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Finished a project! LF Camera Back

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Finished a project! LF Camera Back

#1

Finished a project! LF Camera Back

Scott in Douglassville, PA

>(Cross-posting from the power tool side. This was a hybrid project, and I know there are some interested parties over here...)

Hi, all -

Well, surprisingly, I finished a project. A while back, I acquired an old plate banquet camera, dating to around the turn of the century:

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It's an odd size - 12" x 6-1/2". Makes a huge negative, but film that size isn't made. Now, I like panoramics, and I like large format, and I like making camera parts. You can find 5x12" film. So, I cobbled together a reducing back to slide in place:

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The back's made from quartersawn sycamore I had lying around. Way more milling and precision joinery than I'd anticipated - the base frame is offset M&T, and the ground glass holder is half-lapped, there're minute rabbets all over the place. The ground glass holder is 5/16" thick - scary working on wood that thin. I made the springs and clips from some spring steel salvaged from a $4 taping knife. Finish is spray lacquer, and I ground the 5x12 glass myself with lapidary grits.

Progress pictures are available here.

Now I need to find a lens and make some film holders. But I think I'm about ready to try scratch-building a camera...

Thanks for looking.

Scott

Re: Finished a project! LF Camera Back

#2

Re: Finished a project! LF Camera Back

Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX

>Looks like a great job, Scott. I love panoramas, too, and 5X12 will be a pleasing size. Will you contact print? Or do you have a giant enlarger?

Pam

Re: Finished a project! LF Camera Back

#3

Re: Finished a project! LF Camera Back

Scott in Douglassville, PA

>Yeah, contact printing. I've been contact printing 5x7 for a while now - 5x12 is gonna be fun.

Re: Finished a project! LF Camera Back

#4

What lens will you use for pano?

Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX

>

Re: Finished a project! LF Camera Back

#5

Re: What lens will you use for pano?

Scott in Douglassville, PA

>Most lenses that cover 8x10 with any sort of movements will cover 5x12. I just bought a JML 10" f/11 process lens that's s'posed to cover 11x14 with movements. It's not the fastest lens, but the price sure was right...

Re: Finished a project! LF Camera Back

#6

Re: What lens will you use for pano?

Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX

>Interesting, look forward to seeing some photos. Thought about pinhole?

Pam

Re: Finished a project! LF Camera Back

#7

WOW

Jim Reed @ Tallahassee

>That is impressive work. Thanks for the pictures.

Re: Finished a project! LF Camera Back

#8

Re: WOW

Scott in Douglassville, PA

>Thanks, Jim.

Re: Finished a project! LF Camera Back

#9

Re: Finished a project! LF Camera Back

Denny

>Scott,

The camera looks great! Since we're on the Hand Tool side, I have to ask, what kind of prints are you making? If you haven't already, you might consider some platinum printing. It's a "hand tool" kind of process that's really pretty easy, and that camera would be perfect.

Denny

Re: Finished a project! LF Camera Back

#10

Re: Finished a project! LF Camera Back

Scott in Douglassville, PA

>Hi, Denny -

I haven't done any Pt/Pd printing yet, but it's on the list. I want to master contact printing on the cheap-o Arista paper first, then move on to the good stuff. :^D

Thanks,

Scott

Re: Finished a project! LF Camera Back

#11

Re: What lens will you use for pano?

Scott in Douglassville, PA

>I haven't been interested in pinhole yet. Too much of a gearhead - love working on lenses and shutters. That said, my (d)evolution may be heading that way... ;^)

Re: Finished a project! LF Camera Back

#12

Way cool Jr.

Scott Burr in Ben Lomond CA

>You put a lot of work into getting it back in action. I was wondering how it was coming along. You did a fine job brinibg it back to life. Looks like you cleaned the shop too.

Re: Finished a project! LF Camera Back

#13

Re: What lens will you use for pano?

paul womack

> It's not the fastest lens, but the price sure was right...

Landscapes don't dodge!!

BugBear

Re: Finished a project! LF Camera Back

#14

UPDATE...

Scott in Douglassville, PA

>Just in case anyone is interested, and 'cause I'm so geeked that I got all the kinks worked out, here's a sample from the 5x12 camera project (click for a really big image):


Haven't been shooting it as much as I'd like (film's way expensive), but I just sniped my way into some bargain HP5+, so I'm pretty excited.

Thanks for looking.

Scott

Re: Finished a project! LF Camera Back

#15

Re: UPDATE...

Dean J in MN

>Back when I shot 4x5 I used Arista from Freestyle. I found in my film testing (yes I own a densitometer) its curve was the same as HP5+. It has been a long time and I see freestyle changed its Arista film since then. But, still worth a look for a constant supply of a "known" film you can buy a bunch, test and know where you stand for a bit.

Ex Zone System junkie --

Dean

Re: Finished a project! LF Camera Back

#16

Re: UPDATE...

Scott in Douglassville, PA

>Hi, Dean -

I actually use Arista.EDU Ultra in 4x5 and 5x7. There are precious few sources of cut 5x12 film, however...

Scott

Re: Finished a project! LF Camera Back

#17

You ARE an artist !

steve mackay

>

Re: Finished a project! LF Camera Back

#18

Re: UPDATE...

"RJ" Whelan

>Scott ... nice job on the camera (I made a 4x5 from a kit many years ago - I don't think I'd have the confidence to tackle something like this).

I really like the image - especially the movement in the water and the light falling on some of the foliage.

I had the pleasure of working with MacDuff Everton a few years ago (he shoots a Noblex) and really came to appreciate this form through the time I spent with him. I have a large collection of landscape photography and my Everton is a current favorite.

Keep up to great work ... rj

Re: Finished a project! LF Camera Back

#19

Re: WOW, (seconded)

paul womack

>Any details on exposure, scanning, correction?

I'm sure I'm not the only woodworker with a side issue on photography here...

I'm guessing longish exposure, given the "texture" of the water.

BugBear

Re: Finished a project! LF Camera Back

#21

Re: UPDATE...

Wiley Horne

>Scott,

That's just magnificent! If you ever decide to sell or auction any prints of that image, please let me know. It's a perfect capture of the eastern creek/woodland, and takes me back many years.

Wiley

Re: Finished a project! LF Camera Back

#22

Re: WOW, (seconded)

Scott in Douglassville, PA

>Thanks, BugBear. This was shot 15 seconds at f/45 using a JML 10" process lens and a lens cap for a shutter, Ilford FP4+ developed in HC-110 dilution B. The highlights are a little blown in the negative scan; I'm hoping I can pull them in a bit when I print.

Scott

Re: Finished a project! LF Camera Back

#23

Thanks, everyone!

Scott in Douglassville, PA

>

Re: Finished a project! LF Camera Back

#24

Re: UPDATE...

Greg B�tit Crown Point NY

>What's up with all the leaves? That looks like it did around here two months ago!

Great shot!

greg

Re: Finished a project! LF Camera Back

#25

Re: WOW, (seconded)

paul womack

>f/45

Heh. My little digital P&S is diffraction limited @ f4 !!!

BugBear

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