Building an 8x10 Field Camera

[JADoss23]

Hey gang, Have been reading around some on the web and was curious if anyone had any experience with building their own large format camera. Just looking to make something fairly simple and portable. Would like something I could take out in the field if I wanted to. Don't necessarily need lens movement. any help or pointing in right direction of resources would be extremely appreciated! thanks

 

[Alan9940]

I would check out the Large Format Forum. Several builders hang out there and there are threads on custom builds.

 

[revdoc]

Simplest solution: fixed focus box camera. More complicated: nested box camera. With the latter, you can use hyperfocal distances or a ground glass for focusing.

 

[btaylor]

Msybe check out the Intrepid 4x5 and 8x10 cameras- very simple designs.

 

[Ian Grant]

Try this website plenty of examples and links. I made a 6x7 Roll film field camera last year.

Ian

 

[grahamp]

With the probable(*) exception of pinhole cameras, movements are pretty much the main reason for moving beyond roll film. While I have used 5x4 as a hand-held without movements, that is not really where the benefits of large format accrue. I built a very basic 8x10 monorail to see if I wanted to take on that format. Since I already had a lens and could develop the film, all I needed was an investment in a couple of film holders to play. The charitable description would be 'crude yet functional'! It originally started as a pinhole box

Graham

* There are some cases where an offset pinhole is useful, but it is probably easier to build a box that way than make it adjustable.

 

[JADoss23]

With the probable(*) exception of pinhole cameras, movements are pretty much the main reason for moving beyond roll film. While I have used 5x4 as a hand-held without movements, that is not really where the benefits of large format accrue. I built a very basic 8x10 monorail to see if I wanted to take on that format. Since I already had a lens and could develop the film, all I needed was an investment in a couple of film holders to play. The charitable description would be 'crude yet functional'! It originally started as a pinhole box

Graham

* There are some cases where an offset pinhole is useful, but it is probably easier to build a box that way than make it adjustable.

that's a nice looking camera you built. I shoot a lot of medium format and love it was just wanting something with a larger negative that I could also try and venture down the alternative processes rabbit hole.