Deardorff

Deardorff – Brand Review & Overview

Deardorff is a classic American maker of wooden large-format view cameras, best known for its mahogany-and-brass field cameras in sizes like 4×5, 5×7, 8×10 (the famed V8), and larger studio formats. Built from the 1920s through the 1980s, Deardorff cameras earned a reputation as the “Rolls‑Royce” of wooden field cameras—rugged, repairable, and elegant, with smooth controls and enough bellows extension and movements for serious professional work.

Typical Deardorff features include folding field designs, generous front and rear movements (tilt, swing, rise/fall), long bellows for use with wide to very long lenses, and richly finished hardwood that ages beautifully with use. Today, photographers and collectors prize Deardorff cameras for their combination of practicality and craftsmanship: they are capable, intuitive tools for landscape, portrait, and studio work, while also serving as display-worthy pieces of photographic history.

As you explore this brand, consider whether you’re after an 8×10 V8 for classic contact prints, a lighter 4×5 or 5×7 for field use, or a larger studio model for ultra‑large‑format work. Choosing the right Deardorff body lets you experience traditional large‑format photography with a camera that feels both robust and refined—equally at home on location or as the centerpiece of a vintage camera collection.