Over the years there have been many means of combining movements with 35mm. There has been a 35mm view camera, the K.I. Monobar, made by Kennedy Instruments and marketed briefly by Ilford. Too briefly, it never received the bag bellows it badly needed. Several bellows attachments have incorporated one or more view camera movements. (If you have Stroebel's "View Camera Techniques" 7th edition, looka at page 274.)
Regarding 35mm backs to fit the Graflok, there have been several, and also several adapters made to fit entire 35mm cameras behind a Graflok. Most of these have placed the film at the back of the body, a substantial disadvantage. Not only does this increase the minimum extension, it means you can't focus on the view camera groundglass. That's all right in the case of an adapter to an SLR body, but they are particularly thick. This places the film so far from the swing and tilt axes that it must be a nuisance making readjustments after making one of these movements.
This may be the time for a re-introduction of the 35mm view camera, this time as an alternative back to fit on a camera designed for digital use.
If you examine the Monobar, you can see that it has numerous advantages to offset the loss of a large viewing screen and film. It is able to use any of the great variety of inexpensive films available in 35mm. A mere 12" rail provides an extension of six times "normal" focal length. A 4" X 5" with an equivalent extension would have a 36" long rail. It would, of course, offer monorail advantages to a backpacker. There are other advantages, as well.
There have been a few 35mm film holders which place the film at the front of the body. The holder for the Monobar was one of these. Another was made by the Keith Camera Co. of Los Angeles. It uses bulk film, so has to be loaded in a darkroom. It will take a very long length, but you can also load it with short lengths pulled out of the usual cassette, since no feed spool is necessary. It attaches to a 4" X 5" in the usual Graflok manner. I have one of these and will send it to you on a one year loan if you pay the shipping costs and will provide the Forum with your comments on its use. Within the year you should be able to locate another one, or an equivalent, if you decide you like using it.
35mm On the View Camera
in Large Format
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Hi, I have a KI Monobar (with Apo Lanthar) and several rare Advocate cameras for auction:
The camera details, including a Monobar can be found at :
http://www.specialauctionservices.com/large/cm090317/page002.html
and a Voigtländer APO-Lanthar f/4.5 150mm Lens (From the monobar) at:
http://www.specialauctionservices.com/large/cm090317/page004.html
I would be grateful if you can forward this Email onto anyone you might think who would be interested in any of the items.
My optimism for a ‘good result’ tends to rise and fall so I need all the help I can muster!