I‘m having trouble finding a reasonably priced daguerreotype lens, and I‘ve heard I can use a different lens from around the same era, but I am having trouble finding one. I know I sound ignorant, but it‘s for my girlfriend, who is a photographer, and I obviously can‘t ask her without seeming suspicious.Basically:-What kind of lens (specifically) can I use?-Where can I find/buy one? (not Ebay)
Graduated cyl- used to measure approximate vols of liquids. Spatula- used to transfer solids.
Unless you can find the entire set up, which is gonna cost ya, don't even try. Daguerreotypes are difficult to shoot, require mercury and iodine in the process which is toxic and really frowned upon by the EPA. Oh, they hate daguerreotype makers. There are less toxic but nonetheless still nasty methods of creating them. Your gf would have to know how to do them, and have special darkroom equipment to coat the plates, develop them, etc. As a woman whose bf has given her many well intended but basically useless photography gifts I recommend you get her a gift card and drive her to her favorite camera store. Buy lunch after.
Daguerreotype is a process NOT a lens or camera. The image is a direct positive made in the camera on a silver plated copper or brass plate so if you do not have the camera and specific plates then forget it. edit I don't know where you have been doing your research but daguerroetype IS A PROCESS and NOT a camera or lens. The daguerreotype is a direct-positive process, creating a highly detailed image on a sheet of copper plated with a thin coat of silver without the use of a negative. The process required great care. The silver-plated copper plate had first to be cleaned and polished until the surface looked like a mirror. Next, the plate was sensitized in a closed box over iodine until it took on a yellow-rose appearance. The plate, held in a lightproof holder, was then transferred to the camera. After exposure to light, the plate was developed over hot mercury until an image appeared. To fix the image, the plate was immersed in a solution of sodium thiosulfate or salt and then toned with gold chloride. The people who used this process often made their own cameras of sliding boxes made out of wood or leather. Focusing was by moving one box inside the other. The Effectively you could use a shoebox pinhole type camera as long as you have the correctly processed plate. Don't get snotty with people who are answering your question just because it is not the answer you want to hear.
