4x5 Glass Plate holders

[Shangheye]

Can anyone recommend a type of 4x5 glass plate holder I can use with a modern spring back type 4x5 camera (I have a Toyo 45CF)? I have see a make called SENECA 4X5. Would this be suitable? Any advice appreciated.

I am also happy to modify a modern holder if anyone knows of a way!

Rgds, Kal

 

[Ole]

If you can find a Linhof Universal Film&Plate holder (mit Auswerfer), that should work. But the 4x5" versions seem to be the rarest of all: I have seen exactly ONE.

 

[Ken Nadvornick]

Can anyone recommend a type of 4x5 glass plate holder I can use with a modern spring back type 4x5 camera (I have a Toyo 45CF)? I have see a make called SENECA 4X5. Would this be suitable? Any advice appreciated.

I am also happy to modify a modern holder if anyone knows of a way!

Rgds, Kal

This modification will work, but only for cameras larger than the plate you wish to use. For a 4x5 you would need to use plates smaller than 4x5.

* Find an old holder larger than the plate.
* Cut out a centered rectangle in the septum the exact size of the plate.
* Glue corner or edge stops to one side of the septum.
* Load the plate into the cutout, emulsion against the stops, from the opposite side.
* Place something squishy like a thin black foam sheet over the plate back side.
* Replace the dark slides.
* The foam will hold the plate against the stops at the exact plane of focus.
* Load the holder, pull the slide from the front side, and expose.

Ken

 

[Shangheye]

Thanks Ken. that sounds great. Just came accross a similar modification on the collodion.com site here... http://www.collodion.org/plateholderconversion.html , I like your idea of stops as opposed to drilled holes and silver wire and yoghurt container springs! I have a project for the weekend Rgds, Kal

 

[Ken Nadvornick]

I like your idea of stops as opposed to drilled holes and silver wire and yoghurt container springs!

Hey, good luck with it.

The cutout septum piece is good for making the stop pieces. Because the plate sits down inside the cutout, it can't move when the slide is replaced. And since the four rear plate edges are usually slightly higher than the back side of the septum, the black foam sheet won't slip either.

Note that this approach works best with dry - not wet - plates. I think those wet guys have good reasons for using silver corner wire and plastic springs. I thought I read somewhere that their modified holders also get sorta gooey over time.

Ken

P.S. I really enjoy the work you post to the gallery.

 

[dwross]

Hi Kal,

I don't know if you're going to be using wet plates or dry plates, but this page has a description of converting old film holders to plate holders.

http://www.thelightfarm.com/Map/DryPlate/PlateHolders/DryPlateSection.htm

d

 

[Shangheye]

Thanks. It will be dry plates...collodion not quite in my skill set yet! Thank for the link. K

 

[pete oakley]

In the UK wooden MPP plate holders crop up on a fairly regular basis. They have a slightly different register but you might be able to handle that.
Best wishes,
Pete.

 

[Shangheye]

Thanks Pete. Different register in what way? Have you tried to modify them for a spring back? I will look in to them to see if they would suit. Rgds, Kal