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14x17 build, with filmholders and tripod
Hello,
I wanted to share my latest build, which is a foldable 14x17 camera, with a 11x14 reducing back.
Along with it, I also made 4 filmholders per format, and a tripod.
All wood is walnut and the shiny bits are aluminium. The bellows are made out of the Thorlabs BK5 fabric with paper stiffeners, phosphor bronze for the leaf springs and light trap in the filmholders, and there is a carbon fiber rod in the bellows support.
Linear bearings and a lead screw move the front standard for fine focusing and semi-hidden linear bearings allow rough focusing with the rear standard.
Plenty of neodymium magnets hold various (re)movable parts in place.
The dark slides and septums are Garolite.
Total bellows draw is ~42" and it can focus a 355mm lens down to infinity without the bed appearing in the picture.
The camera weights about 19 lbs. and the tripod 10 lbs. Both seem sturdy. At this size, it's amazing to see the laws of mechanical leverage in action ;-)
The film holders weight 3 lbs 6 oz and 2 lbs 7 oz respectively.
It took me way too many hours to build it, many things didn't work out as planned (especially the folding mechanism and the sagging bellows) but all in all, I'm happy with it.
I still have to make bags for all of it and of course, take a picture with it.
Let me know what you think.
Thanks
JP
(pardon the too many pictures in too many replies)
https://s20.postimg.cc/miijsn0jx/mutti_14x17_frm_-1.jpg
https://s20.postimg.cc/ibxpdb0y5/mutti_14x17_frm_-3.jpg
https://s20.postimg.cc/o1dxxm74d/mutti_14x17_frm_-4.jpg
https://s20.postimg.cc/alqx85yml/mutti_14x17_frm_-5.jpg
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Re: 14x17 build, with filmholders and tripod
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Re: 14x17 build, with filmholders and tripod
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Re: 14x17 build, with filmholders and tripod
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Re: 14x17 build, with filmholders and tripod
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Re: 14x17 build, with filmholders and tripod
I'm very impressed, it looks fantastic!
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Re: 14x17 build, with filmholders and tripod
Absolutely Stunning- I wish that I had your talent in making things , now you need to make pictures with the camera.
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Re: 14x17 build, with filmholders and tripod
A little bit too much detailing for my taste, but the workmanship is impressive.
What would be more fun in this section is information/photos about the production of metal parts, woodwork and fasteners.
What kind of walnut?
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Re: 14x17 build, with filmholders and tripod
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Re: 14x17 build, with filmholders and tripod
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Re: 14x17 build, with filmholders and tripod
Quote:
Originally Posted by
bob carnie
Absolutely Stunning- I wish that I had your talent in making things , now you need to make pictures with the camera.
From your lips to god's ears !!
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Re: 14x17 build, with filmholders and tripod
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Steven Tribe
A little bit too much detailing for my taste, but the workmanship is impressive.
What would be more fun in this section is information/photos about the production of metal parts, woodwork and fasteners.
What kind of walnut?
I took no pictures during the making of it.
It was all drawn in 3D Rhino first and then milled on a 3 axis CNC router. Some table saw cutting, but not much ... and some laser rastering of letters.
The walnut (from the local lumberyard) is most probably plain old American.
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Re: 14x17 build, with filmholders and tripod
You deserve all the glory with that beautiful camera.
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Re: 14x17 build, with filmholders and tripod
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Re: 14x17 build, with filmholders and tripod
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Re: 14x17 build, with filmholders and tripod
Stunning...Awsome...Inspired...I am basically speechless!
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Re: 14x17 build, with filmholders and tripod
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Re: 14x17 build, with filmholders and tripod
Beautiful camera. Light weight, stunningly beautiful along with the tripod. What is not to like. Those 3D and CNC machines are awesome.
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Re: 14x17 build, with filmholders and tripod
Many thanks to all that like it and for the compliments !
And thanks to the ones that don't as well ;-)
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Re: 14x17 build, with filmholders and tripod
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Jim Fitzgerald
Beautiful camera. Light weight, stunningly beautiful along with the tripod. What is not to like. Those 3D and CNC machines are awesome.
When picking it up, 19 lbs does not seem light to me at all. I could have done with less aluminium maybe, but this was never going to be a featherweight-just-pick-me-up-and-go kinda camera anyways ...
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Re: 14x17 build, with filmholders and tripod
A chick magnet camera !
Magnificent!
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Re: 14x17 build, with filmholders and tripod
This is magnificent!
