Expert: David Silver - 8/24/2004

Question
I have a "Korona View" wooden bellows type camera.
It seems to be in good condition.  Under "Korona View" it says "Gundlach-Hannattan Optical Co., Rochester, N.Y. On the lens, it says P. Goerz Berlin No. 383332 and the word COMPUR.  The wood is stamped on the bottom and "frame" of the lens with 52.  Is this worth anything to some collector?  Please advise.  Thank you!
Faye

Answer
Hello Faye,

I don't know what the AllEXperts system is doing lately, but your question just got to me tonight!  Sorry for the delay, but here I am answering right away for you.

The Korona view cameras were extremely popular models made for a very long time, roughly 1905 to about 1940, in a number of different formats.  As view cameras, they have virtually no collectible value today, they are considered pretty dull, but as usable cameras they maintain a LOT of value!  Although they don't offer much in the way of professional feautures and movements, their no frills approach make them ideal for new photographers in training, amateurs wanting to try their hand at large format picture taking, or studio photographers needing a simple big portrait camera.  If you measure the glass on the back of the camera, that will tell you the format size.  The most common is 4 x 5 inches, many were made in 5 x 7, and the most desirable is 8 x 10 (the archaic 6 1/2 x 8 1/2 inch size is not used anymore and has very littele value).  You note there is a Goerz lens in a Compur shutter.  Most Goerz lenses are high quality, but much depends on the age and the precise model.  It's difficult to establish a firm price for your camera on so little information, but let me give you a rough idea.  If the camera appears to be in truly excellent overall condition, with nice wood, clean working metal fixtures, and a soft supple bellows without any holes, then you'll get top dollar.  A 4 x 5 with a good lens and shutter can sell in the $250 to $300 range, a 5 x 7 maybe 20% more, and the 8 x 10 can go to $500.  Again, this is all assuming excellent overall condition with a good lens and shutter.  Ideally you'd like to have the camera in its carrying case with a couple of film holders as well, but it's certainly not mandatory.  The truth is that worn yet servicable examples of these cameras sell all the time for half those amounts, so condition is the key.

Please don't hesitate to get back to me if you have any other questions about this camera.

Best wishes,

David Silver