Building a large format camera (no, not me...)

ChrisR

ChrisR

I'm a well known grump...
Suspended / Banned
Messages
11,730
Name
Chris
Edit My Images
Yes
Just read this nice thread on PetaPixel, on a guy who accidentally bought a LF lens and parts of a shutter deciding to go the whole hog and build the camera to go with it. I know someone on here has already done that (one of the Steves?), but I thought it was interesting. However, on some bits he does rather say "I made this, then I made that", where perhaps a little more info might have helped. OTOH perhaps all those bits were basically the same, wooden square frames?
 
The plans are readily available online, Jon Grepstad (sp?) has a set for monorail cameras at least.

It's something I will be embarking on myself!
 
ChrisR said:
Just read this nice thread on PetaPixel, on a guy who accidentally bought a LF lens and parts of a shutter deciding to go the whole hog and build the camera to go with it. I know someone on here has already done that (one of the Steves?)
Click to expand...

I have... well, it's nearly finished!


Steve.
 
robhooley167 said:
The plans are readily available online, Jon Grepstad (sp?) has a set for monorail cameras at least.

It's something I will be embarking on myself!
Click to expand...

Yes, he referenced Jon Grepstad's page, here.

Will yours be a large format x-ray camera?:D
 
Been looking for plans for a 35mm pano.
Haven't found anything solid, just make it up as you go along jobs, cut and shuts and mf cameras with 35mm film thrown in them.
I'd butcher an old folder if I could find one in 6x7 flavour.
 
joxby said:
Been looking for plans for a 35mm pano.
Haven't found anything solid, just make it up as you go along jobs, cut and shuts and mf cameras with 35mm film thrown in them.
I'd butcher an old folder if I could find one in 6x7 flavour.
Click to expand...

Get a Nimslo four lens camera, reconfigure with a single lens.

nimslo.jpg

https://www.flickr.com/photos/adbieber/with/16219721805/


Steve.
 
Steve Smith said:
Get a Nimslo four lens camera, reconfigure with a single lens.


Steve.
Click to expand...

Well its a reasonable base I suppose, there doesn't appear to be enough room for a single lens with a big enough image circle though.
There are a few stereo cameras more suitable but they're a bit thin on the ground.
I've bought a press camera 75 in a copal shutter, maybe that was a mistake not starting with a body first, there seems to be too much work involved mounting it on a 6x7 press film back, because you might as well shoot 120 and crop it..(n), or put 35mm in a 120 back..(n)(n).......its all sliding away from a conventional RF style 35mm pano cam.
Film transport I see as the big caveat in all this, it has to be 70mm../end of.
 
joxby said:
Well its a reasonable base I suppose, there doesn't appear to be enough room for a single lens with a big enough image circle though.
Click to expand...

It must be possible as it has been done.


Steve.
 
Steve Smith said:
It must be possible as it has been done.


Steve.
Click to expand...

True, I've seen one made out of that and an old TLR, but its a proper Frankenstein job not interested in that, and one with a Bronica 40 the bulk of which is all shutter/mount/helical, the nimslo is little more than a film back, so why not use a film back instead, they're cheaper and easier to find.
I dunno, it seems as though the best way to build one is around the lens/shutter, the image circle and focusing mech define the dimensions of the camera body, its the transport that further narrows the options.
 
joxby said:
the nimslo is little more than a film back, so why not use a film back instead, they're cheaper and easier to find.
Click to expand...


True, but the Nimslo's advantage is that it will wind on a 72mm long frame of 35mm film with no modification making the construction of a poor man's X-Pan. Things like that are rare. For 120 film, the Holga 6x12 pinhole is a good body to start with.

joxby said:
it seems as though the best way to build one is around the lens/shutter, the image circle and focusing mech define the dimensions of the camera body, its the transport that further narrows the options.
Click to expand...

When I built my 6x12camera I started with the film transport mechanism then added a box around it then decided how to fit the lens. Although my reason for building it was that I had acquired the lens and shutter.


Steve.
 
Last edited:
Steve Smith said:
True, but the Nimslo's advantage is that it will wind on a 72mm long frame of 35mm film with no modification making the construction of a poor man's X-Pan. Things like that are rare. For 120 film, the Holga 6x12 pinhole is a good body to start with..
Click to expand...