Kumar
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Re: 14x17 build, with filmholders and tripod
That's beautiful! Please tell us the source for the bellows material. I have a 100 y.o. 8x10 that needs a bellows.
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Re: 14x17 build, with filmholders and tripod
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Fr. Mark
That's beautiful! Please tell us the source for the bellows material. I have a 100 y.o. 8x10 that needs a bellows.
It's the blackout material from Thorlabs
https://www.thorlabs.com/thorproduct.cfm?partnumber=BK5
There might be a better material for it out there, but I haven't been able to find it.
Bag bellows for organs are made with rubberized cloths for example.
The stiffeners in between the 2 layers were cut from 0.015" thick paper stock.
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Re: 14x17 build, with filmholders and tripod
All of the material for instrument repair that I've seen has been too thick. Great job on your build!
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Re: 14x17 build, with filmholders and tripod
Quote:
Originally Posted by
radii
When picking it up, 19 lbs does not seem light to me at all. I could have done with less aluminium maybe, but this was never going to be a featherweight-just-pick-me-up-and-go kinda camera anyways ...
I've built three 14x17's and the lightest is 26lbs. So 19lbs is awesome! Just right I feel. Holders are not eases bravo on them as well as that is the expensive part of 14x17.
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Re: 14x17 build, with filmholders and tripod
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Re: 14x17 build, with filmholders and tripod
I wish....I wish....I wish....
Congrats!
Charley
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Re: 14x17 build, with filmholders and tripod
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Re: 14x17 build, with filmholders and tripod
Amazing! Best appearance of all modern wooden cameras I`ve seen in the past years!
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Re: 14x17 build, with filmholders and tripod
Congratulations, radii. Your workmanship is superb; I'm in awe!
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Re: 14x17 build, with filmholders and tripod
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Re: 14x17 build, with filmholders and tripod
Thanks for the bellows link. That's tremendous!
Why two layers? Also, what did you use for adhesives?
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Re: 14x17 build, with filmholders and tripod
You made a beautiful job of the bellows. May I ask, which/whose instructions did you follow? I built a 5x7 bellows recently that was supposed to come out square, but depending on how the fold sequence is started, either the large end or the small end comes out rectangular.
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Re: 14x17 build, with filmholders and tripod
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Fr. Mark
Thanks for the bellows link. That's tremendous!
Why two layers? Also, what did you use for adhesives?
One layer only wouldn't be light proof enough, and the two layers allow good adhesion/sandwiching of the ribs.
I used 3m 465 transfer tape for adhesive. Super 77 spraymount works as well, but is trickier to apply evenly and leaves a rougher surfaces telegraphing through the fabric.
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Re: 14x17 build, with filmholders and tripod
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Barry Kirsten
You made a beautiful job of the bellows. May I ask, which/whose instructions did you follow? I built a 5x7 bellows recently that was supposed to come out square, but depending on how the fold sequence is started, either the large end or the small end comes out rectangular.
Thanks, but I have to disagree. They might fold up nicely and look decent, but the sagging at any extension makes me seriously doubt my approach.
The 5x7 and 8x10 bellows I've made before didn't have that problem, so it must be the weight and size that's the culprit.
The Thorlabs fabric, being only 0.005" thick, is probably just too flexible to provide enough stiffness for a bellow of that size. I have however not been able to source a material that is comparably flexible, light proof and on the thin side.
I can't remember the original link for the instructions that I used to calculate my bellows, but there's still some trial and error involved in it for me. I first plot out a paper template of the first row of ribs, knife it out, tape it together to form a very low pyramid and fold it up to see what I get. It's usually off from what I anticipated and then make the necessary adjustment before cutting the final pieces.
And yes, the front standard end of it comes out rectangular while the rear standard end is somewhat square.
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Re: 14x17 build, with filmholders and tripod
Your skills as a photographer are apparent in your camera photos. The lighting is very well done as are fine details in and of the camera. Your lighting technique has perfect contrast between the metal part highlights and the dark areas. The wood textures look beautiful, as well as the closeup photos. The tripod is a work of art in itself. You are capable of producing great photos with this wondrous camera.
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Re: 14x17 build, with filmholders and tripod
Really beautiful job,well done.I appreciate the work you've done but mostly the design and the time spent on it are remarkable.
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Re: 14x17 build, with filmholders and tripod
I had an Anthony and Scovill 14x17 that weighed 19 lb. I put many hundreds of sheets of film through that camera. But, it did not hold a candle to your beautiful design, both in terms of form and function. I like your design sense very much. Looking forward to seeing what you do with it.
