Project thread - Brownie wet slide conversion

[David Mitchell]

Hi all,

I have just got my Kodak Six-20 which I will be using film in as its simple, cheap and effective as well as learning how to develop film in the long run.

I initially started thinking about vintage cameras and photography when I saw a video for the worlds only tintype studio and I thought that it looks amazing and wanted to have a go.

I have heard about some conversions done for the basic and cheap to attain Brownie cameras being that its a box with a shutter and lens in vs the plate cameras which have bellows etc I am thinking about trying a very cheap idea on conversions using the brownie as a base.

Here is my initial idea (there will probably be many in this thread as it will be something I will be trying different things with).

Idea - wet plate is usually held on metal, if the metal is stainless steel it will magnetic, so to affix and hold the plate a magnet could be used.

Here are my initial mockups for a plate carrier using the original film insert etc (its made out of paper and roughly correct, prototype will be in metal and accurate)

Camera with film insert removed

Tray with folded edges and 4 magnets to hold the metal plate in the holder (black squares)

Tray fits over the original film insert tightly (light tight)

Insert the tray and film insert into camera keeping take up reel in place to lock in

n.b there is a clearance gap between the film insert and the camera case which can be filled with the tray

Close the camera up, everything is ready to shoot

These are just my initial idea on how I COULD do it, however this idea will evolve as I check out some other ideas

 

[Pete Askew]

Interesting idea. I guess you'll have to watch which grade of SS you get though to ensure a good hold by the magnet. Also you'll need to take account of thickness to ensure that the emulsion is in the same plane as the film would be to keep focus correct. Actually that won't matter too much of course as it will be image size that is affected and that will be minor - it's getting late here in Potsdam!!

 

[David Mitchell]

Thanks for the comment, its just my first idea, I was thinking about maybe running a thin rubbon through the tray to hold the plate there, but that would add complexity, as its a wet plate its not going to be in there for long so it doesn't need to be a permanent thing.

I don't think the actual image will be affected with regards to focus, the flat surface of the tray hovers just above where the rollers for the film go, I will make measurements but I think the clearance between the film insert and the rollers will allow me to use some decent SS. Its just an initial idea though

 

[Hamish Gill]

Very interesting stuff!
I shall be watching this progress closly ...
we actually have a DIY camera sort of competition running at te mo ... Although Pete is in the clear lead

http://www.realphotographersforum.c...format-paper-negative-diy-camera-project.html

 

[Pete Askew]

Only because I'm the only entrant though!! How's that camera going Hamish?!!

 

[David Mitchell]

Your camera is pretty epic though

Whats the most common 120 film camera out there btw? Would it be something like a No.2/no.2 junior (not a 2A)?

 

[Pete Askew]

For 'historic' cameras Brian would have a better idea but the mainstream systems I guess you are talking Hasselblad V and H systems, Mamiya RB / RZ, Pentax 67 and Bronica (all SLRs). Then there are twin lens reflex (TLR) cameras such the Mamiya C3/230/330, Rolieflex, Yashica etc. Then you have rangefinders (RFs) such as the Mamiya 6 and 7 and the various Fujis.

You know you could always start by using paper negatives. The 'plates' could be loaded in a darkened room under safe-lighting and developed in trays under the same conditions. Cost would be low and you could simply invert the paper negative during scanning.

 

[David Mitchell]

For 'historic' cameras Brian would have a better idea but the mainstream systems I guess you are talking Hasselblad V and H systems, Mamiya RB / RZ, Pentax 67 and Bronica (all SLRs). Then there are twin lens reflex (TLR) cameras such the Mamiya C3/230/330, Rolieflex, Yashica etc. Then you have rangefinders (RFs) such as the Mamiya 6 and 7 and the various Fujis.

You know you could always start by using paper negatives. The 'plates' could be loaded in a darkened room under safe-lighting and developed in trays under the same conditions. Cost would be low and you could simply invert the paper negative during scanning.

As soon as I see 'Hassleblad' in any paragraph I know its not going to be cheap lol yeah I did look at the paper negatives, might be worth a look into as they would be closer to tintypes with regards to single slides although I might just leave that to the larger format (although I know you can get large format field cameras).

I saw that the tray development is easier than other development processes so I am still tempted with the idea of single plates though it seems that I might have to trim to size as most aren't a 4x5. Its something I will look into though, might try and make a DIY camera to run a 8x10 paper negative

 

[Pete Askew]

Feel free to copy the design - I reckon it cost about £30 and took about 7 hours to make!! It takes A4 but only because that's the smallest paper size I use. 10 x 8 would be easier as you could you standard holders with RC paper I would think - I'll try when I'm back in the UK as I only have 5x4 here in Potsdam.

 

[David Mitchell]

I will have a think about the design etc I could just try and run bellows with 2 standards and a viewing plate at the back to get the right focus etc, will research into it

 

[Pete Askew]

You can pick up some very cheap monorails these days that would make a good basis.

 

[David Mitchell]

Hmm thats tempting will research into it a bit more before I commit to buying shiny parts!