It has been some time since the last blog update on the 20 x 24 " large format camera build but we have now received the bellows commissioned from Custom Bellows http://www.custombellows.co.uk and have fitted them to the camera. The bellows are stunning and when we mounted them on the camera the project has become more energised and renewed our urgency to finish the build and start taking photographs. The bellows extend and contract with ease and bend with the swing, shift and tilt of the lens evenly with the correct balance between rigidity and flexibility.
Due to the size of the bellows and an extension of up to 180cm we have added two adjustable support bars at the middle and front points of the bellows. The adjustable height support bars are not fixed to the bellows so the ribs can be moved to and fro on 6mm stainless steel rod as the bellows extend, contract, shift, swing and tilt with the movements of the lens and camera back when focusing. We decided on this support system after viewing other ultra format cameras and that it was the best approach in keeping the cameras over all weight down and allowing maximum flexibility in the camera bellows movement. The cameras we referenced were the Ebony SV2024 camera that has a bar support system like the one we used but without height adjustments
http://www.ebonycamera.com/cam/main.SV2024.html, the Polaroid
http://www.mammothcamera.com and Canham
http://www.canhamcameras.com/20x24.html cameras that have a rigid cutout panel support attached at the mid point of the bellows.
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bellows three quarters extended
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having two support bars gives a high degree of support when using the independent the front or rear focusing carriages
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bellows in closed position
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| rear view of the bellows |
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| bellows front adjustable support |
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| bellows mid point adjustable support |
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| bellows mid point adjustable support |
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| bellows front adjustable support |
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| bellows mid point adjustable support |
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| 6mm stainless steel rod supporting the bellows |
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| bellows with the lens in the swing position |
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| bellows with the lens in a lateral shift position |
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| bellows with the lens in the tilt position |
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| bellows with the lens in the swing and tilt position |
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| bellows with the lens in the upper vertical shift position |
While we waited for the bellows to be built by custom we have undertaken other detailed work on the camera. Two aluminium lens board sliding fastener plates have been fabricated by Joe Escott in the Fine Metal workshop in the School of the Arts that allow our two Schneider Fine Art XXL 550mm f11 and 1100mm f22 lens to be mounted onto the camera.
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| The sliding lens fastener plates are fabricated using 3mm aluminium plate, perhaps a bit over engineered but these Schneider lens are seriously heavy and expensive |
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| detail of lens and lens mount |
We also beefed up the tripod to support the camera by adding a spreading at the base of the tripod with lockable heavy duty wheels to move the camera around the studio. We have also added four quick release magic arms for additional support and rigidity. The tripod still has a geared head so we can quickly make adjustments to the levels and the magic arms have a quick release mechanism to removed and fix them in position.
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Adapted and reinforced
Manfrotto 400 geared head and 161MK2B tripod |
In the next couple of weeks we should be receiving the ground glass we have commissioned from Knight Optical http://www.knightoptical.com and finally see if the camera works. We have also nearly finished two more film holders which we hope are are an improvement on our first design. When we have received the ground glass we shall do a video so you can get a better idea how the camera has developed and works.
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