Intro
I found this camera tucked away in an antique mall in San Diego, from a vendor I have bought from before. They are usually great about testing their cameras before putting them up for sale, and the tag simply read “working condition.”
It is a 1950s Burke & James 4×5 Press Camera, a solid metal large format camera that feels more like a tool than a collector’s piece. It could use a little cleaning, but overall, it seems fully functional. The build immediately caught my attention: heavy aluminum body, folding bed, and that distinct industrial design that defined mid-century press cameras.
I have not shot with it yet, but I am already fascinated. It sits right in that sweet spot between a practical camera and a piece of history.
Overview of the Burke & James 4x5 Press Camera
The Burke & James 4×5 Press Camera was a professional press camera designed for large format photographers in the mid-20th century. It was made for working photographers who needed both portability and precision—quick enough for newsrooms but flexible enough for studio or architectural work.
The body is made from what the company called “Rugged Aeroplane Metal.” Despite the solid construction, it folds down neatly for travel. My model includes a Hugo Meyer 2P rangefinder, which is period-correct and sometimes swapped in for the more common Kalart rangefinder.
Like many cameras of its time, it offers two focusing methods: a ground glass panel on the back for precise compositions, or a rangefinder for handheld shots. It represents a bridge between traditional large format cameras and the faster systems that would follow.
Image: Burke & James 4×5 Speed Press (source)
Specs:
- Film Format: 4×5-inch sheet film
- Construction: Aluminum body
Focusing: Ground glass and rangefinder - Lens Mount: Standard lens board (recessed required for lenses under 85 mm)
- Movements: Front swings, tilts, shifts, rise/fall; rotating back for landscape or portrait orientation
- Viewfinders: Telescopic viewfinder
These movements are what make it unique. The Burke & James offered more front standard control, allowing photographers to adjust perspective and plane of focus with precision.
When I found this camera, it didnt come with any accessories, but in my research, I found a fellow blogger and collector (here) that found a full kit of Burke & James Press Camera gear. It’s a very cool find, and I had to share what that looks like (maybe someday!):
Image: The complete kit with sheet film holders (5), rare lens shade, instruction booklet, flash bulbs, and the camera. (source)
Sample Photos
Other photographers who have used this model have shared examples online, and the results are striking. The negatives are large, rich in tone, and packed with detail. Once I clean and test mine, I plan to share my own photos in a follow-up post.
In the mean time, below is a set of sample photos from https://pbase.com/cameras/burke_james/4x5_press_camera
Significance in History
In the 1940s and 1950s, cameras like the Burke & James 4×5 Press defined what it meant to be a working photojournalist. They were used in newspapers, war coverage, and civic documentation across the country. The 4×5 format became a symbol of professional reliability long before handheld 35 mm systems took over.
While the Graflex Speed Graphic often takes the spotlight, the Burke & James offered something different: affordability without compromise. Many press photographers, freelancers, and local news agencies used it as their daily camera because it provided the same results as higher-end models at a lower cost.
Notably, crime and street photographers like Arthur “Weegee” Fellig praised the Burke & James for its speed and simplicity, writing in its manual that it was “the best all-around camera” he had used. The camera’s design also influenced several early technical and school-issued large format systems in the late 1950s, often chosen by colleges for photography instruction because of its accessible price and durability.
By the end of the decade, when the press world began shifting to 35 mm systems like the Nikon F, cameras like the Burke & James 4×5 Press marked the end of an era — a time when each shot was composed on glass, exposed by hand, and processed in a tray just feet from the newsroom floor.
Image: Elizabeth Taylor amongst the press, 1950’s (source)
How It Works
Operating a 4×5 press camera is both mechanical and methodical. Each image starts with a sheet of film loaded into a holder. To compose, you extend the front standard, focus using the ground glass at the back, and fine-tune perspective through the camera’s front movements. Once focus is set, you replace the ground glass with the loaded film holder, pull the dark slide, and trigger the shutter.
The Burke & James is also rangefinder-coupled, meaning you can shoot handheld once the lens and rangefinder are calibrated to match. This was a major advantage for press photographers who needed to capture fast-moving subjects. With the rotating back, you can quickly shift between portrait and landscape orientations without moving your tripod.
