As a woodworker and a large format photographer, I'm totally inspired by this! Thanks not only for the assembly part of the video, but also the lessons learned throughout.
About 45 years ago or so I built a 4.5 cm X 6 cm view camera. Mine didn’t have rack and pinion adjustments as I built it on a monorail as I already had the bellows on hand. I used it for several years and always wished I had done it in 4 x 5 format instead. This has given me the urge to build one again. The bellows construction really intrigues me. Wood love to see how it’s done. Thanks for sharing.
Wonderful project Patric. back in the 70s I had a deal with a local Hobby Shop to build and display any new plastic kits that the shop recieved. None of the cameras I owned could do justice to the quality of the models I could build at the time and I found a view camera was what I needed. The camera I built uses the back portion of a polaroid portrait camera and the lens is from an antique Kodak Folding camera because it is self contained with shutter. I taught myself how to make the bellows by dissassembling the bellows on the kodak. I made the bellows using Contact Paper shelf liner, heavy black construction paper and black cotton fabric and it is still 'light tight' today. By the way the camera worked. I would add Photos of the camera if I knew how to do that here.
Brilliant work! As a long-time photographer and new woodworker, I found this fascinating to watch. I do hope you upload a bellows video. Thanks for sharing.
A beautiful camera. I would buy it immediately. However, as a wetplate with appropriate plate holders and at least 8x10, or larger. Very nicely done, thanks for the video!
I don't know why this popped into my feed but I am very glad it did. Kudos on a very very well done project. Back in my day I used a number of different wooden view cameras as well as the venerable Speed Graphic I also had the use of a monorail view camera for a time and some of the Ektachrome transparencies are my best work. I would have been glad to use yours as well. I did notice the lack of a shutter on the lens you purchased, I wondered why that was as film in a holder is sensitive enough for a shutter to be necessary, but you mentioned wet plates, which would not need a shutter, but would need a different type of "film" holder which you do not mention at all.
This is fantastic Patrick! I'm in the planning stages of my own 4x5 camera project. Looking at lots of pictures, and Jon Grepstads book. This video is a fantastic help! Lots of neat little details I was struggling to figure out. Thanks!
@@baroneblades5386 primarily I'm building it for standard film holders and sheet film. Tin type is definitely something I'd like to try at some point, and I'm thinking that it won't be too hard to make an alternate backplate to hold plates instead of film holders.
Congratulations for attempting this. I thought about doing something similar, but every time I look at my Chamonix 4x5 I realise I couldn't make a better job of it.
Hermoso video, perfecto. Muchisimas gracias por compartir. Seria impresionante ver una fotografia de esta camara, sería la cereza del video. Muchisimas gracias
Amazing Workmanship man, have gotten into 35mm film cameras in the last year, would love to get into taking Pictures on Glass plates with one of these.
I used a Speed Graphic large format camera back in the 70s, and was amazed at the detail one could achieve. After viewing your video, I realized that I hardly tapped into it’s full potential. Amazing design! Thank you for your insightful videos that are very well produced; I really enjoy them!
Hi Patrick, Congratulations for your incredible job. Your video is very very good, and really I like the way you are explaining everything. It is really rare to find a video sharing all these details. I appreciate very much the mindset and the will to share.
at 8:48, this back standard, as it holds the film, is also termed a "format frame", as to change calibres, you simply change bellows and this frame, the bed is always a constant, simmilar to the archa swiss, and Linhof Cardan or colour series of mono-rail cameras.
What a beautiful project! I had to give up on large format photography due to the cost and availability of the film, but I miss it. So much fun learning how to 'drive' one of these cameras. Outstanding work!
I love and hate this video. Love the camera and details and the content, and I want to build one to shoot with... Hate that it reminds of how far I have to go with my woodworking ;)
Excellent job. I have always fancied trying this myself and i think i could manage most of it. The part i always seem to have a mental block on is properly measuring and placing the focus screen to the correct place relative to the film holder.
