Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: 4x5 HARMAN TiTAN conversion

  1. #1
    DirkFletcher
    Join Date
    Oct 2015
    Location
    Chicago
    Posts
    61

    4x5 HARMAN TiTAN conversion

    My second conversion of the incredible HARMAN TiTAN 4x5 pinhole into a lightweight 4x5 super wide point and shoot. Without a shoulder strap, the first conversion was a bit tricky to use alongside a DSLR. Using the same dual ARCA plate configuration that I figured out for an earlier camera, this camera now has a vertical tripod mount, side handle and shoulder strap mount that works perfectly on a lightweight camera like this one.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails 9B4E1DED-A757-4490-B173-CA3D8C236398.jpg   A1F2159B-7C15-4AF0-8D6A-FEEB0936FF99.jpg   4C2DBDD1-9509-4F5C-BC47-2F3DC1B2C77B.jpg   F5C1C22B-8255-42A9-914C-FEF0EFE52BD7.jpg  

  2. #2

    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Suffolk, UK
    Posts
    158

    Re: 4x5 HARMAN TiTAN conversion

    Wow! How much work was it is to get the focus sorted? Presumably fixed focus at infinity? Looks great.

  3. #3

    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Posts
    86

    Re: 4x5 HARMAN TiTAN conversion

    That’s great. Like Keeds also wonder about focus. Did you go for a hyper focal distance at a given aperture or did you set at infinity (or as close as you could measure).
    Have you visited the Cameradactyl site. He sells a 3D printed 4x5 with a focusing helical for various focal lengths, including the 65mm Angulon. No doubt you already had your Titan but for someone starting out without a body he sells his for $240 which includes the focusing helical.
    But it doesn’t appear he has a cone adjusted for the type of lens on your camera.

  4. #4
    DirkFletcher
    Join Date
    Oct 2015
    Location
    Chicago
    Posts
    61

    Re: 4x5 HARMAN TiTAN conversion

    Focus is shimmed to 25 feet (approx) and stopping down between 11-16 pretty much covers everything. It's remarkable perfect this camera is for a conversion, my first Harman conversion (and a whole bunch of my other custom cameras) can be see here if you are interested:
    https://www.flickr.com/photos/dirkfletcher/albums

    Dirk

  5. #5

    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Posts
    86

    Re: 4x5 HARMAN TiTAN conversion

    Thanks for the link. Wow! I'm always creating cameras, mostly with found (read here, free or at least very cheap lenses). But my creations are burn barrel fodder compared to your efforts. Like my handle says, hobby plywood is my favorite basic construction material and I'm really good at making sawdust and bits of scrap.
    Now I remember seeing some of your other projects. Please keep posting, it's very interesting.

  6. #6

    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Newbury, Vermont
    Posts
    2,261

    Re: 4x5 HARMAN TiTAN conversion

    First thing I thought of when this camera first came out...perfect opportunity for such a conversion! I'm guessing that those "bellows like" bumps help to mitigate internal reflections, and the thing must weigh next to nothing without the lens!

    Are these still available anywhere? Is (or was there ever) a 5x7 version? Could see doing this with the addition of a focussing helical.

  7. #7
    Moderator
    Join Date
    Jan 2001
    Posts
    8,640

    Re: 4x5 HARMAN TiTAN conversion

    Quote Originally Posted by John Layton View Post
    Are these still available anywhere? Is (or was there ever) a 5x7 version? Could see doing this with the addition of a focussing helical.
    The 4x5 is still available. There is an 8x10 as well, no 5x7 so far. These are actually made by Mike Walker for Harman, so he might be the one to ask for more information.

    I too am interested in the general approach of converting existing pinhole or fixed-focus box cameras to "full function". I have an 8x10 Hobo that was originally designed as a fixed-focus camera for the 120 Super-Angulon, that I had SK Grimes convert with a focus helical. This required remodeling of the extension cone that was part of the camera, to allow for the extra extension introduced by the helical mount. For those box cameras that don't use a cone as part of the structure, where the FFD for a given lens is "baked into" the box itself, modification to include a helical is more difficult.

    EDIT: The Travelwide nicely illustrates this - the body was designed to work as a 65mm fixed-focus camera, but with a helical it accepts a 90mm lens. Depending on the dimensions of the helical used, perhaps the 4x5 Harman TiTAN camera would work as a focusing camera with various longer focal lengths than the 65 that Dirk shows here.

  8. #8
    DirkFletcher
    Join Date
    Oct 2015
    Location
    Chicago
    Posts
    61

    Re: 4x5 HARMAN TiTAN conversion

    A little while back a modified a 3D printed WillTravel 4x5 (not the Travel Wide, the similarly named injection moulded camera) to accept a focusing helical instead of the larger PVC looking one that prints with the camera. That helical rotated the lens as it focuses and I already had several of these helical. I ended up spacing the helical the exact same distance as on a DIY 6x12 camera so I could just spin off the helical from the 4x5 wide camera and mount the same lens and helical to the 6x12 camera.

    I'm not a super huge fan of 3D printed cameras for the long haul. The opportunities that 3D printing opens up are HUGE, I just prefer aluminum, hobby wood, stainless steel hardware (often epoxied or caulked over) and other materials that can withstand years of use for camera projects. I have been on the lookout for the 150mm lens cone to see about adding a helical focusing 120-150mm helical mounted lens as an option.

    Here is a link to my pimped out WillTravel-
    https://www.flickr.com/photos/dirkfl...57714457785873\

    Here is link to the original WillTravel post and downloadable files. Its a fantastic camera that offers a lot of lens options and flexibility. He also makes 8x10 and 5x7 versions with free downloadable plans:
    https://film.kolve.org/darkroomdiy/w...endly-cameras/
    Dirk

Similar Threads

  1. Convert 4x5 Harman Titan PinHole Camera by Fixing Lens
    By VKJ in forum Cameras & Camera Accessories
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 24-Jul-2013, 08:18
  2. New Harman Titan 4x5 pinhole camera
    By Oren Grad in forum Cameras & Camera Accessories
    Replies: 66
    Last Post: 12-Sep-2012, 12:59

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •