Another gadget for the 8x10

John Bartley · Dec 9, 2006

My Agfa has two choices of threaded holes for mounting it onto a tripod. When I mount it using the hole in the tail board I get the feeling that the front is too heavy for the hardware that holds it together, especially when I get a big heavy lens mounted on it. When I mount it on the hole under the front standard frame, the tail board sticks waaayy out the back and makes it hard to reach the tripod controls and locks. The solution is a mounting board that I have been thinking about for some time now. The pictures shown are the prototype and I'll use it for a while to see how many changes I need to make for the final version.

cheers

reellis67 · Dec 9, 2006

I've been working on something very similar to this and it seems to work quite well. Nice work on this one!

- Randy

Buster6X6 · Dec 9, 2006

Very good job John.I have to do the same thing for my C1 it is to wobbly with 6"X6" quick release plate.

Cheers Greg

StreetShooter · Dec 9, 2006

John,

Sinar manufactures a camera supporting system similar to yours in two forms. It accepts 2 rail clamps that stabilizes the camera especially when the bellows are extended further apart.

Here is a picture of the more expensive unit:

http://www.sinarbron.com/sinar/conventional/supportsp4.php

I'm curious John... why do you say your design didn't work?

Cheers

John Bartley · Dec 9, 2006

StreetShooter said:
J
I'm curious John... why do you say your design didn't work?
Cheers

That Sinar item is a very sturdy looking outfit. Mine actually works quite nicely. I think maybe I caused some confusion with my signature line (which I have since removed). I will be refining the next one in the areas of size and type of hardware to make it just a bit more compact and easier/quicker to attach.

cheers and thanks all for the kind words

BradS · Dec 10, 2006

John,
I like the big knobs you've used. I made a similar thingy for my Burke an James commercial view but used ordinary 1/4 - 20 machine screws to attach the board to the camera. I think I'll have to make another trip to the hardware store.

John Bartley · Dec 10, 2006

BradS said:
John,
I like the big knobs you've used.

Thanks Brad,

Those knobs are "fabricated" (if you want I can post a picture). I couldn't find knobs with 1/4"-20 screws in them, so I bought knobs with nuts in them and then drove brass screws deep into the plastic part of the knob to hold them tight. The heads of the screws were larger than the hole in the plastic, so I had to drill out the plastic just enough so that the screw head went in with a slight interference fit. The little rubber washers on the other side are just to hold the screws from falling out when it's disassembled and they sit in a recess made with a forstner bit so that they don't interfere between the camera and board.

cheers

Nick Zentena · Dec 10, 2006

Lee Valley has a bunch of 1/4" hardware. Did you check with them?

John Bartley · Dec 10, 2006

No, I didn't check and I should have because their store is 15 minutes up the road from me .... oh well - next time I guess ...

cheers

PHOTOTONE · Dec 10, 2006

Interestingly enough, if you have an Agfa/Ansco wood tripod, like I do, it has a wide mounting platform and two holes for two standard tripod screws, so it seems the Agfa/Ansco cameras were designed to be mounted with two screws.

McCluney Photo

noseoil · Dec 11, 2006

John, I have a similar problem with the B&J 8x10. I use a mono-pod and a small wood adapter (which screws onto the threads with a 1/4 x 20 nut plate) to keep movements in check with the 480mm lens in place. The lens is a Nikor enlarging lens, so it weighs a ton with the packard shutter and mesquite lens board. Works pretty well, because it locks the front in place when the bellows is racked way out there. Now I need to grow some longer arms. Best, tim

jp80874 · Dec 11, 2006

The Linhof Technikardan (4x5) has three telescoping rails that are a little shaky at full extension with a big macro or tele lens. For conceptual reference you might get some ideas from their tele/Macro bracket 002741 which is a solid piece of aluminum stock cut to mate and lock with the telescoping pieces.

There are several bolt holes for tripod attachment allowing you to find an acceptable balance point for camera and tripod. Naturally being Linhof it is frightfully expensive. I only suggest it as a source of ideas, although I got mine on eBay for about $80.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...w=LIBMSTK45&is=REG&Q=&O=productlist&sku=30833

John Bartley · Dec 11, 2006

jp80874 said:
..... For conceptual reference you might get some ideas from their tele/Macro bracket 002741 which is a solid piece of aluminum stock cut to mate and lock with the telescoping pieces.

I'm always amazed at the number of times that people have found similar solutions to similar problems with none of them knowing that another is working on the very same thing .

The aluminum rail idea is great and if the tripod mounting nut is a "T" nut sliding in a "T" groove, then balancing would be a breeze - I can build that !!

cheers and thank you !

Terence · Dec 11, 2006

I use a bogen Magic Arm that has a small platform with a tripod screw on one end and a "super clamp" at the other. A single lever locks everything down at once. The super clamp attaches to one tripod leg. A little heavy, but folds down against the tripod very nicely when not needed.

Ian Grant · Dec 13, 2006

John Bartley said:
My Agfa has two choices of threaded holes for mounting it onto a tripod.

John your Agfa was designed to take a base piece which can be moved to the balance point of the camera - see:
http://lostlabours.co.uk/agfa-ansco/images/aa002.jpg

This base plate also has two tripod mounts, like you I also have a second 10"x8" Agfa-Ansco without this and am thinking of making another base plate like the original.

Ian

jp80874 · Dec 13, 2006

John Bartley said:
I'm always amazed at the number of times that people have found similar solutions to similar problems with none of them knowing that another is working on the very same thing .

The aluminum rail idea is great and if the tripod mounting nut is a "T" nut sliding in a "T" groove, then balancing would be a breeze - I can build that !!

cheers and thank you !

John,

No, actually the mounting holes are fixed on the Linhof bar, but the weight of the 4x5 camera and lens is proportionally less than your application. The sliding T groove sounds like an intelligent adaptation. Hope works out well.

John

Another gadget for the 8x10

Attachments

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency