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Folding camera used by Herbert Ponting

Camera
Artist/Maker
A. E. Staley and Co (manufacturer)
Place of origin
London (manufactured)

Folding camera, leather covered with pop-up viewfinder on top section, and leather handle with metal attachments on side section. Featuring a Planastigmat f6.8 lens. Camera also features adjustable shift, allowing for a controlling of the distortion of the relatively wide angle lens.


Object details

Categories
Cameras
The Royal Photographic Society
Object type
Camera
TitleFolding camera used by Herbert Ponting (generic title)
Brief description
Folding camera, A.E Staley and Co, used by Herbert George Ponting on 1910 British Antarctic Expedition, ca. 1910.
Physical description
Folding camera, leather covered with pop-up viewfinder on top section, and leather handle with metal attachments on side section. Featuring a Planastigmat f6.8 lens. Camera also features adjustable shift, allowing for a controlling of the distortion of the relatively wide angle lens.
Dimensions
  • Length: 207mm (Note: Camera open)
  • Depth: 197mm (Note: Camera open)
  • Height: 138mm (Note: Camera open)
  • Length: 207mm (Note: Camera closed.)
  • Depth: 43mm (Note: Camera closed)
  • Height: 120mm (Note: Camera closed)
Marks and inscriptions
'1 sec = 1 1/5, 1/2 = 1/2, 1/4 = 1/4, 1/10 = 1/8, 1/25 = 1/20, 1/50 = 1/40, 1/100 = 1/75, 1/250 = 1/150' (Handwritten in pencil on inside of lens flap. Probably pertaining to the slightly slower shutter speeds of the lens over the manufacturers claimed speeds.)
Credit line
The Royal Photographic Society Collection at the V&A, acquired with the generous assistance of the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Art Fund.
Object history
Used by Herbert George Ponting on the 1910 British Antarctic Expedition. New bellows have been fitted to the camera as detailed in accompanying letter from Douglas Stevens.
Subject depicted
Ponting, Herbert George
Collection
Department of Photography
Accession number
RPS.3049:1-2017

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Record createdDecember 22, 2017
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1427518/folding-camera-used-by-herbert-camera-a-e-staley/
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