“Back in August of 2022 I was fortunate to find myself in Slovenia with my good friend Borut Peterlin. I was not planning on creating on this trip, I had no camera or chemistry. I had a thought of a portrait of Borut laying down on a 1000 year old ground level water well with his first book in his hand and his brass lens. I was going to indeed create on this trip, one plate is all I wanted. That is when Peter offered to lend me his camera for the shot. I immediately said, “where did you get this” and he explained “I made it”, I was blown away by the craftmanship and the quality in my hands. I went on to use his camera to make “Succumbed To Light” on August 6th, 2022. My 4341st wet plate since I began the wet plate process in October of 2012. The camera worked like a dream even in the uncertain environment of the Slovenia mountainside. I would recommend this camera by my good friend to anyone.” Shane Balkowitsch Nostalgic Glass Wet Plate Studio Bismarck, North Dakota, USA
"The camera worked like a dream even in the uncertain environment of the Slovenia mountainside.
I would recommend this camera by my good friend to anyone.”
Shane Balkowitsch
Nostalgic Glass Wet Plate Studio
Bismarck, North Dakota, USA
Peter unveiled his impressive Mehovke Primer Camera, a testament to his knowledge and perfectionism.
 I'm proud to own the first 12x12 inch Mehovke Primer Camera, and I'm moved by the passioned work behind it.
Niklas Hlawatsch
www.fuchsteufelbild.de
Essen-Werden, DE
The new camera by Primer
Presenting to you a new camera built to last made by a photographer for photographers. It is a heavy duty camera which with proper use can stay your artistic companion for life. Primer cameras are made of repurposed teak wood of highest quality which was given a new life and thus best serves its natural extreme durability. The cameras aim to a clean and beautiful design with no redundant elements. Made of best materials available it is both robust and durable yet easy to use. Every single particle is carefully thought through and custom designed to fit its purpose – each bit of wood, each rail, screw and button, all of it.
The construction of Primer cameras derives from old and well tested solutions yet brings more than a few innovative solutions. Together with Zebra Dry plates company we developped a new feature – a square holder, fitting perfectly with Primer camera with no adjustments needed. Furthermore, the screw-focus mechanism and tracks are custom made for Primer cameras and enable infinitely accurate movements. The bellow’s gorgeous green gives Primer cameras a subtle beauty.
Materials used in the construction of Primer camera
Primer cameras are constructed of teak wood, anodized aluminum and stainless steel. Some aluminum parts are finished in black, others in natural anodisation. Wood components are formed in high quality repurposed teak – chosen for its extreme stability as it has been dry for at least 20 years and is thus well settled. The wood is finished with a clear varnish to preserve the gentle appearance and to protect it from weather. To demand the wood selected can also be ash which is much brighter than teak and is slightly less settled as it has only been dry 15 years. Teak and ash differ in appearance and structure, but both woods have a beautiful overall appearance.
The bellow, although quite ordinarily plied, is a single layer bellow made of water-and-light-proof high quality no flameble fabric otherwise used in fields that require the utmost durability. It is very robust and can only be torn when cut by a very sharp object.
The work of the craftsmen
Every bit of the craft process is done manually, sometimes but rarely leaving marks of handwork on the surface. These are not flaws, but rather a sign of the careful labor which goes into the construction of each camera.
Every stage of camera parts construction reflects the standards and superb techniques inherited from old ancestral craftsmen of central Europe passed through generations to todays masters. After basic semi-mechanical construction using power tools, each camera part is carefully finished by hand to give the finest appearance possible. The majority of work is done by the owner himself, where others are indispensable, only the most experienced craftsmen are asked to help.
Mehovke Primer Cameras
Primer d.o.o., Liparjeva cesta 7, 1234 Mengeš, Slovenia
peter@primer.si
+386 31 887 125
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