Building a medium format Cameradactyl camera!

[Donald Qualls]

What would be nice camera would a Cameradacty with a Mamiya or standard Graphic sheet film back and glass focusing screen, 6X9 or 2X3 view camera, not sure how 3d printing works to allow for some movement.

Getting a Graflok ground glass back in 2x3 size would give you half of this, since both the Goodman and Cameradactyl lines have very sensibly adopted that standard for backs. Not only does that let you use ground glass, you can insert standard film holders under the glass, or lift it out for Graflok accessories like Graflex and Mamiya roll film holders (and nearly any other made for a 2x3 camera), Grafmatics, and possibly even a 2x3 Graflarger attachment.

 

[reddesert]

Unfortunately, making a 3D-printed camera back that accepts 2x3 or 4x5 film holders or Graflok roll backs, does not guarantee that you can also put a common Graflok ground glass back on. I think your only option might be to buy one from the Mercury Camera maker - see way down the page on http://mercurycamera.com/backs/comp...cks-graflex-mamiya-rb67-horseman-and-mercury/

The normal view camera Graflok ground glass focus panels have extra arms or pins sticking out to engage the spring mechanisms, and also the details of those mechs are different between different camera makers (a Graphic focus panel engages the back differently from a Linhof focus panel, etc). IOW, a ground glass back is usually not held on by the Graflok sliders.

The Mamiya Press M-style bodies do have their own GG back that fits like a roll holder and can pop off to install the roll holder (It also accepts Mamiya 2x3 sheet film holders, which I think are non standard, not terribly rare, but 2x3 sheet film is a niche market).

 

[Paul Howell]

I have the Mamiya ground glass back, it only thin single sheet holds and must be 6X9, 2X3 will not fit well. The press has a bit of movement, not really enough to be useful.

 

[Dan Fromm]

Unfortunately, making a 3D-printed camera back that accepts 2x3 or 4x5 film holders or Graflok roll backs, does not guarantee that you can also put a common Graflok ground glass back on. I think your only option might be to buy one from the Mercury Camera maker - see way down the page on http://mercurycamera.com/backs/comp...cks-graflex-mamiya-rb67-horseman-and-mercury/

Hmm. The Homunculus' back has what look like normal ordinary Graflok sliders. It happens that Cambo made focusing panels for their 2x3 SC-1 view camera that are held to the back by (ta da!) normal ordinary Graflok sliders. These thingies are rare so aren't an option, but 2x3 film pack adapters are relatively abundant and cheap and are held to the back by (ta da again!) normal ordinary Graflok sliders. One can fairly easily convert an FPA to a focusing panel, taking care to shim the GG back from the gate by the thickness of the film pack's front.

 

[reddesert]

I have the Mamiya ground glass back, it only thin single sheet holds and must be 6X9, 2X3 will not fit well. The press has a bit of movement, not really enough to be useful.

Years ago when I bought mine, I got an outfit from a photo teacher who had made a sturdy wood case for it, and there were all sorts of little parts, including the GG back and a film holder. As an insane-trivia matter, there are actually two kinds of those thin film holders, one takes 6.5x9 cm as you said, and the other should take US standard 2.25x3.25" film. The oddest part is that both are actually plate holders with a film adapter. Some saint has web-ified the Mamiya user guide that describes all this stuff: http://www.6x7.cz/mamiya-press-super-23/users-guide/cut-film-plate-holder.html

Dan, that's a clever idea to modify a film pack adapter into a GG screen. I will look into doing that.

 

[SocialKonstruct]

Getting a Graflok ground glass back in 2x3 size would give you half of this, since both the Goodman and Cameradactyl lines have very sensibly adopted that standard for backs. Not only does that let you use ground glass, you can insert standard film holders under the glass, or lift it out for Graflok accessories like Graflex and Mamiya roll film holders (and nearly any other made for a 2x3 camera), Grafmatics, and possibly even a 2x3 Graflarger attachment.

I guess that it would be a relatively common standard then.