A lovely project, enjoyed the video and your workmanship. Spent a good part of my time as a photograpy student using a large format cameras and felt taken 20 years back in time (not wooden ones though, the ones made by Swiss brand Sinar). Still have one on the attic for when the day comes when I get to make an extra special project where there is both time and budget to go all analogue again. Would love to see how this camer is to work with - and perhaps, if you want to share it, a bit about what you intend to use it for. Keep up the good work
This is heaven sent. Thanks so much! I have 3 4x5, an Intrepid, a Crown Graphic and a Cadet Wide Monorail. I want to build a 5x7 since I have the lenses and film holders and a 8x10 to make contact prints. Thanks again for the detailed explanation.
I could see this over and over again. I dont have the tools you have but are there kits or plans that we can built part by part to achieve a working camera? Thank you.
Beautiful! Thank you for making this video. Do you know why the word "compendium" is used to denote the bellows and lens shades? I have never understood this use of the word.
You do a lot of thinking. Good planning. I want you to think about using hollow-ground screwdrivers from now on. The walls of the driver are more or less verticle for better contact with the screw slots. I don't think I'm telling you anything you don't know.
Right. No shutter on this lens. That is not critically important for the collodion prints my daughter wants to do, because the speed of the wet plate process is so slow that exposures are often 10-30 seconds. You can just uncover the lens, watch the second hand on your watch, and cover the lens when the time is up. I intend to purchase a second, more modern lens soon with a built-in mechanical shutter. Most of these newer lenses are less suitable for the collodion prints because they have lens coatings which block a lot of UV light, making exposure times even longer. I tried to keep the focus on the woodworking, rather than the photographic technology, but real photographers will naturally be curious.
Glass plates, both coated and uncoated, are available from a company in Europe called Zebra Plates. I had a good experience ordering coated glass plates for my 100 year old 5X7 camera from them. I think they will make custom sized plates for customers.
Looks great and should work well. My only question is why? There are so many 4x5 cameras in closets and garages unused for years. I've got at least two and an 8x10. I shot 8x10 as recently as 2010, but neither format since. No demand for it. I could see making a very large view camera. Be fun to see how you made the bellows. I figured this out some years ago, made a few paper tests. Interesting process and bellows are beautiful. The biggest issue with a bellows after does it work, and is it light tight? is reflections off the sides. With film if you can get - 5 to -7 stops lower light off the bellows it's good. (Another bellows tip. My 8x10 is a Horseman. I think they were almost $10,000 new, in the 1980s. I bought a used one with a smashed bellows for about $3000. Never did anything to the bellows except occasionally check it for pin holes. Worked fine.) The trick to aligning your camera or an enlarger is mirrors. Make concentric circles on the surface of the mirrors/plex (as a see through mirror) and align those. When all those circles line up you're good. All my view cameras were good when I got them and easy to reset back to zero. My Bessler 4x5 enlarger however was horribly out of whack - from the factory. I've heard that most of them were. They can and need to be aligned. The Besslers are fussy because the adjustments you can make with the screws on them are too wonky and large to be of much use. I can't remember how I did it, but it someone needs, I can go out to the garage and take a look at it.
Absolutely brilliant!!! You put out such neat content, and your woodworking is top notch. As a (beginning) cabinet maker -particularly inclined towards handtool woodworking-, and an analog photography enthusiast, I had already thought of making a large format camera. Your video made me smile all the way and now I’m sure, I have to make one! Perhaps I’ll even try to make it completely by hand, electricity-free just like the camera in-use. If so, I’ll need to follow plans, and I’d be very interested in yours if you can bear updating them to the final design. Thanks for your content, looking forward to a video on the bellows! Antoine
As a photographer and woodworker I am blown away by this beautiful project. Inspiring!
*would love to see the bellow making!*
As a woodworker and a large format photographer, I'm totally inspired by this! Thanks not only for the assembly part of the video, but also the lessons learned throughout.
Do you have any photos taken with this yet? It's an amazing bit of workmanship, and I would love to see the result as well.
Would like to see those as well...
This is some of the best wood working on TH-cam!
Wonderful - absolutely wonderful!!!
