Chinese 6x17 Rollfilm Backs

Tim Boehm · May 16, 2009

Like Nick, I have a Shen Hao 5x7 with a 6x17 rollback. Currently, my shortest lens is a 135 and the longest is a Nikkor-T 800 (mounted on an extension). It's more versatile than the 4x5 - 6x17 combination. I'm sure I could get a 90 or 110 mm lens on it.

karin bingel · Nov 22, 2009

Shen Hao 617 roll film holders

Has anybody used the above mentioned intended for use with the new 6x17
Shen Hao panoramic cameras? Impressions?
Any comment would be appreciated.

david_mizen · Dec 31, 2009

i second the request particularly their 6x17 cameras

David A. Goldfarb · Dec 31, 2009

We've had quite a few threads on the various Chinese-made 6x17cm backs (DaYi, Shen Hao, Focus, Gaoersi, recent Art Panorama [not to be confused with the earlier Japanese Art Pan] and others), mostly for 4x5" cameras, so I've merged them into a sticky thread. There's a little overlap in topic with 6x17 cameras made by some of the same companies, but the construction of the rollfilm backs is generally similar. The backs for 4x5" cameras are expansion backs, so there are limitations in the lenses that can be used with them, which isn't a problem for a 6x17 back made for a 6x17 camera, but the simple film advance, pressure plate, frame counting window, all look generally the same. Maybe it might make sense for a new thread on the Shen Hao Art Panorama 6x17 cameras in general.

The Canham motorized 6x17 back for 5x7" cameras is a different concept and there are other threads for that.

michael9793 · Jul 18, 2011

karin bingel said:
Has anybody used the above mentioned intended for use with the new 6x17
Shen Hao panoramic cameras? Impressions?
Any comment would be appreciated.

I have bought a Da Yi 6x17 camera from china. I have had it now for about 3 months and ran about 8 rolls through it. love the simple parts to the camera. focusing is manual if you think your are 10 feet you put it on 10 feet. I shoot with a 90mm calumet lens which is a Rodenstock lens.
I have carried it around town like a 35mm and shot with it No problem just make sure where your focus ring is set for. I soot tri-x @ 1600asa and develop it in Acufine. very very low grain and when I scan it and blow it way up it holds together. Removing and placing film is the same problem I had with my Pentax 67. it is very hard to put in and take out. I use a small pliers to grab the film and remove it from the back and I use it to alien the film in to the pins. So that is my story. yes I'm glade I bought it and like any new format it will take time to get use to. It was purchased to replace my 8x20 Deardorff that is too heavy anymore with my bad rotator cup.

kwmullet · Mar 4, 2012

David, et al.:

Do I understand correctly that the Shen Hao 617 back will let me shoot vertical as well as horizontal images?

Severely tempted, but unsure about affordability at this point.

-KwM-

keithwms · Mar 4, 2012

For those looking to do 617 on the cheap with 120/220 film, let me suggest considering my paper insert idea, which I put in the apug blog.

EASmithV · Mar 5, 2012

I have a DaYi 6x12 back and it is of very good quality.

Athiril · Mar 6, 2012

keithwms said:
For those looking to do 617 on the cheap with 120/220 film, let me suggest considering my paper insert idea, which I put in the apug blog.

I've done 16mm in a 4x5" back using masking tape to make a guide

PKM-25 · Aug 29, 2012

EASmithV said:
I have a DaYi 6x12 back and it is of very good quality.

Nice, I just picked one of these up, I have cool films like APX25, Techpan and HIE in 120 that could be fun with this.

WayneStevenson · Jan 11, 2013

I am wanting to purchase the Da Yi 6x17 film back for 4x5 cameras. But I keep hearing mixed messages regarding usable focal lengths. Some from this very thread I think.

What I read is that the camera has mechanical vignetting at 180mm and beyond by a quarter inch at least. And you can go as wide as 75mm?

In contrast I have read from one vendor that apparantly the corners are slightly vignetted at 180mm.

And I have seen photographs from one using the back with a 180mm lens that showed no vignetting at all.

Problem being is that most user "reviews" are about 6 years old. Has the design changed which would explain the different results?

Has anyone here purchased a brand new one and used one in the last couple years? Can you share your experiences please?

Does anyone have a website for Da Yi? I can't find one to get my answers straight from them.

WayneStevenson · Jan 24, 2013

Tough crowd here.

Well, I decided that since I don't have a suitable enlarger capable of taking 6x17 frames, a 6x12 roll film holder was a better bet for me. I have a cheap $189 eBay model on the way. I have a machinist modifying a negative carrier for me to take 6x12. I'll move forward from that experience and see if I'll head down the 6x17 path later.

WayneStevenson · Mar 9, 2013

Well, I purchased the cheap Guohuo GH 6 x 12 film back. It was made of plastic and while it didn't appear very durable, it did appear well-made with prescision.

Despite that, the knob didn't appear to be glued or attached as it was incapable of rolling. I had to epoxy it myself. Which was a relatively painless endeavor.

