Homemade 4x5

[FrankS]

Pretty much done, just a few tweaks necessary.
It's a sliding box inside a box design.

 

[FrankS]

90mm Angulon on the front, scavenged Graflok back on the back.

 

[FrankS]

Light trap on the inside.
The screw heads visible are there to limit how far the smaller box slides into the bigger box, and sets infinity focus.

 

[FrankS]

First neg. have to determine if the heavier density on the sides are due to light leak or uneven development.

 

[FrankS]

I also have a spare 5x7 spring back to make some thing with.

 

[3rdtrick]

Good Job Frank!
I don't shoot 4x5 but have been doing a lot of home brew on Polaroids so I know how much work you put in. Hopefully we will see some pics from it soon.
Pete

 

[Jamie Pillers]

Very nice, Frank! I've often thought of doing something like this... It would be cool to see how light weight you could make such a thing.

Congratulations.

 

[FrankS]

Thanks. One day I'll build a nicer version with varnished solid wood, thinner where possible. (Sides and front)

 

[biomed]

Very impressive, Frank! Years ago I considered building a large format camera. Some how I never got around to it. I am looking forward to seeing more results.

Mike

 

[GaryLH]

Looks better then my DIY one. Have fun. I did basically the same thing.

Gary

 

[charjohncarter]

Nice job, where did you get the two boxes?

 

[FrankS]

Nice job, where did you get the two boxes?

That's the homemade part. Cut up plywood and built them.

 

[zuiko85]

Looking at the first picture I was curious how you access the shutter release. It looks very tight within the recessed box.

I just built a plywood 4X5 to test out a 90 f6.8 Angulon but it is fixed focus at infinity. OK for long shots at f16 or smaller. Mine is made from hobby plywood 1/4 in. and 1/8in. and the spaceing between the back and front is cardboard, the whole thing held with bubber bands. That way, with a different length spacer I can use my 130mm f7.7 Kodak lens that came off a broken folder. That lens has front cell focusing to 6 ft. and will just about cover 4X5 stopped down a bit.

 

[Kenj8246]

A 'handy' man. Looks quite nice, Frank. I've been bitten by the large format bug and, according to some, a 'handy' man--a fair cabinetmaker in another life. Think maybe I'll just find a nice Crown Graphic or such first.

Kenny

 

[FrankS]

Shutter access is via a u-shaped thingie and cable release.

 

[daveleo]

I love stuff like this.

Too nice, Frank !

 

[leica M2 fan]

Wonderful Frank, you must be so proud! You did yourself proud.
Enjoy it and may future versions be even better (lighter and easier
to use).

 

[newspaperguy]

AH HA!

So that's what you do when the snow is over the windows.

Nice work, sir.

 

[Nomad Z]

Nice bit of work. I keep meaning to get back to making a pinhole box camera that has barely been started.

First neg. have to determine if the heavier density on the sides are due to light leak or uneven development.

If you look at the bottom left corner of the image, the darkening doesn't extend all the way to edge of the exposed area. Beyond the darker bit, the normally exposed area has quite clear straight edges. On that basis, I think I'd be looking for a light leak.

 

[charjohncarter]

That's the homemade part. Cut up plywood and built them.

That is nice, thanks for posting.