Want to Buy WTB: Beater 11x14 Deardorff back w/out Glass and Spring

Fragomeni · Apr 3, 2012

Hi all,

All I need is the wood with pins that'll snap into place on the back of a V11. Doesn't matter if it was a 11x14 back or reducing back. I don't care about the glass or even the spring portion of the back. All that is needed is the piece that joins to the body and has a hole cut in it. This is for my 8x20 expansion back project so I'll be trimming out the hole anyway. If anyone has this please let me know. It'll save me some time if its one less piece I have to make from scratch. Thank you!

johnielvis · Apr 4, 2012

I got one for a studio 11x14....I don't that that will fit though it can probably be cut down---I'd just get 2 sheets of plywood and glue AND screw one to the other--one sheet the "outside" square and one for the "inner square" light seal....
use nails for pins until you get proper ones....

you may be better off just building a whole camera this time....20 to 14 (or 11!!!!!) is quite an expansion and vignetting will be problems for sure--really limiting usefulness---you must design for your focus range as well as the infinity focal length---if you get no vignetting at infinity and then want to get close, you'll start to vignette when you rack out the lens...unless you're always gonna be focusing at infinity that is....

Fragomeni · Apr 4, 2012

Hey Johnielvis! Hope you're doing well man! We've actually been working out some math and dimensions over at the Large Format Forum (click here to see the thread) and building the expansion back to go from 11x14 to 8x20 should actually be pretty straight forward. We've got some good diagrams drawn up showing the relationship between depths and focus at infinity vs close focus. Essentially, I'll work out the math once I have everything on hand by measuring the focal length/ bellows length and angle of coverage at the closest focusing distance I intend to use with the back and that will give me the necessary depth that the expansion back has to be to prevent vignetting. The unit will be made of Balsa and then covered in a mahogany veneer for added strength. The Balsa will weigh almost nothing and the veneer wont add much weight at all. Check out the link to see what we've been talking about and feel free to chime in.

Regarding the 11x14 V11 back, I'll probably just end up making this myself like you said which would probably be easier anyway.

johnielvis · Apr 4, 2012

kool--I can't chime in anymore since they banned me....but ok...yeah..as long as you take in close focus to consideration

man I still think it's easier to just get the bigger camera and reduction backs---get like a 16x20 or 2024 and you can then have any back you want hassle (and vignette) free---you'd be surprised how big the big camera acdtually are when you gotta carry around a rigid box of a camera--I made a couple and they are surprisingly hard to manage if you can't fold them up--so you'll definitely need the bellows

hey---how about asking them to unban me so I can contribute as my input is so useful...that'll really get them dudes hoppin mad....

good luck with the back...I may myself actually buy one of the proper 1220s from deardorff but first I'm gonna have to finish all the 11x14 projects and sort out what I want to keep. then again...I just got developing 11x14 perfected...1220 will be a whole new ballgame...uhhhh...maybe in a couple of years....

johnielvis · Apr 4, 2012

OH--simplicity---if your bellows will likely only be compressed or expanded and not inbetween, maybe just a bunch of extension "tubes" (boxes) instead of bellows---extension tubes of different lengths for the different distances you'll need--then you'll have a rigid attachment with now slopping around with 2 standards with bellows inbetween, you know---start offf with one with min extension and one with max extension...or sections of "tube" that can be snapped together or tied together somehow...like stackable containers...one fits in the other...

Fragomeni · Apr 4, 2012

What do you mean they banned you!? I don't understand what happened.

Reduction backs on a bigger camera are convenient but seeing as I own a 20x24 I can assure you that nothing is easier or realistically more convenient about a bigger camera when a primary concern is being mobile with it. I've gone into the field with my 20x24 and compared to that anything smaller is a pleasure. Dont get me wrong, an 11x14 is a big camera but even with an expansion back it's nothing like an unwieldy 20x24 or even 16x20.

The Deardorff 12x20 will be beautiful if you ever decide to get one!

So tell me about this banning crap...PM me if you want.

Fragomeni · Apr 4, 2012

Yea, I've been considering doing some kind of stackable system but in the end I think that'll just be more weight and more pieces to worry about. I just have to wait to get all the stuff in front of me so I can visually see what I'm dealing with.

johnielvis · Apr 4, 2012

AHHHHHH YOU GOT A 2024!!!! YOU'RE SET DUDE!...but that's that monster thats in your picture then----can't carry that around.

yeah---BANNED in the USA dude---the techinical reason was being disruptive--specifically bad spelling and grammar

in other words--the mod made up a reason becasue he don't like my "attitude"....

hey--their loss, man...I got LOTS o knowledge and genius that can be gettin' spread to the masses...

seriously loookig at that 12x20....it's open window all the time now...like almost wallpaper on my screen!

Fragomeni · Apr 4, 2012

Thats ridiculous. Thats a little surprising to me, I didn't think that forum would be so uptight.

Buy the 12x20!!

Mel Evans · Apr 9, 2012

I'd be interested in your 11x14 back. I wonder if they would have made a different back for each camera? I'd be using on V11. Let me know. Thanks.

Fragomeni · Apr 13, 2012

Mel, I wouldn't be getting rid of my 11x14 back. That is still my primary back for the camera. The 8x20 back is just a project to expand the possibilities of the camera and wont be permanent on the camera. 11x14 V11 backs come up on the large forum now and then as well as on ebay. Keep an eye out regularly and you may come across one. You can also have a new one made by Dead Link Removedas they are back in business and operating out of Cleveland TN.

Want to Buy WTB: Beater 11x14 Deardorff back w/out Glass and Spring

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