DIY 6x6 P&S project

[B-9]

Kool rendering! Any plans for a grip? Or will this lil guy be a tripod slug?

If you havnt nailed down a back yet, Have you looked in Mamiya Press backs? most are 6X7 but you can find the occasional 6X9 on ebay. They have pretty easy mount to replicate with some washers and bolts.

Also the RB67 backs are really cheap, and is what ive chosen to use.
I can imagine itd be just as easy to fabricate a mount. Although ide suggest the regular "Pro" model backs as i dont believ they have a dark slide catch, i could be wrong tho?

 

[Jamie123]

Looks nice, but I wonder, does the body really have to be so deep with the 65mm lens? I only have a little experience with ALPA cameras and they're all quite thin.

 

[B-9]

The Alpa camera's use lens cones/boxs to compensate for their thin body. Regardless of the camera the distance between the film and the rear lens element has to be correct to achieve right focus. The cones may not seem as large as a boxy camera like above, but you have to take into account that they also have Helicoids attached to the lenses and cones.

Im not sure what the EFL for the 65mm is but im sure its close to 65mm/6.5cm so to say it simply the rear lens element/cell should be 65mm from the film.

A reason Alpa's camera's are so thin is to keep them universal, allowing you to exchange the lenses (mounted on their respective size cone). So you dont just buy a Alpa made for a 65mm or a 90mm you buy a Alpa and it can be used with any lens as long as you have the right size cone!

Looking forward to seeing more of what your got finished!

 

[FPjohn]

Flange Distance, etc

Flange Distance, etc

https://www.schneideroptics.com/inf...ormat_lenses/super-angulon/data/5.6-65mm.html

https://www.schneideroptics.com/inf...arge_format_lenses/angulon/data/6,8-65mm.html

https://www.schneideroptics.com/info/vintage_lens_data/large_format_lenses/index.htm

yours
FPJ

 

[Renzsu]

Thanks for your interest guys!

Kool rendering! Any plans for a grip? Or will this lil guy be a tripod slug?

Hehe, I will include a tripod mount, but this is going to be a handheld camera most of the time, hyperfocal shooting on the street and maybe some portrait work (one of the reasons why I chose the f/5.6 over the f/8.. besides that also the bigger image circle, so that I can also use it for a 4x5 P&S should I want to make one later on).
So yeah, I do plan on making a grip as well, after I figure out the body 🙂

If you havnt nailed down a back yet, Have you looked in Mamiya Press backs? most are 6X7 but you can find the occasional 6X9 on ebay. They have pretty easy mount to replicate with some washers and bolts.

Also the RB67 backs are really cheap, and is what ive chosen to use.
I can imagine itd be just as easy to fabricate a mount. Although ide suggest the regular "Pro" model backs as i dont believ they have a dark slide catch, i could be wrong tho?

I am using a RB67 back, pretty cheap and all manual. Not sure what you mean with a dark slide catch? You mean somewhere to put the darkslide when you take it out?
The Mamiya press backs would be an option, but to be honest, they're a bit too expensive for what they do imho and I prefer the look of these over the Press backs. Also with this RB67 back I will be able to make my own grip, instead of having to use the Press one.

Looks nice, but I wonder, does the body really have to be so deep with the 65mm lens? I only have a little experience with ALPA cameras and they're all quite thin.

The ALPA lens catalog has several lenses with very large lens cones (or actually more like lens boxes), in my camera the lens cone is simply part of the body. Here's the image I used to figure out the proper distance. In my foam mockup I got the distance spot on and it worked well, with a sharp image when focused at infinity.

Here's a 55mm lens for ALPA, just to illustrate my point 🙂

Of course this lens doesn't look as sexy in the press materials, so they use as small lenses as possible to demonstrate the compactness of their cameras 😉 Anyways, ALPA makes really amazing cameras, just that their promo photos can be a bit misleading until you start looking at the lenses on offer.

 

[Jamie123]

Of course this lens doesn't look as sexy in the press materials, so they use as small lenses as possible to demonstrate the compactness of their cameras 😉 Anyways, ALPA makes really amazing cameras, just that their promo photos can be a bit misleading until you start looking at the lenses on offer.

Ah ok. I was aware that the longer lenses have boxes but I didn't think the 65mm's was that thick. I used to assist for a photographer who used an ALPA 12 Max in the field. Assembling the whole thing I always felt like a sniper putting together a rifle 🙂 We used a 35mm lens, though, so it didn't have a box.
ALPA does really make very nice precision tools, although they carry a hefty price tag. They're located right in my neighborhood so maybe I should plan a heist one of these days 😉

 

[Renzsu]

Hehe yeah I know what you mean, I was playing with the 12TC at Photokina, seriously cool stuff. I'll just be happy when my camera works and doesn't feel too clunky haha.

 

[B-9]

I'll just be happy when my camera works and doesn't feel too clunky haha.

I know what you mean!

 

[Jamie123]

As far as the grip is concerned, you have a few options. You could either have a removable grip that you can attach via the tripod screw thread or you could add a few screw threads to the sides of the camera. Another option would be to have the grip handles attach to the front of the camera like some of the ALPAs but I suspect the body is not wide enough.

If you add removable grip handles I'd suggest adding extra screw threads on your camera as to keep the option open of mounting them in such a way that the camera can be changed from landscape to portrait orientation. I'd advise the same for the tripod screw thread.

I'm liking the simplicity of the design and maybe too many threads will not be aesthetically pleasing. I'm really curious to see how this turns out at the end. Too many of the DIY cameras I see on flickr are done by people who have a great affinity for engineering but little affinity for design.

If you don't mind me asking, how much will the whole project run you at the end? Sub $1k?

