4x5 view camera with DSLR back?

[fstop]

Anyone trying this? I have a 4x5 view camera that I'm planning on putting a "stitching back" on it that accepts my DSLR. Any input from users with experience would be helpful.Thanks.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I have a sliding EOS-mount back that attaches to a Graflok back on a 4x5" camera. It's interesting, but only in limited situations. Depending on the 4x5" camera, lensboard, etc., the widest lens you can use is going to be around 105mm, because of the mirror box in the DSLR and adapter tube, and the tube introduces some vignetting, so it's not as if you can stitch over the whole 4x5" field. If you use a mirrorless camera, you can stitch over a wider surface and possibly use wider lenses.

So if you're just using it in single shot mode, think of it as a very flexible alternative to something like a 90mm T-S lens, good for still life and tabletop work.

If you want to stitch, depending on the focal length of the lens, you might be able to shoot 4 or 6 overlapping images to make a 65mm square with a full-frame camera. Use artificial lighting, because any change in the light will reduce the ability to make a clean stitch. Again, it's not a bad solution for still life/tabletop work, particularly with strobes, if you need a really high-res image.

I've also tried doing this a bit with old soft-focus lenses, but stitching doesn't go well with portrait subjects. Still, you can get some interesting results with other kinds of subjects and these lenses. Here's one I did a while ago--

Spring in Soft Focus, Maspeth, Queens, New York | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

 

[fstop]

Thanks.
I'm using a Cambo SCII with a Schnieder-Kreuznach 135.
I was interested in using this for a variety of outdoor landscape and architectural scenes.

I thought this might be a reasonable solution to instant film.

 

[L Gebhardt]

I looked into getting one, but the whole mirror box shading the sensor issue convinced me that it would probably not get much use.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

Anyone trying this? I have a 4x5 view camera that I'm planning on putting a "stitching back" on it that accepts my DSLR. Any input from users with experience would be helpful.Thanks.

No, but I thought about attaching a cheap scanner to the back of the 4x5after disabeling ithe scanner lamp.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Thanks.
I'm using a Cambo SCII with a Schnieder-Kreuznach 135.
I was interested in using this for a variety of outdoor landscape and architectural scenes.

I thought this might be a reasonable solution to instant film.

It's not exactly a replacement for instant film, because it doesn't cover the full 4x5" frame or even most of it, though you could spot check exposure close to the center of the frame.

With a full-frame camera, it will be just like using a 135mm on the camera, but with movements, in single-shot mode.

If you stitch, it's a bit like using a 135mm on a medium format camera (approx 6x6 or a wider panoramic format).

 

[Highlandpete]

I attached my Sony DSLR body to a mini Speed Graphic.
http://www.dpug.org/forums/f5/home-made-adapter-sony-alpha-body-2x3-mini-speed-graphic-3543/

Using a 170mm Kodak Anastigmat lens I was able to focus to infinity. Using a 101mm Lens I was not able to focus to infinity. Worked like a macro lens.

 

[Highlandpete]

Dave, Very nice image. Great detail.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Thanks, Pete.

 

[fstop]

Oh well it was a thought.looks like I'll get an instant film back,

 

[ansaldo49]

Greetings, I recently joined. I've been using two different digital adapters to my Horseman 980, Linhof Technika, and Cambo SC 810. I've posted some of the images in the Standard Digital Gallery. I shoot and stitch together large numbers of panoramic shots in CS3. There is a image taken of Rising Wolf Mountain that is an array of shots stitched together. Unfortunately there was considerable haze from wild fires that morning hence the quality of the image could be better. I use a Nikon D800 as my primary camera and I've been getting pretty good results using a Fujinon A 180mm, Schneider G Claron, and a Rodenstock Ronar 150mm lenses. I used a Fujinon L 420mm when testing the macro capability using the Cambo. Subject to lens distance was better than six feet. I've also used a Repo Claron 135mm and G Claron 150mm on the Horseman 980 with good results.

Ansaldo49
Wandering Photolog | A photography driven travel blog.