A DIY 4x5 vacuum film holder

konakoa · Oct 12, 2006

Hello folks,

I'm a long time lurker and first time poster to APUG. I'd like to present a webpage I've created for making your own vacuum film holder; the text and accompying photographs are a bit too lengthy to post here. I designed my holder for a 4x5 camera, however the design could be easily adapted to larger formats (for you folks who have film falling out of 8x10 holders!).

The page can be seen here: www.deadbread.com/crumbs/vac.html

I've been working on this project for some time, and comments or suggestions (improvements?) would be greatly appreciated.

Jerevan · Oct 12, 2006

Welcome to posting on APUG!

I don't think I'll ever need to use a vacuum film holder, but I am amazed by the inventiveness and execution of this project! Cool with a big C.

David A. Goldfarb · Oct 12, 2006

I think this is a really neat project and not a terribly complicated design.

Peter De Smidt · Oct 12, 2006

Great work! I'll give it a try with an older 8x10 holder sometime this winter. I wonder if using a suction bulb would provide enough suction?

noseoil · Oct 12, 2006

Danny, great idea and well executed. Welcome! tim

konakoa · Oct 13, 2006

Thanks for your kind comments all.

Peter, I originally replied here that a squeeze bulb probably wouldn't work. I was wrong! I found that a Giottos 'rocket air' bulb works perfectly -- 3/16" tube fits well in the bottom valve of the bulb, and it will generate a vacuum.

Peter De Smidt · Oct 13, 2006

I was thinking of using the bulb from my pipettes. This is a standard lab accessory. First, you squeeze the air out of the bulb, while holding open the valve on the rear of the bulb. To suck, you then open the valve on the front of the bulb. See:

http://www.coleparmer.com/catalog/product_view.asp?sku=2480520

Since I already have the bulb, I'll give it a go and see what happens.

David A. Goldfarb · Oct 13, 2006

I think I've read about something like this that uses a bulb just like the bulbs used for old-style air-piston operated shutters. Probably for most LF shooters, a bulb could provide a sufficient vacuum for ordinary exposures, but this may not be enough for your astrophotographs.

Dan Fromm · Oct 13, 2006

Very cute. I had no idea that those pumps for minnow bucker aerators could be reversed.

One caution, though. Penn Plax products, especially air pumps, are notorious among aquarists for short life. I don't know if other brands of pumps like the one you used come from the same factory so can't recommend something that will last longer. But you might consider making and carrying a spare pump, just in case.

argus · Oct 14, 2006

David A. Goldfarb said:
I think I've read about something like this that uses a bulb just like the bulbs used for old-style air-piston operated shutters. Probably for most LF shooters, a bulb could provide a sufficient vacuum for ordinary exposures, but this may not be enough for your astrophotographs.

You must have read my mind. I use a similar model on a packard shutter.

G

keithwms · Oct 15, 2006

Very cool!

For the longest time, I have been meaning to make something like this to hold down my fiber paper in the enlarger.

A holder like this would be very nice for shooting directly to paper in a film back.

ZachInIsrael · Oct 22, 2007

I am planning to make some of these soonish. For a vacuum pump I was going to use a little keyboard vacuum that I found in a local office depot. It takes a few AA batteries and costs about 35NIS ($7). So I figure it will work. Actually I am going to get 2, I'll use the other to clean out film holders.

darinwc · Oct 30, 2007

I figured you could use some parts from a blood pressure kit. I see them in thrift stores every once in a while.

walter23 · Oct 30, 2007

Really nice job. Until I saw your application I was wondering why you'd want to go to all that effort for 4x5, as I've never had any problems with regular holders (well, okay, once a sheet slipped because I forgot to tap the holder before a long exposure...).

For long exposure astrophotography on a motorized mount it makes sense.

konakoa · Oct 30, 2007

A year later and there's still interest! Pretty neat. For the folks using the squeeze bulb, please keep in mind the system (at least mine) isn't 100% air-tight. A little air will creep in under the film, so you have to constantly squeeze the bulb to maintain the vacuum. A rubber bulb surges - the film will be pulled in - the film relaxes - then is pulled in again when the bulb is squeezed once more. With the aquarium pump the force is constant and the film stays flat the entire time the pump is on.

europanorama · Dec 24, 2022

i have two MUP version 3 67/220 vaccum backs both made from two unknown people. both pattern are crap and holes are too big compared to M RB67/70 vacuum back. i dont trust but only testing will tell.
which diameter have your holes?
e.g. one has similar cross pattern like on Contax 645 or RTS III. on both pattern is at wrong position only guessing since non-tested yet only with door open and their rectangular version showed strange behaviour since he added a center hole. air there is flowing to the other direction than in outside holes. will be able maybe to compare both mag types. only lacking horizontal M-adapter for vertical i need one of the spacers. maybe one can shoot longer distance by collapsing colapsible 100 or 90mm. i would rather like to shoot at longer infinity distances with very sharp and adjusted 150mm blue. blue=one blade bent to avoid colliding.
collegue thinking about vaccum-mag. check also the hasselblad vacuum back. i can also check 61.5mm film inside 67/70 mag since its altered(easy to do but not by me) for using 120/220 and longer on donor-side. i have a shim-solution which will be 3dprinted to adjust width on 70mm spools. linhof spool is thicker but has slit. is done on takeup spool for 35-120-adapter. can also compare with 70mm film. and using cut down DP double perforated film. one-side cut down to leave perforations on one side for spacing reasons on mags with cog-wheel. on Graflex RH-50 DP and UP(unperforated) film are working.

Steve Goldstein · Dec 26, 2022

Anyone who'd like to see the original post sans images can find it here:

Photography by Danny Spence

konakoa · Dec 26, 2022

Original poster here. Wow, this thread is a blast from the past. My website is long, long gone (most personal websites are from the days before social everything) and I'm truly surprised the way back machine grabbed it.

Europanorama; I used 1/16" holes, about 1.6mm for my vacuum back. Those are quite large and I don't think you'd want that at all for roll film. Keep in mind the vacuum won't do any good either with 120 film as the paper backing is a barrier between the film and the holder and would block the suction.

For anyone who might be curious, after all these years I do still use those same exact vaccum film holders for sheet film and 4x5 astrophotography! A 4x5 chunk of film stuffed with stars is a heck of a thing.

Mick Fagan · Dec 26, 2022

Any chance of inserting a picture of the vacuum back for those who weren't around when you originally posted?

Plus, my memory is starting to dim as well.

konakoa · Dec 27, 2022

Sure thing, Mick. Years ago for the website Cloudy Nights I took my webpage for the vaccum holder and reworked it into a illustrated photo of sorts for posting. Contact me if you need a bigger version of the illustration.

Mick Fagan · Dec 27, 2022

Thanks, I don't remember the tripod one though, but then again remembering many things these days is often hit and miss.

A DIY 4x5 vacuum film holder

konakoa

Jerevan

David A. Goldfarb

Moderator

Peter De Smidt

noseoil

konakoa

Peter De Smidt

David A. Goldfarb

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Dan Fromm

argus

keithwms

ZachInIsrael

darinwc

walter23

konakoa

europanorama

Steve Goldstein

konakoa

Mick Fagan

konakoa

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