The talk about boxes cameras awhile back got me thinking. It would seem front
rise/fall and shift would be real easy. I actually think limited tilt would
be possible but would require some sort of light blocking setup. Rear
movements are also possible but I think my first test camera will be limited
to front rise/fall and shift.
Getting to the idea I have. Think of a cardboard box with the flaps open.
That's the simplest way I can convey the general look. My box would have the
flaps connected to form a collar around the front. Or you could call it a
frame. On this collar drill a series of holes. I'm leaning towards 1/4" to
use standard hardware. The trade off is too many holes and a weak setup and
too few and too little control. The lensboard is relatively huge. The whole
inside dimension of the box camera plus the the max amount of movement you
would want. Around the edge of the lensboard would be a few 1/4 holes. You
would shift the lens by moving the whole lensboard and slipping the hardware
into the holes on the collar. Hopefully securing everything.
The back will be a removable ground glass setup that would be secured with
the same sort of hardware. That could be removed and replaced with a back any
size from the max inside of the box on down.
My worries right now are will the box rack when I try to focuss by turning
the screw setup I see using. What I intend to use is 1/4" screw rod set in
the middle of the underside [or top] of the box. Turning the knob on the rod
will hopefully move the two boxes. Standard drawer slides.
The size? I'm waiting to find a lens but I'm leaning towards a min size that
would be just less then infinity focus for the lens I get.
I don't know if this has been tried before or if the idea is too wierd. It
sounds like it would work to me. Assuming a front of 12"x12" I think I could
make two out of one 4'x8' sheet of plywood so it's obviously cheap. It'll be
heavier then a more complex design but should be fairly stiff.
Nick
_______________________________________________
Cameramakers mailing list
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://rmp.opusis.com/mailman/listinfo/cameramakers