Great to see another woodworker into LF. Been doing dry plate and other LF work for 4-5 years now and these hobbies feed each other so well.
and built the bellows too. damn that is incredibly impressive. definitely post pictures you take with this gorgeous piece.
WOW! That is amazing! Look forward to watching a video on making the bellows.
That's fantastic, thank you for taking the time to share it.
About 45 years ago or so I built a 4.5 cm X 6 cm view camera. Mine didn’t have rack and pinion adjustments as I built it on a monorail as I already had the bellows on hand. I used it for several years and always wished I had done it in 4 x 5 format instead. This has given me the urge to build one again. The bellows construction really intrigues me. Wood love to see how it’s done. Thanks for sharing.
I built a large format camera during covid 2020.... mine is a lot more simple design... i wish i seen this video...thank you for all the ideas
Wonderful project Patric. back in the 70s I had a deal with a local Hobby Shop to build and display any new plastic kits that the shop recieved. None of the cameras I owned could do justice to the quality of the models I could build at the time and I found a view camera was what I needed. The camera I built uses the back portion of a polaroid portrait camera and the lens is from an antique Kodak Folding camera because it is self contained with shutter. I taught myself how to make the bellows by dissassembling the bellows on the kodak. I made the bellows using Contact Paper shelf liner, heavy black construction paper and black cotton fabric and it is still 'light tight' today. By the way the camera worked. I would add Photos of the camera if I knew how to do that here.
One of the greatest tutorial of building something i ever see. Great work great editing.
Brilliant work! As a long-time photographer and new woodworker, I found this fascinating to watch. I do hope you upload a bellows video. Thanks for sharing.
That is a true labor of love--so much precision and time went into it that build!
This is without a doubt one of the most interesting woodworking videos I have ever seen ! This is not only practical, but also gorgeous ! Congrats !
Brilliantly explained. Thank you for taking the time to do this.
Very interesting video, thanks for sharing! Would love to see the construction of the bellows.
I believe that you are all around the Best woodworker ever seen!
My congrat's! 😳
You make this look easy, sir. Truly a gift to watch a master craftsmen at work.
Wow what a great artist you are.keep us inspiring with your DIY.
Fantastic. Well done. 40 years ago, I wanted one of these so bad!
Absolutely incredible build.
Beautiful work, Patrick.
Perfect project for a school shop class
Nice job Patrick! I would love to see the bellows construction as well, as I am currently drawing plans for a 5x7 camera similar to your 4x5. Thanks!
Absolutely Amazing. Thanks for sharing!
A beautiful camera. I would buy it immediately. However, as a wetplate with appropriate plate holders and at least 8x10, or larger.
Very nicely done, thanks for the video!
Patrick that was a remarkable job with an excellent result. Hopefully we can view a few images taken with your camera in a future video.
I'm glad I stumbled across your post, fantastic, inspirational, I love both crafts, photography and woodworking, what a synthesis!
Outstanding. Thank you for sharing.
Awesome project and well executed. Love to see some pictures taken with it.
Beautiful work, congratulations on a project well made.
I don't know why this popped into my feed but I am very glad it did. Kudos on a very very well done project. Back in my day I used a number of different wooden view cameras as well as the venerable Speed Graphic I also had the use of a monorail view camera for a time and some of the Ektachrome transparencies are my best work. I would have been glad to use yours as well. I did notice the lack of a shutter on the lens you purchased, I wondered why that was as film in a holder is sensitive enough for a shutter to be necessary, but you mentioned wet plates, which would not need a shutter, but would need a different type of "film" holder which you do not mention at all.
Thanks for sharing. Really cool project
It would be nice to see some photos taken with the camera. Always enjoy your work. Thanks
This is fantastic Patrick! I'm in the planning stages of my own 4x5 camera project. Looking at lots of pictures, and Jon Grepstads book. This video is a fantastic help! Lots of neat little details I was struggling to figure out. Thanks!
Is yours going to be for tintype. I want to build a camera for that. Just started researching?
