Converting 616 to 120 "pano"

So, I am planning to make a film gate/mask and a set of spool spacers to convert a 616 (Agfa/Ansco Royal Readyset 1A) to a 120 pseudo-pano. I have calculated out that if I center the spools properly, I can get a 6cm X 10cm negative. Now, the question is, what should I make the film gate out of? I thought about just plain mat board, but I am a bit concerned about scratching the film? Is this a good idea or should I use a different material?

Try coating the mat broad with many layers of shellac or varnish.Or gluing or taping some Mylar on it.

I randomly grabbed a big folder off the display shelf and wow its a Readyset Eagle 1A, what a coincidence. Mine has a Ansoc Antar lens and 2 shutter speeds : Instant and Time.

Looks like the film is just squished against the upper and lower image frame by the two metal springs on the back.

I don't know about your bellows but mine is solid and probably not any good for anything but display. If you are making a new bellows, I'd just take out a centimeter or so of the vertical section of the film gate and piece it back together so you still are using the original film gate. Then move the upper and lower springs on the camera back so they are closer to each other.

Also, just looking at it and knowing the way many landscape photos are taken, just running the film flush on the bottom would give a slight permanent 'front rise' which would probably be just fine in most cases.

A third way to do it would be to just re-load the spool in the middle and let the edges of the film float out. You could start shooting right a way like that. Hey maybe I'll try that with mine, I've got two spools.

Though mine says "Use Agfa D6 or D12 Plenachrome" then someone penciled in "116 only" and my spools are imprinted "Kodak 116"

Mine was sealed in the factory box from the time of production until about a month ago. It is minty as you can imagine. NO problem with the bellows.

photomem said:

Mine was sealed in the factory box from the time of production until about a month ago. It is minty as you can imagine. NO problem with the bellows.

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Seems like a real beauty! Are you sure you want to modify it????

I'd just try to run some re-spooled film through it first. I'll bet the lens is so blurry at the top and bottom, you may not notice any difference if the film is totally flat or not

I respooled some 120 onto 616 spools. Doesn't seem like there is any distortion.

I have a 35mm moving-slot panoramic camera and I made the focal plane slot with plain black construction paper. Not sure if that helps any.

ic-racer said:

Seems like a real beauty! Are you sure you want to modify it????

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You shouldn't need to modify it. Just make up some spacers for the reels,


Steve.

Well, I am not really modifying it, just making a cleaned up film gate and mask so I can get the frame spacing right.

Everything will be completely reversible.

if you want to makle a mask try using a darkslide form a old double dark slide - easy to cut to size (score a couple of times with a craft knife or the edge of a screwdrive), then bent to cut. Smooth with sandpaper, and you're in business. I did this to convert my 3A Graflet into a 6x12 pano SLR...

If you make the mask the full size for the film opening and stick it in with double sided tape you can then reverse the whole procedure...

If you are woried about scratching then use thin brass shim - you can fold the edges over the film gate so you won't have any scratching problems - you can paint it back, or possible "blue" it with gun barrel blue (haven't tried this, but I suspect it will work)