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Looking For Ideas on Converting a Vageeswari Camera to Accept Standard Tripod
Hello, I am looking for ideas on how to convert a Vageeswari 10x12 Camera over to accept a standard style tripod.
If you have done this before or have ideas on how to do it please share and especially if you know of a way to do this that would allow for it to go back as original at some point. Photos are a big plus.
The way the tripod attaches is pretty neat but it makes the set up very top heavy and somewhat flimsy.
Thanks
Here are a few pics of the camera and tripod area.
http://i1019.photobucket.com/albums/...DD9C15C221.jpg
http://i1019.photobucket.com/albums/...D2BC93F95C.jpg
http://i1019.photobucket.com/albums/...58AD53A241.jpg
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Re: Looking For Ideas on Converting a Vageeswari Camera to Accept Standard Tripod
Can you remove that metal circle and replace it with a solid disk with a threaded hole like Deardorffs have?
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Re: Looking For Ideas on Converting a Vageeswari Camera to Accept Standard Tripod
The tripod attachment is held by what looks to be 6 screws. I would remove it and add a false bottom of wood through which I would add a 1/4x20 "T" nut.
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Re: Looking For Ideas on Converting a Vageeswari Camera to Accept Standard Tripod
Thanks for the ideas. Has anyone ever had Ries make a custom size Deerdorrfs style replacement?
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1 Attachment(s)
Re: Looking For Ideas on Converting a Vageeswari Camera to Accept Standard Tripod
A bit like this one on my 8x15 (except that I have gone for a pair of t-nuts to match a Gitzo head) :
Attachment 159210
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Re: Looking For Ideas on Converting a Vageeswari Camera to Accept Standard Tripod
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Paul Ewins
A bit like this one on my 8x15 (except that I have gone for a pair of t-nuts to match a Gitzo head) :
Attachment 159210
Is that on the camera like that? How does it attach?
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Re: Looking For Ideas on Converting a Vageeswari Camera to Accept Standard Tripod
It attaches using two bolts through the mounting flanges of the camera bed which go into the t-nuts at the left and right. The holes at top centre and bottom centre have t-nuts on the other side and the tripod bolts through to them. The MDF (12mm / 1/2") covers the entire baseboard to provide maximum support. As you can see from the markings it is as simple as putting the camera onto the MDF then tracing around the tripod mounting with a pencil or sharpie so you know where the bolt holes can go and where to put your centre lines. When it is all set up the MDF is solidly bolted to the tripod head. The camera sits on the MDF and is prevented from falling off by the left and right bolts. Because those bolts go through the tripod ring on the base of the camera you can turn the camera left and right although there is usually enough friction to prevent it happening unintentionally.
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Re: Looking For Ideas on Converting a Vageeswari Camera to Accept Standard Tripod
I'd also check with SKG n see if they have any ideas.
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Re: Looking For Ideas on Converting a Vageeswari Camera to Accept Standard Tripod
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Luis-F-S
I'd also check with SKG n see if they have any ideas.
Hello from Colorado---I too have had an issue with my antique 1889 Scovill Albion field camera, it size being 6.5x8.5 with its unique brass tripod holder----not too dissimilar in shape as yours.
I had to make a "gizmo" tripod plate in order to attach it to my Arca Swiss quick release system. The Scovill camera initially allow the camera to be folded down with its existing antique lens intact, the tripod area acting as a protective "circle" for the lens.
Being that I made my gizmo, I no longer was able to keep the lens in place. I needed to remove the lens/lensboard in order to fold the camera in its correct position.
Here is what my gizmo entailed-----I was able to find aluminum of a certain thickness (road sign aluminum)----I cut 2 circles in size of the camera tripod area---then I found 3 flat head screws/nuts, short ones to allow the camera bed to travel---then I drilled 3 holes to accommodate these screws (wing nuts) & drilled the holes where those 3 semi circles are on your tripod base (and mine)
after the 2 plates & set of screws/nuts were in place securely attached to the existing tripod plate, I drilled a hole in the very middle of these 2 plates & was able to come up with a tripod screw to attach to my AS quick release plate.
I'm not good at sending photos via this forum--if needed, I can send photos of my gizmo to give your further input--give me your email address.
Raymond
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Re: Looking For Ideas on Converting a Vageeswari Camera to Accept Standard Tripod
Why not just replace the original base with a solid wood base with a standard tripod socket?
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Re: Looking For Ideas on Converting a Vageeswari Camera to Accept Standard Tripod
We can make a custom plate that will attach to you current plate or replace it with a permanent custom plate. Contact us to discuss options.
Cheers,
Spencer Hughes
Ries Tripod
RiesTripod.Com
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Re: Looking For Ideas on Converting a Vageeswari Camera to Accept Standard Tripod
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Ries Tripod
We can make a custom plate that will attach to you current plate or replace it with a permanent custom plate. Contact us to discuss options.
Cheers,
Spencer Hughes
Ries Tripod
RiesTripod.Com
Thanks. Will do.