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Re: 14x17 build, with filmholders and tripod
Wow ! Congratulations ! You've just designed one of the most beautiful field cameras ever ! Now you can start mass production . I'd love to have one . I'm in love with this camera !
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Re: 14x17 build, with filmholders and tripod
Thank you everybody for the kind comments.
The glamour shots of the camera aren't misleading, some of the functionality however isn't where I'd like it to be.
Aluminum has the worst friction coefficient and has therefore turned the travel of the rear standard stabilizer-nut, into a not-so-smooth operation (even with the addition of Teflon washers) ...conversely, the movement of the front standard carriage is so smooth (the lead screw is virtually resistance free yet without slack) that, depending on the extension and pull of the bellows, it's hard to keep the carriage in place (can be corrected with proper placement of the bellow support)...AND of course the sagging bellow ...and ...
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Re: 14x17 build, with filmholders and tripod
Quote:
Originally Posted by
David Lobato
... You are capable of producing great photos with this wondrous camera.
Thank you very much.
I hope that some of that turns out to be true.
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Re: 14x17 build, with filmholders and tripod
Impressive work for sure!
Aluminum is a great material in so many ways but it does sucks mightily for friction surfaces. I've never tried anodizing to see if it helps, but have had good luck with UHMW film- https://www.mcmaster.com/#uhmw-polyethylene/=17p0pfa. Not perfect, but it does help quite a bit and seems a bit slicker than the teflon materials I've tried. As for bellows, I'll gladly take some sagging if it means there'e flexibility to use a wide range of focal lengths.
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Re: 14x17 build, with filmholders and tripod
speechless....simply a beautiful build and can't wait to see some work from this camera.
and if you ever decide to build film holders...I could use an extra 7x17 or so ;)
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Re: 14x17 build, with filmholders and tripod
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Colin Graham
Impressive work for sure!
Aluminum is a great material in so many ways but it does sucks mightily for friction surfaces. I've never tried anodizing to see if it helps, but have had good luck with UHMW film-
https://www.mcmaster.com/#uhmw-polyethylene/=17p0pfa. Not perfect, but it does help quite a bit and seems a bit slicker than the teflon materials I've tried. As for bellows, I'll gladly take some sagging if it means there'e flexibility to use a wide range of focal lengths.
Interesting. Thanks for the link.
Anodized pieces are much slicker (and would open up new design possibilities), but I haven't found a reasonably priced service that does small custom pieces (except paintball guns and yoyo amateurs) and the entry price to do it myself is just too damn high.
The other option would be to use Delrin in those friction places maybe. Once cut though, it looses it's factory shine and it's impossible to restore that.
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Re: 14x17 build, with filmholders and tripod
This is a gorgeous camera! Absolutely stunning workmanship.
Do you mind sharing the details for the ground glass?
Pali
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Re: 14x17 build, with filmholders and tripod
You're not planning to use it, are you? :)
Donating to MOMA would be more appropriate.
The first scratch would make me cry...
Beautiful!
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Re: 14x17 build, with filmholders and tripod
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Pali K
This is a gorgeous camera! Absolutely stunning workmanship.
Do you mind sharing the details for the ground glass?
Pali
Thank you. Glad you like it.
The ground glass is 1/8" acrylic, laser scored on one side and hand ground with 400 and 600 grit silicon carbide powder on the other.
Mix a bit of the powder with water, and with another thick piece of acrylic, grind away (for hours in my case). As the slurry dries up, rinse it off and mix a new batch.
It's still hit or miss for me though. No matter what, some circular scratches always remain.
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Re: 14x17 build, with filmholders and tripod
Quote:
Originally Posted by
denverjims
You're not planning to use it, are you? :)
Donating to MOMA would be more appropriate.
The first scratch would make me cry...
Beautiful!
Thank you. Very kind.
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Re: 14x17 build, with filmholders and tripod
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Fred L
speechless....simply a beautiful build and can't wait to see some work from this camera.
and if you ever decide to build film holders...I could use an extra 7x17 or so ;)
Thank you.
As others have pointed out, making film holders is a ridiculously involved process for such a seemingly simple object. The tight tolerances, space restrictions, weight, light proofing etc..
Unless I'd have enough holders to make, to justify bundling machining setups to make it more efficient, I won't make one the side, just for fun. Never say never though ...