Abstract: A camera mounting and quick release mechanism includes a stationary base plate and cover plate, with a movable cam plate captured between them. The base plate includes a first clamping flange extending upward along one side, a spring-loaded lock pin movable into and out of the base plate, and an actuating spring to urge the cam plate in a clamping position. The base plate and cover plate together support cam pins which extend through the cam plate. The cam plate is movable between a clamping position and a release position, and include cam slots for engagement with the cam pins, a lock aperture for locking engagement with the lock pin when the cam plate is in its release position, and a second clamping flange movable with the cam plate relative to the first clamping flange for releasable engagement with a camera dovetail base.

Abstract: A photographic easel for making borderless prints has a laterally adjustable bar positionable by bolts movable in a pair of parallel slots and is otherwise formed of a generally rectangular metal sheet having bent-up edges. A back and side edge are bent at an angle of about 10.degree. from the vertical toward a central region of the sheet to form abutments for two adjacent edges of a sheet of print paper, and a front edge is bent up at an acute angle to the horizontal plane of the metal sheet to form a finger grip for manually positioning the easel. The bar is generally channel-shaped with a vertical edge and an inclined edge and is preferably reversible, and five support pads are secured to the underside of the sheet to uphold the corners and a central region above a support surface to provide clearance for the bar-retaining bolts.

Abstract: A multiprint easel has a base and a mask positioned above the base to leave room for a laterally slidable paper tray. The paper tray is movable between at least two positions, has bent-in edges that hold print paper, and has a registration pin that fits in holes in the base to locate the paper tray accurately in each print position. The back edge of the paper tray is bent up to slide along the back edge of the mask and is held in engagement with the mask by a bent-up retainer at the back edge of the base. A movable slide preferably underlies the paper tray and has a bent-down back edge that is movable forward for removing paper from the tray, and the slide preferably guides on the registration pin.

Abstract: In the disclosed easel system, a base supports a number of interchangeable facilities for engaging photographic material such as enlarging paper. These facilities may provide variable borders, fixed borders, hold the material for unbordered pictures, and secure the material for contact prints. Hinges hold the various facilities in a preparatory position when the material is being changed.