Minimalistic wide angle camera (how to connect a roll film back to a lens)???

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paniolo

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Hello Photographers,
any idea how to connect a standard roll film back to a lens?
I imagine a wideangle medium format camera like on the linked picture. Are there any factory made solutions beside from Alpa and their siblings?

Another way would be to chop the top RF/VF housing off a Mamiya Universal/press model. But I have no clue how easy this would be.

cheers

d1f7097481d97813c7972060e59b64e6.jpg
 
This is all pure exploration with nothing factory made for an easy solution.
Get out the calipers, get to a wood shop, metal shop or have some stuff 3D printed, custom made for what you want to do. Just be sure the lens you have in mind covers the film diagonal you have in mind.

Phil Forrest
 
I've seen the Mamiya Press/Universal without the top and only the lens and finder and back. To make the back even smaller I'd suggest the Graflok back adapter and the Graflex film holder. The 65mm lens seems to be pretty small. I'd assume any 35mm finder would do.
 
Sinar Handy with Strap and Cable Extension by Nokton48, on Flickr

I just finished designing and building this one-of-a-kind "Sinar Norma Handy" camera. It takes 4x5 holders and roll film backs. I cobbled it together with some original Norma parts I had in my collection, as well as generic parts. The viewfinder is from a 43mm Mamiya 7. The grip is from a Graflex XL. The lens is a Schneider 65mm F8 Super Angulon on a Sinar Norma Focusing Helical.

This is a fabulous camera to use and it attracts a lot of attention. And it part of my Sinar Norma collection in the studio. I have taken it out for one time and have exposed eighteen 4x5's. Indeed it is very "Handy". They named it right.
 
Wow, this one looks nice 😀
And yes, it is exactly what I want, a simple light tight body that holds lens and filmback, nothing more.
Looks like I need to get hands on a Mamiya Universal body and try to take the top off. Do you think I am able to do this without any engineering skills?
 
paniolo said:
Wow, this one looks nice 😀
And yes, it is exactly what I want, a simple light tight body that holds lens and filmback, nothing more.
Looks like I need to get hands on a Mamiya Universal body and try to take the top off. Do you think I am able to do this without any engineering skills?
Click to expand...

Google Mamiya Universal Modification. Check the images. I don't know what it takes to remove the rangefinder and top cap, but I have read about how to clean the glass in the rangefinder top and it's pretty involved. I've considered it.
 
paniolo said:
Wow, this one looks nice 😀
And yes, it is exactly what I want, a simple light tight body that holds lens and filmback, nothing more.
Looks like I need to get hands on a Mamiya Universal body and try to take the top off. Do you think I am able to do this without any engineering skills?
Click to expand...

Mine is from a Mamiya Press (which also has a bellows) and has the Graflok back. I didn't think it took too much in skills - just a good bit of
work.
 
besk said:
Mine is from a Mamiya Press (which also has a bellows) and has the Graflok back. I didn't think it took too much in skills - just a good bit of
work.
Click to expand...

If you took the top off what did you put in it's place? Can you share a photo?
 
The Horseman SW612 series is pretty minimalist, considering that the only function of the thin box-like body is to connect a back, a lens cone, and the finder. The Linhof Technorama is essentially a film back permanently attached to a lens.
 
PS - the Horseman "convertible" is like a SW612 but for 6x9 - and it takes standard Horseman/Graflex type rollfilm backs.
 
Years ago I cut a Crown Graphic shell down by over an inch, added a lensboard that I made, attached a hacked helical (made from a 50mm f/1.4 Nikkor shell) then put a 65mm Super Angulon in shutter, onto a screw-in 52mm cap. This is what I got:

photo_1.JPG


Took me maybe six hours of work and fitting.

Phil Forrest
 
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