Modified 6x6 TLR to 6x3

[Donald Qualls]

That is an interesting bizarre design.

Fixed that for you. Though it apparently worked well; there was even a version with a revolving back...

 

[xya]

Fixed that for you. Though it apparently worked well; there was even a version with a revolving back...

It works very well indeed. The Welta Superfekta has a revolving back, 6x9, but the viewing system was not changed, so it only shows 6x6. Focussing is fine, but you don't see what you get. There was an even better folding TLR, the ZecaFlex https://www.120folder.com/zeca_flex.htm, but it's rare and hence very expensive.

 

[Cholentpot]

Here's the next roll out of the Ricohflex. I under developed the negatives by quite a bit, this film does not like under exposure or under development. It gets a mottled look. I enlarged the baffle space a little for this one. I measured up the first time around and the negatives were not really all that much bigger than a 16mm strip. Judging by the spaces I figured I can go bigger, which I did. However I saw I can go even bigger so I put more space in for the next roll which I'm putting through a Yashica A. Right now I'm finishing up a roll in the Mamiya C and I'll see how those come out.

Ricohflex VII, Agfa Aviphot @ ISO 100, D-76 1:1 8.5 min

I left the baffle lines in frame for a few shots. I'm not very good at getting ruler straight baffles. I seem to need to crop a bit. I also need to work on framing for this aspect ratio. It is a lot of fun to shoot, especially with cheap dubious film. Just roll away looking for this odd composition. I do think I got pretty close to that Xpan look I've been chasing. Also, the Ricohflex seems to have been pushed to its limits for now. The next rolls should hopefully be a bit higher quality. Who knows though?

 

[FujiLove]

I tried 35mm panorama in Pentax 6x7 with 45mm lens, and it is seriously high quality. I can imagine it matches XPan. And you get all kind of lens options, and WSIWYG. But it is big, heavy and bulky.

This is also the way I've gone. The 45mm lens + 6x7 negative width matches the view of the Xpan really well, plus the 45mm is one of the lightest lenses in the P67 system. Swap out the heavy prism for a waist level finder, and it's not too bad to lug around.

 

[FujiLove]

Here's the next roll out of the Ricohflex. I under developed the negatives by quite a bit, this film does not like under exposure or under development. It gets a mottled look. I enlarged the baffle space a little for this one. I measured up the first time around and the negatives were not really all that much bigger than a 16mm strip. Judging by the spaces I figured I can go bigger, which I did. However I saw I can go even bigger so I put more space in for the next roll which I'm putting through a Yashica A. Right now I'm finishing up a roll in the Mamiya C and I'll see how those come out.

Ricohflex VII, Agfa Aviphot @ ISO 100, D-76 1:1 8.5 min

I left the baffle lines in frame for a few shots. I'm not very good at getting ruler straight baffles. I seem to need to crop a bit. I also need to work on framing for this aspect ratio. It is a lot of fun to shoot, especially with cheap dubious film. Just roll away looking for this odd composition. I do think I got pretty close to that Xpan look I've been chasing. Also, the Ricohflex seems to have been pushed to its limits for now. The next rolls should hopefully be a bit higher quality. Who knows though?

For the authentic Xpan experience in 2023, you now just need to flush $4000 down the toilet.

 

[Cholentpot]

For the authentic Xpan experience in 2023, you now just need to flush $4000 down the toilet.

I'm not looking for the experience. I'm looking for the look. This is far more fun than flushing cash down the drain.

 

[blee1996]

The next rolls should hopefully be a bit higher quality. Who knows though?

I think your photos are already high quality, from a technical point of view.

 

[Cholentpot]

I think your photos are already high quality, from a technical point of view.

Thanks, but the lens on the Ricohflex does leave a bit to be desired. I think I can do better. Although I am basically pulling exposures from the center of the lens which is generally sharp.

 

[FujiLove]

I'm not looking for the experience. I'm looking for the look. This is far more fun than flushing cash down the drain.

Technically, you are looking for part of the panoramic camera experience, because you're framing your shots using an Xpan shaped view and creating an Xpan shaped negative.

If you were only aiming for the Xpan look, you could simply crop any photo taken with any camera, framed with any viewfinder.

 

[Cholentpot]

Technically, you are looking for part of the panoramic camera experience, because you're framing your shots using an Xpan shaped view and creating an Xpan shaped negative.

If you were only aiming for the Xpan look, you could simply crop any photo taken with any camera, framed with any viewfinder.

Fine. You got me.

And and our journey to Xpan we've learned more about ourselves and have discovered that shooting 24 frames of 6x3 on a TLR is fun, exciting and more than I expected. I've come out of this a better person and a better photographer. Thanks for staying for my TED talk.

Also, if anyone has an Xpan they'd like to gift to a photographer that I know, just PM me. I'll even pay $5 for it.

 

[choiliefan]

The Rolleicord Va and Vb have an insert for the back to convert it to 4.5 x 6. You could easily pop that in and out as you wanted, modify as you want. There is a double exposure override. The counter shows enough that you could probably eyeball half frames... or use the 16 frame counter and have large frame spacing. Half-frame TLRs, gotta love it.