 

[xya]

What would be nice camera would a Cameradacty with a Mamiya or standard Graphic sheet film back and glass focusing screen, 6X9 or 2X3 view camera, not sure how 3d printing works to allow for some movement.

the cameradactyl back is a standard graflok back, the same as the mamiy G adapter. so you can attach the mamiya J and A sheet film holders or any other graflok sheet fim holder of the same size. and any graflok ground glass of this size as well...

 

[Dan Fromm]

the cameradactyl back is a standard graflok back, the same as the mamiy G adapter. so you can attach the mamiya J and A sheet film holders or any other graflok sheet fim holder of the same size. and any graflok ground glass of this size as well...

Unfortunately not so. See posts #27 and #29 above. As post #29 sort of pointed out, to the extent that there's a Graflok standard Graflok sliders and backs (in particular, size and position of the groove) conform to it but the way detachable focusing panels attach doesn't.

 

[Oren Grad]

The normal view camera Graflok ground glass focus panels have extra arms or pins sticking out to engage the spring mechanisms, and also the details of those mechs are different between different camera makers (a Graphic focus panel engages the back differently from a Linhof focus panel, etc). IOW, a ground glass back is usually not held on by the Graflok sliders.

This. The Homonculus 69 doesn't have the hook or pin needed to retain a spring back. Probably just as well, as I'm not sure a "printed" plastic hook or pin would be up to the stress of being tugged every time the spring back is pulled open.

 

[grat]

Fortunately, due to the wonders of 3D printing, it's trivial to print a graflok compatible back that holds a ground glass, and with accuracy down to 0.2mm or 0.1mm, it's not even difficult to get the plane of focus in the right place.

 

[xya]

Fortunately, due to the wonders of 3D printing, it's trivial to print a graflok compatible back that holds a ground glass, and with accuracy down to 0.2mm or 0.1mm, it's not even difficult to get the plane of focus in the right place.

this is it. I did not say that the camera can hold a ground glass/spring holder, which indeed needs a pin for its spring. I just said that it can hold a ground glass of that size. and as said by others, this can easily be made of a film holder (im my case) or be printed..

 

[SocialKonstruct]

I finally got my Mamiya 50mm wide angle lens today and even though it was rough looking I will be shooting with it tomorrow. And it's pretty lightweight (compared to my Contax 645 outfit)!

 

[cayenne]

Very excited to build a medium format Cameradactyl camera which takes a Mamiya Press lens and RB67 back(s). Here is the work in progress:

Which model camera is this you're building?
I funded the KS for the Brancopan, I got the 50mm f/6.3 lens and the film back for it, but then COVID hit and I've not been able to go to my friends' homes that have the 3D printers and I kinda forgot about it.
I also got the Goodman plans which can use the same lens and back....

Anyway, interesting thread got me thinking about it again....so, curious which model you're building here I didn't see it in the thread...

TIA,
cayenne

 

[SocialKonstruct]

Which model camera is this you're building?
I funded the KS for the Brancopan, I got the 50mm f/6.3 lens and the film back for it, but then COVID hit and I've not been able to go to my friends' homes that have the 3D printers and I kinda forgot about it.
I also got the Goodman plans which can use the same lens and back....

Anyway, interesting thread got me thinking about it again....so, curious which model you're building here I didn't see it in the thread...

TIA,
cayenne

It's this model- https://www.cameradactyl.com/buttergrip/homonculus69

 

[Besk]

I suggest that you look up Mercury Camera Co. They make camera by 3d printing with both their own helical mount or an adapter to use the Mamiya Universal etc. lenses.
Mine is for the Super Angulon 65/8 and is much lighter than the Flattop.

I have a Mamiya Flattop. Mostly use the 65/6.3 lens with it. Don't mind the shape of the camera at all. Mine has the Graflok back which has been modified to accept Horseman roll film holders. It is rather heavy - which is fine unless you plan to carry one all day. That, from experience, is a real pain.