what would it be that you would design if you could design anything?

removed account4 · Aug 8, 2018

there are a lot of home brew camera makers out there
some make pinhole cameras, retina cameras, large format, MF 35mm
modular systems things that take proprietary lenses and backs, even people that
mate a copymachine or scanner to the back of their 8x10 !

lets say media was free, yeah i don't care if it is electronic or film, its free and
there is something like an unlimited fruit and chocolate fountain at a wedding, pop out a strawberry
and dip it into the chocolate and it becomes whatever you need ( its not instant film or a 3000GB
computer system to develop or process the images that you still have to do ... )
anyways
if there could be some sort of camera that did it all ( not compose ) what would everything be ?
would it be it always gave you enough light and shutter speed so you got unlimited DOF?
would it be the opposite so there was always camera shake and a sliver of focus? would it be optics with
some sort of creamy bokeh? or 20coated sharp as nails beautiful contrast optics? would it be a combination?
would it be a tiny negative because you only enlarge to a small size, or you LOVE grain
so your pinky nail sized negatives blown up to 20x24 look like pointalist paintings, or a 30x40" negative so you could
contact print or do gigantic reversals ? or would it be some sort of luminous light gathering device
that collects the information and you somehow shape and mold it in the dark or on a screen?

we kind of live in a time now where just about anything can happen its just a matter of the media being
available ( and giant computers if you go that route )...

what would it be that you make? or do you already have it ?

john
ps time is there, as soon as you pick the strawberry and put it in your camera you will have
the time and energy to make whatever images you want to make, so it isn't a matter of finding the
time to enjoy yourself...
pps. and the chemistry to develop out whatever magic you want to do is there too so if
it is 50x70" kodachrome transparancies you want to make go at it

Jim Jones · Aug 8, 2018

At best, for photographers the camera, lens, and film should not get in the way of the subject. For artists who want to interpret the subject with a camera, anything goes.

Sirius Glass · Aug 8, 2018

Already BTDT many times.

NedL · Aug 8, 2018

I've been thinking again about making a camera to go to Vijayanagara with... in a perfect world, it would be light weight and collapse down to something that would fit easily in my carry-on luggage, but fold out into something sturdy and not need a big heavy tripod. It would have 12x15" or 16x20" paper holders that magically preserve the paper... maybe with vacuum sealed optical glass? I actually think the camera part might be pretty do-able, but making lightweight holders is going to be difficult...and figuring out how to develop on-site and deal w/ waste or preserve the calotypes well enough to bring them home to develop are much bigger challenges. I've been thinking about this for several years but haven't made much progress ...

Idea is to make something like:

More at: http://collections.vam.ac.uk/search...ch=&materialsearch=&mnsearch=&locationsearch=

slackercrurster · Aug 8, 2018

Here are 3 things I dream about buying...

#1 - A M4/3 Leica-like digital rangefinder in the size of their old Oly Pen FT half-frame cams. If they don't want to make it rangefinder, then go the internal split prism route. Use easy to access manual controls, no dummied down lenses. Put a real aperture ring and focus scale on the lenses. A real shutter speed dial on the body. No BS program dial, no terrible menu driven shutter speed controls. And forget the rest of the crap that overcomplicates the current crop of digital cams.

For those of you that do not know what a half-frame cam was. A half-frame 35mm cut a standard 35mm neg in half in a vertical format giving you 72 exposures from a standard 36exp 35mm roll. The thing is, don't get caught up in the half-frame deal, just make the M4/3 'in the size of a half-frame' and make it easy to use manually.

I've shot extensively with the little Oly Pen M4/3 for a year. Outstanding street cam...except for one thing. Very hard to manually adjust on the fly. I have to shoot mine on the dummy setting. My design would be the ultimate street weapon...look like a hobbyist...shoot like a pro!

#2 - FF 6mp digital Hassy back for $1500 that works with the SWC. 35mm neg film = about 3 or 4mp with a PS cam. So 6mp FF 6x6 is more than what you need to surpass 6x6 neg film.

