Converting a 4x5 view camera to a......

hi Guys,

Is it possible to convert a 4x5 view camera into a 4x5 handheld camera with a helciol mount.

Seems rather simple, wouldn't you just attach both the rear and front plates of a view camera together, seal for light leaks, then attach a helcoil mount to whatever lens board you have and attach lens? offcourse you would have to atleast work out distances for lens to film plane etc.

And are there any shiftable lens boards that you can attach to most view cameras.

Want to find a inexpensive way to make a camera that has ability to shift, a variety of backs, and is portable enough to handhold. Any ideas.

For something that was similair to what l was thinking have a look here
http://cgi.ebay.com/Handy-TOYO-WIDE-...QQcmdZViewItem

Thanks in advance.

Oman

You slide off the front or the rear standard from a Linhof Kardan, B, 45S, JBL, GT, E, M, RE.

You put the ground glass back on one side of the standard and the lensboard on the other side.

Rodenstock and Schneider both make Helicoids with distance and DOF scales for each of their lenses in 0 shutter. They mount to Linhof Kardan boards with a 3 hole.

If you need added extension you would have to either have cones made - expensive, or use Wista Extension Sets. To use the Wista Extension Sets you would also need a Linhof Kardan to Technika adapter board.

Now. How do you plan tio view the scene? Ground glass or with a view finder? If with a view finder then you would have to use the front standard of the Kardan as that has an accessory shoe on it.

Using these standards you would have 3.3" of rise that can be exteded to 6.6" with an accessory. 5.5" of shift, 360° of swing and 75° of center tilt.

The only thing you would have to "make" is a plate to accept a grip. The Linhof Anatomical Grip comes with a plate with 2 mounting holes in it along with 2 screws. You could just drill and tap 2 holes to mount this plate. The Grip slides onto the plate.

If you want to use shifts your viewfinder will not be too useful, unless you want to carry a set of preset viewfinder masks...

If only the Dagor I have didn't have a broken helical mount, I'd be way ahead of you :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bob Salomon - HP Marketing

Rodenstock and Schneider both make Helicoids with distance and DOF scales for each of their lenses in 0 shutter. They mount to Linhof Kardan boards with a 3 hole.

If you need added extension you would have to either have cones made - expensive, or use Wista Extension Sets.

Now. How do you plan tio view the scene? Ground glass or with a view finder? If with a view finder then you would have to use the front standard of the Kardan as that has an accessory shoe on it.

The only thing you would have to "make" is a plate to accept a grip. The Linhof Anatomical Grip comes with a plate with 2 mounting holes in it along with 2 screws. You could just drill and tap 2 holes to mount this plate. The Grip slides onto the plate.

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Fotoman makes two (2) different Helical Focus Mounts. One short (HFM-S, same extension as the Rodenstock) and one long (HFM-LT) with an additional 10mm of extension. Both accept #00, #0, or #1 shutters, and have calibrated distance and DOF scales.

We also have many different Cones available, which could easily be affixed to your lensboard if you require additional extension.

Grip? We have two, but we would have to see if your standard could accept them.

We also sell accessory shoes, complete with springs and mounting screws, as well as dual axis bubble levels.

In the end, you could pretty much do anything you wanted to.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by omanoman

hi Guys,

Is it possible to convert a 4x5 view camera into a 4x5 handheld camera with a helciol mount.

Seems rather simple, ....
Want to find a inexpensive way to make a camera that has ability to shift, a variety of backs, and is portable enough to handhold. ....Oman

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But if you buy the view camera, the helicoid mount, the variety of backs - what in the end do you want to build in an inexpensive way?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bob Salomon - HP Marketing

You slide off the front or the rear standard from a Linhof Kardan, B, 45S, JBL, GT, E, M, RE.

You put the ground glass back on one side of the standard and the lensboard on the other side.

Rodenstock and Schneider both make Helicoids with distance and DOF scales for each of their lenses in 0 shutter. They mount to Linhof Kardan boards with a 3 hole.

If you need added extension you would have to either have cones made - expensive, or use Wista Extension Sets. To use the Wista Extension Sets you would also need a Linhof Kardan to Technika adapter board.

Now. How do you plan tio view the scene? Ground glass or with a view finder? If with a view finder then you would have to use the front standard of the Kardan as that has an accessory shoe on it.

Using these standards you would have 3.3" of rise that can be exteded to 6.6" with an accessory. 5.5" of shift, 360° of swing and 75° of center tilt.

The only thing you would have to "make" is a plate to accept a grip. The Linhof Anatomical Grip comes with a plate with 2 mounting holes in it along with 2 screws. You could just drill and tap 2 holes to mount this plate. The Grip slides onto the plate.

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Thanks bob for your help, cant wait to get started, when it comes down to it, could probably go out and buy a silvestri bicam or something like it, but want have something different, something l created, as well as save a little (lot) od cash.
Thanks again.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bob Salomon - HP Marketing

You slide off the front or the rear standard from a Linhof Kardan, B, 45S, JBL, GT, E, M, RE.

You put the ground glass back on one side of the standard and the lensboard on the other side.
...
Using these standards you would have 3.3" of rise that can be exteded to 6.6" with an accessory. 5.5" of shift, 360° of swing and 75° of center tilt.

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I just don't get it - once off the rail, what will held both standards together? And how will you get the 360° of swing?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by GPS

I just don't get it - once off the rail, what will held both standards together? And how will you get the 360° of swing?

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Each standard accepts the back on one side and the lensboard on the other side. The Standards can swing 360° but that would not be any use when the standard is used alone, hand held.

Essentially what I described would make the discontinued Linhof Technar with the addition of rise/shift/tilt.

[QUOTE=Paul Droluk;232450]Fotoman makes two (2) different Helical Focus Mounts. One short (HFM-S, same extension as the Rodenstock) and one long (HFM-LT) with an additional 10mm of extension. Both accept #00, #0, or #1 shutters, and have calibrated distance and DOF scales.

Paul, Rodestock helicoids, off the shelf, are the correct length for the focal length lens they are designed for and have the proper focusing and DOF scales for the lens that they are made for. These are not universal helicoids. They are specific to the focal length. Therefore they always focus accurately.

The focus mount and scales on the one for the 28mm Apo Sironar Digital HR is quite a different length then the ones for the 35mm, 45mm, 55mm, 65mm, 75mm, 90mm, 100mm, 120mm, 105mm, 135mm and 150mm lenses.

Rodenstock also makes a universal helical called the Modular Focus Mount which accepts 25mm long adapter rings to extend its length. They accept enlarging lenses, C mount lenses and mount to T2 mounts, C mounts or Leica thread mounts. Since they are universal they do not have scales. But they do have a focus lock.

Schneider also has helicoids similar to Rodenstock's.