lens wanted & box camera thoughts

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Chris - 23 Jun 2005 14:28 GMT

Well, I've finally decided to attempt making my very own old-style wooden
box camera.

Having thought about this for quite awhile, I've got some ideas I definately
want to incorporate into my end design....

1) Accessory shoes to allow for a variety of parts to be swapped out
(angle-finder, viewfinder, level, etc..)

2) If I design my own lens, I'd like to allow it to extend and retract in
it's own housing, so that not only would a bellows or sliding box allow for
focus variations, but the lens itself could be re-positioned also.

3) A BIG *IF* - A lens mount utilizing some form of threaded adapter,
allowing for a variety of lenses to be changed in or out as needed.

Thoughts?

Also, wondering if anyone has a good source for vintage brass lenses, or
atleast glass lens elements?

Thanks.

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dj_nme - 23 Jun 2005 15:05 GMT

> Well, I've finally decided to attempt making my very own old-style wooden
> box camera.
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> it's own housing, so that not only would a bellows or sliding box allow for
> focus variations, but the lens itself could be re-positioned also.

That's called swing (swiveling the lens left or right), tilt (swiveling
the lens up or down) and shift (moving the lensboard parallel to the
film plane up, down, left or right).

> 3) A BIG *IF* - A lens mount utilizing some form of threaded adapter,
> allowing for a variety of lenses to be changed in or out as needed.

Have a look at how enlargers have their lens-boards attached.
Perhaps that would give you some ideas?

> Thoughts?
>
> Also, wondering if anyone has a good source for vintage brass lenses, or
> atleast glass lens elements?
>
> Thanks.

I'm curious, but what are you going to use as a shutter?

My thoughts on a lens for a homebrew "old style" camera would lean
towards trying to use magnifying lenses or projector lenses.

There is a website that describes using B&W photographic paper as a
negative and doing contact prints to get a positive print.
That is what I'd do if I wanted to make 4x6 or 8x10 negatives.
I think that the ISO speed for paper is about ISO 6 to 10, but it is
probably different for the different brands and types of photo paper.

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Chris - 23 Jun 2005 19:09 GMT

> I'm curious, but what are you going to use as a shutter?

I was thinking along the lines of the "waterhouse stops" for a simple
shutter, something solid interrupting the flow of light to the box from the
lens, and manipulating that manually to allow shots to be taken. Probably a
lens-cap as well just to be safe.
For now I'm not concerned with a sophisticated shutter, just something to
block light.

> My thoughts on a lens for a homebrew "old style" camera would lean
> towards trying to use magnifying lenses or projector lenses.

I was thinking along those lines, maybe a meniscus lens, or something fairly
straightforward.

> There is a website that describes using B&W photographic paper as a
> negative and doing contact prints to get a positive print.
> That is what I'd do if I wanted to make 4x6 or 8x10 negatives.
> I think that the ISO speed for paper is about ISO 6 to 10, but it is
> probably different for the different brands and types of photo paper.

Well, my initial idea was to try and rig some dry plates up for the
negative, but I'm wanting to make the rear mount for plate or film something
I can switch out, so as to allow film, plates, or paper, as the situation
demands.

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