5x8 Camera Build

[Michael Roberts]

The 4x5RB is coming along. I used scrap mahogany and basswood pieces from earlier projects. That's why the base layer is pieced together.

[Michael Roberts]

I got the 4x5 reducing back painted--both the back and film holder surround--with two coats of flat black. Looks much better!

[Michael Kadillak]

I got the 4x5 reducing back painted--both the back and film holder surround--with two coats of flat black. Looks much better!

Looking good Michael. Can't wait to see it in the field making photographs.

[pjd]

After completing the minor repairs/improvements, I started working on a 4x5 reducing back.

My Honey gave me a miniature table saw for Valentine's. It works well for small jobs like this reducing back. This mini saw is only meant for soft woods like balsa and basswood, but it cut 3/8" mahogany!

I've thought about getting a mini table saw, they look useful for making lens boards (which I can do by hand, but it takes a good while). Would you recommend the mini table saw model you have?

[Michael Roberts]

Yes, so far it is working well for me. I hadn't thought about lens boards. I'd like to see how it cuts 1/8" plywood. Good idea!

The one I have is this one:
https://www.amazon.com/Portable-Prec.../dp/B0933BRJVL

[Michael Roberts]

Thanks, MK!

I finally got started on the 4x5RB GG frame today. I chopped and glued the first two layers together. Getting the outside dimensions was easy; the width is the same as the 4x5 film holder, and I set the length at 6 1/8". Then I had to design the inside opening and all the other measures based on my GG dimensions. In this case, the acrylic GG is a little small-- just under 4" and exactly 5", so I went with 3 3/4" and 4 7/8" for the opening. That left me with 1/2" widths for the top, bottom, and flap sides and 3/4 for the baffle side.

I rummaged through my scrap bag of 1/8 and 1/16th basswood for pieces to chop and glue. 1/8 plus 1/16 comes to .1875 depth. ANSI for 4x5 holders is .197 +/-.007. Subtracting the .005 film thickness is .185, so pretty close for landscape work.

Next, I need to add a top layer of 1/16 mahogany veneer, spring anchors, and GG clips....

[Michael Roberts]

Some photos from my field test of the 5x8 last week. These are just quickie cell phone pics of the slide film (Provia) on my lightbox, taken through the glassine envelopes, so they are not as sharp as proper scans...but they give some idea of the 5x8 format for landscapes....

I'm not crazy about the composition on the second shot. I think I was just so impressed with how clear it was to the southwest that my eye was drawn there (lol)...

[TorontoBuilder]

nice build. well done

nice location to be able to field test your work.

[Michael Roberts]

Thanks TB! Yes, there are so many fantastic locations within a relatively close area around Moab. It makes for a fun couple of days moving around as the light changes. As is often the case there, the only clouds were high and thin sheet clouds (aka sh*t clouds), but at least the skies were not completely empty.

[pjd]

Yes, so far it is working well for me. I hadn't thought about lens boards. I'd like to see how it cuts 1/8" plywood. Good idea!

The one I have is this one:
https://www.amazon.com/Portable-Prec.../dp/B0933BRJVL

Thanks for the link. This video at about 4mins:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJq04wKCKSY

got me thinking a while back about how useful a mini table saw would be for making lens boards, not with plywood (as I've been doing for 8x10 2D 6x6 boards) but from solid wood for more awkward thicker boards for a 5x7 Ansco. Basically making lens boards closer to original with interlocking pieces; a loose tongue, as the venerable Gandolfi brother in the video put it.