 

[Renzsu]

As far as the grip is concerned, you have a few options. You could either have a removable grip that you can attach via the tripod screw thread or you could add a few screw threads to the sides of the camera. Another option would be to have the grip handles attach to the front of the camera like some of the ALPAs but I suspect the body is not wide enough.

If you add removable grip handles I'd suggest adding extra screw threads on your camera as to keep the option open of mounting them in such a way that the camera can be changed from landscape to portrait orientation. I'd advise the same for the tripod screw thread.

I'm liking the simplicity of the design and maybe too many threads will not be aesthetically pleasing. I'm really curious to see how this turns out at the end. Too many of the DIY cameras I see on flickr are done by people who have a great affinity for engineering but little affinity for design.

If you don't mind me asking, how much will the whole project run you at the end? Sub $1k?

All good suggestions, I switch around a lot between portrait and landscape but usually I just swing my camera around. This will be a handheld camera most of the time so just twisting the camera will be easier for me than to relocate the handle. I have some variations in mind, I'm going to have to make a physical mockup first though, see what handles the best (seeing how the release will also have to be integrated somehow).

Regarding the cost, I'm sure I'll spend a few hundred on machining and finishing, the lens cost me 875 USD, so I doubt I'll stay under 1000 USD in the end. As with most of my projects, things tend to escalate a bit haha.

 

[B-9]

I agree all good suggestions for mounting a grip!

Im doing something a little different, im cutting a channel on the front right side of the body, drill 2 holes for bolts, and making a clone of the Fotoman Arial grip, just a tad smaller.

Cant wait to see what you've got done on the camera! Post some pictures as soon as you can!

 

[Jamie123]

All good suggestions, I switch around a lot between portrait and landscape but usually I just swing my camera around. This will be a handheld camera most of the time so just twisting the camera will be easier for me than to relocate the handle. I have some variations in mind, I'm going to have to make a physical mockup first though, see what handles the best (seeing how the release will also have to be integrated somehow).

Regarding the cost, I'm sure I'll spend a few hundred on machining and finishing, the lens cost me 875 USD, so I doubt I'll stay under 1000 USD in the end. As with most of my projects, things tend to escalate a bit haha.

It'll still be a lot cheaper than an ALPA 😉

I understand that you prefer to swing the camera around. At the very least, though, I would add two tripod screw threads for both orienations. Makes life much easier with a tripod. You could also forego the handles altogether and just add two strap lugs on the side to attach a hand strap.

One more idea: Have you thought about milling out a bit of the surface on the side in order to cover some of it with leather? Make it look sort of like a Linhof Technika? I imagine plain aluminum could get quite cold in low temperatures.

 

[B-9]

Check out my post for a few photo's of my "body" just got all the bugs worked out today, going to have photo's tomorow, after she gets some paint!

 

[Ezzie]

This is a grip I would have liked to fit to my DIY camera, inspired by Alpa I would suspect.

http://www.galerie-photo.com/chambre-legere-4x5.html

 

[B-9]

Thanks for the link Ezzie, that is one good looking camera! I hope mine turns out to look half that good!

 

[B-9]

Bump+

Hows your project coming?

 

[Renzsu]

Hi man, it's slow.. right now I'm looking to buy a spanner wrench somewhere nearby so that I can take the helicoid off the lens board. I was thinking about what ChrisN said and removing the lens and attaching it directly to a lens cone will be better for accuracy and light tightness and will also cut down on the number of parts as well as make the camera body a bit more compact. This all means the cost of this camera will go down as well. Downside is that I need a tool that I don't have and it seems that this retainer ring is stuck pretty tight (so I'm going to try baking this thing in the oven on a low temperature for a bit to see if I can loosen it).
I am pretty tied up with work, so I will have to use the week between Christmas and newyears to look for some wood, since I still kind of prefer the idea of having a wooden body with aluminium cnc'd lens cone and back adapter. Of course this means further changes to the design 🙂
Anyways, I will show some new images soon, after that I really should start the building (although there will be little for me to do myself..).

 

[B-9]

If you cant find a good spanner wrench, try looking for some Retaining ring pliers, usually found cheap at any Hardware store. Should do the job just as well.

I know what you mean! I havnt had to much time lately to dump into my project. So far Ive got a few coats of pain on the body, and its looking really nice. Found some seal material for the RB back, and lined the Inner cutout with Velvet flocking.

So your going to use a lens cone in your design now?
I happened to pickup a better "Cone" than I was using, the other day.
It was a base the a large Lava Lamp, a tad to big for my camera, so hopefully this weekend i can get some headway on cutting it down.

Cant wait to see some of your new images. Seems like our posts have died out! Havnt had any interesting replies in a few days!

Maybe some new photo's will draw everyone back in lol.
Goodluck! and Happy Holidays!

 

[Renzsu]

Haha, well at least you've got something too look at, I only have a bunch of parts and some brain farts 🙂
Those pliers you mentioned aren't big enough unfortunately, these little holes are 75mm apart, I'm not even sure if a spanner wrench will have that much reach (then again, it was attached somehow..).
Anyways, this project is still very much alive, I'm thinking about it almost every day.. I just wish I had a bit more energy left after work to sit down with this thing. It'll be done someday though haha.
Happy Holidays as well, hope your lens cone works out!

 

[B-9]

Wow that would be a larger spanner wrench, it may call for custom making your own tool, Ive made a few out of paint scrappers, puddy knifes. Not exactly the best looking or working tool. I'm sure you'll figure it out~!

Ive put a pause on the lens cone for the time being, Im not sure if I want to use a different optic. So im just taking the time to really think it over good before I go to far into a piece I can only cut once!