Re: Making a portable 4x8 feet pinhole camera

Now that is large format! Sorry I have no experience to share (I've never
gotten above 10 x 8) but I just wanted to wish you the best in what sounds
like a fantastic crazy project. You'll probably find a 4x8 ft camera
immediately excludes 'easy to move around', throw in bellows and a 100ft
roll of paper and it's going to be some weighty camera! Maybe you can post
some digital pictures documenting this fascinating event?

p

2008/5/3 Guy Glorieux <guy.glorieux@gmail.com>:

> Hi friends,
>
> I am working on designing and building a 4 x 8 feet pinhole camera
> which I will be using in about a month time for a project here in
> Montreal.
> I'd be happy to hear if anybody has experience in this area.
>
> The camera needs to be easy to move around
> and its focal length should be adjustable with a bellows system.
> It would be nice if it could have uptake and downtake spools
> so as to accommodate a 100-feet roll of photographic paper
> thereby allowing me to make something like 12 exposures
> without having to go back to a base darkroom after each exposure.
>
> As I see it, the design would work something like an old 120 Kodak Bantam
> or
> Kodak Vest Pocket camera.
> The basic camera will have 3 main parts: front panel, bellows, back panel.
>
> The front panel would be 4 x 8 feet 1/4inch plywood.
> It would have a large opening for a removable pinhole plate to accommodate
> different pinhole diameters and off-center positioning.
> The pinhole plate would allow for the placement of a 2-stop density
> center-fillter (to reduce vignetting) and/or a yellow filter.
>
> The front panel and bellows would be mounted together.
> The bellows would be made of two layers of black fabric
> with a maximum extension of 48in. since I want the camera to cover a wide
> angle-of-view.
>
> The back panel would be similar to the front, made of 4x8 feet 1/4 in
> plywood.
> It would initially be built for the placement of just a single sheet of
> photographic paper (44x92in.)
> I still need to design a contraption to accommodate a roll of photographic
> paper.
>
> The photographic paper will be loaded under safelight conditions
> and the back panel fitted to the rear end of the bellows with a
> light-tight
> fitting.
> The camera would then be ready to be moved to location in broad daylight.
>
> On location, the camera bellows would be extended to the appropriate focal
> length
> The back and front panels will be held together into a box with a series
> of
> rods,
> these rods acting also as a support to prevent bellows sagging.
>
> The extended camera will be moved around to its exact final position with
> a
> dolly
> and will be held firmly into position on the ground with appropriate
> fastening devices.
>
> These are the rough specifications and the individual details need to be
> worked out.
> I expect to encounter the usual set of problems with the building of the
> camera
> and any suggestions, advice will be most welcome.
> In particular, I would be happy to hear suggestions on the best materials
> to
> use.
>
> Also, I will need to get a bag for storage/transport of the camera.
> Suggestions here are welcome.
>
> Regards to all
> and congratulations for WPPD 2008 to the organizers and the participants.
> A fantastic success,
>
> Guy Glorieux
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> --
> Que la douceur de l'amitié soit faite de rires et de plaisirs partagés.
> Khalil Gibran
> _______________________________________________
> Post to the list as PLAIN TEXT only - no HTML
> pinhole-discussion mailing list
> pinhole-discussion@spitbite.org
> FAQ at http://spitbite.org/pinhole-discussion/list.html
_______________________________________________
Post to the list as PLAIN TEXT only - no HTML
pinhole-discussion mailing list
pinhole-discussion@spitbite.org
FAQ at http://spitbite.org/pinhole-discussion/list.html
Received on Sat May 3 03:16:58 2008