#3 - 16mm 2K film scanner that does sound for $3999.99

jtk · Aug 8, 2018

I've got near perfect cameras...what I'd really like to make is something like this woman makes :

http://lenscratch.com/2018/08/photographers-on-photographers-lori-nix-and-rose-desiano/

I did projects like this for Hyatt Regency Hotels using dozens of big Ciba transparencies. Couldn't afford to do many of those for non-pro purposes. Doing that again I'd use rear-lit photo silkscreen.

removed account4 · Aug 8, 2018

slackercrurster said:
Here are 3 things I dream about buying...

#1 - A M4/3 Leica-like digital rangefinder in the size of their old Oly Pen FT half-frame cams. If they don't want to make it rangefinder, then go the internal split prism route. Use easy to access manual controls, no dummied down lenses. Put a real aperture ring and focus scale on the lenses. A real shutter speed dial on the body. No BS program dial, no terrible menu driven shutter speed controls. And forget the rest of the crap that overcomplicates the current crop of digital cams.

For those of you that do not know what a half-frame cam was. A half-frame 35mm cut a standard 35mm neg in half in a vertical format giving you 72 exposures from a standard 36exp 35mm roll. The thing is, don't get caught up in the half-frame deal, just make the M4/3 'in the size of a half-frame' and make it easy to use manually.

I've shot extensively with the little Oly Pen M4/3 for a year. Outstanding street cam...except for one thing. Very hard to manually adjust on the fly. I have to shoot mine on the dummy setting. My design would be the ultimate street weapon...look like a hobbyist...shoot like a pro!

#2 - FF 6mp digital Hassy back for $1500 that works with the SWC. 35mm neg film = about 3 or 4mp with a PS cam. So 6mp FF 6x6 is more than what you need to surpass 6x6 neg film.

#3 - 16mm 2K film scanner that does sound for $3999.99

that sounds fantastic !
i wanted to get a leitz lens adapter to use my leica glass on my penFT
never got it LOL the standard 38 f1.8 is a sweet ride
never used the 4/3 ...

===

NedL said:
paper holders that magically preserve the paper

ned

i've made book style large paper holders before its pretty easy and just requires some foam core and 2 folding pieces and some tape
( and a dark slide ) but they don't magically preserve anything my plan was to have a LF camera that was foam core folded up in my luggage
with paper holders &c for trips overseas to visit family ... i made small versions but never the big ones ..

but this is an exercise in futility and strawberry chocolate fondue .. im guessing it will probably work
IDK my fodue camera would probably be a 16x20 converts to 35mm to take paper and can be used to direct positive ..
as little process work as possible !

Ces1um · Aug 8, 2018

I believe many years ago Kodak had a colour 35mm film stock that you would develop yourself using only the little box they gave you to do it with. Essentially it was instant, self developed 35mm film. I'd like some of that please.

jtk · Aug 8, 2018

slackercrurster said:
Here are 3 things I dream about buying...

#1 - A M4/3 Leica-like digital rangefinder in the size of their old Oly Pen FT half-frame cams. If they don't want to make it rangefinder, then go the internal split prism route. Use easy to access manual controls, no dummied down lenses. Put a real aperture ring and focus scale on the lenses. A real shutter speed dial on the body. No BS program dial, no terrible menu driven shutter speed controls. And forget the rest of the crap that overcomplicates the current crop of digital cams.

For those of you that do not know what a half-frame cam was. A half-frame 35mm cut a standard 35mm neg in half in a vertical format giving you 72 exposures from a standard 36exp 35mm roll. The thing is, don't get caught up in the half-frame deal, just make the M4/3 'in the size of a half-frame' and make it easy to use manually.

I've shot extensively with the little Oly Pen M4/3 for a year. Outstanding street cam...except for one thing. Very hard to manually adjust on the fly. I have to shoot mine on the dummy setting. My design would be the ultimate street weapon...look like a hobbyist...shoot like a pro!

