Back for a studio camera

jaimeb82 · May 6, 2010

How hard it is to find a back for one of this cameras? You know the big universal century that usually seat in a stand. Are those backs expensive. I found one on craigslist, but it is missing the back, seller said, I wonder if finding the back is going to cost me more than the entire camera? Any info on where to find this backs will be appreciated. Thanks

Jaime

removed account4 · May 6, 2010

hi jaime

i have been looking for an 11x14 back that fits a century 8a for about 4 years ( maybe more ? ).
if you are handy, you can make a back yourself ... i did of foamcore, matboard and other-stuff
i couldn't find what i needed.

good luck!
john

jaimeb82 · May 6, 2010

jnanian said:
hi jaime

i have been looking for an 11x14 back that fits a century 8a for about 4 years ( maybe more ? ).
if you are handy, you can make a back yourself ... i did of foamcore, matboard and other-stuff
i couldn't find what i needed.

good luck!
john

Wao, you see, I knew there was a catch, it could become one of those impossible projects for me to complete.

pgomena · May 6, 2010

You might consider contacting Richard Ritter, http://www.lg4mat.net, about making a back to your specifications. There certainly are others out there who could do it as well.

Peter Gomena

Barry S · May 6, 2010

It depends on the size of the back. It's true the 11x14 8A backs are impossible to find; I'd love one myself. The 8x10 and 5x7 backs are much more common. I see them show up regularly, but they're not always advertised as Century Studio backs. You have to be careful because there are some variations to the Century backs and they're not all interchangeable. You also need to make sure you have the adpater(s) that fit between the camera and film. For instance--on an 11x14 8A, you might have the following combination : camera>sliding back>11x14 reducing adapter>8x10 (or 5x7) back. There are all sorts of combinations. If you point me in the direction of the listing I can help figure out what you'd need.

jaimeb82 · May 6, 2010

Barry S said:
It depends on the size of the back. It's true the 11x14 8A backs are impossible to find; I'd love one myself. The 8x10 and 5x7 backs are much more common. I see them show up regularly, but they're not always advertised as Century Studio backs. You have to be careful because there are some variations to the Century backs and they're not all interchangeable. You also need to make sure you have the adpater(s) that fit between the camera and film. For instance--on an 11x14 8A, you might have the following combination : camera>sliding back>11x14 reducing adapter>8x10 (or 5x7) back. There are all sorts of combinations. If you point me in the direction of the listing I can help figure out what you'd need.

this is what the pictures showing the back looks like, the camera is a number 7.

Barry S · May 6, 2010

Ok, that's an 8x10 camera and it looks like the sliding back is in place, so that's not bad. All you'd need is the 8x10 back--and you could easily adapt most wooden 8x10 backs. If the price is good and the camera is near you--buy it and start looking for a back. The 8x10 back I have on my Century 8A is likely the same fit-- 11.5" x 11.5" x 3/8" thick, with a 10 9/16" x 10 9/16" x 1/8" thick light baffle on the back. The main variation I find is that some backs have a much deeper light baffle, like 1/2". I had to use a table saw to cut the baffle depth on my back from 1/2" to 1/8". It took me an hour of work and I'm slow. You may be lucky and find an exact fit, but cutting down the baffle or the edges of a slightly large back is not difficult. You may also need to move the locking pins, but they just pull out with a pliers and you can drill new holes.

77seriesiii · May 16, 2010

Another option to find 8x10 backs for a Century 7 would be going to one of the Wetplate forums and seeing if anyone has a spare back for sale. Also, there are two guys left that convert old camera backs to wetplate, Ray at Star Camera; http://starcameracompany.com/ and Steve at Black Art Woodcraft http://www.blackartwoodcraft.com/, either of these guys may have spare backs for sale or know of ones. Definitely ask on the wetplate forums or even over on the Large Format Photography forum, separate from APUG before looking on the 'Bay.

./e

jimgalli · May 20, 2010

Jaime, not hard to find. Buy it if it is a bargain. It needs a normal Kodak 8X10 back like used on Kodak 2D, Century, and others. $85 - $125 is the going rate for 8X10. Less for 5X7, more for 6.5X8.5.

Whiteymorange · May 20, 2010

Here's one that was listed as being "for a Deardorff camera" though it clearly states on the brass plate what it is- a sliding back for the studio 7A, etc. $76 and change.

Back for a studio camera

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