I was a hobby photographer since the 80s and after a long break I had started to take analog pictures again. Large format photography was still too expensive for me in the 90s, but always a dream. Last year I started again with the excuse that my daughter wanted to take analog pictures. So I took out the old SLR and 6x6 cameras and the enlargers and bought me an old 4x5 large format camera (WISTA 45N). After some time of very good experiences with 4x5 I was curious about the 8x10 format. Contrary to the used 4x5 cameras they were quite expensive on eBay. The modern crwodfunding and kit versions were efficient and well thought out, but too "pale" for my taste. That's when I missed the personality of the camera. So I decided to build one after the classic field cameras models myself. The goal was a camera that allows all movements, but does not use alternative components like drawer guides or threaded rods. I wanted something à la Shenhao, Tachihara, Deardorff etc. With lots of shiny parts.
Since I have a well equipped workshop (I also build guitars) I started to plan. First I bought some film holders and a lens on eBay. I decided to improvise and didn't make a construction drawing, but only rough geometric calculations so that at least the worst mistakes could be avoided. Then I looked for as many pictures as possible and started to combine elements of some cameras.
I decided to use birch and spruce plywood boards as well as beech wood strips. Not as noble as cherry etc. As a hobby guitar maker I have rosewood and maple in stock, but it was a pity to use these and the pieces I use for the guitar are too big or too small. That would have given too much waste. I painted the wooden parts with wood glaze, smoothed them with steel wool, waxed and polished them.
The metal parts were cut from aluminium profiles (not anodized), partly milled and polished. Different knurled nuts (m6, m6 and m4) I found in the hardware store, so at least this one did not have to be turned.
I was able to make a bellows myself (tedious job), but it was not flexible enough (too thick material used), so I will use it for the 8x10 enlarger (which I still have to build). So I bought a custom made bellows on Aliexpress. This one is very smooth, even if not cheap.
The camera is with 33cm width a bit bigger than the models I had looked at. That's because in the beginning I made the self-made bellows 1.5-2cm wider than usual. That resulted in the width of the frame. Difficulties to find a suitable gear rack for the micro-focusing gave me the idea to use a GT2 belt (often used in 3D printers) and appropriate pulleys. This was only partly a good idea: I kept the system, but since I glued the belt to the middle wooden frame, but the pulleys didn't grip well enough. These are designed so that the belt wraps around them. Therefore, when focusing, a tooth "jumps" from time to time. Maybe I will use a m0.5 rack or a closed belt. But then the middle slide cannot move in both directions equally. The font plate has arbitrary mass (18.5 cm) and is rather a bit big. For the vertical shift and tilt I tried to install the knurled nuts for this so that both are on the same axis.
The search field is made of ordinary 2mm glass with glued opal foil. It is not very bright, so I will make a new one with grinding powder. As a mounting for the tripod I made two aluminium discs with ¼" thread.
From my fund of material for building guitars and amplifiers I had some leather grips which seemed to be very suitable.
I made a first test photo and everything is lightproof. So far so good.
I didn't take too many photos of the construction phase, but I hope someone finds them interesting.
I will come back when the 8x10 enlarger is built.
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