@@baroneblades5386 primarily I'm building it for standard film holders and sheet film. Tin type is definitely something I'd like to try at some point, and I'm thinking that it won't be too hard to make an alternate backplate to hold plates instead of film holders.
One _loves_ to watch human creativity in action!
Well done and very instructive. Thank you for posting this.
Congratulations for attempting this. I thought about doing something similar, but every time I look at my Chamonix 4x5 I realise I couldn't make a better job of it.
What a satisfying video. Definitely going to build one of these one day.
Your ingenuity never ceases to amaze me. Wonderful build
What incredible craftsmanship. Thanks for sharing.
Would love to see some photos taken with this! Maybe in a community post?
Very impressive work! It looks beautiful and very well made!
Wow! It's beautiful as well.
Fantastic work!
A great project done well. Thanks for sharing
Paul
Magnificent video. Your take on woodwork is very special to me
trully wonderful build. it looks beatutiful and original. great craftsmanship.
Awesome, love to see you develop this further.
There's a pun there someplace
That is some incredible craftsmanship.
Hermoso video, perfecto. Muchisimas gracias por compartir. Seria impresionante ver una fotografia de esta camara, sería la cereza del video. Muchisimas gracias
Amazing Workmanship man, have gotten into 35mm film cameras in the last year, would love to get into taking Pictures on Glass plates with one of these.
That is a beautiful peace of art worthy a thousand pictures =)
I used a Speed Graphic large format camera back in the 70s, and was amazed at the detail one could achieve. After viewing your video, I realized that I hardly tapped into it’s full potential. Amazing design! Thank you for your insightful videos that are very well produced; I really enjoy them!
Very intricate piece of work !!!
When on watches this man's video. One is watching a master at play!
Hi Patrick,
Congratulations for your incredible job. Your video is very very good, and really I like the way you are explaining everything. It is really rare to find a video sharing all these details. I appreciate very much the mindset and the will to share.
This the easiest explanation of the scheimpflug principle i have seen so far
at 8:48, this back standard, as it holds the film, is also termed a "format frame", as to change calibres, you simply change bellows and this frame, the bed is always a constant, simmilar to the archa swiss, and Linhof Cardan or colour series of mono-rail cameras.
Whish I had your skills. Thanks for sharing this amazing and motivating video. Craftmanship at its best!
Nice work. it's amazing to see that we can actually make our own camera.
What a beautiful project! I had to give up on large format photography due to the cost and availability of the film, but I miss it. So much fun learning how to 'drive' one of these cameras. Outstanding work!
I love and hate this video. Love the camera and details and the content, and I want to build one to shoot with... Hate that it reminds of how far I have to go with my woodworking ;)
Beautiful work and camera.
Excellent job.
I have always fancied trying this myself and i think i could manage most of it. The part i always seem to have a mental block on is properly measuring and placing the focus screen to the correct place relative to the film holder.
Very cool project, thanks for sharing!
A lovely project, enjoyed the video and your workmanship. Spent a good part of my time as a photograpy student using a large format cameras and felt taken 20 years back in time (not wooden ones though, the ones made by Swiss brand Sinar). Still have one on the attic for when the day comes when I get to make an extra special project where there is both time and budget to go all analogue again.
Would love to see how this camer is to work with - and perhaps, if you want to share it, a bit about what you intend to use it for.
Keep up the good work
Astounding! Would love to see the pictures it takes!
When I worked as a tog, I would have given my all for one of these. A beautiful job there.
This is heaven sent. Thanks so much! I have 3 4x5, an Intrepid, a Crown Graphic and a Cadet Wide Monorail. I want to build a 5x7 since I have the lenses and film holders and a 8x10 to make contact prints. Thanks again for the detailed explanation.
Fascinating! Great job!!
I could see this over and over again. I dont have the tools you have but are there kits or plans that we can built part by part to achieve a working camera? Thank you.
awesome! very enjoyable production video!
Awesome project and well executed. Thanks for sharing!
