Splitters for 8x10 camera

[Shinnya]

Hi,

Does anyone use a splitter for your LF camera? Would mind explaining to me how it works?

I want to create a 4x10 negatives with my 8x10 camera. I want to know how a splitter works, so that I can decide whether I need to get one, or I can find a substitute for it or not.

Or does anyone have a better and/or alternative way to make 4x10 negatives with 8x10 back?

Thanks for sharing your knowledge in advance.

Warmly,
tsuyoshi

 

[Donald Miller]

A splitter works by having a sliding half frame in the camera back to mask the film in the holder. An alternative way of dealing with this is to cut a darkslide to the facilitate what you want to accomplish. This modified darkslide would be inserted prior to making the exposure after the normal darkslide is removed. By alternating the open area of the slide both halves of the sheet will be exposed.

 

[Alex Hawley]

Nothing more to than what Don said. I will add that its pretty easy to cut down a darkslide.

 

[Shinnya]

Thanks.

That is true. I just need to cut into a half... Did not think of it. I will find a spare one in my box...

Thank you again for your time.

Warmly,
tsuyoshi

 

[glbeas]

Note that you don't cut the entire darkslide in two, leave the handle full so you can keep the position correct. And leave enough material so there is a thin blank strip between the exposures.

 

[matt miller]

I've cut my own out of sheet metal and they work very nicely. I have the ability to shoot 8x10, 8x8, 4x10, & 5x8 all with one back. The masks are just flat pieces of metal that slide into the grooves in the camera back.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

You might want to go to www.benderphoto.com and look at one of theirs as a model (under 8x10" accessories, if I remember correctly). It's very easy to make one out of a spare darkslide. I did it using an X-Acto knife and a straightedge. Again, be sure to leave some material at the handle end to support the mask in the holder, and make the mask a little wider than half so the frames don't overlap.

 

[Deckled Edge]

Nothing more to than what Don said. I will add that its pretty easy to cut down a darkslide.

I have a pair of sliding boards that came with the Deardorff, but I chose to use the cut darkslide instead. Bad idea. I found that light leaks were a problem and then the aluminum band at the handle bent for lack of support from the whole darkslide. I cut a second darkslide, leaving more meat on the frame, and that helped, but only a little.

I went back to the splitter. I think the old guys who designed cameras and went to all the work of milling the slots in the backs, installing springs, and providing splitters for most view cameras knew something that we darkslide manglers have to learn the hard way.