Century 11x14

[jnantz]

thanks for the quick reply, the 11x14 seems a lot lighter than my Cambo 8x10 studio camera, and its more compact

The focusing glass seems like it has ripples on it, maybe it sagged after 100 years by a bit. I hope the standard 11x14 film holder that I ordered for it fits onto it

Later I will probably make my own glass plate holder for experimentation, or just lay a piece of glass manually in a dark studio. For film I will be using ultra high contrast document type film, developed in very low contrast developer.

The 11x14 lens board that came with it is a bit smaller than my Cambo 163x163 mm board, so I ordered another Cambo board and will file it down to fit. The little wood board that came with the camera is kinda useless anyway, but I don't want to trim any wood or modify anything, as this is an antique and I will treat it as such.


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11x14 cameras sometimes had proprietary backs, and sometimes backs didn't fit on cameras with the same brand ( like century empire state and century studio 10 ) . if you are looking to buy film holders
make sure if you have the right to return them if they don't fit the purchase of your back. I have a few 11x14 holders that don't seat correctly.

[diversey]

I used to have a Seneca 11x14 camera that is very similar to Century camera. In that video, various kinds of film such as Kodak Tmax 100/400, Ilford FP4plus and HP5+ were used, developer was HC-110.

[Tin Can]

I have a Seneca 11X14 but no landing gear

It goes on my wheel barrow

[kfed1984]

[QUOTE=diversey;1695960]You may measure your 11x14 camera back and see if it matches the standard 11x14 film holder (ANSI standard).
"Distance to exposure field: 1.25" (1.255")"

I think this dimension must be off, cannot be 1.25", too thick.

So I got an 11x14 film holder by mail today and it does not fit into the century back, a little too wide and a bit too long to fit. So I will have to fabricate a custom back and will probably reuse the ground glass and brass leaf springs. Not modifying the film holders.

[Tin Can]

[QUOTE=kfed1984;1696223]

You may measure your 11x14 camera back and see if it matches the standard 11x14 film holder (ANSI standard).
"Distance to exposure field: 1.25" (1.255")"

I think this dimension must be off, cannot be 1.25", too thick.

So I got an 11x14 film holder by mail today and it does not fit into the century back, a little too wide and a bit too long to fit. So I will have to fabricate a custom back and will probably reuse the ground glass and brass leaf springs. Not modifying the film holders.

You did not do your homework

Study first

[kfed1984]

Never mind, the 1.25" edge distance is not the depth to film I was thinking about.

Anyways,

there's not too much info on Century backs out there. Will have to make my own back to fit the camera and the holder.

[kfed1984]

11x14 cameras sometimes had proprietary backs, and sometimes backs didn't fit on cameras with the same brand ( like century empire state and century studio 10 ) . if you are looking to buy film holders
make sure if you have the right to return them if they don't fit the purchase of your back. I have a few 11x14 holders that don't seat correctly.

Well the film holders don't fit into the back, just barely. Not wide enough by about 1/16 and does not slide deep enough as the stop is placed too close. The film holders are per spec, and the back is off a bit. Thinking of modifying the back by removing the stop and widening the sliding channel a bit. Also need to check if the distance from back to film is same as from back to the ground glass. Otherwise more cutting or shimming needed.

[kfed1984]

Also, the original camera came with an accessory for extending the back standard rearward. Thinking of making one. Will have to machine the rack and brass fixtures.

[AuditorOne]

I was lucky. I bought mine several years ago and it came with three film holders so I had what I needed to start. I am using Ilford film (HP5+ and FP4) that I have picked up in their ULF Sale every year. I am barely proficient enough to know how to set it up and shoot a sheet of film but I keep trying. Once in awhile things work out and it feels great. I use D-23 for my developing because it is simple to mix up my own so it is always fresh. It seems to work fine with Ilford's films.

Right now I am reading "View Camera" by Jim Stone (thanks to suggestions from this forum) and working hard with my 4x5 so I can really learn how things ought to be done in order to get good results. I have always shot a lot of 35mm so I thought I had a good handle on photography but I have realized I am really a complete beginner with large format. Hopefully, sometime after Christmas, I will have the time to get out and really practice with the 11x14 in the field. My plan at this point is to shoot film and paper negatives which I can do with the equipment I have available right now. Between learning things with the 4x5 and then trying them out on the 11x14 I will be having a lot of fun this winter.

I wish you luck getting things sorted out with your camera because I am sure you will get a huge amount of satisfaction from using it. There is a book called Primitive Photography that shows you how to build your own film holder. It is intended for calotypes, which are basically paper negatives, but I'll bet it would also work with film. Anyway it shows you how to use simple hand tools to build the film holder and it doesn't look too difficult. You may want to give it a try with your Century. It is another option anyway.

Anyway, it is all great fun. Even working with 4x5 using the View Camera book has been a real eye opener. After using this book, and really learning how to do this the way it should be done, I can see why people enjoy large format so much. I feel like I am learning more about photography right now than I have in quite awhile.

Good luck and have fun with your camera.

EDIT - BTW John (jnantz) has a great caffenol recipe that adds a little Ansco 130 developer as an ingredient that also work great for developing large format film.

[kfed1984]

I was lucky. I bought mine several years ago and it came with three film holders so I had what I needed to start. I am using Ilford film (HP5+ and FP4) that I have picked up in their ULF Sale every year. I am barely proficient enough to know how to set it up and shoot a sheet of film but I keep trying. Once in awhile things work out and it feels great. I use D-23 for my developing because it is simple to mix up my own so it is always fresh. It seems to work fine with Ilford's films.

Do you have pictures of the back of your camera or filmholders? Just wonder why mine do not fit. Off by 1/16 in width. Also the distance from the back to ground glass is a bit off from the back to the film plane, so the ground glass will have to be shimmed.

Thanks for the suggestions, on the film holder especially. Later I want to make a holder for glass plates.