Pseudo Panoramas on a budget...
This is one of those big ol' box cameras you come across in the
antique and bargain stores once in a while. If you find it in an
antique store, they'll want about $45 for it. In the bargain store
it'll be around $5-10. This one cost me $8 and came with two
film spools and a ruined roll of old Verichrome film.
I say it's big, 'cause it is. You could pack your lunch in this thing, and that
guy at work who is always snooping around the break room for some
grub will never rob anything from your lunch sack again.
He won't even know where to look for it.
Here you see that
Ansco wants you to use Agfa film.
D6
and D12
are Agfa-speak for size 116
film. It's no longer made,
but I don't like having a camera I can't use, so I "fixed" it.
but I don't like having a camera I can't use, so I "fixed" it.
120 film will work after a bit of messing about. The film rails are too wide,
so I cut some mat board and glued a piece to each side with rubber cement,
(arrows, right). That will let the pressure plate keep the film flat.
120 film spools are too small, so I cut the bottom out of a couple of film cans
for each 116 film spool and re-rolled 120 film onto the 116 size spools.
Unless you're pretty good at measuring and cutting these things, you will
have to load the camera in the dark. Otherwise the film will be fogged at the edges.
It can't be seen in this picture, but there is a slot cut in each spacer so it can
be inserted over the spool axle. The friction of the film backing paper holds the
spacers in place. They could be glued to the spool flange, but I didn't.
This way, when 116 film is re-introduced (next week, I hear) I can still use
this spool for a take up with the new Ektachrome in 116 size.
You could also make similar spacers to work with 120 factory film.
They could be glued to the ends of the 120 spool, but you
would have to cut a slot in one end for the film wind key.
A shot of the back. At the front is the shutter release and the "Instant/Time" tab
(which is shown pulled out in the "Time" position). The film window at the lower
right on the back will show numbers for 6x4.5 frame spacing with 120 film.
You have to wind about 2½ frames for each shot when using 120.
Pictures
This first shot is a slight crop. I got off on my frame counting and ran the edge of this
shot into the next frame, so I cropped it out. All the photos following this one are full frame.
These half kegs show up about this time every year. People go nuts when spring pops, and
buy all kind of gardening supplies. This mass buying is caused by the gardening gene,
which has evolved over millions of years. It is this "gardening gene" that has allowed humankind
to survive the dreaded malady of the north known as Cabin Fever.
Fence, round bales, and rock cribs.
A Prairie tragedy. Another barn comes down. At least they're not burning it.
Doesn't make me fell much better about it, though.
Fence lined driveway.
Ford.
A few details:
Film is Maco UP 100 plus developed in PC-TEA for 8 minutes.
Frame size of modified camera is approx. 2¼ X 4¼ inches.
None of my enlargers will take negs larger than 2¼ X 3¼, so these
negs were contact printed on Agfa RC paper developed in Dektol,
then scanned @ 600 dpi and resized for the web.
back to deansphothgraphica.com and deansofidaho.com
3/31/05
copyright 2005 Dean Williams