Yep, transport is the thing, its choosing a lens to cover 72, with shutter and a helical to fit the space on the front that is a struggle, although I might forego the helical for fixed focus.



Steve Smith said:
When I built my 6x12camera I started with the film transport mechanism then added a box around it then decided how to fit the lens. Although my reason for building it was that I had acquired the lens and shutter.


Steve.
Click to expand...

Its gonna be 35mm no matter what, I've also started with a lens, but I think I should be doing it the other way round.
 
It's a shame 6x12 backs are so expensive, I'd like one for the 54.
 
joxby said:
Yep, transport is the thing, its choosing a lens to cover 72, with shutter and a helical to fit the space on the front that is a struggle, although I might forego the helical for fixed focus.
Click to expand...

Mine is a 65mm Super Angulon on 6x12 format. I have a helical made from an old Olympus lens but it really is superfluous. Even wide open (f8) there is so much depth of field that placing at the hyperfocal point would have been perfectly o.k.


Steve.
 
steveo_mcg said:
It's a shame 6x12 backs are so expensive, I'd like one for the 54.
Click to expand...

Indeed. If the dayi 612 backs weren't so hilariously expensive for what they are, I'd definitely have got one by now. Indeed, if people can make a whole 5x4 camera, surely making a 612 back can't be monumentally difficult?
 
Woodsy said:
surely making a 612 back can't be monumentally difficult?
Click to expand...

Attach the body of a Holga 6x12 pinhole to a spare 5x4 film holder. Put a couple of slots in the piece which usually separates the two sheets of film and thread the film through so the emulsion is in the correct place for correct focus.


Steve.
 
Steve Smith said:
Attach the body of a Holga 6x12 pinhole to a spare 5x4 film holder. Put a couple of slots in the piece which usually separates the two sheets of film and thread the film through so the emulsion is in the correct place for correct focus...
Click to expand...

That sounds like a @stevelmx5 job... or possibly @Steve Smith ;)
 
^^^ WHS. Superb.
 
Probably should add that I realise it's only 6x6 and not LF but the comparative 'pocketability' looks awesome :0)
 
Its pretty cool just the same. I saw a 55mm in shutter going quite cheap a few weeks ago but doubted it would cover 54 but it would have been perfect for a conversion on to an RB back.
 
I think 55mm on 6x6 with something that small would be great. When I was planning my 6x12 camera, I put the 65mm lens on an old 6x6 folder body. That in itelf was quite good. I think the shorter 55mm lens would be a good combination.

Currently, the only thing I have which could match that is a Mamiya TLR with 55mm lens but that is much bigger and heavier.


Steve.
 
Woodsy said:
Agreed. Is that something that's easily mod-able? I'd be tempted to make/buy/what ever that :D Any details you can provide about it @stevelmx5 ?
Click to expand...

Unfortunately it's not mine. An italian guy shared the image in a Facebook group last week so I grabbed the image for a future project. From what I can see it's a basic plate attached to the front of the standard 6x6 back which gives enough space to match the MFD of the lens for the 6x6 image.

I guess it will need some trial and error with the lens/shutter to work out the shortest MFD for 6x6 then the plate should be simple. The kiev back has manual winding built in and a rear window so you can see the frame number to wind on.
 
Those are seriously cool and wonderful bits of kit. I wish I had the skills to make something like that....:(
 
My only problem with using a setup like that is focussing for anything other than hyper focal. I've got a 6x9 ensign 20 folder which has a glacier mint 'viewfinder' then distance scale on the lens and I have a nightmare using it!
 
how do they focus, surely the lens is too close to the film plane. Clearly they do! i just cant understand why!
 
I wondered that but assumed the smaller 6x6 image circle allows the LF lens to focus closely (rear element removed?)
 
I would have thought 55mm on 6x6 would be fine on hyperfocal.

As an example, I have 65mm on 6x12 with a helical focusing mount which adjusts it from infinity down to about eight feet. The first time I used the camera I included a shot with the subject at about ten feet. The next frame was a distance shot but I forgot that I was set at ten feet. Looking at the prints, I can't see a difference.

This was at f11 on a lens which is f8 wide open. Perhaps if you have an f4 lens, it might make a difference wide open, but at f8 upwards, I think I would be happy with hyperfocal. It worked well enough for millions of 6x9 box cameras with more 'normal' focal length lenses.


Steve.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top