Cameras in WW2

Discussion in 'Weapons, Technology & Equipment' started by gwendy730, Jan 2, 2007.

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  1. Cee

    Cee Senior Member Patron

    In case it hasn't been linked to before there is the Canadian Film and Photographic Unit website (CFPU) that does a fine job of keeping alive the memory of Canadian military photographers. Dale Gervais deserves some praise for his efforts in that area.

    Since this is a somewhat technical thread I'll pose a question. I have several small WW2 prints approximately 2"x3" (52x77 mm.) on velox paper. Can I assume that since they are on velox that they are probably contacts and that is the actual format or film size used? Could a rough guess as to the kind of camera used be made from that limited information?

    Chuck
     
    Cee, Aug 4, 2011
    #21
  2. eastwestphoto

    eastwestphoto Junior Member

    British used Speed Graphic for large negative cameras 4x5", also German Leica & zeiss pre War models in 35mm. Orders were also placed through neutral countries for Leica and Zeiss cameras in 35mm. Soldiers of the enlisted men used a lot of Folding cameras made by Ensign, and German pre war folding cameras shooting 120 rollfilm in 4.5x6cm., 6x6cm and 6x9cm negative sizes.
     
    eastwestphoto, Feb 9, 2013
    #22
  3. eastwestphoto

    eastwestphoto Junior Member

    4.5x6cm on 120 rollfilm cameras would make a close contact print. There were hundreds of different folding cameras in late 1930's through 1945.
     
    eastwestphoto, Feb 9, 2013
    #23
  4. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Owen, May 23, 2014
    #24
  5. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    Funny you should poke this thread.
    Was passing interested in these big German telephotos earlier this week.
    Looks like the second might be strapped to a Leica.


    teleobjectif1.JPG


    teleobjectiv2.JPG
     
    von Poop, May 23, 2014
    #25
    Owen likes this.
  6. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Well that's something I've learnt today.
    I thought lens like that were a 'modern' invention.
     
    Owen, May 23, 2014
    #26
  7. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    I assumed about 1000mm.
    Looks like the second one has a special viewfinder fitted straight onto the camera back, so maybe for spotting as much as photography.
     
    von Poop, May 24, 2014
    #27
  8. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    8360210id7.jpg
    8359810hl0.jpg

    Thought this might be the same beast, being sold postwar for stargazing (likely by sovs, as they got much lens production... not checked)
    00Pr8i-49811584.jpg


    All looking quite similar to certain Exacta fittings, but I'd guess they were on 42mm rings anyway at that length.
     
    von Poop, May 24, 2014
    #28
  9. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    von Poop, Aug 21, 2016
    #29
  10. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    I merged a couple of Cameras threads so as to have just one for the actual devices themselves.

    I'd always thought Germany actively encouraged individual soldiers to carry personal cameras, & the UK disallowed it (though obviously imperfectly enforced. The enthusiast will always get through.)
    Sure the German thing is mentioned in some propaganda books, but not sure I've ever seen hard reference to it.
    Equally, I don't really know what the the situation was for other nations.
    Anything in regulations for the British? Were Americans officially allowed while on active service?
    Other nations?

    There are plenty of personal shots out there, though Germany seems to have more than anyone, but what were the rules?
     
    von Poop, Jan 28, 2019
    #30
  11. idler

    idler GeneralList

    Availability of film may have been a significant factor. I believe it was rationed here but probably wasn't in Germany - another distraction from full war production.
     
    idler, Jan 28, 2019
    #31
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  12. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    The Germans started looting in 1939. The British didn't have the same scale of opportunity until 1945...A lot of German 1940 stuff was probably on stolen cameras and film stock.
     
    Rich Payne, Jan 28, 2019
    #32
  13. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    I think with cameras & film we can safely say the travel eventually went the other way...
    Sometimes wonder just how much the East German economy was propped up by Praktica, Zenit etc. Not many other Iron Curtain products I recall regularly seeing in the shops.
     
    von Poop, Jan 28, 2019
    #33
  14. idler

    idler GeneralList

    Did the Czechs have a good line in cameras?
     
    idler, Jan 28, 2019
    #34
  15. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    Not awful if I recall, certainly a few indigenous makers (though would have to czech names),
    I think mostly pretty standard compacts. copies of German & septic popular stuff. Nothing too earth-shattering. Maybe some cine & lens production though. Are Meopta enlargers & lenses Czech?

    Edit: They are (were?) indeed a Czech company.
    Times must be awful hard for enlarger makers...
     
    von Poop, Jan 28, 2019
    #35
  16. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    I have a pair of East German Zeiss binoculars bought new in the 1970s. They were unbeatable for the price at the time...and commuter motorcycles from MZ and CZ did quite well.
     
    Rich Payne, Jan 28, 2019
    #36
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