#2 - FF 6mp digital Hassy back for $1500 that works with the SWC. 35mm neg film = about 3 or 4mp with a PS cam. So 6mp FF 6x6 is more than what you need to surpass 6x6 neg film.

#3 - 16mm 2K film scanner that does sound for $3999.99

Do film photographers dream about buying stuff?

Not a good sign!

Does that have to do with old age?

Me, I dream images and projects and women sometimes ...but....buying? Nope. Not old enough.

Michael Firstlight · Aug 8, 2018

A modern color and b$w enlarging analyzer that is smart. You first scan a negative on the scanner to which the analyzer interfaces (or course you've calibrated your computer setup already). Next, make your post scan adjustments to make the ideal scan, then the analyzer interfaces with the enlarger with a starting filter pack and exposure for a test print based on the type and brand of paper and chem. You process the test print, scan the print, and the analyzer compares it to the original scan, then tells you the exact filter and exposure adjustments to match the initial adjusted scan. Subsequent neg scans adjust automatically.

NedL · Aug 8, 2018

jnanian said:
...
i've made book style large paper holders before its pretty easy and just requires some foam core and 2 folding pieces and some tape
( and a dark slide ) but they don't magically preserve anything my plan was to have a LF camera that was foam core folded up in my luggage
with paper holders &c for trips overseas to visit family ... i made small versions but never the big ones ..

I looked at the pictures of the "book style" holder you posted, but I couldn't quite figure out how they worked. I might be PMing you about that at some point.
I was thinking of foamcore or black matboard... it's amazing what you can build with such simple materials... and if it's windy a big camera can be re-purposed into a fun box kite... I'll get serious about making a camera like that as soon as I solve the magic preserving problem...meanwhile pass that strawberry chocolate fondue over this way!

removed account4 · Aug 8, 2018

ned,
picture a sheet of foam core on the bottom,
on top of that is a thin 1 ply sheet of mat board cut
to your aspect ratio and there is a tape hinge from the left edge
of the matboard to the foam core underneath.
ontop of that is 2ply mat board also cut with the aspect ratio
and hinge taped to right edge of the foam core... so when you open it up
it is 3 across, 2 ply, foam core 1 ply .. folded up it is all i big sandwich ( or small one )
THEN you tape the bottom so light doesn't get in and when it is all stuffed with paper
you tape the sides ... ( you put the paper on the foam core UNDER the 1ply...
THEN ... you get 1ply and slide it between the 2 top layers of matboard... that is your dark slide...
the way i got hte ground glass / T# ( is that what its called ? ) and paper to be the same place is
by taking a sheet of foam core cutting out a window and putting waxed paper on the lens side
so it is the exact same place as the paper. i've also used plexiglass that i rotary sanded and abraded
as ground glass, its OK but not the same exact distance because of its thickness...
not sure if any of that is more clear ..
i use black masking tape and tape all the edges before actuallytaping anything together, its easier that way...
looking forward to PMs !

bdial · Aug 8, 2018

A camera bag that holds all the stuff in some other dimension so that it is weightless in this one.

MattKing · Aug 8, 2018

A film scanner that adjusts automatically to the exact location of the film emulsion, essentially creates a digital three dimensional analogue of that emulsion and effectively ignores both the film substrate and anything like dust on the surface of the film.
And while you are at it, a film handling system that permits easy and quick scanning of everything from single frames to long rolls (with a motion picture option). A model that handles large format film too please.

Photo Engineer · Aug 8, 2018

John, BTDT. I designed the first blix for color paper for Kodak. It is still in use today in a slightly modified formula.

We went from Dev, stop, wash, bleach, wash, fix, wash, stab to Dev, blix, wash, stab. Eventually it became Dev, Blix, wash. That was a big reduction in pollution and time for all concerned.

There were other advances such as Ektaflex - Soak and laminate.

And, my Darkroom friendly Azo and Kodabromide emulsion formulas for home preparation.

Oh, and there are both Liquidol and TF5.

What have you designed for us? You keep asking US questions, but you have to answer too.

What more do you want?

