Wanderlust Travelwide distance markings

[Tom Raymondson]

Just pulled out my Wanderlust Travelwide for the first time in quite a while. I can't remember if the distance markings are feet or meters. Does anyone know? Thanks.

[Tin Can]

Mine was close at hand

Feet, but I made my own marks on white gaff tape, so I can see them

[Tom Raymondson]

Thanks. I was thinking feet, but wasn't sure. You're right, the numbers are almost impossible to see. I'm going to try brushing a very light coat of white paint across them to make them more visible.

[rfesk]

The focus is in meters. Goes to .55 meters minimum focus.

I usually set mine to 8 meters and leave it for most shots.

[Tracy Storer]

One of my few criticisms of that wonderful project is that the distance markings are SO SMALL ! Ben and Justin, if you're reading this, Thanks again for the passion and hard work.


Mine was close at hand

Feet, but I made my own marks on white gaff tape, so I can see them

[Tin Can]

Well, I saw the metric markings by using my iPhone magnifier and the flashlight mode!

and I see my 5 ft mark is very close to the 1.5 meter OE mark, even though I used a not recommended lens, as this one was way cheaper

As soon as I got mine i took it apart and saw the design problem, then decided to be very gentle with this box, so far so good!

I also butchered it same day to fit a cable release right where it should have had a hole for one.

I love the metal 'Sport Finder' and i made a DIY glass GG and frame so I could actually use a GG to set my 3 focus points, 3',5', 30'. OE was unusable for me.

The helical still moves but I know many did not

I have become very leery of any KS project, mostly because the 'makers' usually don't accept feedback on their genius design before it's too late...

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50660557416_1a66b59ddc_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2kbGAJu)1 (https://flic.kr/p/2kbGAJu) by TIN CAN COLLEGE (https://www.flickr.com/photos/tincancollege/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50660649727_392ff1c90c_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2kbH5b4)2 (https://flic.kr/p/2kbH5b4) by TIN CAN COLLEGE (https://www.flickr.com/photos/tincancollege/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50659825533_db6223b7c0_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2kbCRaP)3 (https://flic.kr/p/2kbCRaP) by TIN CAN COLLEGE (https://www.flickr.com/photos/tincancollege/), on Flickr

[rfesk]

The focus helical of my Travelwide moved very easily this summer. Yesterday, when verifying the meter/feet question and I noticed that it is much harder to focus. The only difference is that it is cooler in the house now and the humidity is higher than in the summer. (I keep a hydrometer on hand for that.)

As an experiment will put the Travelwide in a large zip-lock bag with desiccant and see if it has an effect on the focus helical.

[Ben Syverson]

Hi all, the tiny black-on-black markings are indeed in meters. :)

If your helical tightens up, it is a humidity issue. Vinyl is not a great material unfortunately, but we learned that a bit too late to be useful on the Travelwide project.

To resolve it, you could try desiccant, or you can simply bake the camera at the lowest setting on your oven (e.g. 170°F) for an hour or two. Or you can disassemble the camera and bake just the helicoid. Careful with the retaining tabs—they break easily, but I can send you replacements if they do.

[Tin Can]

Hi Ben, It was good to meet you at your factory when I picked mine up, at that time the stairs were tough for me, I was weak and overweight.

Glad to see you still monitor LFPF!

and I still use mine

[rfesk]

Ben, I really appreciate all the effort you guys put into the Travelwide. Glad to hear from you.

[Ben Syverson]

Thanks y'all! It was a fun project, and it came directly from discussions on this forum. Not to hijack the thread, but I'll have some updates soon—there is a small amount of Travelwide inventory and a large amount of spare parts I'm going to make available soon-ish.

[Scott Davis]

Thanks y'all! It was a fun project, and it came directly from discussions on this forum. Not to hijack the thread, but I'll have some updates soon—there is a small amount of Travelwide inventory and a large amount of spare parts I'm going to make available soon-ish.

Do you have any spare pinholes?

[Ben Syverson]

Do you have any spare pinholes?

We do—I'm reserving some to go into sets with the last remaining cameras, but I think there will be extras. I'll do a full accounting of our inventory in the new year!

[Chauncey Walden]

Be looking forward to that. I think I'm down one tab.

[rfesk]

One week in a ziplock bag with desiccant caused the focus helical to be easy to turn again. I plan to store the camera and lens that way from now on.

[Corran]

I sent my TW body and helical off to a LF member in Europe so he could try machining a metal part that often breaks. He disappeared after having some health issues and I fear he may have left us. So...if you have a spare body and helical without anything else I would be interested. I still have the 65mm plate, ground glass, and pinhole here.