Idiot's Guide to Film Holders

[dazedgonebye]

Hi all,
After a year or more of kicking the idea around of shooting 4x5, I'm almost ready to go. I've built a 4x5 pinhole camera out of an old copy(?) camera and now I need film holders.
The camera has a graflok'ish back that will fit one of those film holders that holds 6 films. I know because I found an old broken holder and tried it out.

Besides that kind of holder (called...?), what about regular single/double sheet film holders? Will I be able to use them? Are there brands/types of these holders that should be avoided?

Thanks,

BTW, that pinhole camera project can be found here: http://stevemphoto.typepad.com/photography/4x5thingy.html

[BrianShaw]

Cool project! Do you have the spring back part of the Graflok back -the part with the ground glass? If so, you can use any 4x5 film holder. I like the plastic holders (Lisco, Fidelity or Riteway) since they are newer than wooden holders, but wooden holders work just fine if they are tight and don't leak light. The only filmn holders I've avaoided are the Toyo holders... they seem to be quite expensive and I don't see any reason to spend the money when the "cheap ones" work just fine. The only single film holders I've ever seen are plate holders, but I might be living a sheltered life. :)

[Benno Jones]

The camera has a graflok'ish back that will fit one of those film holders that holds 6 films. I know because I found an old broken holder and tried it out.



That would a Grafmatic holder.

[dazedgonebye]

I don't have a spring back for it...just the Grafmatic (Thanks Mr. Jones).

Will the plain sheet holders work with this?

[Neal Shields]

The grafloc back allowed the removal of the ground glass and spring back and you could use the slide locks to hold grafmatic backs and film pack backs. You would then have to use the rangefinder to focus.

I have never seen single sheet film holders that would allow you to use the slide locks only. However, I suspect great things could be done with a wood rasp.

You dont' really need a ground glass as pin holes are normally f264 or such and are way too dark to allow use of the ground glass anyway.

Beyond that with a pin hole everything is in focus so you don't need to focus either.

I would rig up some type of wire finder and use some type of spring clip to hold the film holder tight against the back of the camera and go out and have fun.

Neal

[dazedgonebye]

Sounds like I really want the grafmatic back then.

[butterflydream]

You may also want Fuji PA-45 and FP-100B45 (or C45). :)

[Gene McCluney]

You may also want Fuji PA-45 and FP-100B45 (or C45). :)

Just to clarify for the Original Poster....this is a Fuji Instant Pack Film back and Instant film packs for it. It will fit on your graflok back and allow you to shoot peel-apart instant prints (but no negatives).

[butterflydream]

Thanks, Gene. ;)

[dazedgonebye]

Hey, those grafmatic backs are pricey!
I can get a spring back with focusing spring for $45 and a ton of film holders pretty cheap.
I'm thinking that way maybe. I was thinking of making a large pinhole for composition, since my camera allows me to change out holes pretty easily.

[BrianShaw]

Grafmatics have been selling for about $50 over the past few days. I'm tempted but like the flexibility of cut film holders, and never seem to need the speed afforded by a grafmatic.

[dazedgonebye]

I see a spring back with glass that should fit my back...$45.
Cut film holders are pretty cheap.

I'm going to pull the trigger on that spring back. I kind of like the idea of being able to compose on glass now and again. Heck, I gave that camera interchangeable pinholes. Might as well interchange them.

[BrianShaw]

Spring back might be more versatile.

[dazedgonebye]

Hope so. I also just bought 7 film holders for 38 shipped.

Now, if I can just get that 4990 scanner I'm trying to steal, I'll be all set.

[Jim Graves]

Fun project ... please post some pictures when you've got them.

[dazedgonebye]

I will post some. I love my pinhole and I've been thinking of going 4x5 for so long now....

[butterflydream]

I take pinhole shots with 35mm and 120, but not 4x5 yet. It's too sharp! :D

[dazedgonebye]

Well, that didn't work out worth a hoot.

The spring back/ground glass thing won't fit my grafmatic back. Now I have a useless ground glass and 7 film holders on the way that I don't need.