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Re: Looking For Ideas on Converting a Vageeswari Camera to Accept Standard Tripod
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Ries Tripod
We can make a custom plate that will attach to you current plate or replace it with a permanent custom plate. Contact us to discuss options.
Any mildly competent machinist can make the plate you need. Such a plate is a first-entry skill for machining; entirely elementary.
Shop competitively. My bet is that Ries' quote will be at least 500% over the top.
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Re: Looking For Ideas on Converting a Vageeswari Camera to Accept Standard Tripod
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Jac@stafford.net
Any mildly competent machinist can make the plate you need. Such a plate is a first-entry skill for machining; entirely elementary.
Shop competitively. My bet is that Ries' quote will be at least 500% over the top.
Maybe, but you won't have to "shop" and I bet it will be done right the first time. L
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3 Attachment(s)
Re: Looking For Ideas on Converting a Vageeswari Camera to Accept Standard Tripod
Attachment 169856Attachment 169857Attachment 169858
I used a piece of plywood and a 1/4 inch t-bolt (t-nut). I use this with Manfrotto hexagonal plates. A bit rudimentary and Bauhaus style yet it works and is really cheap - about $10.00. On the plus side I can revert to the original tripod fittings by removing the bolts.
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4 Attachment(s)
Re: Looking For Ideas on Converting a Vageeswari Camera to Accept Standard Tripod
Here are other suggestions. They are not mine. They are more elaborate and look nice as well. Cheers Michael.
Attachment 169859Attachment 169860Attachment 169861Attachment 169862
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Re: Looking For Ideas on Converting a Vageeswari Camera to Accept Standard Tripod
Nice ideas. Thanks for sharing.
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Re: Looking For Ideas on Converting a Vageeswari Camera to Accept Standard Tripod
Michael, this is a far better solution than the addition of a square wooden panel. I also remember seing that the clover leaf design was a standard item that could be bought in the early 20th century.
You have mounted the central female thread the wrong way around! It will just pull out under stress. The three lugs should be on the opposite side of the round wooden plate.
It is tempting to suggest that you could, perhaps, use a more ęsthetically pleasing wood surface. But it would have to be laminated due to the mounting holes being near the edge.
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Re: Looking For Ideas on Converting a Vageeswari Camera to Accept Standard Tripod
Steven, the T nut is correctly mounted; the photograph is taken from the top side of the wooden plate inside the camera looking down. I cannot however, make sense of your first sentence. Did you intend to attach a photo to illustrate "this is a far better solution ............ panel"? I do intend to eventually tidy up the wooden panel. In the meantime, it is working perfectly; and so much easier to handle than the three legged wooden tripod that came with the camera. It sits on a studio camera stand. Cheers Michael.
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Re: Looking For Ideas on Converting a Vageeswari Camera to Accept Standard Tripod
I saw the second two photos as an alternative to the first - not the same construction. And the view of the second two was looking up from underneath the base plate rather than down past the bellows. A circular wooden plate set in the round hole ( which I thought your photos showed) is, in my view, far more pleasing than a square plate above the original base.
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4 Attachment(s)
Re: Looking For Ideas on Converting a Vageeswari Camera to Accept Standard Tripod
Well, this 10x12 Vageeswari was one of my first cameras that I bought, other than cheap converted cameras. I have not been a fan of the original tripod and mounting system. Although it looked nice, it was not the most sturdy. I posted this thread a long time ago and since then I have used my other cameras and this one kind of just stayed in the closet other than a time or two where I used it to make 8x10 Ambrotypes.
I finally got around last week to looking again to figure out a solution for mounting a better tripod on it. I talked to a guy on instagram who showed me one of his cameras that he converted over. He used a two part aluminum piece that was pretty nice. I went with a very similar design but chose to machine it and use one solid piece of aluminum. I am very please with the way it turned out.
Wanted to come back to this thread here so I could update it with some photos in case someone else was looking for solutions on something similar.
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4 Attachment(s)
Re: Looking For Ideas on Converting a Vageeswari Camera to Accept Standard Tripod
Here is the new design. Full movement still works perfectly. You can mount it, tighten it down or loosen it so you can rotate the camera.
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3 Attachment(s)
Re: Looking For Ideas on Converting a Vageeswari Camera to Accept Standard Tripod
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Re: Looking For Ideas on Converting a Vageeswari Camera to Accept Standard Tripod
What are the two holes for? I assume it'sneeded to fold the camera? What attaches the alum. plate to the wooden baseplate?
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Re: Looking For Ideas on Converting a Vageeswari Camera to Accept Standard Tripod
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Luis-F-S
What are the two holes for? I assume it'sneeded to fold the camera? What attaches the alum. plate to the wooden baseplate?
Yes, the two holes I had to open up because two knobs are present and would not let it close flush without the holes. There is a beauty ring or thing piece of metal that screws into the camera base and also covers the aluminum to hold it in. It allows the aluminum base to rotate allowing me to turn the camera.