Homemade 6x17 - and yes, it's a rangefinder

[bmattock]

I thought this was cool. Wish I could afford it, but thought I'd share in case anyone was interested. I have no knowledge of or financial interest in, this camera. Just FYI...

HOMEMADE Panoramic 617 camera w/ Fujinon 90mm f/8 lens

 

[bcostin]

That's a nice rig he's built, and a clever use of bits and pieces. His sample photos are impressive, too. MacGyver would be proud.

 

[marlowe]

That's cool.
I hadn't thought about using the bellows from an enlarger to rack the lens out!.
Most of the designs I've seen have 2 tubes or boxes sliding inside each other, or handmade bellows.
Now where's that 4x5" lens I bought?🙄

 

[charjohncarter]

Nice, Cool, ingenious, but not for me. I have too much stuff already. I'd throw in $25 with ten others and we could pass it around.

 

[peter_n]

Very cool. Josef Sudek made something similar (with one arm!) from an old Kodak box. He didn't use bellows though, I think he had something like a cone on the front. He used it to create the post-industrial panoramics of northern Bohemia, published in Sad Landscape, that so inspired Josef Koudelka.

 

[kaiyen]

I bid on this, but lost in the end by a few dollars. It seemed like an awfully inexpensive way into this format, which I love very much. However, it didn't really make sense for me:

http://kaiyen.com/blog/2008/12/15/camera-format-wars/

So it all works out. Still looking for a new 5x7 camera, though.

 

[bmattock]

Very cool. Josef Sudek made something similar (with one arm!) from an old Kodak box. He didn't use bellows though, I think he had something like a cone on the front. He used it to create the post-industrial panoramics of northern Bohemia, published in Sad Landscape, that so inspired Josef Koudelka.

Two of my favorite photographers.

 

[bmattock]

I bid on this, but lost in the end by a few dollars. It seemed like an awfully inexpensive way into this format, which I love very much. However, it didn't really make sense for me:

http://kaiyen.com/blog/2008/12/15/camera-format-wars/

So it all works out. Still looking for a new 5x7 camera, though.

Nice blog. You're right, tough call. For me, the ability to use roll film and get 6x17 would be a factor, assuming I could afford either. Roll film being somewhat cheaper and not requiring (for me) development tanks, etc, that I don't have (I do have 120 stuff).

 

[kaiyen]

Good point. I am lucky that I have already been shooting 5x7 so I have all the development equipment and the techniques down. And I am comfortable with the "method," too - working slowly, one shot an hour or so, no problem. Very different experience.

 

[peter_n]

Two of my favorite photographers.

Mine too!.

 

[peter_n]

I bid on this, but lost in the end by a few dollars. It seemed like an awfully inexpensive way into this format, which I love very much. However, it didn't really make sense for me:

http://kaiyen.com/blog/2008/12/15/camera-format-wars/

So it all works out. Still looking for a new 5x7 camera, though.

You can sometimes get a bargain on pnet:

http://photo.net/gc/domain-multi?sort_by=posted&category=Panoramic

I got a Fotoman 617 very cheap there earlier this year.

 

[kaiyen]

peter - really? what is cheap? if you don't want to say, no problem.

 

[peter_n]

I think it was $750 with lens cone. The current model with just three rolls of film through it, so it was essentially new. 🙂 I think the price at the time was $1700, don't know what it is now. A beautifully made body that is built like a tank.

 

[kaiyen]

that is a great deal! nice.

 

[greggan]

Another DIY 6x17
http://www.stockholmviews.com/diyphotogear/diy_6x17_camera.html

 

[peter_n]

Another DIY 6x17
http://www.stockholmviews.com/diyphotogear/diy_6x17_camera.html

Very 😎 indeed!