera. This Cirkut camera is designed for use with a 100mm lens. You can still take in 360 degrees horizontally, and now you can take in a very wide angle of view vertically.
WHAT IS INCLUDED
THE CAMERA
The 6.5X8.5" Century Grand Sr. camera is a view camera. It has front shift and geared rise/fall, rear swing and tilt, revolving back, brass double bubble level, and an optical viewfinder (for use with original focal length lens). The original leather bellows are in great condition. The bellows are not only light tight, but they have no frayed corners and no misfolds. The bellows are still supple; how amazing! The bellows will extend out to 26". There are bellows tabs to keep the bellows from sagging at intermediate extensions. The front rise will allow you to avoid getting too much foreground in the image (a typical problem of wideangle panoramic cameras which should be kept level). Rise will also allow you to avoid getting the camera bed in the image with wide angle lenses. The camera interior is as beautiful as the images show it to be. The exterior leather covering is not nearly as clean. Remarkably, the leather handle is still sufficient to hold the camera, but I do not trust it completely--always keeping a hand underneath the camera should the handle fail. The ground glass back has a leather and mahogany door covering the ground glass. The ground glass back may be removed to install the rollback.
THE CIRKUT CAMERA BACK, TURNTABLE AND TRIPOD
It is the 8" F&S Cirkut rollback, together with the 6" Cirkut turntable (better for wideangle lenses), and the tripod legs that convert the camera into a revolving Cirkut camera. The camera was designed for use with Cirkut rollbacks. Patent dates from 1902 to 1905 abound on both the camera and rollback. The 6" turntable was designed for use with a 6" Cirkut camera, but works just as well with an 8" Cirkut camera. In fact, the 6" turntable works better with wideangle lenses. A custom gear had to be made to allow the coupling and the proper transport of the camera with a wideangle lens. A new 112 tooth Boston gear with a custom made shaft is included. This gear, combined with the 290 tooth 6" turntable is designed for use with an 100mm lens focused on infinity. This particular gear train will also allow you to use a shorter (than 100mm) lens focused closer than infinity. A copy of "CIRKUT CAMERA DATA" written by a camera repairman and engineer is included and will give you the information you need to use this as intended or as you wish. The Eastman tripod brace is a BIG DEAL, a RARE and useful accessory. Today we call such items mid level spreaders. It stabilizes the tripod. This is a good thing when a 6X8 view camera is turning around atop the tripod. The Cirkut rollback is clean inside where it counts and it is a strong runner. The leather exterior is not in great condition on the bottom or in spots elsewhere. There is a spring winding key included.
NO LENS IS INCLUDED WITH THIS CAMERA
The 112 tooth gear that comes with the camera is designed for use with a 100mm lens at infinity or a shorter lens focused closer than infinity. The specific 100mm lens used with this camera was an 100mm Meyer Wideangle Aristostigmat--which was cammed for use with a Linhof camera. The lens was sold with the Linhof outfit and is not included with this camera. 100mm wide coverage lenses are not rare. Besides the 100mm Meyer Wideangle Aristostigmat, there is the 100mm Wide field Ektar and more modern lenses made by Nikkor, Schneider, and Rodenstock. The original lens for this camera was about 250mm. The camera may still be used with a 250mm lens or with many other focal length lenses. You will need the proper gear(s) for use with whatever lens you decide to use with it. The included "CIRKUT CAMERA DATA" will give you that information. The price of the above outfit is $1200.
2 34 pitch cirkut camera pinion gears, $50 each
produces 3.5X12" image covering 142 degrees, has two shutter speeds, one diaphragm setting, with original takeup spool, uses film #103, working, rare in this condition, Mint, $700 Note: Film available for this camera from Film for Classics. You may also photograph onto film cut to size from 11X14" film or onto Cibachrome or Ilfochrome positive paper or transparency material.
3 rolls Film for Classics #103 B&W film, ISO 21 speed, dated 9/94, sealed, not refrigerated, not guaranteed, being sold for the supply reels, $15 each + one empty supply reel, $12, + one takeup reel, $25, available only with 4D camera
Not from personal experience, but from my customer's experience, I do not recommend Film for Classiscs film for use with either of the cameras listed above and below. I recommend either sheet film cut to size, or aerial rollfilm. Film w/o backing paper may be used in these cameras with the red windows covered. You may advance the film by counting the # of turns while winding the film.
produces 5X6, 5X8, 5X10, 5X12 and 5X16" images on 5" rollfilm, with lens, lenscap, waterhouse stop, 4 speed-adjusting vanes, viewfinder, wrap around darkslide, one original film spool, photocopy of original Al-Vista catalog and instruction book. Makes images about 140 degrees in angle of view, wider than any other Al-Vista camera. 5" wide aerial film is available. You may also photograph onto Cibachrome or Ilfochrome positive paper or transparency material. Worn case, Mint- camera, rare in this condition, $800 Note: Original Al-Vista catalog and instruction book available as an extra for $100. Film available for this camera from Film for Classics. Aerial rollfilm is also available; I have a roll in my freezer that is available. Leather on Al Vista cameras is supposed to be black. I didn't know that until I found this near Mint camera; Al Vistas usually exhibit a faded brown leather with shrinkage marks at the wood joints where the wood grain is at right angles.
