Walnut 8x20 is Done!!

After a year and a half the tripod and camera are finished. I just got back from a week workshop in the eastern Sierras. I have some kinks to work out but I exposed six sheets and I'll develop them tomorrow and see if I need to do anything. A couple of the shots are of my ugly mug and my camera at 11,000 feet in the Bristlecone forest in the white mountains. Thanks to everyone here for their help and encouragement. You can build a camera and tripod in your apartment! So get busy!!!

Jim

Before I do much more building I've decided that I need some really nice Japanese style hand saws. That and a really decent miter box.

Did you end up making the bellows or did you find someone to make it for you?

Suh-WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET! Congrats!

Good job Jim, now its time to give that thing a thorough workout and run through some film and paper for a while! Seems like such a short time since Joshua this past winter, you were talking about it, now it is reality. I think Dan deserves some credit here as well, for his inspiration at Per's gathering (heck, we can't forget Per either). I was once told by an old guy who picked me up hitchhiking in Wyoming, that a woman can have children, but a man can build something. I think a christening is in order. Do you have a name for it (him or her) yet? Best, tim

Congratulations Jim!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It must feel great to have it finished and to be out there making new work. I can't wait to see some images. All the best. Shawn

Great job! Looks fantastic sitting atop the walnut tripod. Nothing like running the first few sheet of film in a new camera you made yourself.

Congratulations Jim!! Can't wait to see new work made with it. Did you make the film holder as well? And were did you find the brass hardware?

Great stuff, you should be very proud.

Nice job. It gives me something to strive for next year.

Can't wait to see a couple of pictures from it.


Eric

Well done Jim. That is a very nice camera. Hope you had a lot of fun along the way and will continue to have out in the field.


jan

Jim,

Congratulations on the finished Camera and Tripod; it looks great. Ow, my aching back though, how much does that weigh. And to carry it up to 11,000 feet. My hat is off to you.

Rich

Thanks to everyone for the nice comments. I have many people to thank for help and inspiration on this camera. Dan Dozer gave me a lot of help and encouragement. I tried to send off a lengthly e-mail last night about the trip and the use of the camera and my computer froze up on me. So Dan I hope to get to that tonight. I wanted to get this finished for Per's Owens Valley workshop that I just returned from so I had Jim at Western Bellows do the bellows for me. They are very nice and light and extend to 32". I have four film holders that I got off of e-bay and I'm headed to the darkroom to develop my first sheets. I shot six sheets in total and I can't wait to see what I've got. The shot of me in front of the Bristlecone pine at 11,000 feet was at sunset and when I looked at the ground glass I about fell over! We drove to this spot and I had to carry the camera about 50 yards. This format is fantastic! I have a rolling duffel that the camera fits in and I find that the 14" Rodenstock Gerogon is my go to lens for this format. It covers at F-9. I think the camera weights about 15 pounds and the tripod about 12 pounds. I don't have a scale to weight everything so I'll take it to work in a few days and put it on the scale there. I'll let everyone know. At Per's Owens Valley workshop everyone commented hoe light the camera and tripod are. I got some great ideas for the Walnut 11x14 that is under construction. I wont get to more work on it until the summer. Now it's time to shoot more 8x20. I do have to name the beast Tim, and I'm going to have a brass plate with her name on it made as soon as the name comes to me. I just call her the beast for now. So, you can build a camera with a dovetail saw, dremel, files , drill and a lot of love. I hope this will inspire others to give it a go.

Jim

Jim, your "mug" and camera are equally good looking! Congrats on getting it done. Enjoy it!

Alex W.

Ok, everyone I got a chance to weight this thing today. The camera weights 14lbs and the tripod with the Majestic head is 10lbs. My film holders are 3lbs. a piece and I have four of them . So in total my 8x20 "system" is under 40lbs. Not too bad I think. I wouldn't have a problem putting this in a backpack and going a shot distance with it.Now to find a lightweight backpack....Hum?


Jim

Nice

Hi Jim,

Beautiful camera Jim. I enjoyed meeting with you the other day over at Per's house for the workshop. What a day that was.

Good luck making images with your new gear.

Brilliant job.

So let's see those bristlecones, huh !!

I have about 100 negs to develop first. 120,4x5 and 8x10. The Bristlecone image may get printed this weekend. Then I have to figure out how to scan the thing so I can show it. I'll post it as soon as I can.

Jim

Your best way might be with a digital camera and the negative on a lightbox, or a picture of the print. We have an 11x17 scanner at work, not going to find too many larger than that until you make a very large price jump. Even some of the bigger drum scanners might have problems with that size film.