Burke & James Press 5x7

History

Burke & James was established in Chicago and operated from at least the early twentieth century through the 1960s, selling cameras under their own name and distributing imported equipment. In the press camera era, they produced folding flatbed cameras in 4x5, 5x7, and related formats targeting the same buyers as Graflex: newspaper photographers, portrait studios, and commercial labs that needed to make large negatives under a variety of conditions.

The 5x7 format had a loyal but niche following in American press and portrait photography. The larger negative allowed contact printing to produce a 5x7-inch proof directly without enlargement, which was valued in portrait work where clients expected a large print of high tonal quality. By the late 1950s the format was already declining relative to 4x5, which offered a more manageable package with comparable results when enlargement was used.

Burke & James ceased camera manufacturing by the mid-1960s as the press camera market contracted sharply in the face of smaller and faster 35mm systems. The company continued to operate in the distribution and darkroom equipment business for some years thereafter.

Why It Matters

The Burke & James Press 5x7 is significant as a surviving example of the American press camera tradition in a format that was already becoming uncommon by the time the camera was made. While 4x5 press cameras are well documented and easily found, 5x7 press cameras from American manufacturers are comparatively rare and illustrate a specific moment in photographic practice - the twilight of the large-format press camera before 35mm replaced it entirely for newspaper work.

For contemporary photographers, the 5x7 format has attracted renewed interest because the larger negative enables contact printing at a size that feels substantial without the cost and complexity of 8x10. Platinum/palladium printers in particular favour 5x7 for contact-printing workflows that don't require a large-format darkroom.

The Burke & James name is associated with accessible, unpretentious American photographic equipment. Their cameras were bought to be used, not displayed, and surviving examples have often led hard working lives, which has implications for the used buyer.

Lenses & Accessories

The Press 5x7 used proprietary Burke & James lensboards; these are not interchangeable with Graflex, Linhof, or Sinar standards without adaptation.

Typical lenses used with 5x7 press cameras of this era:

• Kodak Ektar 190mm f/6.3 - standard commercial lens of the period, often found factory-mounted
• Kodak Commercial Ektar 203mm f/7.7 - popular portrait and commercial length for 5x7
• Schneider Symmar 180mm f/5.6 - if European glass was fitted, this was a common choice
• Wollensak Raptar 135mm f/4.7 - American-made lens widely used on press cameras of the era
• Graflex roll-film adapter - some photographers adapted roll-film backs for 2x5 inch panoramic or 6x9 use; compatibility with B&J backs is not guaranteed
• Standard 5x7 film holders - Riteway, Graflex, and Kodak 5x7 holders are compatible with the standard back

Sample Photographers / Notable Use

• Used by American press and portrait photographers in the 1950s as a cost-effective 5x7 alternative to Graflex press cameras.
• Adopted by commercial studios for contact-proof portraiture where the 5x7 direct print was the deliverable.
• Occasionally used by contemporary alt-process photographers (platinum, gum bichromate, cyanotype) who want a 5x7 contact-printing negative at an accessible equipment cost.

References

• Camera-Wiki: Burke & James