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Thread: Please post your Manuals & Resources on Building your own Large Format Camera

  1. #1

    Join Date
    Jul 2010
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    537

    Please post your Manuals & Resources on Building your own Large Format Camera

    Hi Community. I am curious on what it would take to build your own large format camera. I realise there are a variety of styles and materials to choose from. I would like to dive into a bit of reading regardless of style and materials, so please post whatever links, books, videos or other resources you might have that relate to building your own camera.

  2. #2
    Between here and there
    Join Date
    Sep 1999
    Location
    Germany
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    514

    Re: Please post your Manuals & Resources on Building your own Large Format Camera

    The first link I found (way back in the 90's, I think) was this: https://jongrepstad.com/building-a-large-format-camera/ - still good.

    I don't have the confidence to build something like this, and I don't have any tools either, but one can dream ...
    "Be still and allow the mud to settle."

  3. #3

    Join Date
    May 2006
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    southwest,Virginia
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    211

    Re: Please post your Manuals & Resources on Building your own Large Format Camera


  4. #4
    Tin Can's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
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    22,388

    Re: Please post your Manuals & Resources on Building your own Large Format Camera

    My first attempt to build a ULF camera used black foam core reinforced with hobby wood glued in corners

    A one shot pinhole, using X-Ray film installed in the Darkroom. No holders or GG needed

    A camera is a box, with cost overruns from mission creep

    The second camera is always better and so on

    Plan on making several iterations
    Tin Can

  5. #5
    LF/ULF Carbon Printer Jim Fitzgerald's Avatar
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    Vancouver Washington
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    Re: Please post your Manuals & Resources on Building your own Large Format Camera

    I've built nine cameras to date and they are all done from looking at pictures of cameras. So I can't help with instructions. I may do something with my last build as it is very nice I feel. It is a reproduction of an Ebony RW810. I built it out of Walnut and Aluminum. Places like McMaster Carr and a place I found for knobs JW Winco are very helpful.

    Maybe at some point I'll write something out or make plans available but it is a lot of work to do so. The best way to build a camera is make the mistakes on the first ones and then build another one. The next one is always better.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails fullsizeoutput_4239.jpg   fullsizeoutput_423b.jpg   fullsizeoutput_423d.jpg   fullsizeoutput_4240.jpg  

  6. #6

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    Aug 2000
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    California
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    Re: Please post your Manuals & Resources on Building your own Large Format Camera

    Jim,
    Another beauty. I am intrigued by the mirrored level. Are the available,or did you just luck into it somewhere.
    Jim Noel

  7. #7
    LF/ULF Carbon Printer Jim Fitzgerald's Avatar
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    Re: Please post your Manuals & Resources on Building your own Large Format Camera

    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Noel View Post
    Jim,
    Another beauty. I am intrigued by the mirrored level. Are the available,or did you just luck into it somewhere.
    Jim Noel
    Jim, I looked high and low for that part. Ebony uses it on their cameras and they must have made it themselves. I used an antique pill box and attached a small (1/2"x1") mirror inside. I found small bubble levels and epoxied them in as well then screwed it in place. A very convenient part to have and a great idea. This is my finest camera build to date.

  8. #8

    Join Date
    Sep 2004
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    Chicagoland
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    494

    Re: Please post your Manuals & Resources on Building your own Large Format Camera

    Here's a link to my two videos for some of the process: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgD...iuihLk1aViRMVg
    Lots o' work!

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