Leica LTM My "Leica Model 1A" Wetplate Collodion Camera

[Ambro51]

I build wet plate cameras as a day job, and decided to copy my 1930 Model 1A Leica as a single shot Wetplate camera using 1 3/8" square plates, the same size as a single frame snip of 35mm film. Very simple, dummy knobs and a body made from Spanish cedar with rosewood top and bottom plates. I added weights inside the body to bring the weight to 15.7 oz , same as an original. It has a threaded flange and wears an Elmar lens. I've been using this a bit, doing test shots, and I'm very happy with the results. I was, however, having a bit of chemical issues (fixable) but test tinypes are very encouraging.

 

[02Pilot]

That is an impressive piece of work. Really nicely done, and the sample photo looks great as well.

 

[Austerby]

I love everything about this - the idea, the execution, the output, everything!

Quite why anyone would do this is absolutely not the question to ask.

 

[robert blu]

Love and passion for photography! Great work and interesting result. I'm very impressed!
robert

 

[lynnb]

Great! Both the camera and the result!

 

[Ambro51]

Things I really like about using this, with the ground glass in position, it is a pure view camera, a 10x loupe helps a lot. You get to hold your finished image in your hand 5 minutes after you take the picture (no more ananymous rolls of film laying around 🙂. Exposures are quick by Wetplate standards, that plate was f 5.6 at 3 seconds. Difficulties, a pain to always screw camera back on the tripod, I'm going to make a "shoe" that fixes to tripod head (Leitz) and the camera slips into that after i you bring it from the darkroom. The sensitizing and processing gear is a tiny simple setup that I find comical in its simplicity. •••••• Why do this ? Well, it's my day job and this is a new product prototype the next one will be more accurately copied and the knobs will be nickel plated. The collodion hobby is huge, and as well I think the modern daguerreotypists would love this too. •••••••. It's been a real lot of fun doing this, you know you work for years making cool stuff for others it's nice to make yourself something now and then

 

[Timmyjoe]

Most excellent.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Fun! And nice pic too!

Go for a Q-Top release plate.

Cheers,

R.

 

[bobby_novatron]

That is really really cool. Hats off to you!

 

[xayraa33]

what a neat idea.

 

[Muggins]

Wow, what a deliciously mad creation! Brilliant!

Not so far removed from some dry plate cameras - I have a Certo Dolly that takes half-frame on 127 (not much bigger than a frame of 35mm), and it has a back that can be slid off to put a ground glass on. Sadly I don't have the plate back.

Adrian

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Impressive!

I was thinking of converting Ihagee folder for something similar.
The only reason why I not in the process is my little knowledge of collodion process.

 

[zuiko85]

That's too neat! Being too lazy to go the wet plate process I sometimes shoot photo paper in some cameras. Have not tried 35mm yet but like to load up paper into a 6X9, works fine in a Zeiss Box Tengor.

 

[Ambro51]

BTW, here's the sensitizing, developing and fixing equipment

 

[ww2photog]

Ray a bottle of collodion could last a coupe years

 

[Ambro51]

Indeed! How many of these plates could I pour using the amount needed to cover the 32"x36" plate used in this camera.

 

[rhl-oregon]

Can you share a link to your day job/biz? I imagine some RFFers who regularly admire Tom Oosthout's work in the gallery would enjoy daydreaming or buying there....

 

[Ambro51]

...ok, but please understand my post here was/is not intended to be a commercial solicitation. I'm a 40+ year Leica user and have several. The "day job" is www--- starcameracompany--com (replace ---). This all started 20 years ago I was doing Civil War reenactment photography, after a decade of that (probably about ten thousand plates) the camera business evolved from my Father building the first 17. He started building cameras in 1950, while in the Berlin occupation with the army (they had a craft shop). I tried my hand at it down in the basement working with him, and after we restored a big Anthony Imperial Studio Camera, with brass hardware and full movements. Then I decided to try and copy it. So yeah it worked an this went on and on and eventually it became the job. ••••• out of All (389) the cameras I've made This little "Leica A" has tickled me more than Any of them. I hadn't shot any plates for about 8 years. This camera has gotten me excited about shooting again. I only wish I wasn't using borrowed Pre mixed collodion, new and untested,...to work this small. If only I still had my regular "hooch", I'd be Kodaking these plates. So now j gotta make chemistry, fine tune that with a bigger format, then go back into this.

 

[Ambro51]

I like the "instantaneous" nature of Wetplate. You talk about digital, knowing right away. Just looking at the back of the camera, well Wetplate is only two minutes later, as soon as the fixer clears the image. No good? Adjust and repeat. Just like that. Unless you're using a single shot Leica or one of those slide in snip holders... You wait and pray on film results. Probably I'll evolve a real simple field shooting kit, and like Oskar, go stomping off to make pictures unburdened by huge "kit". Dry plates, in glass, making them yourself, has evolved and lots do it, but ive not.