User:Jmarmck/sandbox

The Zone VI Camera The Zone VI Camera is a field view camera that is designed for 4x5 and 8x10 film photography. All models are lightweight wooden bodies with varying lengths of bellows, depending upon the manufacturer and year. The camera is referred to as a "field" model because of its relative light weight and compactness when folded. The "Zone VI" camera has varying specifications. The specifications are due to the evolution of the design. This has implications on several aspects of the camera but primarily on the range of available lenses. The camera is primarily a wooden body of either cherry, mahogany, or walnut with a variety of finishes of the hardware.

The Zone Camera concept was developed by Fred Picker founder of Zone VI Studios in New Fane VT in the Late 1970's. In addition to the 4x5 camera Picker developed cold light enlargers and modified light meters and darkroom timers [1]. Many of these products are still used in production studios and darkrooms to this day. The term Zone VI refers to a systematic method of gauging light. Development of the Zone System is credited to Ansel Adams [2]. Tones ranging from black to white are divided into steps or "zones" where Zone 0 is complete black and Zone X is full white. In between there are 9 usable zones with Zone V being mid point in the range of light or "0" on a camera meter. The Zone System extends into the darkroom and influences developing times and solution temperatures. For further information on the Zone System see.......... All of the products designed and built by Picker were centered around this central concept.

The first Zone VI camera was first produced in 1978 to 1980. They were manufactured by the Tachihara brand in Japan. They were made of cherry with nickel plated hardware. These were sent to Pickard for modifications and given the Zone VI badge. The cameras were single rails with a 12" bellows. This allowed the camera to use lenses up to 300mm. The camera had full movement (rotation along both horizontal and vertical axis as well as vertical and horizontal movements) on the front standard with rotation on the horizontal and vertical axis on the back, no horizontal or vertical movements.

The second generation Zone VI camera was made between 1980 and 1985. This generation was made by Wista in Japan.