an oversize copy camera

17:11 Aug 1, 2011 

Sometimes a cigar, is just a cigar. As it turns out, "oversize" here simply means the camera was huge. Thank you for all the help!

14:32 Aug 1, 2011 

Thank you for the explanation. I will ask my client and close the question later. Thanks again.

13:50 Aug 1, 2011 

It's not clear from the source text quoted here whether it refers to the size of the items that could be copied or the size (or bulk) of the camera (although there's a reference to drawings and paintings which may well be 'large') - but I don't think that matters much anyway.

There's a straightforward analogy here with present day photocopiers. Anything that will copy US letter (European A4) size would be 'normal'. A photocopier than can handle large architectural plans (eg, A1 size) would be 'oversize'. In that case, it's reasonably clear it refers to the item being copied, but the machine will be correspondingly large, too. Question: what would you use in Spanish to describe an 'oversize' photocopier?

On a linguistic level, the ST says 'oversize', not 'large size' - maybe the author was trying to imply a measurement of 'wonderment' at the size of the thing, the way kids (in Chile, at least) would say something extra-big is 'grandote'. That was very much a part of my reasoning when I suggested 'sobredimensionado'.

13:30 Aug 1, 2011 

Queda claro que se trata de una cámara de copiado. Lo que no sé todavía es cómo traducir "oversize" en este contexto. No puedo encontrar referencias en google para cámaras de copiado que incluyan "de gran tamaño" o "sobredimensionado". Les agradecería mucho cualquier ayuda de referencias, tengo que decidirme por una respuesta para poder cerrar la pregunta. Gracias a ambos.