The Maximar line started off in 1914 under the ICA banner prior
to the merger of that company into the Zeiss Ikon conglomerate. The
model A version in the 6.5 x 9 cm format was produced up to the outbreak
of WWII in 1939. There were two larger format versions produced by
Zeiss Ikon, and several other distinct lines of compact double-extention
plate cameras as well. All of these cameras had the same basic
features, and one has to look rather closely to distinguish one from
another, or even between those from other manufacturers. For instance,
the Maximar closely resembles the Kodak Recomar.
The Maximar was not quite so nicely built and finished as it's Kodak
competitor, but it did feature the same big Compur shutter with a 1/250
top speed. Like the Recomar, the Zeiss camera also had three
viewing/composition options including a wire frame finder, a magnified
reflex viewfinder with an attached bubble level, and a ground glass
focusing back. The backs for the Maximar and Recomar are interchangable,
so the same plate and film holders and rollfilm adapters can be used in
both. Lens speed and focal length were an identical f4.5/105mm in the
Kodak and Zeiss cameras, but the Recomar had a Kodak Anastigmat, while
the Maximar A featured the superlative Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar.
Though it arrived with a lot of battle scars, my Maximar's crucial
components including lens, shutter and bellows were all sound. The one
worrisome aspect was a front panel that did not fully fold down; that
meant that the lens standard was canted back and the lens axis was not
parallel to the film plane. It seemed not unlikely that someone had
tried to close up the camera without fully retracting the bellows,
causing some misalignment. When I removed the lens/shutter assembly, I
was able to move the bellows back to reveal the attachement of the
struts to the camera body, and I could see that the anchoring posts were
in an off-center mount. I got a firm grip on the post heads with some
pliers and twisted the mount about 10 degrees so that posts were closer
to the front of the camera. The bed dropped into position, making the
proper right angle with the back. After a little lens cleaning and
reassembly, the camera was ready for action.
With its double-extension bellows, multiple viewing systems and film or
plate back options, the Maximar and its many relatives provided
photographers of the 1920's and 1930's with very capable and versatile
photogaphic systems in an extremely compact package. It is not hard to
imagine why these cameras were sold in the tens of thousands. In
addition to offering the convenience of a conventional folding camera or
the utility of a press camera, the Maximar's ground glass focusing
capability permitted high-precision focusing and framing for close-up
work that produced a near 1:1 ratio of subject to image at the film
plane. Fully realizing the potential of the little Maximar requires a
level of skill and discipline that can be challenging, but also
uncommonly rewarding for 21st Century photogaphers.
Some images from the Maximar:
2 comments:
Your photos here had me seriously looking at this camera and it's Kodak variant on eBay. Stunning photographs and this camera is pretty darn nice to look at too! Thanks for exposing me to a camera I had no idea existed.
Prices are all over the map on these compact plate cameras, so it pays to be patient. I paid about $30 for the Recomar to a friend; it was basically in shootable condition. The Maximar needed a little work, but still seemed quite a bargain at ten bucks. Both cameras can use the same 120 film back.
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