After that, my first roll was completely fogged on the frames. I figured it may have been from where the darkslide comes out of the holder. There is no light trap material there.

The next two rolls I tested proved that. But the tests also proved that it did leak quite a bit there. But also leaked while the darkslide was coimpletely closed without exposing the frame......

Also that light leaked at other places where there shouldn't be any leaks.

The seller claims it was a bad batch from the manufacturer. I am going to go with the Dayi and see how it works out for me.....

WayneStevenson · Mar 25, 2013

My DaYi from ecbuyonline2008 (http://myworld.ebay.ca/ecbuyonline2008) arrived. Wow. This film back seems to have all metal construction, spring loaded latches hold the two parts together securely. And everything is light tight it would appears. The entire advance assembly even goes into a sloted, and recessed holder that is all foam and felt lined. The Guohuo film holder is a joke compared to this one and when you compare the two, you really cannot understand why the Guohuo is even being sold.

I'll have to test it out this week.

mark · Mar 25, 2013

WayneStevenson said:
Well, I purchased the cheap Guohuo GH 6 x 12 film back. It was made of plastic and while it didn't appear very durable, it did appear well-made with prescision.

Despite that, the knob didn't appear to be glued or attached as it was incapable of rolling. I had to epoxy it myself. Which was a relatively painless endeavor.

After that, my first roll was completely fogged on the frames. I figured it may have been from where the darkslide comes out of the holder. There is no light trap material there.

The next two rolls I tested proved that. But the tests also proved that it did leak quite a bit there. But also leaked while the darkslide was coimpletely closed without exposing the frame......

Also that light leaked at other places where there shouldn't be any leaks.

The seller claims it was a bad batch from the manufacturer. I am going to go with the Dayi and see how it works out for me.....

So you are saying it is a 6x12 holga? Dude, we could sell these to hipsters. They would love them.

WayneStevenson · Mar 26, 2013

Hah. Like a 6x12 Holga Film Back. Build quality of the Holga 120Pan, but the opportunity for sharper glass, and plenty of light leaks.

I am actually impressed and quite releived with the quality of the DaYi. After seeing the GuoHuo, my expectations for a Chinese 6x12 film back were pretty low.

Richard Man · Mar 26, 2013

The thing to remember that this is not a single "China Inc." There are plenty who make cheap crap, but there are still quality artisans abound.

mark · Mar 26, 2013

Didjiman, you are obviously right but reputation is everything. Is every American a gun toting redneck who wants to control the world? No, but that is how many in the world view us. All you have to do is look at posts about Americans on this board to see how the actions of a few are plastered on everyone.

drumlin · Mar 26, 2013

I was just considering buying a 6x12 back and saw on ebay both backs you bought, Wayne. Good to hear that the extra $100 or so dollars for the DaYi gets you a bump up in quality. Let us know if that back is leaky too.

Is the seller of the Guohuo going to accept a return on the "Holga back"?

WayneStevenson · Mar 26, 2013

"There are plenty who make cheap crap, but there are still quality artisans abound. "
True, but I see so many rebranded items with slight variations in electronics on eBay, that it's obvious that there are not a lot of factories out there supplying us through eBay.So I did have my suspicions they possibly were being made in the same location with similar effort towards quality. Heh.

"Is the seller of the Guohuo going to accept a return on the "Holga back"? "

He certainly did. He refunded my money back without question, and gave me extra money to cover the shipping back to him. ecbuyonline2008

He / they were such a pleasure to deal with, I bought the DaYi from him. I think I will also be getting a 6x12 viewfinder off of him for my speed graphic. I think I may want to use this hand-held some times.

WayneStevenson · Mar 27, 2013

I am so happy to report that the 6x12 DaYi back was able to hold all of it's darkness in. Even with the darkslide out.

And to add to my thoughts, the Guohuo's advance knob was really stubby and made advancing the frame very hard to do as there was really no way to get a good grasp on it with your fingers. Especially if it was left on the camera. There was also a lot of friction that added to the annoyance.

The DaYi advances so smoothly.

jetcode · Oct 18, 2013

Does anyone know if you can shoot 220 with a Shen-Hao NHS 617 Art Panorama film back?

Thanks!

LJH · Oct 18, 2013

jetcode said:
Does anyone know if you can shoot 220 with a Shen-Hao NHS 617 Art Panorama film back?

Thanks!

Probably not, as it uses the red window design. 220 does not have backing paper, so will a) fog and b) not allow you to know where on the roll you are.

Additionally, I don't know of any 220 still being made, so it's a relatively moot point unless you have a store of OOD film.

jetcode · Oct 18, 2013

I have 25 rolls of recently expired Fuji160S. The window on mine is yellow. Thanks. I like 4 shots to a roll.

ambaker · Oct 18, 2013

LJH said:
Probably not, as it uses the red window design. 220 does not have backing paper, so will a) fog and b) not allow you to know where on the roll you are.

Additionally, I don't know of any 220 still being made, so it's a relatively moot point unless you have a store of OOD film.

I believe Kodak Portra 160 & 400 in 220 are still in production.

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Chinese 6x17 Rollfilm Backs

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