New Mod

Ash · 03-20-2007

Here's a peak at the Kodak mod.

But now the big problem... where to attach the rangefinder?!

MikeL · 03-20-2007

Nicely done Ash, although my biceps hurt just looking at it!

kmack · 03-20-2007

Pretty....

As for the rangefinder just top mount a kalart on that thing long enough to take a photo to prove it had one.

Is that a 5x7?

Ash · 03-20-2007

It could be a 5x7 with the correct back. It's a half plate. I have a 4x5 back on it's way from the USA ready to modify for the camera

Gabriel M.A. · 03-20-2007

I thought you were announcing you had become a new moderator, Ash.

What does "mod." in Kodak mod. stand for?

BTW, beautiful carving job with that table!

Ash · 03-20-2007

The table is metal casting. Cheap garden centre jobby... As seen here with an apple

(the photo above was from my other 4x5, a Calumet monorail)

No wood in that thing! lol

Kodak Mod - Kodak Modification... 'Kodak SI MkII Ground Camera, London SC1' or something - half plate field camera, RAF. I've modified the fit and finish.

Gabriel M.A. · 03-20-2007

I knew they were different tables, just pulling your leg.

Looks like a nice job (on the "mod."). What lenses do you have for your LF cameras?

Ash · 03-20-2007

I'm not ashamed to say I wasn't sure if you were joking or not

On that note, lenses.

Well that image I linked to, thats from a 'Petzimex'. A Hanimex 300mm MD Minolta slr lens, but only the front element. I took a hacksaw to the barrel. It acts like a Petzal, so I coined Petzimex

Other than that, I have a Goerz Dagor 160mm 6,3 that was given to me by my grandfather - haven't had much use as I'm waiting to mount it properly on a lensboard.

I also spent £40 before xmas on a bunch of cheap lenses. Cooke Aviar Anastigmat 10inch, Cooke Process 13inch, Aldis Uno 6inch (i think), un-named brass lens (6 or 8 inch I think), and I'm sure there's a couple old enlarger lenses at about 4,5inch hanging about too

All budget/free lenses

sjw617 · 03-20-2007

Ash, I am impressed. Very nice job of restoration.

Steve

TimSmith-Laing · 03-20-2007

Nice job Ash, keep us updated!

Ash · 03-20-2007

For anyone who's interested, I've got a bit of a journal on the whole process here:

http://www.largeformatphotography.in...ad.php?t=23340

Starts with my initial (unanswered) questions and ideas, and stretches to the revamping process.

I may make this into a blog at some point

rbiemer · 03-20-2007

Ash,
I seem to recall that you asked about changing the bellows--or at least, the color of the bellows?
Personally, I think the blue/grey goes pretty well with the reddish wood(mahogany?)!
Nicely done.
Rob

mjflory · 03-20-2007

Ash, it's lovely!

Spring is here, maybe I'll yet build that field camera I've been thinking about.

By the way, the very nice picture of the apple on the table could serve as a textbook example of the focal plane.

-- Michael

Ash · 03-21-2007

Rob, yes I agree. I want to stain the bellows dark brown or black, but currently I quite like their dull grey appearance. The wood is all sorts - most has been stained to appear 'dark rosewood', but looks more like mahogany as you say. Only the front U-shaped piece is actually mahogany I think!

Michael, thanks. Do it!
I've just commited to restoring a second 4x5 camera. I couldn't resist its charm!

The apple picture was a total whim. I love it though. Especially because it is so ambiguous, but somewhat normal all the same.

rbiemer · 03-21-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gabriel M.A.

I knew they were different tables, just pulling your leg.

Great. Now the table will rock...
Rob

Ash · 03-21-2007

Talking of pulling legs... ok I'll stop there before it becomes an innuendo..

I was out shooting for SADOE, and upon my arrival back into the village of Avebury, I couldn't help but purchase a huge old surveyors tripod!!

I'm about 6ft, and it's as tall as me (almost) with the original surveying head on it. I'm gonna attach a typical tripod mounting screw, and use it for the truly vintage feel

BronicaLee · 03-21-2007

she's a beaut!

Ash · 04-11-2007

A quick update to this thread, I have pretty much completed the modding.

At least, it's close enough to completion to be happy. It will never be complete at my rate of laziness.

If I hadn't already done so, this is the link to the progression from beast to beaut - http://www.largeformatphotography.in...ad.php?t=23340

Shot taken with the lens (this was the other day):

I then temporarily affixed the shutter behind the lens, and the prototype was successful enough that I'm not too fussed at improving on its nasty facade - it's hidden inside the camera anyway. - see the bottom of the thread.

Thanks to Scott -- on LFPF, I received some custom lens panels to replace the taped up fibreboard I had before

I then managed to snap two boards making the lens cavity and cable release hole

Here's the camera 'final'

And here's the inside, the nasty shutter:

The shutter has a top speed of 1/press-an-let-go. I think I can get to around 1/20 or maybe 1/50 I'm not sure. The lens is a Ross Xpres f/4,5 so it's plenty fast enough for the ISO-5 film I'm going through.

Ash · 04-11-2007

oh here's the back of the camera too - It's balancing on a piece of wood, that's been replaced with a bolt to mount the camera on the tripod.

This is the tripod I bought in Avebury by the by