Speed graphic with DIY 96mm f0.96 lens

m1tch · Sep 28, 2014

Hi all,

Just wanted to post this up with regards to my DIY lens building/large format fun, I still need to make some waterhouse stops for the lens however I can use the speed graphic focal plane shutter to use this lens, I am just working out the last parts of making the lens work with the body. The lens is much larger than a standard lens board.

Its on slightly raised runner so that I can use the OEM focusing mechanism rail

Image on the ground glass on test focus

I plan to fit some bag bellows or add a sliding box arrangement to bridge the gap between the back of the lens and the body but its almost there.

Front element is 4", very fine DoF, should improve once stopped down though - f number and focal length were worked out owing to the less than orthodox construction!

snapguy · Sep 28, 2014

great

Great stuff. Is that a projection lens? I have a spare one of those I want to do something with. I also am building a FrankenGraphic (Crown) from spare parts. Almost there (as they always say).

pdeeh · Sep 28, 2014

Wickes made some very fine lenses

m1tch · Sep 28, 2014

pdeeh said:
Wickes made some very fine lenses

They sure do lol I just wanted to try this out, the image circle is massive so I could use this for ULF at some point in the future, actually quite happy with the image that its produced so far though.

wombat2go · Sep 28, 2014

M1, It will be interesting to see the wide aperture images you get.

For mounting, you might refer to my older thread "Graflex lensboard lock hardware"
which show one of the heavy duty laminated aluminum boards and beefed up threaded hardware I made for the 4x5 Speed to support the large diameter heavy Takumars during hand held use.

Also one time I made a "Sock Lensboard" of a thin plastic board with a 40mm bore on one side and a beer can holder (wetsuit material) which stretches up to 80mm or more to attach to barrels (see photo below). Very simple to make, it clamps with cable ties, but I think the one I made is too small for your lens.

Anyway.. Hope you find a good way to couple that lens so that it is sufficiently light tight.

m1tch · Sep 28, 2014

Thanks for the info, I was thinking about a rubber of some sort to put over the end of the lens to attach to the body, I will have a look into a lensboard attachment like the one you have shown, I could simply put a cover over the gap, or indeed attach some blackout material to the front of the lens and drape a cape over the whole thing (would also help with focus etc as well).

I will update this thread when I make some more progress, its almost there though!

Dan Fromm · Sep 28, 2014

pdeeh said:
Wickes made some very fine lenses

Pardon my ignorance. Please explain Wickes further or give references. Google found nothing for the that seems relevant.

Thanks,

Dan

Dan Fromm · Sep 28, 2014

snapguy said:
Great stuff. Is that a projection lens? I have a spare one of those I want to do something with. I also am building a FrankenGraphic (Crown) from spare parts. Almost there (as they always say).

Re projection lenses, what will you use for a shutter?

paul_c5x4 · Sep 28, 2014

Wickes is a UK equivalent to Lowes - Just one source of useful materials (not a recommendation).

darinwc · Sep 29, 2014

for the gap.. try a large collapsible focusing hood.

darinwc · Sep 29, 2014

-and for the record, that thing is frikkin cool! Where can I get one of those?

pdeeh · Sep 30, 2014

@m1tch - what as a matter of interest is the lens element from?

I made a few cameras this year using half a condenser lens ... I corrected some of the aberration by mounting half a pair of spectacles in front of it

m1tch · Oct 2, 2014

Thanks for the interest guys, I have just got myself an RAF 20" f6.3 aero lens as well which is larger lol but this lens is much faster, here is the secret to my lens:

The DIY lens is simply two 100mm 2X magnifying lenses and a plastic plumbing pipe connector (also the standard 100mm fitting), using just 1 lens would mean a much longer focal length, took me a while to work out what dioptre lenses would work to get a useful lens that would be compact enough to use.

The lens has a razor thin Dof when wide open like that - gives an almost 3D effect on the ground glass, I will simply use some waterhouse stops to dial it down a bit, even though the speed graphic can shoot to 1/1000 is might still be a bit too slow lol although I am planning to use paper negatives and shoot headshot portraits with the lens setup.

Here is the Aero lens I have just got, it seems to be missing the rear element though which means I might need to modify this:

Dead Link Removed

Also mounted a old 'landscape lens', single meniscus fixed stop brass lens:

Speed graphic with DIY 96mm f0.96 lens

m1tch

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Speed graphic with DIY 96mm f0.96 lens

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