Ensign Cameo for sale

[Rob MacKillop]

I know nothing about this camera, spied in a closed (Sunday) antiques shop window. It looks beautiful. Looks like it might be fun to have, but is a bit expensive at £120. Or is it?

What can you tell me about this camera, and how to use it?

camera1 by RobMacKillop, on Flickr


camera2 by RobMacKillop, on Flickr​

 

[David Mitchell]

Thats a nice looking plate camera - it uses plates rather than film so you would need plate holders (if not supplied) looks in very good condition but its quite specialist as its shooting large format (ie getting it developed), theres an earlier model ive just found on ebay (although missing the glass screen)

That camera does look to be in very good condition for the age

Ensign? Cameo camera | eBay

 

[Brian Moore]

It looks in good nick, Rob, and for its age it has a fairly fast shutter and lens. But that seems a steep price to me.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

That link David gave got me looking around eBay. This is beautiful:

1890's PREMO Rochester Optical CO Bausch & Lomb - All Wood Very nice! | eBay

 

[David Mitchell]

Be very very careful on ebay lol im on my 3rd camera purchase in 3 weeks lol If you are wanting to go slightly larger format why not look at some 120 medium format cameras? I have an original Voigtlander Bessa on the way, very cheap for the amount of camera you get, its a folding camera so has the bellows and a nice case etc, maybe look at some 120 folders? It would be easier to sort out development on a 120 film vs some of the larger formats.

This is basically what I have coming:

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Very nice! I'm not looking, really. But I'm interested in all aspects of photography, and I have my work cut out with two cameras already.

 

[Hamish Gill]

"(must be on t to use)" very steep in that case IMO
looks nice though eh