Monorail camera
Encyclopedia
Monorail cameras are the studio
workhorses that are still used today in the digital photography
age to make many of the images for catalogs
, magazines, and advertising
around the world.
They are usually both heavy and bulky, but have the major advantage of having almost unlimited camera movements. However, some models such as the ARCA Swiss F-Line are designed for field use, and retain generous movements.
While larger and heavier than other popular camera types, these cameras have capabilities that are not found in most other cameras. Both the lens and the film planes are separate and can be moved independently. By moving the front of the camera, the lens plane, independently of the rear which houses the film, the photographer can alter the depth-of-field (actually, the plane of sharp focus) without changing the perspective of the image. The converse is also true. The rear of the camera, which holds the film, can be moved to alter/improve the perspective of the image without changing the depth-of-field. Another important feature is the ability to switch types of film.
Film is typically loaded one sheet at a time into a special holder. Each film holder can hold two sheets of film -one on each side of the holder. By loading various types of film prior to shooting, the photographer is able to select whichever is most appropriate on the spot. Typical film size are 4 inch by 5 inch(4"x5") and 8 inch by 10 inch(8"x10"). 5X7 inch and 11x14 inch formats also exist.
Despite their capabilities, monorail cameras are among the simplest photographic instruments possible, consisting of front (holding the lens) and rear (holding the film and focussing ground glass) standards mounted on a single rail, with a light-tight bellows stretched between.
There are still quite a few companies producing these cameras. Some of the more popular makers are: Arca-Swiss, Ebony
, Horseman
, Linhof
, Cambo
, Sinar
, and Toyo
. Because of their simplicity and versatility, they will likely never go out of production.
See view camera
.
Modern makers of monorail cameras :
Studio
A studio is an artist's or worker's workroom, or the catchall term for an artist and his or her employees who work within that studio. This can be for the purpose of architecture, painting, pottery , sculpture, scrapbooking, photography, graphic design, filmmaking, animation, radio or television...
workhorses that are still used today in the digital photography
Digital photography
Digital photography is a form of photography that uses an array of light sensitive sensors to capture the image focused by the lens, as opposed to an exposure on light sensitive film...
age to make many of the images for catalogs
Mail order
Mail order is a term which describes the buying of goods or services by mail delivery. The buyer places an order for the desired products with the merchant through some remote method such as through a telephone call or web site. Then, the products are delivered to the customer...
, magazines, and advertising
Advertising
Advertising is a form of communication used to persuade an audience to take some action with respect to products, ideas, or services. Most commonly, the desired result is to drive consumer behavior with respect to a commercial offering, although political and ideological advertising is also common...
around the world.
They are usually both heavy and bulky, but have the major advantage of having almost unlimited camera movements. However, some models such as the ARCA Swiss F-Line are designed for field use, and retain generous movements.
While larger and heavier than other popular camera types, these cameras have capabilities that are not found in most other cameras. Both the lens and the film planes are separate and can be moved independently. By moving the front of the camera, the lens plane, independently of the rear which houses the film, the photographer can alter the depth-of-field (actually, the plane of sharp focus) without changing the perspective of the image. The converse is also true. The rear of the camera, which holds the film, can be moved to alter/improve the perspective of the image without changing the depth-of-field. Another important feature is the ability to switch types of film.
Film is typically loaded one sheet at a time into a special holder. Each film holder can hold two sheets of film -one on each side of the holder. By loading various types of film prior to shooting, the photographer is able to select whichever is most appropriate on the spot. Typical film size are 4 inch by 5 inch(4"x5") and 8 inch by 10 inch(8"x10"). 5X7 inch and 11x14 inch formats also exist.
Despite their capabilities, monorail cameras are among the simplest photographic instruments possible, consisting of front (holding the lens) and rear (holding the film and focussing ground glass) standards mounted on a single rail, with a light-tight bellows stretched between.
There are still quite a few companies producing these cameras. Some of the more popular makers are: Arca-Swiss, Ebony
Ebony cameras
The Ebony camera company was founded by Japanese photographer Hiromi Sakanashi in 1981. The Sakanashi family has been in the photographic business since 1871, when Hiromi Sakanashi's great grandfather founded one of Japan's first photographic equipment stores in the town of Kumamoto,...
, Horseman
Horseman
Horseman may refer to:* Horse rider; see Equestrianism* Wrangler , in the United States* Stockman , who works with horses rather than with cattle or sheep* Horseman, a 2003 Croatian film...
, Linhof
Linhof
Linhof is a German company, founded in Munich in 1887 by Valentin Linhof. The company is well known for making premium rollfilm and large format film cameras...
, Cambo
Cambo camera
Cambo BV is a manufacturer of high quality, mainly large format cameras based in Kampen, the Netherlands, and has the distinction of being the first studio camera manufacturer to produce an all-metal large format camera.-History:...
, Sinar
Sinar
Sinar AG is a Swiss company producing medium format and large format cameras.The name SINAR is explained as an acronym for "Studio, Industrie, Natur, Architektur, Reproduktion", though in , the acronym is explained as "Sach-, Industrie-, Natur-, undArchitekturfotografie sowie Reproduktion"...
, and Toyo
Toyo
TOYO may refer to:Places:*Tōyō, Kōchi, a town in Japan*Tōyo, Ehime, a former city in Japan*Toyo Province, a Japanese province divided in 683*Toyo, Democratic Republic of the CongoCorporations:*Toyo Engineering Corporation, Japan...
. Because of their simplicity and versatility, they will likely never go out of production.
See view camera
View camera
The view camera is a type of camera first developed in the era of the Daguerreotype and still in use today, though with many refinements. It comprises a flexible bellows which forms a light-tight seal between two adjustable standards, one of which holds a lens, and the other a viewfinder or a...
.
External links
- Photo Notes website definition of monorail camera
Modern makers of monorail cameras :