The BIG Voigtlander 10x15cm Bergheil! 10x15 Bergheil Camera with large format 165mm HELIAR LENS! Freshly serviced CLA’d

Cleaned, Lubricated & Adjusted. Ready for immediate use

Leica NOT included

 This is a 1933 Voigtlander Bergheil 10x15cm (4x6 inch) camera in excellent condition. It was built in prewar Germany as a top quality, double extension camera. It was carefully constructed of metal and covered with real Moroccan leather. The double extension feature is a valuable feature since not only does it allow the camera to focus at very close distances with the standard lens, it also means that could be fitted and used as well. An interesting historical fact is that the Voigtlander Bergheil was Brassai’s favorite camera. This photographer used a Bergheil extensively to record images of Paris in the 1920’s and ‘30’s. If you’re not familiar with Brassai’s work, I recommend looking him up on the internet.

It comes with the Rada roll film back which allows you to shoot 6x9 images on 120 roll film. Also included is a used brown leather case and an original camera back (which is missing it’s matt glass). I should also mention that the small waist level finder is missing it’s mirror.

The serial number of the lens indicate that it was produced in circa 1933. It’s fitted in a quality, dial set Compur shutter. This shutter has been carefully cleaned, lubricated and adjusted. All shutter speeds (T, B, 1 sec – 1/200th) work well and all speeds are appropriate. The slow speeds buzz along smoothly and the faster speeds are clean and snappy

The lens on this camera is the famous Voigtlander Heliar 4.5/165cm (165mm). This is a superb design with five elements in three groups. The Heliar lens is well known, well loved and is recognized as a master piece of design. It was a top-quality lens of its day. For decades it was a benchmark of sharpness, but its greatness is not simply defined by high resolution. What photographers and artists love about this lens is the beautiful rendition in the fore and back ground. It’s something the Japanese refer to as bokeh. Simply said, this lens has a gorgeous bokeh. Open up the lens or narrow the depth of field by getting closer and the focus rolls on and off silky smooth as cream… Soft out of focus foreground moves lovingly into sharp focus on your subject matter and then off again into gently blurred background. There are few lenses that do it as nicely as this. If you’ve seen it, you know what I mean. If you haven’t, well then you’re in for a treat….

The superb Heliar lens is exceptionally clean and clear. There are no scratches, just a couple of light cleaning marks and it’s capable of producing very lovely photos with modern color & B&W film. BTW this lens and shutter features a quick release mount which makes it very simple to remove it from the camera. Should you decide to use this lens on your large format field camera, rest assured that it will easily cover 4x5 inch.

All in all, a lovely very and difficult to find BIG Voigtlander Bergheil with a legendary Heliar lens.