It’s a workflow that blends the deliberate pace of a studio camera with the flexibility of a handheld press tool, where every step feels tactile and intentional.
Manual
If you are curious about how the camera was originally used, the original Burke & James Press Camera Manual is worth a read. It includes detailed setup diagrams and advice from working photographers of the time. Click here, or on the image below, to see the manual:
About Burke & James (Company)
Burke & James, Inc. was founded in 1897 in Chicago, Illinois, by Henry Burke and David James. The company became known for manufacturing dependable yet affordable photographic equipment — everything from view and portrait cameras to enlargers, lenses, and darkroom sinks.
They often released products under sub-brands like Rexo, Watson, and Ingento, and distributed equipment through catalog sales to schools, studios, and professional photographers nationwide. Their storefront at 321 South Wabash Avenue became a go-to hub for Chicago photographers through much of the 20th century.
Burke & James earned a reputation as the “working photographer’s brand.” Their gear wasn’t luxurious, but it was solid, easy to repair, and made in the U.S. During the postwar years, their press and view cameras were used widely in technical schools and even by some police and military photographers.
By the 1960s, the company was acquired by Ilex Optical, known for its precision shutters and lenses, and later became part of Burleigh Brooks Optics. Even after the brand faded, many of its cameras (like this 4×5 Press) continue to be used today, a quiet testament to their longevity.
Browse their old product catalogs below:
Medium vs. Large Format Film
From the early 1900s through the 1950s, large format photography defined professional image-making. Formats like 4×5, 5×7, and 8×10 delivered the resolution and tonal range needed for newspapers, magazines, and studio work. When medium format arrived in the 1930s and 1940s, it offered speed and portability, reflecting the modern postwar shift toward efficiency and design.
By the 1950s, these two formats symbolized a divide in photographic philosophy: large format was deliberate and technical, while medium format was fast and flexible. The Burke & James 4×5 Press Camera lived at the intersection of both worlds — a large format camera built for the quick pace of mid-century journalism.
Even as smaller systems gained popularity, 4×5 cameras continued to dominate American newsrooms. Photographers developed sheet film in on-site darkrooms and contact-printed images directly to press plates, creating unmatched clarity and tonal depth. Technological progress, like better flash synchronization and faster roll films, eventually shifted the industry toward spontaneity over precision, but many photographers held onto their large format gear. Cameras like the Burke & James carried a sense of professionalism and presence that smaller systems simply could not replace.
Helpful Videos
Playlist
10:27
5:19
10:33
Closing Thoughts
I am genuinely excited about this find. It is one of those cameras that feels both historical and practical, like it has been waiting decades for someone to bring it back to life.
I plan to give it a careful cleaning before loading my first 4×5 sheets, and I will share an update once I do. For now, it is a proud addition to my growing vintage camera collection. If you have been following my posts, you already know how much I love writing about old cameras and photo technology!
Warm regards,
Lexi
Resources
- https://www.cameramanuals.org/booklets/burk&james_1963.pdf
- https://www.cameramanuals.org/booklets/burk_james-1.pdf
- https://www.piercevaubel.com/cam/catalogs/1908b&jlp824.htm
- https://jolommencam.com/American/Burke/page3.html
- https://jolommencam.com/American/Burke/page3.html
- https://jolommencam.com/American/Burke/01verbkl.jpg
- https://pbase.com/cameras/burke_james/4x5_press_camera
- https://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Burke_%26_James_4x5_Speed_Press
- https://www.kpraslowicz.com/media/file/2016-09-06/burke_and_james_press_manual.pdf
- https://www.cameramanuals.org/booklets/burk_james-1.pdf
- https://collectiblend.com/Cameras/Burke-&-James/
- https://collectiblend.com/Cameras/Burke-&-James/Press-Camera.html
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Large_format
- https://www.kpraslowicz.com/gear/large-format-press-cameras
- https://mrleica.com/large-format-photography-4×5/
- https://www.madeinchicagomuseum.com/single-post/burke-and-james/
Previous Post
Turning Back Time: 1933 Chicago World’s Fair Foto Reel Metal Photo Viewer