I've discovered a 13x18cm (i.e. 5x7) camera, produced by Plaubel, labeled Universal II at a local dealer.

It's a (fully) metal monorail w/ base tilts; condition seems to be fine, price affordable (about $300).
The problem: there are no accessories, and (according to the dealer) it has no international back.

So my question is: Is anybody using such a device? Are accessories like lensboards, (reducing) backs etc. still available for this (as it seems rather old) system, so I could use it as a cheap entry to LF?
Or is it essentially a dead machine, incompatible to the range of accessories available nowadays?

-- Stefan Dalibor (dalibor@informatik.uni-erlangen.de), September 22, 2000

Answers

You will not find parts or accessories for this camera. > It is a good camera but dealers will not touch them due to a scarcity of parts. The lens board is 6x6" sheet metal with raised pivits; not an easy lensboard to manufactor. > Look for an old Calumet or Burke & James. They sell in that price range > rw

-- richard (richardwarren@rcn.com), September 23, 2000.