PE

BradS · Aug 8, 2018

A donut without a hole, cinnamon rolls that don't have an aftertaste, hotdogs that don't make you belch, flying carpet, "pre-visualization" V.R. goggle with built in light meter, commercial air travel without inane rules, an anti-dote for stupidity,

4season · Aug 8, 2018

Some way of displaying my cameras which keeps them dust-free, yet easily accessible for use.

mshchem · Aug 9, 2018

I want a postcard camera with modern lens , roll film and original postcard Azo, backprinted, heavy weight dull matte (A surface? ) and a battery powered contact printer with LEDS.

Vaughn · Aug 9, 2018

Pretty much have what I need camera-wise. Besides the freeA full-blown, no limit of space dimroom would be nice, with a seperate UV exposure room. My present set up is a little limiting, but slowly working on it. Somehow I have been distracted with some fence building. My my, film may seem expensive, but have you priced a 6 inch flat top 6 foot redwood fence board?

.

removed account4 · Aug 9, 2018

Photo Engineer said:
What have you designed for us? You keep asking US questions, but you have to answer too.

What more do you want?

that;s great that your hard work is still being enjoyed by others.

me? most of the things i do are for myself i thinker and goof around and see what happens..
for a while i have been designing a coffee based tintype reversal developer
that will work with the cameras and lenses i have designed and use. nothing fancy just box cameras
some bigger than others
and a speed emulsion i've cooked up i expose through the back of the paper instead of the front... nothing
much to write home about like you ... you have an impressive resume !

but this wasn't an exercise to brag about what any of us have already designed not because
my designs aren't much to brag about LOL ( unlike yours ! )
it is more of a ... if someone could have any sort of anything, and there is no restriction on materials to feed it
like things already mentioned, a space age scanner, weighless camera bags, favorite
papers or equipment that doesn't or SHOULD exist, darkroom "stuff" ... &c...

what do i really want from strawberry fondue? not much ... not any new equipment, maybe
just a few extra minutes of sleep a day ... so i can finish tweeking while i saw some logs.
that way if they redwood logs, i'll somehow get them to vaughn postage paid

brads: the original donuts didn't have a hole! the inventor-guy's mom used to make him some
fried dough with nuts in it treat. once she made them for him to take on a boat trip and he his crewmate pals ate them up
( YUM ! ) so he tried to use him mom's recipe to make more for his buddies
but the dough wrapped nut didn't fry all the way through and it wasn't so YUM! but more like "ooo my tummy hurts "
not wanting to sicken anymore of his friends ( and maybe be keel hauled IDK ) he cut a hole in the middle of
the next batch so they would fry all the way through and there you go

regarding the anti-dote ... i've got some BulllS4!t3 spray if you need it, unfortunately a 12 oz can isn't anywhere near big enough !
nice list so far,
i hope the manuacturers are reading this thread .. so after they design the hyperloop they can get crackin' !

Sirius Glass · Aug 9, 2018

bdial said:
A camera bag that holds all the stuff in some other dimension so that it is weightless in this one.

I would buy one for each of my cameras.

Sirius Glass · Aug 9, 2018

MattKing said:
A film scanner that adjusts automatically to the exact location of the film emulsion, essentially creates a digital three dimensional analogue of that emulsion and effectively ignores both the film substrate and anything like dust on the surface of the film.
And while you are at it, a film handling system that permits easy and quick scanning of everything from single frames to long rolls (with a motion picture option). A model that handles large format film too please.

Sign me up for one of those.

Photo Engineer · Aug 9, 2018

Then I would invent antigravity so we can have flying cars like in Back to the Future.

PE

Sirius Glass · Aug 9, 2018

I would like a bathroom scale that shows the weight I want to be and then causes the appropriate body changes.

Sirius Glass · Aug 9, 2018

We have self cleaning ovens so I want:

Self cleaning window glass
Self cleaning pots, pans and cooking utensils
Self cleaning toilets, showers, bathtubs and sinks
Self cleaning floors
Self changing and self making beds
Self maintaining cars and trucks

what would it be that you would design if you could design anything?

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