Making a pano mask for my Mamiya 1000s

[dwdmguy]

Guess the time in bed has me thinking too much.

I can't afford a Xpan. (I'm to have a wedding for a good friend next weekend and it screams Panoramic)

So, I was thinking about masking my 1000s and it's ground glass. Does that make sense or am I being a knucklehead again? Yes, I know I can crop but it would seem making a mask would help with comp a lot. Plus I LOVE the idea of staying all analog.

I'm hopeful I don't have to use the cane next week.

Sorry if this is silly.
Tom

 

[Q.G.]

Putting a mask between the film and focal plane shutter will be the very difficult, of not impossible task.
I'm not offering solutions - sorry for that - but do think that cropping later is the much better way.

You can still aid composition by adding masks on the focussing screen without much trouble.
You only have to match the crop to what you saw in the viewfinder in the darkroom (cropping is not a digital technique, so no need to give up your LOVE for analog ). A bit annoying perhaps, but it is there on film.
Besides: it gives you a second chance to rethink the composition, maybe find there are more than just one in the whole negative.

 

[aoresteen]

I've had the same thoughts. I don't think it will work. BUT I'm considering getting a Mamiya 645 Super and having a FILM BACK masked.

The pano size print I've settled on is 8x20 (1/2 of a 16x20 sheet). That would make the film gate sized 24.5mm x 56mm.

 

[jasonhall]

Much like the others I would steer away from masking the film plane. That would be great to play with but sets the stage for to many possible screw ups when shooting a wedding. Masking the view finder however would be a great idea. I have made my own mask for the view finder on my RB67. One mask for the 645 back(I got it used and no mask came with it). I also made a mask for 35mm film. I made adaptors to shoot 35mm in a 6x7 back for the same idea you had...panos.

It worked really well, but I need to redo it with markings to note the sprocket holes. there is one image that would have been perfect had I compensated better for the sprocket holes with the framing. Other wise the resulting images are about 11.5in x 4 in.

So yeah, I think the masking the finder to help compose panos is a great idea! Masking the film plane...maybe a neat project for while you have time to check for accuracy.

Jason

 

[frank]

Masking the finder - sure. Masking the film gate - pointless, needless.

 

[Q.G.]

Pointless, needless...

In the case of a 1000s, more impossible than anything else.

 

[Paul Cocklin]

If you're printing analog, can't you just make a mask for the ground glass to aid composition and then make a mask for the neg carrier when you enlarge? I've never tried this before but I don't see why it wouldn't work...

 

[dwdmguy]

Thanks all. I'm sure that was the way to go as well. (masking the glass / finder)

Masking the ground glass will of course work but you simply have to remember how you composed when you print. Not a biggie but wanted to get some thoughts. The mask on the glass will at least help me in viewing the image...
Thank you.