This early daguerreotype camera
was designed by F.W. Voigtläner in Vienna 1840. The camera produced circular pictures.
Focusing was done with the small cone with ground glass screen and magnifying glass.
After that the camera was taken off the fork-shaped stand it was taken in to the
dark-tent. There the focusing cone was replaced by the cassette and taken back
to the stand and was now ready for taking a daguerreotype.
The lens was calculated by Prof. Josef Petzval a mathematician from Austria. He
sucseeded to make an exceptionally fast lens so it now was possible to take
portrait. The exposure time was about 2 minutes in sunny days.The price of this camera
outfit was 120 guilders about the price of a good horse in that time. I made this
replica May 2000.
A replica of the Voigtländer Whole Metal Camera.
Directions for the whole metal camera from 1841.
Box, camera and the cassette loaded with a silverplated cupper plate.
Picture from THE HISTORY OF THE ART OFF PHOTOGRAPHY by H.Snelling 1849.
Camera, cassette with plate and box with one plate.
.