Ebony SV45TE and Linhof Reflex viewer Modification

[Ronan]

Hello,

I have been trying to find a reflex viewer for my ebony but my search has not been fruitful. Does anyone know if I could modify a Linhof viewer to attach to my ebony in the same way that it attaches the ground glass protector of could I take the entire back off my ebony and have a Linhof glass attached attach to compose and focus then swap back to take a photo. My issue with the ebony is that its very hard to compose or see the image in full and i often shoot from low angles.

I am also curious if i can attach and horseman rotating 6x9 international back to my ebony the same way my horseman 6x9 attaches?

Thanks for all the help.

[Keith Pitman]

I don’t know about the Linhof viewer, but the Cambo viewer can be made to work. It requires a simple bracket on each side. The brackets started as simple 1/2” (?) aluminum angles that were bent slightly open. Then a large notch was filed in the side to fit into the Ebony ground glass protector retainers. Screw it together and you’ve got a viewer. My implementation is a little crude and I always wanted to re-make the brackets, but it fits tightly and works, so it hasn’t changed after many years.

[darr]

https://cameraartist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/almeda_ebony-bellows-viewfinder-linhof-reflex-viewer.jpg

I sometimes use this when I shoot under a hot Florida sun (my home). It is made with this bellows viewer with carbon fiber frames (https://www.ebay.com/itm/165535231013) + the top part of the Linhof Reflex Viewer pushed in.
It is stable, packs well, and is better as far as darkness goes than the Reflex Viewer alone when used on my Linhof MT, as it always has light leaking in at the bottom, but this does not.
This is convenient for me as I prefer a bellows viewer for composing, but under the bright sun, the Reflex closes off all the light. YMMV

[Ronan]

this is a great idea, would the entire finder fit inside the frame and so stay rigid in a studio setting? Maybe add some velvet to the cover to keep it light tight?

Does this solution work in landscape and portrait? Nice seeing your camera, I just bought a 47mm for mine now i hope i can use it on my camera...

Regards, ronan

[Ronan]

Keith this is great! Can this rotate? Cant see any of the cambo units on ebay. Do you know if the horseman rotating 6x9 back and angle viewer works on the ebony? i have a regular horseman 6x9 back that works a treat but would love to have a viewer for fast composition. tryin to work low angles with a little cardboard mask is breaking my back haah

[Keith Pitman]

darr’s posting reminded me that I also have this bellows fixture with a magnifier lens. I think this probably came with my camera when I bought it. I have rarely used it, preferring a dark cloth. I think the bellows is an original Ebony accessory, but the lens is not as you can see.

[Keith Pitman]

Keith this is great! Can this rotate? Cant see any of the cambo units on ebay. Do you know if the horseman rotating 6x9 back and angle viewer works on the ebony? i have a regular horseman 6x9 back that works a treat but would love to have a viewer for fast composition. tryin to work low angles with a little cardboard mask is breaking my back haah

Yes, the Cambo viewer rotates a full 360 degrees. See picture with the camera back in vertical position. Cambo viewers used to be common on Ebay. I’ve seen Chinese knockoffs in the same design so you might widen your search criteria. I don’t know anything about Horseman viewers.

[Tin Can]

None of them Aid me

[Ian David]

I’ve seen Chinese knockoffs in the same design so you might widen your search criteria.

I have seen these ones, and I think Badger Graphic sells the same or similar:

https://www.etonephoto.com/en-au/products/mono-focusing-hood-right-angle-viewfinder-for-toyo-omega-45a-45e-45g-45gx-45cf-%E7%9A%84%E5%89%AF%E6%9C%AC

[Keith Pitman]

None of them Aid me

Well, that was certainly a helpful addition to the dialogue! Pretty usual for you!

[Ronan]

Well, that was certainly a helpful addition to the dialogue! Pretty usual for you!

;)

[darr]

this is a great idea, would the entire finder fit inside the frame and so stay rigid in a studio setting? Maybe add some velvet to the cover to keep it light tight?

Does this solution work in landscape and portrait? Nice seeing your camera, I just bought a 47mm for mine now i hope i can use it on my camera...

Regards, ronan

The finder fits inside the opening and is sturdy enough to stay in place. Placing it entirely inside the bellows would be of no advantage. I use it as a temporary solution and not a permanent viewer. The Ebony is not my studio camera, but my landscape and travel 4x5. The finder being of a square foundation can be turned just as it can be inside it's original base.