Dan, taking that a step further I opted to widen the opening in the Va/Vb 24 insert with a dremel wheel. The opening is now approx 28X50mm. With the 24 exp counter its pretty much wind and fire.

 

[Cholentpot]

Dan, taking that a step further I opted to widen the opening in the Va/Vb 24 insert with a dremel wheel. The opening is now approx 28X50mm. With the 24 exp counter its pretty much wind and fire.

Can we see camera and results?

 

[blee1996]

Will Yashica 635 also work?

 

[Dan Daniel]

Dan, taking that a step further I opted to widen the opening in the Va/Vb 24 insert with a dremel wheel. The opening is now approx 28X50mm. With the 24 exp counter its pretty much wind and fire.

Aha!! Now that's the solution. Very nice.

The Xenar lens on the Rolleicord is often ignored but it's a very nice lens. And just for fun the shutter will take a Planar or Xenotar f/3.5 lens so the OP could hack himself a unique 24 frame R-Pan.

 

[Cholentpot]

Will Yashica 635 also work?

If you turn it on its side.

 

[choiliefan]

Dan, I've used a Sun 66 wide-angle lens kit on it for a little more panoramic oomph.
Talk about relatively cheap fun.

 

[reddesert]

Will Yashica 635 also work?

The insert to shoot 24x36 vertically in a TLR probably isn't that helpful here for either panorama format or 120 film (unless one made a new insert with no film rails and a 56x36 opening).

However, I don't know much about the film counter on the 35mm wind knob in a 635 TLR; I assume it's turns-counting. Possibly using a homemade mask to shoot the 6x3 format, and using the 35mm wind knob to advance the 120 takeup spool, would give a usable frame spacing. Spacing could get thrown off by the backing paper, but if one made home-rolled 220 with only a paper leader and trailer, it might work.

 

[Rolleiflexible]

Some suggestions for TLR cameras with a red window: a folding TLR, the Welta Perfecta https://www.120folder.com/welta_perfekta.htm they sometimes show up for ~$300, good lenses and shutters, the Voigtländer Focussing Brillant S, good lenses and shutters, ~$200, not to be confused with the ordinary Brillant, Voigtländer Superb, ~§300 if not with the Heliar lens which is very expensive, good lenses and shutters, or a Lubitel 166 non-Olympic, good lens, but no slow shutter speeds. All visible here https://www.oddcameras.com/tlr.htm

Rolleicords had red windows through the end of the Rolleicord II production run. I often shoot a Rolleicord II from the early 1950s. Sweet camera.

Re the list above: The Voigtlander Superb is a rare TLR with a horizontal film path.

 

[xya]

Re the list above: The Voigtlander Superb is a rare TLR with a horizontal film path.

There you give me an idea. The Heliar lens is what makes it superb. But as I use an RB67 and a 120 to 135 adapter from time to time https://www.oddcameras.com/120_135_adapter.htm, I never considered my Voigtländer Superb.

Thank you...

 

[Rolleiflexible]

Another solution is to use old Kodak folders for large obsolete film formats. A Kodak Six-16 loaded with 120 roll film will give you a 6x12 negative. Here's an example I shot twenty years ago:

Kodak had even bigger folders. I converted a No. 3 to shoot roll film and got negatives like this:

These cameras are fairly easy to find, gathering dust on shelves as curios because their formats became obsolete decades ago.

 

[Cholentpot]

Another solution is to use old Kodak folders for large obsolete film formats. A Kodak Six-16 loaded with 120 roll film will give you a 6x12 negative. Here's an example I shot twenty years ago:

View attachment 340949

Kodak had even bigger folders. I converted a No. 3 to shoot roll film and got negatives like this:

View attachment 340950

View attachment 340951

These cameras are fairly easy to find, gathering dust on shelves as curios because their formats became obsolete decades ago.

How do you know how far to roll the film? I have a six-16 but the red window isn't situated in a place where I can space the film. At least I don't think so.

 

[Rolleiflexible]

How do you know how far to roll the film? I have a six-16 but the red window isn't situated in a place where I can space the film. At least I don't think so.

I loaded a roll with the back open and counted the number of advance knob turns it took to advance each frame. (The number decreases as you go through the roll.) And then I taped the numbers to the back of the camera for reference. It works fine so long as you don’t forget which frame you’re on.

 

[Cholentpot]

I loaded a roll with the back open and counted the number of advance knob turns it took to advance each frame. (The number decreases as you go through the roll.) And then I taped the numbers to the back of the camera for reference. It works fine so long as you don’t forget which frame you’re on.

I can't even remember when the camera remembers for me.

 

[Moose22]

I can't even remember when the camera remembers for me.

Well, you only get 6 shots a roll, so it won't be TOO hard.

 

[k.hendrik]

RZ67 + 50mm on 16mm film So this is 16x70 format