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What's the best donor camera to get a 6x6 120 film back for a box camera with a 450mm lens?

Terence

Member
Joined
Mar 9, 2005
Messages
1,431
Location
NYC
Format
Multi Format
Looking for a cheap camera body to butcher to satiate my urges. I'd prefer one with good film flatness, and a proper film counter, rather than a red window, so no Holgas, etc. I could always just buy a graflex rollfilm back, but where's the fun in that? What cameras should I be looking for that are substantially cheaper than a graflex back? Obviously it can be a parts camera with crapped out lens, etc. All suggestions welcome.
 
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Rolleicord or another cast body TLR like Yashica-mat or Autocord. With the cast body, alignment will be stable. And there is lots of room and material thick enough to thread for screws, etc.
 
Yes, there are also lots of Kiev 88 backs available cheaply, though I haven't tried them.

If you don't mind missing 2 shots, look into the 6x7 backs, I just bought a Horseman one for $60.
 
Even the parts only Mamiya Sixes look to be more than a Graflex back. And they're a red window style.
OAPOli said:
How about a cheap Mamiya Six folder? Rip out the bellows struts and find a way to fasten a plate to the fro
Click to expand...
 
loccdor said:
Yes, there are also lots of Kiev 88 backs available cheaply, though I haven't tried them.

If you don't mind missing 2 shots, look into the 6x7 backs, I just bought a Horseman one for $60.
Click to expand...

I can get Graflex backs for about $40-45, but was looking for something even cheaper.
 
The trick is finding a cheap "parts" one of any of them. I need to research the even lesser brand names, I guess.
Dan Daniel said:
Rolleicord or another cast body TLR like Yashica-mat or Autocord. With the cast body, alignment will be stable. And there is lots of room and material thick enough to thread for screws, etc.
Click to expand...
 
Terence said:
Even the parts only Mamiya Sixes look to be more than a Graflex back. And they're a red window style.
Click to expand...

They are red window for the 1st frame only.

At $40 a Graflex will be hard to beat. Most options I can think of use a window advance. Bronica backs require a trigger from the body to allow advance to the next frame.
 
The latter lever wind Graflex backs are pretty good, in terms of film flatness and robustness of frame counter. And can be found under $50. Similar Horseman backs will be about double the price.
 
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