Beauty! Now get out there and take some photos!
Beauty! Now get out there and take some photos!
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/andy8x10
Flickr Site: https://www.flickr.com/photos/62974341@N02/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrew.oneill.artist/
Beautiful camera! It must be an extra pleasure to photograph with a camera you made yourself. "Fine tools contribute to fine work".
Pics showing the bottom of the camera: hinges and spring back clips.
It's hard to see, because the hinges are 1" x 1" and the top layer of the rear rail is also 1" wide, but the hinge (top leaf) is attached to the front of the rear camera frame and (bottom leaf) to the back of the rear rail. Each leaf is 1/2" x 1" and the rear rail is also 1/2" x 1" (top layer and 1 1/4" wide on the bottom layer).
When opened, the rear frame sits just behind the camera base. This makes it easy to slip on an elasticized focus hood.
Yes, Jim, I worried about this as the mahogany can be fairly brittle, but I drilled 1/32 and 1/16 pilot holes (IIRC, depending on the screw size--#2 or #4) before putting in the screws and had no problems. About half way through the build I bought a chunk of beeswax as recommended by the fastener salesman at my hardware store. Rubbing beeswax on each new screw made putting the screws in a breeze.
Last edited by Michael Roberts; 17-May-2019 at 04:12.
I could see the beeswax but thought it might be glue.
Beeswax is a better idea!
Tin Can
Here's an update on this build.
The camera has been a joy to use this year, with its combination of light weight, movements, and how well everything locks down.
I finally tested the bellows length to see if I can focus my 36" (914mm) lens and was delighted to find that I can (from 25' to infinity, stopped down). I added a 6" quad rail to fully extend the bellows to 34" and a 3+" lens board extender for 37+" total length.
Setup indoors 'cause it's too windy outside today.
The front is supported by a monopod with a rail support I fabricated from mahogany scraps left over from the build. Helps mitigate shutter shake.
I also fabricated three additional backs for 4x5, 5x7, and 8x10.
Last edited by Michael Roberts; 27-Apr-2020 at 12:53.
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