dan swiger
Well-Known Member
This started out looking for a way to have lighter kit when hiking & "forcing" me to shoot with one lens once in a while. I noticed a few plastic 4x5 like bodies on Ebay. One was a camera setup for an electron microscope that used 4x5 film holders. Not sure why the didn't just use polaroid but certainly gave more flexibility & availability using sheet film. I did buy it off Ebay for $100, but it needs some work to suite a lens board setup. It really wasn't suited to carving up for my 90mm. After success with my next purchase, will construct an appropriate adapter/space for my 150 & 210mm lenses.
Last year spotted another DIY Ebay deal. This was a purpose built of engineered plastics, pinhole camera setup. Here is the link
https://www.ebay.com/itm/18-Point-Shoot-4x5-Large-Format-Camera-with-Pinhole-lens-shutter/192125956583?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649
I didn't buy the full setup. The seller does allow for separating out. I chose just the body & got it for around $130. The link shown is for the same seller. When I asked for just the body, the seller said to order the whole thing, paying full amount, then he would refund me the difference. I hesitated, then went ahead.
The refund was posted in less than a day!
I also purchased this helicoid/lensboard to give some room for focusing
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Helicoid-F...IY-Camera-S-/282664500862?hash=item41d01dfe7e
Since the body, lens board placement suited and infinity focused 60mm, I had to add a spacer of about 1/2 inch to get the same result for a 90mm. I did the math & test setups before fabricating. We have a Tap Plastics store in San Jose. I bought plastics & paid them to cut the hole. I had them make two pieces just for sure. While the adapter is removable, this is pretty much a fixed lens & focus setup. I bought the pieces in March 2017 & took it to Yosemite in June. Did some light leak checks. I planed to do some test shots but just went for it in Yosemite. I used it again in December with excellent results.
The "kit" started with did come with a ground glass the was held in place the same way the film holders are. But the ground glass media was very myopic. I then bought some real Kodak GG on Ebay & that was the fix. I modified a film holder to stick it in, making sure it was on the "film plane.
Below are pictures of it.
At just over 2 Lbs with the 90mm, it gives me a light kit that includes a Sekonic light meter & of course some film. All packs nice in a Lowe Pro sling bag. I've gone on a few 2-4 mi hikes with it no problem.
I think the total investment is about $300
Last year spotted another DIY Ebay deal. This was a purpose built of engineered plastics, pinhole camera setup. Here is the link
https://www.ebay.com/itm/18-Point-Shoot-4x5-Large-Format-Camera-with-Pinhole-lens-shutter/192125956583?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649
I didn't buy the full setup. The seller does allow for separating out. I chose just the body & got it for around $130. The link shown is for the same seller. When I asked for just the body, the seller said to order the whole thing, paying full amount, then he would refund me the difference. I hesitated, then went ahead.
The refund was posted in less than a day!
I also purchased this helicoid/lensboard to give some room for focusing
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Helicoid-F...IY-Camera-S-/282664500862?hash=item41d01dfe7e
Since the body, lens board placement suited and infinity focused 60mm, I had to add a spacer of about 1/2 inch to get the same result for a 90mm. I did the math & test setups before fabricating. We have a Tap Plastics store in San Jose. I bought plastics & paid them to cut the hole. I had them make two pieces just for sure. While the adapter is removable, this is pretty much a fixed lens & focus setup. I bought the pieces in March 2017 & took it to Yosemite in June. Did some light leak checks. I planed to do some test shots but just went for it in Yosemite. I used it again in December with excellent results.
The "kit" started with did come with a ground glass the was held in place the same way the film holders are. But the ground glass media was very myopic. I then bought some real Kodak GG on Ebay & that was the fix. I modified a film holder to stick it in, making sure it was on the "film plane.
Below are pictures of it.
At just over 2 Lbs with the 90mm, it gives me a light kit that includes a Sekonic light meter & of course some film. All packs nice in a Lowe Pro sling bag. I've gone on a few 2-4 mi hikes with it no problem.
I think the total investment is about $300
