5x8 Camera Build

[Michael Roberts]

visualization

I.e., "Imagine, if you will...a camera...."

[Michael Roberts]

bellows

I got this "second" bellows off eBay a couple of years ago for around $70. It was made for 5x7, but the rear opening is 7 3/4 wide, and it's horizontal instead of square, so it seemed like it might work. The front opening was way too wide (about 4x5", compared to the 2 7/8" lens board size of the King 5x7 that I'm matching lens boards with), so I attached some black-out fabric, which I painted black with fabric paint. I have a little concern whether it will compress enough to fit within the rear frame. I imagine sitting on the camera like you see people in old movies doing with overstuffed suitcases. We'll see.

[Michael Roberts]

hardware

Brass hinges, brass thumb nuts, brass rivets, and steel low-profile thumb nuts. All from McMaster-Carr.

[Michael Roberts]

and a triple extension rail

I think the bellows will extend to 20" or more. Will have to see how it works w/o stressing the camera after it's all assembled.

[Michael Roberts]

Weight so far

1lb, 6oz for the wood parts only, and

With bellows and acrylic for GG and some additional hardware

...2lbs 4.5oz so far

The weight will increase with the brass springs, spring back retainer clips, and gg clips, but it

looks like I might come in close to one pound under the 3.5lbs of my vintage Rochester King 5x7, which was sort of my unofficial goal....

[Michael Roberts]

Next steps:
1. frosting the acrylic view screen and

2. fabricating the brass hardware for the spring back, rear frame, GG frame, and lens board frame

[Mark J]

NICE project !

[Mark Sampson]

That's following the dream, all right. Best of luck!

[drarmament]

Nice. I love 5x8. I have a Scovill dry plate camera but in the future I want to build a 8x20.


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[Tin Can]

You aiways make very nice camera

I have a Deardoff slider that makes 5x8 on 8x10

Almost restored the body for studio use

The slider is like new