Heya, folks -
I'm in the process of butchering an ugly old 8x10 camera to make an enlarger. Un fortunately, the camera doesn't have a focusing track w/gears (really just a fro nt & rear standard). Any thoughts on where I might find such an item, or thought s on alternative designs?
Thanks,
John
There is actually a company called Boston Gear where many camera manufactures purchase their gear tracks and gears. I am sure they would have something for your enlarger project.
John, THe Noba cameras, which were once quite popular as a studio camera, used a belt and pulleys for focusing. Worked quite well, and was very fast. Are you building a verticle or horizontal enlarger? The belt drive would probably work better in the horizontal configuration. Good luck with the project.
Regards,
This may be off-topic, but may be something to think about.
My 8x10 enlarger is a Screen 18x22 vertical process (stat) camera that I was GIVEN by a local newspaper just to get it out of their way.
It's really like an upside-down enlarger with florescent (diffusion) light source on bottom, hinged plate glass holder for negative, two lenses allowing 25-400% repro options, flip-over groundglass on one side and vacuum easel on other side for focusing and placement of enlarging paper. And built in timer, on board reflection and transmission densitometer. Also, for contact printing, it had a "bump" light situated directly over where the litho film would've been on the vacuum easel to "flash" the paper for contrast control. I now use that as my 8x10 contact printer, having replaced the original 15 watt bulb with a 100-watter. It, too, is hooked into the camera's digital timing system.
This entire unit (less the halogen light for copy work which I removed) is no larger than a washing machine and fits neatly into one corner of my darkroom. The only downside is that the maximum print size on the vacuum easel is 18x22 inches, which means my practical limit for prints is 16x20.
Anyway, you might check around local print shops or newspapers to see if they've got one of these units collecting dust. Since I've had mine, two friends of mine have gotten similar stat cameras, one for a couple hundred dollars and the other for free.
Hope this helps.
Go to www.smallparts.com. Click on the "Catalog" link, and look under R for rack and P for pinion. These guys carry vast amounts of grownup tinker toys. You'll find yourself inventing projects just so you can use some of the stuff you find there.
Great idea. Thanks, Kevin and Kevin, for the leads. I knew there had to somewhere we could buy tracks/rails. THANKS
Thanks!
I appreciate the help -- and my wife appreciates my not trying to convince her t hat a $4k 8x10 enlarger is what we really need for father's day!
John
I went with the Stat camera idea. You can pick them up on on ebay for $50 and up. I purchared a Walsburg with 3 lens and a 32x40 vacuum plate for $200 last year. The origional owner had lost his lease after 20 years and had 3 days left to remove from the building when I showed up. Only problem is it weighs about 1000 pounds and needs about a 24' long room to fit in. Anyone have a guess what a 12'x 32"x45" bellows might be worth?
John, I canibalized an old Polaroid MP-4 camera head for the bellows and focusing rack. The head is designed for 4x5 but it could easily be restricted to just the range you need to focus and still cover the 8x10 image. There are some variants of the MP-4 that accomodate 8x10 film. I got mine on Ebay for about $30. It was in pretty ratty shape but it did the job.
For you guys using the stat camera for an enlarger - what are you using for a light source when you make prints??
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