Building my own camera as alternative???

[marciofs]

Hi !
You may want to take a look at the site https://jongrepstad.com/building-a-large-format-camera/. The creator of that site has built a number of LF-cameras and written a book about it. The book reads well and is basically a building instruction with drawings etc; the book is is available for free download.

Best regards
Henrik

Wow, thank you for that.

 

[jim10219]

Changing bags make popular substitute bellows. I've also seen people use cardboard boxes, where one box is just slightly smaller than the other, so you can slide them in and out. Then just wrap the boxes in a dark cloth and that should work. If the boxes are a tight fit, they'll keep 98% of the light out. The dark cloth would protect against the other 2%.

The reason bellows are so expensive is because they're thin, flexible, hold their shape, and keep all of the light out. If you're willing to compromise on some of those attributes, you can easily do it for a lot less.

I saw a guy make a large format SLR out of cardboard once. Didn't even need a film holder. He just taped the film to the back of the carboard box, suspended a mirror at 45 degrees hinged just above the film and installed a "ground glass" made of tracing paper at 90 degrees just above the film. With the mirror down, it projected the image from the lens onto the tracing paper. With the mirror up, it blocked out the tracing paper and exposed the film. It couldn't have cost him more than $30. Obviously it would be a pain to reload film, didn't have any room for movements, and wasn't very sturdy. But I kept a mental note of it for a weekend project one day when I want to try my hand at some ultra large format.

 

[wombat2go]

Here is the box camera I built in 2013 ( been posted before)
The lens is a Pentax 6x7 90mm leaf shutter.
The back is Graflex RH-10 / RB67 etc

The diecast box is by Hammond; it is an electronics enclosure.
https://app.box.com/s/5iqm4d1co4zbdqbubrdg
https://app.box.com/s/bsf4ca4fy3v149skqxw9
https://app.box.com/s/ayxl4s45tpq9as0xtgld
https://app.box.com/s/44lzyxxte8c3v1ipj2kj

https://app.box.com/s/b8di1879qnxjl8h9k1kw

A photo from it:
https://app.box.com/s/lvlsrz1dum00d4zp4rx0

 

[Daire Quinlan]

Here is the box camera I built in 2013 ( been posted before)
The lens is a Pentax 6x7 90mm leaf shutter.
The back is Graflex RH-10 / RB67 etc

That is great looking, the metal box gives it an element of class that my constructions lack :-D

This is my 8x10 build (also posted somewhere on APUG before)


Mostly Foamcore, lens is a 300mm USSR process lens, shutter is an old Sinar I got from Ebay for next to nothing.

Picture from it (excuse the poor scan)


Also, if you're looking for 6x9 with minimal movements, check out the Mamiya Super 23. Press camera with bellows at the rear which allows tilt but not rise/shift. Tons of accessories.

 

[JWMster]

Just to suggest something from out in left field.... but no more out in left field than building your own, there's a Kickstarter campaign called Mercury Camera that's worth a look to see if it fits up your alley. The official funding closed last year, but if you contact them http://mercurycamera.com/ (which I've done by email yesterday... send email to: mercurycameraworks@gmail.com ) they are still in business, up and running and taking orders. I've my hands full as it is, but if you're looking at the possibility of a universal camera that would host Linhof lenses and use Hasselblad and a host of other backs... there might be some appeal.

 

[marciofs]

Thanks you all for the suggestions.

I got the money I was expecting in order to invest on it... But I am so anxious about just photograph that I am desperate looking for a way to shoot with my Zeca camera, or by finding a 120 back for it or by trying to order a customer made one from somebody.