Having never seen one in the "flesh," what movements does the Bush Pressman have other than front rise and a drop bed?

-- Bob Eskridge (besk@shtc.net), July 05, 2000

Answers

Bob, It also has front shift and lens tilt, and if memeory serves correctly, it had a revolving back.

-- Doug Paramore (dougmary@alanet.com), July 05, 2000.

Front lens tilt forward and back, front lens shift, no swings, rotating non-grafloc back, 12" of bellows. Well built and solid camera but limited in movements and lens board size.

-- Bob Finley (rfinbob@aol.com), July 05, 2000.

Bob,

A Pressman has the same movements as a Graphic, but the former's tend to be easier to access. Even the back comes off in a more elegant fashion for close viewing of the ground glass. The Pressman is also smaller and metal rather than wood bodied, though it weighs about the same as the Graphic. The only drawback I can see is that the lensboard seems to be difficult to get hold of, so you might be forced to love the lens you have--at least for a while. They might also be more rare so getting parts could be work. I've really enjoyed the Pressman I've had access to. I shoot landscapes with it and the 8X10's done with a Wollensak 135 Raptar look good. Andy Horan

-- Andy Horan (SamCl2@aol.com), July 15, 2000.

Bob, don't let the lensboards put you off. They are easily made from a couple of sheets of hobby shop aluminum, a jig or jeweler's saw, and some epoxy. Just cut the smaller, inner sheet with a tab that's folded over to receive the holding pin. Looks impressive when you're finished but no trouble and quick to do.

-- Chauncey Walden (CLWalden@worldnet.att.net), July 16, 2000.