Amateur camera builder from Vancouver says hello.

Stolk · 2025-08-03T13:57:10-0400

Hello,

I am a photography enthusiast (and amateur camera builder) from Vancouver, BC in Canada.

I have built a 16x16" ultra large format camera, in the style of Zev Hoover: a projected image that gets photographed with a secondary camera using a shifted lens.

Here is a photo of me and my camera. (digital imaging part not mounted, but that is a GFX50R with shifted P645 35mm lens.)

In the photo, the camera has mounted my rehoused Bell & Howell 36 inch monster lens. I designed and 3D-printed the new housing for the Bell & Howell myself.

My favorite hobby is buying vintage lenses and adapt them to see what they can do on my camera.

koraks · 2025-08-04T01:47:57-0400

Welcome aboard @Stolk, we're happy to have you!

The projected-image approach is interesting; is it possible to satisfactorily suppress flare and light falloff?

Stolk · 2025-08-04T09:23:22-0400

koraks said:
Welcome aboard @Stolk, we're happy to have you!

The projected-image approach is interesting; is it possible to satisfactorily suppress flare and light falloff?

I think flare and fall off are more properties of the lens: if the lens covers more than 16x16 inch, I have no problem w fall off.

Flare is not made worse by extra bounce: the projection area is fully diffuse. So if the lens is coated or has hood, it can be controlled.

note: the more popular method of doing ulf digital is photographing a glass screen from behind, and that does have severe fall off unless corrected w fresnel elements.

koraks · 2025-08-04T09:29:26-0400

Stolk said:
the more popular method of doing ulf digital is photographing a glass screen from behind

Ah yes, I was under the impression you were doing it that way. So you're photographing an aerial image instead?

Alan Edward Klein · 2025-08-04T09:33:56-0400

Welcome aboard. Interesting hobby. Is there a place to see ULF photos you've taken?

tezzasmall · 2025-08-04T09:45:57-0400

Welcome to the site Stolk.

For anyone interested in the original reference to the guy who made the ULF camera, search for for LOTS of links by using:

'ultra large format camera Zev Hoover'

OR you can watch a short video by him here:

zev hoover - 8x10 video camera

zev hoover official website.

zev.tv

Terry S

Stolk · 2025-08-04T09:46:14-0400

Bram Stolk (@bramstolk.bsky.social)

I over-exposed it, sadly. But I still find it an interesting Ultra #LargeFormat photograph. Not bad for the cheap Soviet 3,65 / 365mm Триплет lens on my 16x16" camera.

bsky.app

Bram Stolk (@bramstolk.bsky.social)

Wow! Sweet mother of science... so sharp! Maybe I've been doing #LargeFormat #Photography all wrong, by chasing large aperture lenses. This is an f/8 lens, 216mm focal length. The tiny lens (EM. Target) must be 140yrs old or so, but SO SHARP. (half-res + cropped, but look at that ® on the ball.)

bsky.app

Bram Stolk (@bramstolk.bsky.social)

The result, you ask? "Go, Canucks, Go", on 49th and Main st. #Vancouver #Translink #Canucks

bsky.app

Bram Stolk (@bramstolk.bsky.social)

1950s Liesegang 28cm episcope lens... A lens so soft and full of aberrations, that we are now firmly into #Lomography territory. Still, it has... je ne sais quoi. The bokeh smears are different from any other lens. As if the background was rendered in coloured sand.

bsky.app

Bram Stolk (@bramstolk.bsky.social)

This #LargeFormat photo was taken with a lens so rare, you can't even google it. The only real hit is the eBay listing where I bought it. Pentacon 3.6/420 is BIG with front glass ⌀116mm. I suspect it is originally from an epidiascope. It's the largest lens that I own. (Could be sharper.)

bsky.app

Bram Stolk (@bramstolk.bsky.social)

Hey, Vancouver! When you are shoveling snow this morning, why not do your neighbour's sidewalk as well? My friend Gregg calls it "Shovel-a-trois." (Picture taken w Abracam using BBT Krauss Paris Quatryl 500mm f/5.6 #LargeFormat #Photography #Shovel-a-trois)...

bsky.app

Stolk · 2025-08-04T09:48:29-0400

Should have had focus on bark of trunk, but I still like it a lot:

Stolk · 2025-08-04T10:13:20-0400

koraks said:
Ah yes, I was under the impression you were doing it that way. So you're photographing an aerial image instead?

I am photographing the image from the front, through an off-axis hole in the front w a shifted lens.

Illustration below: ULF lens in blue. Digital camera in green.

Stolk · 2025-08-04T10:16:39-0400

Alan Edward Klein said:
Welcome aboard. Interesting hobby. Is there a place to see ULF photos you've taken?