New Project; Multi-Format Camera

[M. Axel Wikstrom]

Almost finished with this one. Native format is 4x5, but will also use it for 6x12 and 6x7. Built around a Fujinon SW 75mm f/8 lens and a nice little Sinar Graflok back. Wide field of view for 4x5 and 6x12 and close to a normal focal length for 6x7. Scale focus with a helicoid - focuses down to about 2 ft.

For 4x5 I'll use a Grafmatic; 6x12 and 6x7 will be Horseman roll film holders.

Calibrated infinity focus yesterday; Left to do: mark the helicoid for focus distances (using a ground glass and tape measure), make viewfinder masks for 6x12 and 6x7, and then go shoot!

 

[Dan Fromm]

Multiformat? More, the wonders of the Graflok back.

But if it meets your needs, wonderful!

 

[trendland]

Almost finished with this one. Native format is 4x5, but will also use it for 6x12 and 6x7. Built around a Fujinon SW 75mm f/8 lens and a nice little Sinar Graflok back. Wide field of view for 4x5 and 6x12 and close to a normal focal length for 6x7. Scale focus with a helicoid - focuses down to about 2 ft.

For 4x5 I'll use a Grafmatic; 6x12 and 6x7 will be Horseman roll film holders.

Calibrated infinity focus yesterday; Left to do: mark the helicoid for focus distances (using a ground glass and tape measure), make viewfinder masks for 6x12 and 6x7, and then go shoot!

That is looking like a niche (but it is an extreme small niche) !
In addition it is an extreme F I N E niche! Have you made thoughts in direction to produce a hand
made smallest series? (max. 5 - 10 cameras for your O - series)?
Seriously I can imagine your cameras could be sold out then weithin the first week!
There are a couple of multiformat cameras from wood - but it is restricted multiformat!
5x7 with reducing parts from wood to operate 4x5 ! With adidional parts there is panorama
with 120 film - and due to 120 film it is possible to shot 4,5 x 6 up to 6 x 12 with sinar
cassette (multiformat in the play)!
So some kickstarter folks are trying to rebuild that in a manner of your thoughts but these guys
are using bad material (most is of plastic)!
Well I am waiting for first boys with kickstarter cameras build from bricks!


Seriously - M.Axel from Albuquerque that what you build here looks like you need a first
money to start a series!

with immense respect!

 

[baachitraka]

https://www.flickr.com/photos/g-a-p/

I personally like simple cameras...

 

[M. Axel Wikstrom]

Trendland, I'm not planning to produce them. Made it for my needs after using a friend's Hasselblad SWC/M. The SWC gave me the idea of the same perspective in 4x5, plus a narrower, normal, perspective with 6x7 (using only one lens). I'll use it when I need an easy and lightweight alternative to my 5x7 view camera for hiking/backpacking.

But... big but, given the time (my labor) and materials, and enough left over to make it worthwhile, I'd probably charge at least $2000 for each camera - customer supplies the lens. That's probably out of most people's budget, but I don't work for free.

 

[wombat2go]

Nice job.

Do the Horseman backs lock tightly to the Sinar Graflok?

I have a Speed Graphic here.
The Horseman 10EXP/120 back here is not quite compatible with Speed's Graflok

The Horseman plate is 120.5mm high while the Graflex RH/8 back is 121.0 mm high.
Moreover the Horseman clamp faces are tapered, less than 6.0 mm at thinnest compared the the 6.3mm of the RH/8.

Result of both is that the Graflok clamps do not engage the Horseman tightly.

 

[M. Axel Wikstrom]

https://www.flickr.com/photos/g-a-p/

I personally like simple cameras...

Very cool! The woodwork is beautiful.

 

[M. Axel Wikstrom]

Nice job.

Do the Horseman backs lock tightly to the Sinar Graflok?

I have a Speed Graphic here.
The Horseman 10EXP/120 back here is not quite compatible with Speed's Graflok

The Horseman plate is 120.5mm high while the Graflex RH/8 back is 121.0 mm high.
Moreover the Horseman clamp faces are tapered, less than 6.0 mm at thinnest compared the the 6.3mm of the RH/8.

Result of both is that the Graflok clamps do not engage the Horseman tightly.

They lock pretty tight on the Sinar back, but have slight up and down play. Same with my Grafmatic back. None of the play is enough to cause a light leak or cause the back to move away from the film plane.

 

[baachitraka]

It's not mine. Some years ago I was looking for a simple camera and the above came up. His work has advanced a lot during theses years.

I love those pin-hole cameras...

 

[M. Axel Wikstrom]

4x5 test with the Grafmatic back. Bad iPhone image of the proof, but I'm very pleased. The negatives are very sharp through a loupe.