Back to ebay to look for a grafmatic film holder.

[BrianShaw]

Oh, that is a shame. I think you meant "graflok back' rather than 'grafmatic back', though. Can you post a pic of the back of your camera - the only pic of the back you currently show has the roll film holder attached. Also post a pic (or the auction number) of the GG spring back you bought. It's getting hard to guess from written descriptions.

[dazedgonebye]

That's funny...I found the thread here where I originally showed the camera and asked what it was.
So Brian, you've seen it before: http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?t=31524

Here is the ebay listing for the back I bought...which, I guess, I'll re-list on ebay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&item=250332872132

[wclavey]

And, based on a picture of what you have and what you bought, I may have some parts you could use, as well... I built a functioning 4x5, based on a stripped down Crown Graphic body and several bags of parts I purchased on eBay, and I still have many parts left over, including some backs.

[BrianShaw]

That's funny...I found the thread here where I originally showed the camera and asked what it was.
So Brian, you've seen it before:

Yes, I remember. Let me be real specific. The pic on your web site shows the roll film holder in place; the pic on the earlier thread shows the graflok sliders inthe "down" position. I'd like to see them in the "up" position. A regular graflok should have holes with pins to hold the GG part of the back. There is a similar-looking back (Mamiya, I think) that might not have this capability. I think the Mamiya back only has the graflock sliders and no capability for GG. That's what I was interested in seeing.

If you are going to get a grafmatic then it really doesn't matter since the grafmatic will fit under the sliders just like the roll film back does.

[BrianShaw]

If your back is a regular graflok and not the mamiya back, that focus panel should have worked. What a bummer that it doesn't seem to be working out.

[dazedgonebye]

Yes, I remember. Let me be real specific. The pic on your web site shows the roll film holder in place; the pic on the earlier thread shows the graflok sliders inthe "down" position. I'd like to see them in the "up" position. A regular graflok should have holes with pins to hold the GG part of the back. There is a similar-looking back (Mamiya, I think) that might not have this capability. I think the Mamiya back only has the graflock sliders and no capability for GG. That's what I was interested in seeing.

If you are going to get a grafmatic then it really doesn't matter since the grafmatic will fit under the sliders just like the roll film back does.

No holes with pins...definitely not going to work.

Another case of being so close, and yet so far....


Thanks for all of the help.

[BrianShaw]

Dawgone it. Well, good luck with the grafmatic.

[tim o'brien]

First off. What is the dimension across that roll film holder plate. That sure looks like a 3.25x4.25 back on that contraption.

Second, if it is a 3.25x4.25 back, what you need is a bagmag for 3x4 film.

Fourth, there is no number 3.

Fifth, that looks like a Graflex slider system, not a Graflok.

Sixth, It does look like someone stole the slider parts of a rb67.

Let us know. There is a solution I am sure.

tim in san jose

[BrianShaw]

First off. What is the dimension across that roll film holder plate. That sure looks like a 3.25x4.25 back on that contraption.

Second, if it is a 3.25x4.25 back, what you need is a bagmag for 3x4 film.

Fourth, there is no number 3.

Fifth, that looks like a Graflex slider system, not a Graflok.

Sixth, It does look like someone stole the slider parts of a rb67.

Let us know. There is a solution I am sure.

tim in san jose

Tim,

Didn't Graflex back have only one slider... on top?

p.s. I like your #4. I often tell my boss that I only have two comments... then give him a list of five. :)

[tim o'brien]

On my Graplex rb, yes, one slider, on one of my Graflex backs on a speed, it has both.

tim

[tim o'brien]

If the plate your roll film holder sits on is 4.25x6 inches, then you have a 3.25x4.25 film size. There are Graflex film holders for it (somewhat rare). There is also film available at Freestyle in B&W for 3.25x4.25 size.

tim in san jose

[dazedgonebye]

I'm pretty sure of the size.
I have a broken graflex 4x5 film holder that fits the sliders.