OT - Large Format Lenses

Can you post a shot of the back of the camera? And of your holders? A camera this old may well be built for glass plates rather than cut film.

Also, bear in mind that a normal lens on 8x10 is 350mm. This may have an impact on what you want to buy.

I have found www.largeformatphotography.info to be far more helpful and useful than apug.

Good luck!

William
 
Ash,,
I've been tied up in meetings all day so haven't been able to keep up with the thread.

Your camera is similar to mine (two) except mine don't have name plates. The seller told me that they were Sandersons. Thanks for all of the pictures... it is interesting, explanatory, and help encourage me to put my old cameras back into service.

Is it really 10x8 or some odd size. Mine appear to be 7x5 and 5x4 but I think they aren't really that size. Were there "British camera sizes" from the 1890's that differ from American camera sizes of the era (or modern sizes)?

The film/plate holders that you show are the same design as mine, too. Some of my holders have springs in them; others do not. I believe mine are plate holders so if/when I use the camera I'll probably tape film to glass and then put the package into the holder.

I 'll probably not use the Thornton-Pickard shutter on my camera and look for a slightly more modern option. Like others have said, there are some lens/shutter combinations available that are old yet servicable. I like your current set-up with the modern lens 😉
 
BrianShaw said:
Your camera is similar to mine (two) except mine don't have name plates. The seller told me that they were Sandersons.

Is it really 10x8 or some odd size. Mine appear to be 7x5 and 5x4 but I think they aren't really that size. Were there "British camera sizes" from the 1890's that differ from American camera sizes of the era (or modern sizes)?

The film/plate holders that you show are the same design as mine, too. Some of my holders have springs in them; others do not. I believe mine are plate holders so if/when I use the camera I'll probably tape film to glass and then put the package into the holder.

I 'll probably not use the Thornton-Pickard shutter on my camera and look for a slightly more modern option. Like others have said, there are some lens/shutter combinations available that are old yet servicable. I like your current set-up with the modern lens 😉
Click to expand...

I'm thinking maybe there were a few different companies borrowing the same design for the camera, maybe that is why yours doesnt have the nameplates and looks almost the same?

Probably again, the plates differed depending on comany, so I'm hoping 10x8 fits on glass nicely, but it may have cropping? The ground glass window definitely mesaures 10x8.


As for shutters, unless I can pick up a built-in shutter/lens I was thinking maybe building a shutter?

Can't be too difficult by modern standards? A little pully system, or lever, blackout material of sorts, mounting to the front of the lens. Maybe with a spring or something to give it a faster 'snap' to the speed - that may work better than a lens cap?
 
Another question for everyone!

How do you develop 10x8?

I've read either Jobo super-expensive systems, or total darkness using trays, or paterson orbital system (that seem few and far between).

any other means of developing 10x8 negs?
 
Ash said:
(Re: Thornton-Pickard shutter)
Can't be too difficult by modern standards? A little pully system, or lever, blackout material of sorts, mounting to the front of the lens. Maybe with a spring or something to give it a faster 'snap' to the speed - that may work better than a lens cap?
Click to expand...

Your are correct... not difficult by modern standards. Over on the APUG Plate Camera Forum I started a thread on rebuilding them (asking advise) and a very generous person posted a series of pics with the disassembly and repair steps.
 
Ash said:
Another question for everyone!

How do you develop 10x8?

I've read either Jobo super-expensive systems, or total darkness using trays, or paterson orbital system (that seem few and far between).

any other means of developing 10x8 negs?
Click to expand...

1. Tray develop in the darkroom.
2 BTZS tubes
3. 8x10 rotory tanks (Jobo, Bessler)
4. Dip and Dunk tanks, in darkroom
 
Last edited:
I have been thinking of making some tubes for 4x5 developing. I figure I can take some black PVC, and a couple of end caps and have more or less the same thing as the BTZS system. The only hold up at this point is I still have not figured out how to implement a light trap for one of the caps so I can do the processing without needing a darkroom.
 
hmm would be an experience to try and create a tank from a previous tall multi-35mm-tank. You still need that tall straw in the middle to keep the light-tight effect for chemical pouring.

I wonder if it's possible to create a hollow tank, so that less solution is needed (since the film is essentially a single strip, not a large reel. the tank is more of an elongated donut, maybe with a tube system connected to a funnel for pouring in and out the chemicals without risking light-tight...erm...ness.

possible?
 
Ash said:
hmm would be an experience to try and create a tank from a previous tall multi-35mm-tank. You still need that tall straw in the middle to keep the light-tight effect for chemical pouring.

I wonder if it's possible to create a hollow tank, so that less solution is needed (since the film is essentially a single strip, not a large reel. the tank is more of an elongated donut, maybe with a tube system connected to a funnel for pouring in and out the chemicals without risking light-tight...erm...ness.

possible?
Click to expand...

Do a web search for Paterson Orbital. What you propose sounds kind of like that.
 
yep! pretty much seeing whether I can create something like it. I see one paterson orbital on evilbay for a tenner, one previously went for nearly £40. They seem the kinda thing people dont let go often. Can't find them still for sale.
 
Score!

I just bought a brand new Paterson Orbital (yep brand new) for £10. It was marked at £20 but the nice guy in my local vintage camera shop gives me brilliant reductions 🙂

I also saw what looked like Jobo drums? Something along those lines - if anyone is interested I can get a list of his stock. There's SO much there.

Also theres a Ross lens I think, £30 to me, £40 mark up. Most likely going to nab that for the 10x8 if eBay falls through.
 
Ash said:
Score!

I just bought a brand new Paterson Orbital (yep brand new) for £10. It was marked at £20 but the nice guy in my local vintage camera shop gives me brilliant reductions 🙂

I also saw what looked like Jobo drums? Something along those lines - if anyone is interested I can get a list of his stock. There's SO much there.

Also theres a Ross lens I think, £30 to me, £40 mark up. Most likely going to nab that for the 10x8 if eBay falls through.
Click to expand...

Good deal, I have been on the watch for one of those.

While noodling around the net I did find a page PVC Tube Based Development Tank System describing what looks like a very good DIY processing tube with light trap. I may try to build one or two this weekend, my chores permitting.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Timmyjoe
LUF and Large Format off line
Replies
3
Views
484
Timmyjoe
Timmyjoe
WoodallP
Bangkok camera browsing suggestions requested
Replies
3
Views
145
WoodallP
WoodallP
J
35mm Still-Picture Photography: It began with scale focusing cameras! Back To Basics. Part 1, From the first to half-frame 35s of then and now.
Replies
12
Views
1K
rick oleson
rick oleson
lxforrest
A DIY retro digital camera project - Blog #3 Prototype V -1
Replies
3
Views
411
lxforrest
lxforrest
lxforrest
A DIY retro digital camera project - Blog #2 Rethinking of retro digital camera
Replies
4
Views
842
lxforrest
lxforrest
Back
Top Bottom