[darr]

I have seen these ones, and I think Badger Graphic sells the same or similar:

https://www.etonephoto.com/en-au/products/mono-focusing-hood-right-angle-viewfinder-for-toyo-omega-45a-45e-45g-45gx-45cf-%E7%9A%84%E5%89%AF%E6%9C%AC

IMO, this would not be a good choice if the camera back has to be physically changed to use the enclosed hardware. If the hardware was to change the back to a Linhof custom back, I might go for it because I own a MT 3000 and enjoy all its back accessories, but the hardware enclosed does not look like a Linhof hardware setup.

In the past, the Cambo viewfinders were customized to fit the Ebony back, not the other way around, I sent mine to Ebony for modification. Even though Ebony shut its doors in 2016 when Hiromi Sakanashi retired, someone was modifying them, but maybe not anymore. I sold the one I had because I prefer a smaller solution when traveling. My favorite viewer is a Linhof bellows viewer with a monocular. It is completely dark, has a removable loupe, is lightweight, and fits into the front pocket of my pack that is not used for anything.

[Ronan]

The finder fits inside the opening and is sturdy enough to stay in place. Placing it entirely inside the bellows would be of no advantage. I use it as a temporary solution and not a permanent viewer. The Ebony is not my studio camera, but my landscape and travel 4x5. The finder being of a square foundation can be turned just as it can be inside it's original base.

Perfect. Thank you for all that. I think Im gonna try source both of these. The carbon fibre viewer seems a bit over priced but seems like the only place selling such an item.

[Ronan]

Yes, the Cambo viewer rotates a full 360 degrees. See picture with the camera back in vertical position. Cambo viewers used to be common on Ebay. I’ve seen Chinese knockoffs in the same design so you might widen your search criteria. I don’t know anything about Horseman viewers.

Thank you Keith, if i could find a cambo one that seems like a good solution. Those ones on ebay probably aren't amazing quality. I think Ill probably try to make a holder and then fasten some better quality viewer to it. My back will thank you! :)

[Keith Pitman]

Found this accidentally on Ebay tonight: https://www.ebay.com/itm/255551781443?hash=item3b8012ba43:g:KRcAAOSwWM1ijc7K&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAAwLrL2K9r1xlfbeSc6hY3SN8an7sCf8Ks%2BDIB4glc5BiGidZqZdtA7H4tr8llktjFE%2BnL7eZ2N1CCTmW1AG6LHTa8TuIDGwcF7yYwW6TdAFbFl9XZ1L5SlGFpN3lWATRhhXCawr0L2S3BG%2FDh3rYfybdZtHLRbc5YQMiHRYYjm20fQXpSgAqfa2TbhreoX%2BHh%2BMUaJr8WO7UetPTpiscEtxiuzn9Qi6LwjROqznrveLxN4Bh6OvCWGZbxlcHYsaytxA%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR97ypv6xYg


I don’t know anything about it, so do your own due dilligence.

[Sal Santamaura]

Found this accidentally on Ebay tonight: https://www.ebay.com/itm/255551781443?hash=item3b8012ba43:g:KRcAAOSwWM1ijc7K&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAAwLrL2K9r1xlfbeSc6hY3SN8an7sCf8Ks%2BDIB4glc5BiGidZqZdtA7H4tr8llktjFE%2BnL7eZ2N1CCTmW1AG6LHTa8TuIDGwcF7yYwW6TdAFbFl9XZ1L5SlGFpN3lWATRhhXCawr0L2S3BG%2FDh3rYfybdZtHLRbc5YQMiHRYYjm20fQXpSgAqfa2TbhreoX%2BHh%2BMUaJr8WO7UetPTpiscEtxiuzn9Qi6LwjROqznrveLxN4Bh6OvCWGZbxlcHYsaytxA%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR97ypv6xYg


I don’t know anything about it, so do your own due dilligence.

I'd place an order without performing any due dilligence if the seller offered one for a 5x7 Ebony camera. :D

[Keith Pitman]

I'd place an order without performing any due dilligence if the seller offered one for a 5x7 Ebony camera. :D

Unfortunately they probably don’t offer in 5x7. Currently my favorite format, at least until I run out of film in a couple of years.