Gaoersi 6x17 Camera

I ordered the camera with two lens adaptors (for my 75mm and 150mm large format lenses), two viewers to go with the lenses and an 8x focusing loupe. It also comes with a small piece of ground glass to calibrate the lens adaptors and a small metal device to lock the lenses in place.

The lens adaptors screw onto the camera using the large bolts on the front of the camera. There is a “dark slide” behind the lens adaptor so you can change lenses without exposing the film. You need to slide the dark slide out to take a picture.

Rear of camera with dark slide in place

Dark slide out (lens and adaptor also removed)

That hole in the back of the camera is the window where you read the numbers on the paper backing of the film. How this works is explained later under “Changing Formats on the Fly”.

Top view of camera

On the left of the picture is the Format knob. You can set the image size to 6x17, 6x15 or 6x12mm and this sets masks inside the camera.
Beside that is a spirit level
In the middle is a viewing scope that clips into a metal bracket.
The film wind-on knob is on the right of the picture

the film winds from right to left

this picture is upside-down from that point of view

There are also two lugs on top of the camera to attach a neck-strap.
There is also a hole at the handgrip in front of the format knob where you can put a cable release and screw it to the lens

Camera set to 6 x 17

Camera set to 6 x 12

The camera back comes right off by sliding up a couple of stiff clips. You need to have a spare spool to wind the 120 film onto because none is supplied. The back fits quite tightly and is very solidly made. The clips need a little bit of effort to lock in but this is a good thing because the back won’t come unlocked by accident. On the bottom of the camera are screw-thread fittings for tripods in two standard sizes