Reducing back for Eastman Commercial View

[james_chinn]

Thanks for the responses to my questions regarding A Eastman Commercial View 8x10.

 

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I am assuming that Kodak made a specific reducing back for this camera, but i want to enlarge the potential pool of possibilities as it may take sometime to locate a Commercial View back.

 

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Question: Does anyone know if other Kodak 4x5 reducing backs (wood D2, Master View etc) could be modified to fit this camera, or of someone that may have knowledge in this area.

 

I have recently took the camera into the field and it was a great purchase. Light, stable and with all the movements needed. I will be adding a front tilt modification after finding out this was a common practice for those who used the camera including Ansel Adams.

[mark_sampson]

Try Stephen Shuart in Kane Pa. He specializes in older American large-

format stuff, and does custom work too.

[john_kasaian3]

James, FWIW, any back that fits your camera can be modified to be a

reducing back to 4x5. Heres how its done: Take a back 8x10 or 5x7,

remove the gg, springs and frame that hold the DCFH in place(you

won't need them so if you find a back thats missing these parts so

much the better and cheaper too. Get a nice oversized piece of wood

that will cover up the 8x10 hole and install a 4x5 back (any 4x5 back)

in the center---you'll have to cut a 4x5 hole of course---with glue

and screws. Attach that assembly to the stripped back with glue and

screws and paint the wood that goes inside the camera flat black

(black blackboard paint works fine) and you've got your reducing

back! Good Luck!

[leonard_robertson]

The outside of my wooden Eastman 2D back measures just a little over

11 1/2" square. The pins on the edge of the back measure 10 5/16"

on-center. This should give you an idea if a 2D back will fit your

camera. I can send additional measurements if you need them. I was

lucky enough to find a 6X6 "front-tilt adapter lensboard" at a camera

swap meet last weekend, so I now have front tilt for my 2D. If you can

find one of these, it is probably the easiest way to add front tilt. I

can email you a picture of this adapter if you have never seen one. Do

you happen to know the weight of your Commercial? I'm curious how it

compares with the 2D (mine weighs 10 3/4 pounds without lensboard or

rear extension track).