Ducati Half Frame Camera

[Matthew Allen]

desmo doesn't actually seem to be a member anymore.

Matthew

 

[spiderfrank]

????

...so did I reply to a ghost? 🙁

 

[Keith]

A friend of mine has a Ducati camera that he has offered to give me when he digs it out of where he has it stored ... I haven't got a clue what model it is but I am waiting with anticipation ... it's been a while now but he will come through I'm sure. 😀

 

[ZeissFan]

It's a very nice little camera. Lots of compromises, but not a bad camera at all.

And you have to have the special film cassette or make your own. It's just slightly thicker than a AA battery. You get 15 shots.

Rick Oleson has a page devoted to the Ducati. Just do a Google search on "ducati camera" -- you'll see the link.

 

[bigdood]

There's one of these on ebay right now if anyone is interested.

 

[jeroblex]

Hello,

I have a Ducati 18x24 halfframe 6401.1 camera in my collection( serial nr:01544/ lens nr:03097. It's in good condition ( no scratches ). I know it's a really rare camera, maybe I'll sell it. Just thought I let you know.

jeroblex/ Holland

 

[bsdunek]

That Ducati looks like a really neat camera. I know Italy did have a pretty good camera industry at one time. I believe the Durst enlarger line came from there, and I remember when the Gami was popular in the late 50'-early 60's. Looks like a little more searching would be interesting.

 

[ZeissFan]

I bought a Ducati some time last year. Very cool little camera, although the leather covering was in such terrible condition that I had to scrap it.

My writeup and a link to some photos.

 

[Islandor]

Well, this thread is going on 20 years old without any new posts, what a shame. I haven't been active on this site for the past 7 years either, until now, but was checking in to research an Ernemann Ermanox and decided to look around again. In the passing years I have done a lot of research on, and purchased over the years, a lot of Ducati Sogno cameras, lenses and accessories leading to a substantial collection. It has become a passion of mine. Its not just a camera, it is a complete 'system' with fantastic (but alas, expensive) lenses and accessories for almost any photographic endeavor.

In the early days it was a struggle to find much in the way of definitive information about this beautiful example of craftsmanship, especially in English. In the end I worked through the information in Italian (with the help of the early Google Translator) and later met and collaborated with the kind owner of the BenciniStory website. He is a premier researcher of Italian cameras and thankfully was willing to share his research with me of the Ducati Sogno. The result was a complete translation of his Sogno research to my website and later, a joint effort to produce an English translation of the "Normaili", that is, the way to use the Ducati camera and accessories in normal use, in book form.

For anybody interested, please feel free to contact by PM here, or at my website. The Sogno is a camera worth owning and the workmanship Ducati put into them insures that they will be around for many decades to come. Below are a few from my collection:

 

[rodt16s]

Nice looking camera,
I'm also kinda intrigued whether Keith was given the Ducati his buddy promised to dig out

 

[JeffS7444]

To date, the extent of my Ducati camera collection has been a single film cassette, which I purchased in anticipation of someday acquiring a Ducati Sogno. But I haven't been keen to pay typical eBay prices to get one.

 

[Godfrey]

I rode Ducati motorcycles for many years, starting with a '74 750GT and a '66 250 Mk III. My last was a '92 Ducati 907IE, concurrent and after which I rode Moto Guzzis until I retired from motorcycling in 2021.

One of my older motorcycle racing buddies and also a Ducati rider was Ian, a Brit who worked at IBM in New York. He owned a fairly large collection of the Ducati cameras as well as dozens of Ducati and other motorcycles (and other exotic bikes and cars...). He once offered me a Ducati Sogno kit but I declined it—probably should have taken him up on his offer, but I've never been a collector.

Ian is long gone now, his collection of motorcycles, cars, and cameras long since dispersed by his heirs into the universe. But I remember him well and we had some grand times together in the day. And the Ducati Sogno was a pretty and useful camera... 😀

G

 

[rfaspen]

Hmm. My father and brother are BMW all the way. Dad's collection was pretty nice with about 8 bikes. He just recently decided it's not longer practical to ride.... he's in his mid-late 80s. Sold off the collection and got some kind of Honda or whatever just in case a buddy comes round and wants to do a little riding.
When I was younger, I remember a Ducati in the garage. No clue why it was there. Also saw some BSA bikes and even an Indian pass through. But not one Harley, ever. It was my dad's hobby but he let me ride a few cool bikes.

 

[Islandor]

For anyone interested in the Ducati Sogno (not motorcycles please) here is my recently completed collection of the various lens types & variations for every lens they made. It took me around 10 years to build it, but I believe it now to be the most complete collection around. There is a table on my website which shows every known variation (non-standard, e.g. Vitor) for those interested, at least until some other is discovered. For any of you that may have a collection, or own even one interesting lens, it would be most appreciated if you would contact me with the lens serial number and photo if it is not already listed on the master list at my website. Just put it up here, PM me, or contact me via my website, Thank you! 🙂