New 5" x 4" Folding Camera Under Construction

[Steve Smith]

I have deliberated, planned and talked about this for long enough. It's time to start cutting some wood.

Back in 2006 I made a 5" x 4" camera with the benefit of knowing nothing about them or how they worked. It didn't fold up, had limited movements and weighed about seventeen and a half tons... It took pictures though which was the main thing.

A couple of years ago I discovered Rayment Kirby's website: http://www.raymentkirbycameras.co.uk/ which is one of the best sites I have found for DIY camera builders.

I based my camera on his design and produced some CAD drawings from the PDF file on the website.

Today I started to cut the wood - some oak which used to be a piece of furniture which was given to my brother and which I somehow ended up with.

Whilst I like working wood with hand tools (I have built a few guitars) I also have the use of a CNC router/drill at work (as those of you who have read about my 6x12 camera will know) so I used that to cut the rebates and the profiles. It can cut much more accurate finger joints than I can!

I will add more pictures as I progress.


Steve.

[Ian Grant]

Don't forget to put a tripod socket on its side so you can also use it US style 4"x5"

Nice one keep us posted.

Ian

[SMBooth]

Have fun, having the right tools help with a project like this. But why a nonstandard 5x4, wouldn't the standard 4x5 be easier.

Edit: Bugger, 1 sec faster and I could of been the funnest person on APUG......

[Steve Smith]

Surely in Australia, you use the proper British 5x4 term, not 4x5!


Steve.

[pentaxuser]

Steve, my experience of your ingenuity and engineering skills suggest that you can make this work and maybe make some money from it or at least cover costs of development.

Best of luck

PS while you are at it can you produce a cheap second P645n for me

pentaxuser

[SMBooth]

Surely in Australia, you use the proper British 5x4 term, not 4x5!


Steve.

No 4x5, 8x10 or a least I do. Now I'm confused...
although thinking in timber sizing it always the larger size first.

[munz6869]

I used to shoot 4x5", but now only ever 5x4" (and sometimes 3 1/2 x 2 1/2")...

Also - Steve, I'm embarking on a similar project: currently all-obsessed with black heart sassafras and finger joints... I will be jolly keen to see your results!

Marc!

[Steve Smith]

Some more in progress pictures.

1. Parts balancing in roughly the right place.
2. Parts being glued together with integral bellows mounting plates (an old pair of tights being used instead of clamps).
3. The front and back being introduced to the bellows.

[Ian Grant]

Do you want a focus screen Steve, I owe you a favour or two

Ian

[Steve Smith]

Do you want a focus screen Steve, I owe you a favour or two

Yes please!


Steve.