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Thread: point & shoot 4x5s

  1. #1

    Join Date
    Feb 2008
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    Baltimore, MD
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    82

    point & shoot 4x5s

    Anyone out there make their own hand help point and shoot 4x5s? Im trying to think of a simple solution for just modifying some view camera parts to use a dedicated polaroid 405 holder and a lens that is in a fixed position. It would be ideal if i could somehow incorporate a rudimentary bellows that can be moved to a few positions for infinity/moderate/close. There wouldn't be any viewfinder or ground glass viewing, so its more of an attempt to do holga style photography on a bigger format. they make polaroid holders for holgas, but they cost so much that it would probably be easier to make a 3 1/4 x4 1/4 polaroid camera. plus, you get a 3x4 image instead of a 6x6cm image.

  2. #2

    Join Date
    Feb 2007
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    Re: point & shoot 4x5s

    People have been doing this for over 1/2 a century. The camera is called a press camera, and most (if not all) 4x5 press cameras have plenty of options for using as a point-and-shoot camera. They normally are equipped with a wire frame viewfinder, as well as an optical viewfinder (that can be parallex corrected), they often come equipped with a rangefinder, and some have focus marks on the bed so you can guess-focus with the "normal" lens. All will take some form of instant-film back, many will also take roll-film backs as well as the normal 4x5 double film holders and grafmatics. They are relatively cheap to acquire, and the ones with the focal plane shutter you can put just about any old coke-bottle bottom type of lens on the front that you want to. And......most important of all......they are DESIGNED to be hand held, and even come with a strap to secure your hand to the camera.

  3. #3

    Join Date
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    Re: point & shoot 4x5s

    Linhof Master Technika and the Wista RF are two current rangefinder coupled 4x5 cameras.

  4. #4

    Join Date
    Oct 2004
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    S.W. Wyoming
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    Re: point & shoot 4x5s

    Speed and Crown Graphics are the most famous cameras specifically designed to be used hand held. Famous for good reason, too. If you prefer to build rather than buy, a simple box with a 90mm lens works well. I have one I built. I set the focus on 19 feet, which is the hyperfocal distance that will reach infiity at f/11. Near distance will get closer with smaller apertures and it will go beyond infinity. Lots of depth of field to cover most everything.

  5. #5
    Ted Mishima
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Portland, OR
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    151

    Re: point & shoot 4x5s

    Check out the Littman.

  6. #6

    Re: point & shoot 4x5s

    Scott,
    have a look at these two pages,

    http://job.webstar.nl/homemadepg.html
    http://option8.110mb.com/polaroid/

    there's a lot more on the web,
    I'm converting a polaroid 100 for my daughter who sarts a uni in september

    bob
    Last edited by robert fallis; 21-Jun-2008 at 03:37. Reason: spelling

  7. #7
    grumpy & miserable Joseph O'Neil's Avatar
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    Feb 2004
    Location
    London, Ontario
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    830

    Re: point & shoot 4x5s

    There was not long ago a 4x5 kit called the "bulldog" - correct me if I am wrong. Looked to me like a good candidate. B&H sells them - here's the link:
    http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...mera_Kit.html).

    Never used one myself, but with an additional handle, it might be exactly what you are looking for.

    joe
    eta gosha maaba, aaniish gaa zhiwebiziyin ?

  8. #8
    Drew Bedo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Houston Texas
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    3,225

    Re: point & shoot 4x5s

    You might look at these too:

    http://homepages.ihug.com.au/~razzle/

    Or PM Dean Jones, he is a member here too.
    Drew Bedo
    www.quietlightphoto.com
    http://www.artsyhome.com/author/drew-bedo




    There are only three types of mounting flanges; too big, too small and wrong thread!

  9. #9

    Re: point & shoot 4x5s

    this is the start of converting the polaroid, the lens is a meyer-gorlitz f4.5 13cm had to make some adjustment to the frount to bring lens in focus. needed to be reduced by 2mm
    The 100 body was coroded ,so used a 400 body as it's plastic and easier to work, next job the back.

    bob

  10. #10

    Join Date
    Jan 2002
    Location
    Besançon, France
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    1,617

    Re: point & shoot 4x5s

    Anyone out there make their own hand-held point and shoot 4x5s?

    Not me but here are two web sites with small series of wooden 4x5" point'n shoot cameras for sale
    http://www.obscura-camera.com/spip/?lang=en (Swiss-made)
    http://s192257538.onlinehome.fr//ste...d45/index.html (French-made)

    Usual disclaimer : I am not affiliated, etc, etc.. whatsoever,etc..
    .

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