Vintage 8x10 restauration project

[LabRat]

Thank you, I like your Century too. I am planing to use mine but I hope it won't take too long to get the missing parts.

By the way, does anyone know if all 8x10 backs from Kodak, Rochester, Century of that era era will fit my camera?

They are different sizes, so an exact match will be harder... Some simple woodworking skills can modify a back, or an adapter can be made to go between camera and back... That's possible, but try to find some backs first and see what you find...

Steve K

[T.Chabry]

Good, thanks! I placed a $50 offer on Ebay for an 8x10 in worse condition than mine for its back, I'm glad it wasn't accepted.

[T.Chabry]

An 8x10 lens purchased for $70 (more than the camera) was mounted.


I also started to work on the bellows:

[T.Chabry]

The camera is finally done and I took my first photos with it.

I taped the outside of the bellows and painted the tape with acrylic paint. It doesn't look great but there are no light leaks and it folds like it should. It will not last a hundred more years but hopefully I will take a few photos before I have to replaced the bellows.



With the help of my wife's uncle (ex LF photographer) who gave me a piece of wood and cut it how I wanted, I now have a back for the camera. The focus glass is held in place with a regular picture frame. I had a few of them but luckily, the first one I tried had perfect dimensions. It has the same width as the film holders and the distance of the glass is the same as the film. There is not springs at the moment, it's very basic. I have to place the ground glass to focus, then remove it to place the film holder.


With the center piece cut out of the back, I made a plate that will hold the camera a lot better than a tripod head. Nothing is wasted.

[T.Chabry]

Here are the first two photos I took with the camera :


8x10 X-ray film by T. Chabry, on Flickr


Watermelon by T. Chabry, on Flickr

[Peter De Smidt]

Great job!

[ic-racer]

Nice to see it working. I recently purchased two new/unused Lisco 8x10 holders. Sometimes a new purchase is needed to rejuvenate the excitement in 8x10. I still remember the excitement, almost 15 years ago, when I finished my Century and took it out in the field for the first time.

[T.Chabry]

Thanks. I will take it out in the field sometime next week... if I find a way to fit it will all my equipment in one of my backpacks.

[T.Chabry]

I took the camera out a few days ago but in full sun, the bellows have too many light leaks.


8x10 Kodak Rochester Empire State by T. Chabry, on Flickr

I took it out again in the evening and managed de make better photos.


Saint John, NB Canada by T. Chabry, on Flickr


Saint John, NB Canada by T. Chabry, on Flickr


Irving Oil Refinery, Saint John, NB Canada by T. Chabry, on Flickr

Next time I want to shoot in the full sun, I guess I will have to cover the bellows with the dark cloth.