Plaatcam

Plaatcam, in Dutch usage, refers to a plate camera, a type of large-format photographic camera that records images on photographic plates (glass or metal) rather than on film. Plate cameras were widely used in the 19th and early 20th centuries because of their high image resolution and tonal range, though they required careful preparation and longer setup times. The term can describe both field cameras and studio cameras that use plate holders.

Design and operation: Plate cameras typically use a bellows-based design that allows the lens to extend from the plate, with a holder or sliding tray to position the plate behind the lens. Early plates were glass coated with emulsions or solutions such as wet collodion; later innovations introduced dry plates for quicker handling. A shutter may be integral to the lens or mounted on the plate assembly. Exposure times varied from several seconds to minutes in the earliest systems, depending on plate speed and lighting.

Historical and modern use: In historical photography, plate cameras produced high-detail images suitable for portraits, landscapes, and scientific documentation. Today, they are mainly found in archival work, museums, and among collectors; practitioners may digitize glass plates to preserve content and facilitate access. Digitization typically involves careful handling, stable mounting, and high-resolution imaging to capture the plate’s fine detail and contrast.

Related topics include large-format cameras, wax plate and wet plate processes, dry plates, glass plates, and the preservation and digitization of photographic archives.