Al-Vista catalog and instruction book, covers all Al-Vista cameras briefly. I don't believe Al-Vista offered individual instruction books for each camera, but rather this book for all cameras. Original book available only with camera purchase. Copy, $20.
3 original vintage Kodak film take-up spools, for film about 5 7/8" wide, wood shaft, metal end flanges, unsure of film size, Mint, $85
6X18.5cm--the largest rectangle utilizing the full width capability of 120 rollfilm and the full coverage of some 75mm lenses such as the Rodenstock Grandagon 75mm/F4.5 or the Fujinon 75mm F8 SW. Custom made panoramic camera built on the Plaubel Peco Jr. (6X9cm format) monorail frame. The Plaubel Peco Jr. is one of the best made cameras ever produced and the best camera for this conversion. It is as compact as you could hope for. It has the required movements. It has bubble levels that are protected with metal surrounds. Lenses from 75mm to 210mm available. With custom case, 2 rollbacks, built-in focusing hood, lensboard. I had leather bellows installed on it because I built it for myself and spared no effort or expense. I also canibalized 2 torpedo camera bodies to add front plates and darkslides to the 2 rollbacks with this camera. The original tripod mounting block has been removed and replaced with a custom tripod mount that mates with the included Saunders quick release mount. The last image was made with this camera in the vertical format about as illustrated--with the lens tilted down and the back straight to provide for an image that is sharp from 3' in front of the 75mm lens to infinity--with vertical lines held vertical. Panoramic cameras like the Fuji listed above are simple box cameras and could not produce such an image--sharp throughout. Although the latest Fuji now has interchangeable lenses, this Plaubel Panoramic camera accepts wider lenses and longer lenses--in addition to being a full fledged view camera. The most often used movement on a panoramic view camera is lens rise--which allows you to avoid too much foreground without tilting the camera up and getting tilting vertical lines. Most people who shoot panoramics want the widest angle of view possible. As you can see in the below image of a scanned transparency, which was reproduced without alteration--a 75mm lens will cover the format well--without falloff if a center filter is used. I printed the whole transparency so you can see that the rollholder gives you the full width of the film; the actual image size is 58mm by 186mm. The final image is of an about 3' wide by 9' tall image made for me by a company trying to sell me a wide inkjet printer. You may get 3 or 4 images on a roll of 120 film. 3 images will give you plenty of film between images for handling. 4 images will be close together and close to the ends of the film. You advance the film with the break away T-handled advance knob. I call it a break away knob because it is designed to break away from the rollholder if struck--thus saving the rollholder from damage. You count the number of half turns of the advance knob when advancing the film--that's what the numbers on the back of the rollholder relate to. Simple. Foolproof. Effective. If there is an equal panoramic view camera out there--I built it--and it is the 4X5 and Panoramic view camera listed just below. This camera without out the panoramic format change kit has been 2000. I illustrate it for the sake of the still available panoramic format change kit and the other accessories.
Available with the above panoramic camera is the original 6X9cm camera back with grid-lined GG focusing screen with Fresnel, folding focusing hood, Plaubel 6X9cm rollholder, regular pleated bellows and bag bellows--for only $700 to $1100 more. You will find this camera listed on my View Cameras page. If you already have a 6X9cm Plaubel Peco Jr. camera and want to buy the panoramic format change kit, which consists of the panoramic back with GG and focusing hood with integral tapered leather bellows, 2 panoramic rollbacks and outfit case, you may--for $2200.
4X5 Plaubel Peco view camera with a removable rear standard that may be replaced with a panoramic standard. 2 interchangeable variable format (maximum length of 18.5cm) rollholders, new regular and bag bellows for 4X5, new pleated bellows for panoramic format. The rollbacks are similar to the rollbacks described in the above listing, but with a difference--these have a variable format--up to 6X18.5cm. In the last photo, you see that there are 2 darkslides--these are the key to the variable format. Pull the darkslides out to the format of your choice. 13" monorail. Compact and lightweight and super high quality. $5000. The image of the cement plant is once again scanned w/o any manipulation to show you exac what you can expect to get--in this case from a 75mm lens with center filter. I used cinsiderable front standard rise. Note the falloff in the upper corners; this shows you that you are getting every last bit of coverage from a 75mm lens. The Image of buildings along the Chicago River was made with a 90mm lens with considerable rise; had this iamge been ade with a box camera like the Fuji, the buildings would all be tilting if the camera were tilted up or you would have had all river if the camera were level. The lens you see on the camera is not included.
47mm f5.6 Super Angulon XL, 120 degrees coverage, the widest covering rectilinear large format lens in focusing mount on threaded ring to fit the above 4X5 and panoramic format view cameras, 4X5 Sinar Handy, 8X10 Glennview Handy. See the above photos of the 4X5 and panoramic format view cameras in this outfit. Just below see photos of the 8X10 Glennview and below that find link to the Sinar Handy listings. $8000
Panoramic rollbacks, 60X185mm, for use with 120 rollfilm, 4 shots per roll, from military camera, no darkslide or slot for darkslide, no automatic advance and stop, no red window, high quality, aluminum, full length pressure plate, Mint-, $250 each. One available in Ex condition for $200 (illustrated with body).
