$x5 Conversion

[drew bedo]

Has anyone converted say, a Mamiya C-220/330 to 4x5? I realise that there are

issues with back-focus and so on. The interchangable lense boards would ease

lense-swapping. Is this too far off to be done. The bodies are cheaper than

Polaroid 110B on e-bay now. Is this worth looking at seriously?

[jonathan_traupman]

The Mamiya lenses are only designed to cover 6x6, so you'll end up with a 3.25 inch diameter circular image in the center of your 4x5 frame. I'd also hate to think about how you'd align the focusing and taking lenses to accomodate a 4x5 film holder.

[richard_ilomaki7]

Drew

 

Google "Peter Gowland cameras" and see his line of 4 x 5 TLRs. He has been making them for decades and is making 12 more. a bit pricy, but they are VERY well made and unique. The wheel has already been invented.

 

cheers

[drew bedo]

Thanks for the responses. I am aware of the coverage issue. The choice of the c-220/330 seriee is primarily for the intercangable lense plates and long focusing draw. These features allow a set of lenses that will cover the 4x5 format while the focus draw/extension will allow for infinity focus with the altered film plane. Some of the old press camera lenses in the 127mm to 135mm range would be a starting place.

 

I am also aware of the excellent Gowland cameras (I thought Peter Gowland had passed away reciently). These cameras are large-ish, hefty and costly.

 

I started looking at this concept while looking for alternatives to the Littman-type of camera format. This C-220/330 format would be less compact than the Polaroid based cameras. but the Polaroid 110B bodies are now selling for $150 to $200+ on e-bay these days. Again; thanks for your thoughtful input on this.

[dan_fromm2]

What's the point? How are you going to compose with a finder screen smaller than 4x5? The real problem isn't flange-top-film distance, its expanding a 56 mm x 56 mm gate to 95 x 120 or 120 x 95. How do you propose to do that? Pray that someone will tell you the trick?

 

Better to start from scratch and make a Gowland. Or be sensible and get a Graphic. Or a Graflex. Or even buy a Gowland. If you want to stray from the beaten path, get a Mentor.

[steve_hamley]

"The choice of the c-220/330 seriee is primarily for the intercangable lense plates and long focusing draw."

 

You'd get more lens options and more draw with a $200 Crown or Speed Graphic, and it would actually work. Not to mention being able to see what you're taking a picture of.

 

There were sheet film adaptors for the Mamiya TLRs, but IIRC they weren't 4x5.

 

Steve

[drew bedo]

Johnathon, Richard, Dan and Steve;

 

Thank you all for your thoughts on this concept. I will digest your remarks and re-evaluate what it is I wish to accomplish.

 

Regards

[camera_conjurer]

Drew, you absolutely CAN expand the format of the Mamiya cameras to 4x5.<p>And it

wouldn't be that difficult to do.<p>You have to retard the film plane of the camera and the

view screen, the same way that the 4x5 Gowlandflex can be expanded to 5x7. <p>There's a

picture of the Gowlandflex 4x5 camera converted to 5x7 you can see <A HREF="http://

www.petergowland.com/camera/repairs/"> if you click here,</A> and scroll down to the the

bottom photo on the page.<div></div>

[camera_conjurer]

Also, let's say you want to use lenses that cover 4x5.<p>You can unscrew the lens cells from

the shutter assembly and screw the 4x5 # 0 shutter mounted lens cells right into it.<div></div>

[camera_conjurer]

Like 127mm lenses from the Polaroid 110B, for example.<p>As long as the rear element can

clear the camera, the lens can focus to infinity and there's no internal cut off from the body

of the camera, the camera will operate as it did originally, ( cocking and firing the shutter

through the camera body ), only taking 4x5 photos.<p>You'll have to recalibrate the f:stop

markings on the shutter for the new lens cells..<div></div>

[camera_conjurer]

Hmm... after having a look, the camera body cuts off the 4x5 image.<p>If you oriented the

4x5 back vertically and cut out the parts of the camera body casting that hold the film rolls,

you might have a shot.<p>Ahh... never mind.

[drew bedo]

Noah;

 

Thanks for actually thinking about what might be possable. There are thousands of these bodies (and lense sets) around. The bodies are going for about the same as a Polaroid 110B.

 

I had another thought yesturday; a relay lense at the original film plane to throw an enlarged image onto the expanded film plane. Like a reversed enlarger...is this optically possable, or have I had a "Brain-Burp"? I had a fevered vision of a camera-back to attach to a Hasselblad body. "Blads are almost as cheap now as Polaroids are expensive. There are millions of Hasselblads just rotting in closets out there now.

 

Regards;

 

Drew Bedo

[rod_klukas]

Drew,

The new R-Line Arca Swiss is also an option. Hand holdable with focus aid (RF).

Also has tilt/Shift/Rise-Fall.

Coming soon.

Rod