The image on the right shows the unusual locking arrangement for the tilting back.

The camera has a side-wing support and is usually fitted with Meagher's extending front, though this was optional. Other options were for brass binding and Russia leather bellows. Either a worm screw or rack and pinion focusing was employed. A tilting back was present and at an extra cost a centre pivoted side swing. The camera was light, portable and very suitable for field work. The extending front provided double extension for copying or long-focus work with one half of the lens removed. Originally available in sizes from 6 ½" x 4 ¾" to 10" x 8" and later quarter-plate to 15" x 12" or larger to order.

The side-wing was introduced by Meagher in the 1860s. The 'Portable Bellows Camera' was a development of the 'New Folding Camera' of c. 1867, it was of lighter construction than the earlier camera and "especially suitable for dry-plate". The style of address on the second example - High Holborn - was generally adopted until the early 1890s.