looking to build/get built a coupled 6x12 rangefinder camera.

soulstar89 · Aug 1, 2019

hey fellow film shooters.

i am looking to build or get built a 6x12 coupled rangefinder camera. i have seen people use the polaroid land cameras which has the 127mm lens to convert to roll roll film.

i was wonder weather the 90mm fuji gw690 lens could cover a 6x12 frame and also weather it could be a body to start with? i understand that the opening at the back would have to be widened and also adjusting the rangfinder window and frames.

i really like this aspect ratio and want a camera i can use as a daily

minh0204 · Aug 1, 2019

What's your budget? You can reach out to the maker of the Holmium 67, I'm sure he'll take commission.

https://www.panomicron.com/holmium-6x7

soulstar89 · Aug 1, 2019

minh0204 said:
What's your budget? You can reach out to the maker of the Holmium 67, I'm sure he'll take commission.

https://www.panomicron.com/holmium-6x7

thanks for the response. budget wise? im not actually sure. i dont mind spending if i can get what i have in mind. ideally i would want a metal camera. i will contact the link you provided.

Dan Fromm · Aug 1, 2019

Linhof Master Technika with Techno Rollex roll holder.

soulstar89 · Aug 3, 2019

Dan Fromm said:
Linhof Master Technika with Techno Rollex roll holder.

not sure i that it could be my camera to sling over my shoulder lol

awty · Aug 3, 2019

612 is twice as good as 66.

I use a 90mm S-K Angulon f6.8 that barely covers, in fact mines a little off center so it doesnt. You could use a super to get sharp corners. Not sure about your fuji, but is worth trying if you already have one. I personally prefer a 90mm or wider, other wise it will look too much like a crop.and not so panorama. But then you need to adjust bellows to suite, not hard, wides are pretty forgiving. I used a 330 Land range finder, but after picking up a zone finder 104 I think its better (people give these cameras away), certainly easier as the guides are in the view finder window. I just butchered a 612 holga pinhole to use as a film holder and bolted it on the back of the Polaroid (lots of butchering). The camera has some focusing issues I will need to sort out.....still very cheap to make and very light, just came back from the city after taking mine out for another test run.

Dan Fromm · Aug 3, 2019

soulstar89 said:
not sure i that it could be my camera to sling over my shoulder lol

There are lighter 4x5 press and technical cameras with coupled range finders, also less expensive, that accept 6x12 roll holders, of which there are some lighter and less expensive than the Techno Rollex.

If you give up your fixation with metal cameras, a 4x5 Crown Graphic with a 6x12 Cambo insertion type roll holder will work better for you than anything you can make yourself.

awty · Aug 3, 2019

Cost of mine was $100 for the lens, $100 for the Holga and $20 for the polaroid. Thats Australian dollars, which is about $150 USd. Cant even buy a 6x12 film back for twice that. Wouldn't be hard to adapt the forward standard to take a lens board if you wish to switch lens.

reddesert · Aug 4, 2019

I don't think the Fujji GW690 90mm lens would cover 6x12, since it's a normal lens design not a wide angle. I also don't think you could modify the body of the camera to widen the film opening without destroying everything useful, since the film transport sits where you want the wider gate to be.

There are lots of older 90mm wide angle lenses that just barely cover 4x5 that could be used for a 6x12 camera; building the film transport is the hard part. Coupling your own rangefinder is also hard. Unless you go to a 4x5 like Dan suggested, where much of the work has been done for you.

Dan Fromm · Aug 20, 2019

OP, if you can do without a coupled RF one of these https://www.maleficwares.com/ folks' products might suit you.

David A. Goldfarb · Aug 20, 2019

Sinar Zoom II and a Linhof Tech V works for me. Press cameras like the Graphic and technical cameras like the Technika are designed to be used handheld and can have coupled rangefinders. On a budget, look for a one of the Chinese rollfilm backs that use the red window instead of a mechanical frame counter. I’ve used a Chinese 6x17 back handheld with the Tech V. Since that’s an expansion back, it required setting the lens at a different infinity point than normal, but the rangefinder worked just fine.

soulstar89 · Aug 20, 2019

Dan Fromm said:
OP, if you can do without a coupled RF one of these https://www.maleficwares.com/ folks' products might suit you.

hey, ive been away filming so haven't checked up on this. i actually contacted this guy. nico"s youtube channel spoke about the company on one of his news shows. this is something to consider but he told me once the film back is on the camera it cant be removed.

soulstar89 · Aug 20, 2019

David A. Goldfarb said:
Sinar Zoom II and a Linhof Tech V works for me. Press cameras like the Graphic and technical cameras like the Technika are designed to be used handheld and can have coupled rangefinders. On a budget, look for a one of the Chinese rollfilm backs that use the red window instead of a mechanical frame counter. I’ve used a Chinese 6x17 back handheld with the Tech V. Since that’s an expansion back, it required setting the lens at a different infinity point than normal, but the rangefinder worked just fine.

thanks for the recommendation. the more i dig in research the more i realise that it will be hard to get compact coupled metal camera

awty · Aug 20, 2019

Dan Fromm said:
OP, if you can do without a coupled RF one of these https://www.maleficwares.com/ folks' products might suit you.

They look great, not too expensive, but much more fun to make your own 6x12.

Dan Fromm · Aug 20, 2019

awty said:
They look great, not too expensive, but much more fun to make your own 6x12.
View attachment 229302

Those that can, might. Those that can't, buy.

EdSawyer · Aug 21, 2019

Search up the Chamonix Saber. I have one and use it regularly with a 6x12 Horseman back. It's a very compact camera, easy to carry around and hike with, and has the bonus of being able to shoot 4x5 too.

wombat2go · Aug 22, 2019

I was looking at making a 6x12 version of the 6x7 RH10 WomTak1 diecast box camera I made in 2012,
it was the first project after getting a lathe.
https://app.box.com/s/bsf4ca4fy3v149skqxw9

But so far the price of 6x12 rollfilm backs stopped me proceeding.
And it would not be possible to make a simple manual winder with red window
because the 120 backing paper does not have graduations less than 8 exp (RH/8).

reddesert · Aug 22, 2019

wombat2go said:
I was looking at making a 6x12 version of the 6x7 RH10 WomTak1 diecast box camera I made in 2012,
it was the first project after getting a lathe.
https://app.box.com/s/bsf4ca4fy3v149skqxw9

But so far the price of 6x12 rollfilm backs stopped me proceeding.
And it would not be possible to make a simple manual winder with red window
because the 120 backing paper does not have graduations less than 8 exp (RH/8).

6x12 backs are expensive, but if you are ok with or can make a manual wind red window back, just use every 2nd number for the 6x6 frames - that is, you put the red window to one side so that when you wind to 1, the film is in position for the first shot, then wind to 3, and so on. This is how the Da Yi 6x12 and 6x17 backs are constructed.

wombat2go · Aug 22, 2019

Thanks Red, I understand now. Measures about 123mm between every second 6x6 .

looking to build/get built a coupled 6x12 rangefinder camera.

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