Aircraft Torpedo camera focusing adaptor, w/o ground glass, Mint-, $100. Illustrated with the part being offered on the camera and another such part with ground glass installed (part of the set of 2 6X12 rollholders listed above) in front of the camera. Apparently this part was designed to be used with a hand held ground glass. Add $60 if you want me to install a ground glass.
Aircraft Torpedo camera body rear cover plate, Mint-, $70, Ex, $50. The Mint- one is on the camera and the Ex one is in front of camera.
6X12cm rollfilm backs are on my Tripod and view camera accessories list. The 6X12cm rollholers are designed for use withGraflok backs, which are found on my View Cameras and accessories list.
6X18.5cm PANORAMIC DICHROIC COLOR HEAD for 6X17cm images produced by the Fuji or the Linhof panoramic cameras or for 6X18.5cm images produced by my custom built GLENNVIEW panoramic cameras. With NEW dichroic filters, NEW bulbs, NEW custom Nylon bellows. 600W, 120V. No power supply needed. Voltage stabilizers available separately. 6X18.5cm glassless carrier, 6X17cm glassless carrier, 6X12cm glassless carrier, 190mm long glassless carrier for 35mm film (5 frames), multicoated glass carrier and 1 anti-Newtonring glass, remote exhaust fan with hose, 1/4-20TPI mounts front and rear, for vertical or horizontal use, 1000 units of color filtration provide no more color than another enlarger--just far greater precision and repeatability, produces prints 15" wide by up to 4' long from 120 film and produces prints 7" wide by up to 4' long from 35mm film from the included 150mm F5.6 El Nikkor lens. Will work as a variable contrast head too. By channeling all the light into the panoramic format, this head provides 3 stops more light output than a Durst 5X7 CLS 301 color head. Uses the same bulbs as the Durst CLS 301. These bulbs have built-in reflectors; change the bulbs and you change the reflectors. Head only, Mint, $3500. For shaft to fit this head and the 5X7 Durst chassis, add $250. For head mounted on Polaroid MP3XL 5' tall column mounted on Mahogany 28" deep by 4' wide baseboard, add $350. Also available is a quality steel base cabinet 25" deep, 28" wide, 32" high with several adjustable shelves to which the easel locks via 4 quick release clamps, Ex+, $150. When mounted on this cabinet, the easel is 33.5" above floor and the head is 97.5" above floor when fully raised. The cabinet sits on a removable 4" high stainless steel base. The enlarger on the easel is 65.5" at maximum height. The enlarger only requires 58" of height to the top of the column, with the head at less than full height. For 120mm F5.6 Rodagon-WA lens instead of the 150mm El Nikkor, add $150. This lens will allow you to make a larger print.
Panoramic panhead, for segmented panoramics, has 6 click stops @ 60 degree intervals, 1/4-20 threads top and bottom, Delrin with metal camera stud, suitable for making segmented panoramics with 55mm lenses on 6X7cm, 65mm lenses on 6X9cm, 28mm lenses on 35mm, and other combinations in other formats, 1.2" tall, 2.64" diameter, 4 ounces, Mint, $125 Note: custom panheads also available. Want one with 4, 5, 7, 8, or any other # of click stops, 3/8-16 threads top and/or bottom, larger diameter--no problem. Illustrated is a 5 position panhead on the below listed Dietzgen tripod. So why would you want such an item? Because you can do panoramics with ease and precision. You could do the same thing with a degree marked pan head, but you would have to unlock the pan movment, walk around the tripod, visually set the camera position and relock the pan movement each time. With this panhead, you merely turn the camera to the next click stop and shoot. Foolproof! You can print the images and mount them side-by-side with space in between the images; this method results in no distortion. This method is much like looking out from a gazebo. The alternative is to shoot more images with a lot of overlap and stitch the images together in an image editing program; this result is much like shooting with a swinging lens camera or a rotating camera. You get distortion, but no space between images. Presently I have in stock pan heads with 4, 5, 6, 8, and 10 click stops. Although I could make a pan head with a large number of click stops that would give you several options, I do not recommend it because it would no longer be foolproof. The series of images below were made with a 55mm lens on a 6X7cm camera with a 6 position panhead.
Dietzgen panoramic leveling head tripod, the best tripod for panoramic use, especially with the above listed panoramic panheads, with about 15 degree leveling head, 1/4X20TPI camera stud, under 10#, wooden legs, brass fittings with pointed steel tips on leg ends, chain keeps legs spread at an appropriate angle, 36" collapsed, maximum 64" extended, with steel loops for shoulder strap attachment, with shoulder strap, velcro wrap secures legs when folded, Ex, $500. Dietzgen tripods were designed for use with about 30# transits with telephoto lenses, so they are quite sturdy.
