DIY - 35mm camera

[Ash]

I am not sure if this is the correct place to pose this question. Admin please move it if you think so.

Hi All,

I am thinking of making a 35mm Panorama camera with aspect ratio of 1:3 but able to decide on the focal length and lens.

My criteria are (1) no perspective distortion (2) FOV comparable to 90mm on fuji 6x17. I already have a mamiya N 35/3.5 lens, may be that could be use for this purpose. However I dont have exact dimension of its image circle. Ideally it should be like XPAN with 30-35mm lens (may be I am dreaming!).

I was wondering if someone can point me to any literature which deals with the basics of camera making.

Thanks !

[martinsmith99]

Try:

http://www.panoramic.net/www/HandBuilt.htm

http://www.funsci.com/fun3_en/panoram2/pan2_en.htm

[Ash]

Hi Martin,

Thanks for the link but these are for the rotating cameras and I am looking for non rotating types. These generally not that hand when it comes to shooting since they always requires a tripod.

[iangreenhalgh1]

You can't go wider than a certain amount without using a curved film plane with a normal 35mm lens.

You could use a larger format lens but this would mean a large camera.

Simplest way to do what you want would be to convert a rollfilm camera to use 35mm.

35mm frame is 36mm wide so if you want a triple width, you would need a lens with an image circle at least 108mm (3x36mm). You might be able to cover this with a lens from an old 6x9 folder.

[Ash]

Hi Ian,

I want 24x66mm (1:2.75) frame similar to xpan. My mamiya 645 35/3.5 N has image circle of about 80mm. If I am using this lens then the camera would be bulging out due to flange to film plane distance which is I guess is 63.3mm. But I dont know any 6x6,6x9 format rangefinder lens which are wider than this and not very expensive. I can think of mamiya 6x7 43mm but it is very very expensive. I dont have to shell out any extra from mamiya 35mm.

So I know if I use mamiya 35/3.5 the camera would be little bulky but much less than any 6x17 format

I may start with the configuration where lens is fixed at hyperfocal distance for f16 or f22. Then may introduce complication into it (may be rangefinder mechanism for focusing). I have seen many DIY 6x17 camera like this and I am trying to replicate in 135 format.

So if any one have any suggestion on how to start with camera making 101 please share!

[iangreenhalgh1]

Aha, 66mm wide frame is very easy and cheap to achieve and you can use that Mamiya lens.

Does that Mamiya lens have a shutter in it?

If so, you just need to fashion a mount for it.

Then get one of these very cheap plastic stereo pinhole cameras:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DIY-3D-Stereo-Pinhole-135-Film-Camera-w-Viewer-Kit-/160464443235?pt=UK_Photography_VintageCameras_SM&hash=item255c6d1763

Of course, you're not going to use the pinholes, this is just the body you will use.

The easiest way to add your lens to this camera would be to find an old cheap 6x9 folder with good bellows with no holes. Remove the bellows ad the bed it sits on from the folder and attach it to the front of the pinhole 35mm camera. You will need to cut away a rectangle from the front of the camera, removing the pinholes in the process.

Then you just need to mount your mamiya lens where the old lens/shutter is and you're good to go.

[Ash]

Unfortunately 645 lenses doesnt come with shutters. Thats one hurdle to overcome. Your advice seems pretty good ! Thanks ! Only problem is that old cameras are not very easily available where I live. So I need to make the back, bellows etc on my own

however I think it would be pretty exciting !

[luisalegria]

If you want a very, very cheap lens you can probably go with one from a 6x6 folder or TLR, like the Graflex/Ciro.

These would be 75-85mm lenses. They would also be much smaller than your Mamiya, though you would need a focusing mount, etc.

Alternately, how about modifying a TLR ? Those Graflex/Ciro types may work.

[Ash]

Hi Lui,

I believe with cheap you mean in price since I dont want to compromise in image quality. Also as I have mentioned I am currently looking to have wide angle with little or less distortion and my mamiya 35mm fit that criteria. Yeah it would be bulky but wide angle in medium format rangefinder are very expensive.

Generally such designs are made around lens. So lets say if my lens is final, how should I proceed with it?

[iangreenhalgh1]

This is the inside of the stereo pinhole I'm talking about, as you can see it will shoot a double width frame, that is with the stereo mask fitted but you can change it for the panoramic one it also comes with (without the divider in the middle).



You don't need bellows, you could just make a new wooden front for the camera that is deeper so that the Mamiya lens has the correct distance to the film plane.

Alternatively, sell that Mamiya lens and get one of the type luis is suggesting, some of the better lenses in the old 6x9 folders were superb and ideal for the work you want to do, the schneider Radionar being a good example.

[Scheimpflug]

[Ash]

[iangreenhalgh1]

That picture is taken from the blog schiempflug suggests, I also suggest taking a look at it.

If you look closely at that picture, it's just a plastic box with the film winding gear either side.

Knowing the Indian tradition of fabrication of all kinds of things from other old broken things in roadside workshops I'm sure you could find some local craftsman who could make the same thing for you out of metal. Perhaps if you bought the plastic version (it's so cheap) and gave it to such a craftsman he could just use the parts as the patterns to make a metal version?



That is the parts list for the camera, as you can see it has very few parts and should be very easy for a craftsman to make something similar out of wood or metal.

Here is a Noon pinole panoramic rollfilm camera executed in wood:



I really want a Noon but can't afford one. Hence I am in the process of trying to make my own DIY version, the problem I am having is in finding a large enough shutter to fit the Ross WA Xpress 5 inch lens I want to use. My aim is to shoot panoramas on 120 rollfilm, 6x12cm.

If you do engage a craftsman to make you a camera I would also be interested in buying one, you might be able to start a little business selling handmade cameras!

[Ash]

[Scheimpflug]

[visualopsins]

Thinking of building a 20x24" camera with WA Brown 14 Inch Series 60 Process Lens, looking around for a large shutter, found Packard Shutter Company
, also considering DIY shutter, found YouTube - DIY Camera Shutter

[iangreenhalgh1]

Yup, shutters are the biggest problem here, I am having a lot of difficulty finding a shutter large enough, cheap enough and fully working.

[kryss]

FWIW fuji H30 in Panoramic mode??

[Ash]

[paulusje]