Heck of a project
wow, that is something new, unusual and interesting! thanks for showing;)
Wow... very artful work, Sir. 👍
Beautiful! Thank you for making this video. Do you know why the word "compendium" is used to denote the bellows and lens shades? I have never understood this use of the word.
Job well done. I think I will make mine with brass.
I love you video.. it is what I was looking for... good information and a video to follow along your build...
Thank you
Thank you
Thank you
Wonderful work. A credit to you.
Well done in all respects. Beautiful and big project to attempt; nice video work and production, too. Congratulations!
You do a lot of thinking. Good planning. I want you to think about using hollow-ground screwdrivers from now on. The walls of the driver are more or less verticle for better contact with the screw slots. I don't think I'm telling you anything you don't know.
Amazing workmanship and planning! I've always been fascinated by view cameras and would have like to try one out.
Thank you for sharing!
Amazing skill and great looking camera!
Amazing work.
How about a video on the small wood plane you show using once in a while? I would like to see one about it. Thank you.
Nice job! What a great looking camera.
Well done my friend. Proud
hi patrick, very nice build, makes it look quiet easy ( if you have a workshop ;) ..I guess the camera back just needs some light seals..
Amazing project really enjoyed this video, very well done the video as well as the camera. excellent
magnifique travail ...pour essayer d'en fabriquer un en ce moment , je connais la difficulté d'un travail aussi propre
Patrick, well done fantastic content
perfect system gold hand God blessings all life
many art hunting
such a beauty! Does it have a shutter inside the bellow? The old Zeiss lens has no shutter right?
Right. No shutter on this lens. That is not critically important for the collodion prints my daughter wants to do, because the speed of the wet plate process is so slow that exposures are often 10-30 seconds. You can just uncover the lens, watch the second hand on your watch, and cover the lens when the time is up. I intend to purchase a second, more modern lens soon with a built-in mechanical shutter. Most of these newer lenses are less suitable for the collodion prints because they have lens coatings which block a lot of UV light, making exposure times even longer. I tried to keep the focus on the woodworking, rather than the photographic technology, but real photographers will naturally be curious.
@@PatrickSullivan thank you, that makes sense...
Glass plates, both coated and uncoated, are available from a company in Europe called Zebra Plates. I had a good experience ordering coated glass plates for my 100 year old 5X7 camera from them.
I think they will make custom sized plates for customers.
Looks great and should work well. My only question is why? There are so many 4x5 cameras in closets and garages unused for years. I've got at least two and an 8x10. I shot 8x10 as recently as 2010, but neither format since. No demand for it. I could see making a very large view camera. Be fun to see how you made the bellows. I figured this out some years ago, made a few paper tests. Interesting process and bellows are beautiful. The biggest issue with a bellows after does it work, and is it light tight? is reflections off the sides. With film if you can get - 5 to -7 stops lower light off the bellows it's good. (Another bellows tip. My 8x10 is a Horseman. I think they were almost $10,000 new, in the 1980s. I bought a used one with a smashed bellows for about $3000. Never did anything to the bellows except occasionally check it for pin holes. Worked fine.)
The trick to aligning your camera or an enlarger is mirrors. Make concentric circles on the surface of the mirrors/plex (as a see through mirror) and align those. When all those circles line up you're good. All my view cameras were good when I got them and easy to reset back to zero. My Bessler 4x5 enlarger however was horribly out of whack - from the factory. I've heard that most of them were. They can and need to be aligned. The Besslers are fussy because the adjustments you can make with the screws on them are too wonky and large to be of much use. I can't remember how I did it, but it someone needs, I can go out to the garage and take a look at it.
Absolutely brilliant!!!
You put out such neat content, and your woodworking is top notch.
As a (beginning) cabinet maker -particularly inclined towards handtool woodworking-, and an analog photography enthusiast, I had already thought of making a large format camera.
Your video made me smile all the way and now I’m sure, I have to make one! Perhaps I’ll even try to make it completely by hand, electricity-free just like the camera in-use.
If so, I’ll need to follow plans, and I’d be very interested in yours if you can bear updating them to the final design.
Thanks for your content, looking forward to a video on the bellows!
Antoine