8x10 back for a 7x17 camera ?

[Daniel Grenier]

Hi all.

I am thinking of selling my 8x10 and replacing it with a "reducing" back for my 7x17 Wisner. Is anyone using such a thing? If so, where can I get one ?

Cheers

[Dave Wooten]

5 x 7 back is a more efficient conversion, I use one on my 7 x 17 Wisner, it can be moved vertically and horizontally. 8 x 10 on 8 x 20 would work well.

[John Bowen]

Richard Ritter could custom make you an 8x10 back for your 7x17 camera

[Dave Wooten]

Richard Ritter could custom make you an 8x10 back for your 7x17 camera

Wouldn t that entail a new bellows and much more?

[SAShruby]

Well, I suggest considering weight and size of the beast as well, especially for any hiking. I have 8x20 and I can tell you that it takes a lot of energy to carry it all the time with me.

[John Bowen]

Wouldn t that entail a new bellows and much more?

Perhaps, but I would suggest the OP call Richard and find out.

[RichardRitter]

It would take a lot of work and I would have to have the camera for about 4 months. Its a Wisner no two are alike. You would need half a camera a new rear rail, box, back and bellows.

If it were me I would buy a light weight 8 x 10 and use the beast for 7 x 17 shots only. At the end of the day you would be allot happier carrying around 6 pounds verses 19 pounds to photograph in an 8 x 10 format.

[Geert]

Daniel,

I would not encourage anyone to to that, except for cutting on the costs but I thinks bellows and back are more than half the cost of a camera. Richard Ritters advice is a very good one: keep 2 seperate cameras.

I built my 8x10 and 7x17 cameras on the same bed.
There's some more hassle because you just can't pick up another camera when you want to change formats.

I find myself preparing for a shoot with one of the formats and never take the other back & bellows along.

Suggesting a 5x7 back is another league: if you only make contact prints, the size is quite different.

G

[John Bartley]

Hi all.

I am thinking of selling my 8x10 and replacing it with a "reducing" back for my 7x17 Wisner. Is anyone using such a thing? If so, where can I get one ?

Cheers

Daniel,

I've never seen a Wisner so I have to ask...is the 7x17 back removable in the "normal way? IE:is it held in with a couple of clips? If so, then you could simply buy any old 8x10 back and have a cabinetmaker fabricate a wooden adapter board that replicates the Wisner back to screw the 8x10 back to. Any chance of a couple of closeup photos of the Wisner 7x17 back? If you'd like to explore the idea, I can be reached at john@oldradio.ca

cheers

John

(currently semi-retired and working in a cabinetmakers shop...)

[Dave Wooten]

you dont have the width needed to go from 7 x 17 to 8 x 10 . Your "new" adaptor would have to be expanded outward ( imagine a wooden bellows in reverse) adding length also and a lot of weight.

I have a 7 x 17 Wisner and also a 5 x 7 board back, works fine, but the "sevens" match etc. An 8 x 20 would of course be adaptable to 8 x 10 and 7 x 17 etc.

John the Wisner back is like most others, comes off with the clips. As mentioned at least an inch all round is needed or the 8 x 10 will have the image cut to 7 x 10 . The 8 x 10 back would have to be 10 x 10 square so it can be rotated vertically and horizontally etc.

Wista used to make a 5 x 7 back adapter for their 4 x 5 cameras...this model could be copied. It added several inches to the length of the 4 x 5.

To go from 7 x 17 to 8 x 10 is expanding and not reducing. You need an 8 x 10 square on the back instead of a 7 x 7 square.