New member

[Ray Heath]

G'day all

I recently found this site whilst Googling LF photography and was surprised to discover an Aussie site.

I've been a photographer for nearly thirty years. Photography is a passion which I've practised as both an amateur and a professional.

In 2005 I was encouraged to try LF photography as a requirement of a Uni course I was undertaking as a mature age student. Having only limited access to equpment and a near zero budget I attempted to build my own cameras, film holders and lenses. What started as an experiment has developed into a full blown obsession.

I have built mainly sliding box simple lens cameras from 5x4 to 11x14 as well as quite a few pinhole cameras and a 6x9 fixed focus simple lens roll film camera. I mostly shoot LF paper negs and am constantly amazed at the quality that is possible from such humble devices.

The image of Old East Maitland Platform is from a scanned cyanotype contact print of a 5x7 film negative.

The image of my son Jackson is from a scanned contact print of an 8x10 paper negative.

Thank you

OldEastMaitlandPlatform.jpg (168.12 KiB) Viewed 8067 times

2012-07-25_Jack.jpg (124.97 KiB) Viewed 8067 times

Ray

[Alastair Moore]

Hello Ray!

Welcome to the forum.. we're gradually growing and was pleased to see we're appearing on Google finally! Love the cyanotype and I'd be keen to see the cameras you've been building if you want to share a few photographs!

Cheers,

Alastair

[jars121]

Another welcome from me Ray. I'd also love to see your DIY cameras

[Walter Glover]

G'day Ray,

Welcome to the box of tricks. Nice introductory pics. I'm looking forward to seeing more.

[alexn]

Welcome Ray.

Great image of your son Jackson, Amazingly high quality... I recently built my first 4x5 camera that was basically a pine box with a 90mm F/8 Super Angulon on the front and a graflock back on the rear... I took some amazing images with something so simple and modest.. It cost a total of $245 (including lens and back!) and provided me with 170+ megapixel landscape images with quality that would make even the most expensive digital cameras weep..


Enjoy the forums, its still a pretty small active community here but we're growing.

[Ray Heath]

Hi all, thank you for the interest and the warm welcome.

Attached image is the latest group shot of my homemade cameras. Clockwise from top left;
5x8 simple lens sliding box camera for homemade film holders,
5x7 simple lens sliding box camera for standard film holders,
5x4 simple lens bellows focusing camera for standard film holders,
11x14 simple lens sliding box camera for homemade film holders,
6x9 simple lens fixed focus roll film camera,
8x10 simple lens sliding box camera for homemade film holders,
8x10 Petzval lensed sliding box camera for homemade film holders.

In the foreground are various aperture discs, lens caps and lens assemblies.

2012-Oct-HomemadeCameras.jpg (232.8 KiB) Viewed 8020 times

[Walter Glover]

The craftsmanship is as impressive as the assortment.

[Warmtone]

Hi all, thank you for the interest and the warm welcome.

Attached image is the latest group shot of my homemade cameras. Clockwise from top left;
5x8 simple lens sliding box camera for homemade film holders,
5x7 simple lens sliding box camera for standard film holders,
5x4 simple lens bellows focusing camera for standard film holders,
11x14 simple lens sliding box camera for homemade film holders,
6x9 simple lens fixed focus roll film camera,
8x10 simple lens sliding box camera for homemade film holders,
8x10 Petzval lensed sliding box camera for homemade film holders.

In the foreground are various aperture discs, lens caps and lens assemblies.

2012-Oct-HomemadeCameras.jpg

Are these cameras fixed focus or does the slide arrangement allow focus adjustment?

[Ray Heath]

All the sliding box cameras can be focused from infinity to quite close.

Each camera can be fitted with one or more lenses which on most of them will allow focal lengths from wide angle to near normal angles of view.

[Warmtone]

All the sliding box cameras can be focused from infinity to quite close.

Each camera can be fitted with one or more lenses which on most of them will allow focal lengths from wide angle to near normal angles of view.

Sounds like an interesting design ...but how do you keep the light out since there is no bellows
Brian