How to make a Hasselblad Large Format Camera

Henry Alive · May 3, 2013

I am thinking that it would be a good idea to make a field camera using the A12 Hasselblad magazine and a 80 CF Hasselblad lens. Can you give me some websites addresses that could help?
Thank you,
Henry.

Richard S. (rich815) · May 3, 2013

Why? For movements?

Henry Alive · May 3, 2013

Yes, for movements.

Barry S · May 3, 2013

I've had an Flexbody (basically what you're describing) and it doesn't make any sense to start with a Hasselblad lens and film magazine for a DIY camera. The lens needs to be cocked and triggered and the magazine needs to be wound--how will you do that? The Hassy lenses have very little coverage beyond 6x6, so your movements are limited. Mamiya or Graflex roll film backs and a large format lens would be a much better start.

Dan Fromm · May 3, 2013

Barry S said:
Mamiya or Graflex roll film backs and a large format lens would be a much better start.

+1, unless you're a masochist in a big way.

By the way, other makes of roll film backs will do as well for you as Graflex or Mamiya. Note that all but early Mamiya RB/RZ backs have interlocks that you'll have to defeat, also that the lovely S-shaped backs for Mamiya Press cameras are very hard to adapt to standard Graflok backs.

Slixtiesix · May 3, 2013

Simply buy an SL66!

cjbecker · May 3, 2013

A flexbody is what your talking about.

lxdude · May 3, 2013

Slixtiesix said:
Simply buy an SL66!

Or a Fuji GX680.

cowanw · May 4, 2013

Or a Cambo 4x5 with a Hasselblad adaptor back.

E. von Hoegh · May 4, 2013

Or a Linhof Super Technika 2x3.

Len Robertson · May 4, 2013

The book "Nature Photography" by Ingmar Holmasen shows a couple of different "tiltable back" (the author's term) modifications to Hasselblad bellows which the author has done. For one version, he uses a 150mm view camera lens. The other is for Hasselblad lenses. There are several copies of the book on eBay, and I suppose the online used book sellers also. My copy is the 1975 edition, although the later editions may also show the same "tiltable back".

Len

ic-racer · May 4, 2013

Nothing you do will make a 6x6cm negative 'large format.'

Besk · May 4, 2013

It can be done and I have had at one time all the parts to do it.

To mount the lens you need the front off of an early model Hassy bellows. The back would have to be fabricated from the back plate of a junked Hassy body plus the bottom and top "bits." This works only for the old style A12 backs that have the window in the back. Otherwise it can be very involved to incorporate a film advance mechanism into the back.

36cm2 · May 4, 2013

ic-racer said:
Nothing you do will make a 6x6cm negative 'large format.'

The easiest way to convert a Hasselblad into a large format camera is to sell it and use the proceeds to buy a Chamonix 4x5. If you'de like to retain some Swedish provenance, feel free to carve a V into the walnut back. Best of luck to you, whatever you do. In my experience these ideas are fun to play with, even if they never quite work out as planned.

Leo

erikg · May 4, 2013

Lots of small view cameras out there, very common now as a digital platform in the studio. You can get a sliding back that has a ground glass and a mount to take a hassy back. That exists. Slide from one to the other, very fast. You probably want a proper view camera lens though, in a shutter, something with enough coverage for movements.

MattKing · May 4, 2013

ic-racer said:
Nothing you do will make a 6x6cm negative 'large format.'

Even if your audience is used to shooting with camera phones?

36cm2 · May 5, 2013

MattKing said:
Even if your audience is used to shooting with camera phones?

Matt, you're totally right, except only if they're shooting with their iPads. That's a 6x8 camera - about halfway between 4x5 and 8x10. I assume these guys are cutting their own sheets. I must see 4 or 5 of these LF enthusiasts in Times Square each day as I walk to work. Who says large format is a dying art.

In all seriousness though, one morning last year I saw this woman with a Toyo 4x5 set up at the base of the square. It was a glorious start to my day.

cjbecker · May 5, 2013

Len Robertson said:
The book "Nature Photography" by Ingmar Holmasen shows a couple of different "tiltable back" (the author's term) modifications to Hasselblad bellows which the author has done. For one version, he uses a 150mm view camera lens. The other is for Hasselblad lenses. There are several copies of the book on eBay, and I suppose the online used book sellers also. My copy is the 1975 edition, although the later editions may also show the same "tiltable back".

Len

I would love to see some pics on that.

If you could scan the pics that would be awesome.

David Grenet · May 5, 2013

Erie Patsellis (who's a member here and will hopefully comment himself) has done as much with a Mamiya RB67 lens/back combo.

Henry Alive · May 5, 2013

Thanks to all of you. The post of David Grenet shows something similiar to what I am thinking about.
Henry.

k_jupiter · May 6, 2013

It's actually easier to do with Mamiya rb stuff. Get a junked front plate from an old rb67 (they are plentiful) for cocking the lens, and the back rotating plates are easy to find too. How are you going to focus though? The film plane offset on an rb67 back is different than the offset on a graphic or Singer back. I have looked into it and though "Why bother?". I have used rb backs on a 2x3 Speed. That's how I suspected the offset was different. The negatives on film from the rb were just not quite in focus. Kind of like a Minolta 370 I had. I would KNOW I had that image in focus and take it into the dark room and cuss up a storm. The solution to that was called "FM2". Never had an issue after that. Gave the Minolta away to someone who couldn't tell the difference. The solutuion to the 2x3 Speed was just not shoot with a rb67 back.

tim in san jose

Laurent · May 6, 2013

There's this article in the French forum : http://www.galerie-photo.com/construire-chambre-6x6.html

lxdude · May 6, 2013

k_jupiter said:
It's actually easier to do with Mamiya rb stuff. Get a junked front plate from an old rb67 (they are plentiful) for cocking the lens, and the back rotating plates are easy to find too. How are you going to focus though? The film plane offset on an rb67 back is different than the offset on a graphic or Singer back. I have looked into it and though "Why bother?". I have used rb backs on a 2x3 Speed. That's how I suspected the offset was different. The negatives on film from the rb were just not quite in focus. Kind of like a Minolta 370 I had. I would KNOW I had that image in focus and take it into the dark room and cuss up a storm. The solution to that was called "FM2". Never had an issue after that. Gave the Minolta away to someone who couldn't tell the difference. The solutuion to the 2x3 Speed was just not shoot with a rb67 back.

tim in san jose

I suppose getting a second junk back and affixing a ground glass in the opening with the matte side flush with the film rails would work.

...or maybe some kind of a mirror at a 45 degree angle, with a mechanism to raise it...

cjbecker · May 9, 2013

I would like updates on your build!!!

DREW WILEY · May 9, 2013

Why bother?? If it's just a fun project, I can understand that. But any decent 4x5 camera will do a far better job, and dedicated view lenses
are apt to perform better too with a lot less weight and fuss. Plus you can choose from any number of roll film backs if you need to.

How to make a Hasselblad Large Format Camera

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