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

[Terence]

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.

 

[Dan Daniel]

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.

 

[koraks]

You might be able to find a spare Bronica 6x6 back for a decent price.

 

[OAPOli]

How about a cheap Mamiya Six folder? Rip out the bellows struts and find a way to fasten a plate to the front.

 

[loccdor]

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.

 

[koraks]

6x7 backs, I just bought a Horseman one for $60.

Oh yeah, good call. Those are generally relatively affordable as well. Not very desirable; helps keeps prices low.

 

[Terence]

Even the parts only Mamiya Sixes look to be more than a Graflex back. And they're a red window style.

How about a cheap Mamiya Six folder? Rip out the bellows struts and find a way to fasten a plate to the fro

 

[Terence]

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.

I can get Graflex backs for about $40-45, but was looking for something even cheaper.

 

[Terence]

The trick is finding a cheap "parts" one of any of them. I need to research the even lesser brand names, I guess.

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.

 

[OAPOli]

Even the parts only Mamiya Sixes look to be more than a Graflex back. And they're a red window style.

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.

 

[blee1996]

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.

 

[Chuck1]

Which 450mm lens ?