Hello Everyone,

I am considering building my own 4x5 view camera as much for the fun of the building as for obtaining a camera. Are there any books or other resources out there that cover this subject? I would like to make the frame but use already available components such as bellows, lens boards and film holders etc.. I would like to first acquire and use those components for the critical measurements. So, can someone tell me what brand has the most commonly available accessories? I have a fully equipped shop capable of building out of wood, welded metal including aluminum, cast aluminum or a combination. Any suggestions? Thanks, Jerry

-- Jerry Cole (madcole@msn.net), June 03, 2002

Answers

jerry you might check out http://rmp.opusis.com/mailman/listinfo/cameramakers people there make their own lenses, cameras and just about everything inbetween :) best of luck

-- jnanian (jak@gis.net), June 03, 2002.

Jerry, You might want to get a hold of the Nov/Dec 1996 issue of View Camera for an in-depth article on building your own 4x5 Field Camera. As I recalled it had all kinds of useful info and sources for parts. View Camera will sell you back issues or photocopies of specific articles if tey haven't got back issues. Bender offers a kit for a monorail as well. They've got a great website that would be worth checking out just for the information they provide. Good Luck!

-- John Kasaian (www.kasai9@aol.com), June 03, 2002.

If you'd like, you could buy a camera kit (4x5 or 8x10) from Jay Bender at www.benderphoto.com. I didn't have your machine shop, so I went this route.

-- Tony Karnezis (karnezis@aecom.yu.edu), June 04, 2002.

Jerry,

See also here: http://home.online.no/~gjon/

-- Huib Smeets (hsmeets@plex.nl), June 04, 2002.

Jerry,

Give this site a try,

http://www.keinaths-fotohomepage.gmxhome.de/LF/lf-links.htm

-- Kevin (kkemner@tatesnyderkimsey.com), June 04, 2002.

I found this page very interesting.

http://www.cyberbeach.net/~dbardell/

You can get to it from some of the other URLs you've been given.

DW

-- Dave Willis (willisd@medicine.wustl.edu), June 04, 2002.