Chris Usher
31-Jan-2011, 21:23
A couple of years ago I found a huge 9 lb petzval lens for $100--of course my Wisner 8x10 would be no match for it so I needed something that could support it. I found an old institutional gray Century Master Studio camera for $200 and I was in business. The problem is that this combination was never meant for location work and there was no way I was going to use a giant iron and wood traditional studio camera stand.
My first answer was a pair of adjustable height plastic Stanley saw horses and a plank of plywood-- it worked but was difficult to level on lawns etc and was still a lot of stuff to move around. I have a Ries tripod with the J250 head, both which are rated for the 65 lbs that it all weighs, but no way to mount it.
Then I saw a NOS 6" Deardorff baseplate on ebay and I got the idea-- I got a 1x24x12 piece of oak from Home Depot for $12, routed out for the plate, put a front edge and some rubber at the front for traction. I figured out the balance point for the lens and carriage at a normal portrait distance which is why the plate is off-center. It works great! :-)
My first answer was a pair of adjustable height plastic Stanley saw horses and a plank of plywood-- it worked but was difficult to level on lawns etc and was still a lot of stuff to move around. I have a Ries tripod with the J250 head, both which are rated for the 65 lbs that it all weighs, but no way to mount it.
Then I saw a NOS 6" Deardorff baseplate on ebay and I got the idea-- I got a 1x24x12 piece of oak from Home Depot for $12, routed out for the plate, put a front edge and some rubber at the front for traction. I figured out the balance point for the lens and carriage at a normal portrait distance which is why the plate is off-center. It works great! :-)