Nikon 35mm back for 4x5

[Wade D]

I recently bought a box of LF goodies and this back was included. I did numerous searches and came up with no info. The back says Nikon with another sticker which I assume is the firm that modified it. There is no shutter. Just a very clean film transport mechanism. It doesn't look like anything I've seen before and don't know what type of back it would fit on a 4x5. Has a darkslide with a stop on it. I will take pictures of it later today and post them here so you can see what it looks like. A very curious item and possibly a one off modification.

 

[bobwysiwyg]

Very interesting, look forward to seeing the pics.

 

[Wade D]

Here are the promised pictures. Not very good because of the cheap P&S d*****l.

 

[nickandre]

Though I have next to no idea how you'd match the plane of focus, it could be an attachment for a smaller speed graphic.

 

[Someonenameddavid]

it's a microscope camera back: there used to be a 4x5 polaroid snout type adapter for instant prints from microscopes, this would replace the polaroid 545 back so you could take slides of whatever you saw under the microscope. our med school had them on Zeiss scopes and they were also made by nikon. It also explains the circular aperture.

David

 

[bobwysiwyg]

Darn interesting though, never saw such a thing.

 

[Jerevan]

It's basically a Nikon M35 latched onto something fitting a 4x5" back. Cool stuff!

Here's what some of the more ordinary M35 looks like:
http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/nikon/htmls/models/htmls/Nikon_M35.htm

 

[Alistair Wait]

I picked up an old book from the early 60's recently called 'Making Slide Duplicates, Titles and Filmstrips' by Norman Rothchild. It includes discussion on 35mm rollfilm adapters for view cameras.
The old book suggests: "Certain view cameras are supplied with special backs which accept a 35mm single lens reflex camera body. Such cameras include the Sinar View, which accepts Alpa bodies, some Burke & James view cameras, and the Arca View with backs for Exacta, Practica, Pentacon, Praktina, and Alpa bodies. With just a little ingenuity a competent camera repair shop can adapt view cameras to accept almost any 35mm or 2 1/4 reflex camera."

Cheers

 

[Wade D]

Thanks for the info. I guess the model # is under the sticker from the place that modified it. Anyone have a microscope? Or perhaps some other creative use for it?
If there is interest I will post it in the classifieds here. It would make an interesting pinhole camera, not having a shutter.

 

[Jim Jones]

A versatile way to mount an SLR on a view camera is to attach a T-mount to an improvised back.

 

[Wade D]

I'm going to list this in the classifieds for anyone who wants it. The price will be reasonable. I really have no use for it.
Jim, I have a mount like that for my Exakta to fit a Speed Graphic. Never used it much though.