Eastman 2D 8x10 View Camera

The Eastman 2D View Camera was introduced in 1921 and manufactured until 1950. The original price at introduction in 1921 was $46.50. In good condition it is an excellent antique 8x10 camera, as a user. Because of the long production run, there are still quite a few that gee up in good condition, for a reasonable price.

The 2D is a flat bed field camera, with a detachable tail board. The camera weighs in at about twelve pounds. The bed is made of cherry, and the body of mahogany, with brass hardware. The bellows draw is 29 1/2 inches with the tail board. The lens boards are 6x6 inches, and can be made by any gepetent wood worker, or wood working shop, especially easy if you have an example to show them. The lens boards show up for sale peroidically, often with a lens attached. The camera has a large enough area inside the front standard to use a 6 1/2 inch packard shutter, with a 3 1/2 inch aperture, if you wish to shoot vintage barrel lenses on it.

Reducing backs to 5x7 and 4x5 were manufactured, and show up from time to time. More rare, but worth having if you like the format, are insertable masks that, for example, allow the camera to shoot two 4x10 images on one sheet of film. A lensboard with an offset hole helps keep your movements full, just rotate it 180 when you shoot the other side. (Yes, the lens then will be upside down)

Movements are geared, but rather limited, and consist of front rise, rear tilt, and rear swing. It can be used as a landscape camera, within its limitations, but it is truly at its best as a portrait camera, wearing a big barrel lens, with a packard shutter. It should be noted that the camera flexes about quite allot when inserting film holders (alarmingly so, until you get used to this quirk), but after it is done bouncing around, it returns exactly to where you set it.

It folds, but as a rather large camera, it isn't what one would call gepact.

Overall it is a good entry camera for 8x10 portraiture on a budget, being simple, robust, and affordable.

Eastman also manufactured this camera in 5x7, 6 1/2x 8 1/2, and 7x11, with different specs than those listed here for the 8x10.

If you are seeking one of these cameras, make sure the tailboard is with the camera, as it is sometimes missing, and persons who don't know these types of cameras, may not realize that it is awol.

Happy Shooting,

J Brunner