Using and Modifying the Travelwide 4x5 camera

**Jon Shiu** · 4-Nov-2015, 10:49

Originally Posted by Jon Shiu

It seems like it would be fairly easy to cut out a hole in the Wanderlust plastic calibration panel and then drop in a 4x5 piece of ground glass, with supports glued across the corners to keep the same registration.

The modification is fairly easy and takes about an hour. I marked the size and position of the ground glass on the plastic screen. Drilled out holes in the corners. Sawed out the rectangle with a coping saw (or hacksaw blade). Sanded edges. Glued in supports with 5 min. epoxy. Glued in ground glass with 5 min. epoxy.

Happy with the results. Now easy to focus and compose.

Click image for larger version.

Name: travel.jpg
Views: 178
Size: 33.5 KB
ID: 141840

Jon

**EdSawyer** · 5-Nov-2015, 11:15

well, calculate as you like, but I have used the 43 on the Mamiya 7 and several lenses on 4x5 including 47XL, 65mm, 90, etc., and the 43mm basically mimics the FOV seen by the 65mm on 4x5. It's definitely wider than a 75mm FOV. Likewise with the 58mm viewfinder and a 90mm lens on 4x5.

**Corran** · 5-Nov-2015, 11:43

Perhaps the Mamiya 43mm is slightly wider than advertised and/or your 65mm slightly narrower. The exposed film area of the Mamiya 7ii (official specs) is 56x69.5 millimeters, while the image area of 4x5 is roughly 96x120 give or take a couple of millimeters, giving pretty much exactly a 1.72x or 0.58x factor to calculate equivalent focal length from one format to the other. Meaning the FoV of a 75mm on 4x5 should equal the FoV of a 43.5mm lens on 6x7.

I like math so I was simply double-checking my calculations here.

**dave_whatever** · 5-Nov-2015, 12:25

There's no way the brightline frame in the Mamiya 7 43mm finder are a match from what a 65mm lens gives you on a sheet of 5x4" film, at least if they were then they would be WAY too wide for their intended use of 43mm on 6x7. Brightline frames as standard on any rangefinder tend to be conservative rather than overgenerous.

I could however believe the entire viewable field of a 43mm finder is a rough match for 65mm on 5x4".

**OeT** · 6-Nov-2015, 11:39

Is there any list on witch 90mm or 65mm lens that will work with the cameras.
I'm looking to get one and don't want the get wrong lens.

**Jon Shiu** · 6-Nov-2015, 11:44

Originally Posted by OeT

Is there any list on witch 90mm or 65mm lens that will work with the cameras.
I'm looking to get one and don't want the get wrong lens.

yes, look at the Travelwide Kickstarter campaign page.

**Jac@stafford.net** · 6-Nov-2015, 12:37

Once the viewfinder is perfected, perhaps something like this loupe peephole from the Linhof Technar would be an idea. I am heading into the shop later to do exactly this to a Printex (w/o rangefinder). I'm adding a eye cup to it. Couldn't hurt!

The darkslide holder would barely work as-is, so it goes to the bin.