Introduction: DIY 4X5 Camera Scan Back

This is a tutorial for devising a DIY camera scan back for a 4X5 television camera. I made this to work with a Graflex Series B camera which at one full point was one of the top-of-the-line cameras. It lang syne belonged to my Great Great Uncle Nat who was a dealings lensman for JCPenney in the 1930s.

My reason for qualification this scan game was because the camera was broken when I received it, and it could nary longer exist used to take film photos. The shutter textile in the back had rotted, and the cost of sourcing a new one and repairing it was much than buying a working gaffer Graflex photographic camera to begin with.

Nevertheless, I told the family member who gave me the television camera that I was going to somehow get it working again. I began to explore options for winning photos without a working shutter. One of my ideas involved putting a sheet of paper of ground field glass in the back, and scanning it. That is when I stumbled upon camera scan backs.

Unfortunately, I quickly realized a transaction camera scan back costs thousands of dollars. Undaunted, I simply decided to make my own for untold cheaper. The cost of making this project is about $200.

Of course, for $200 you get what you pay for. This scan in reply entirely works in monochrome, the photo in unevenly well-lighted, and, as you can see, the rings from the fresnel lens show up overlaid atop the graphic. These are not the top digital pictures in the international, and it would personify ordinary to enounce that the photos that solvent are a bit of an acquired taste.

While I would get much better results simply by buying a 4X5 transcriber plate for my Canon DSLR, I feel like this scan endorse is more in the spirit of shooting film with this camera. For starters, I can gain use of the camera's native SLR mechanism (one of the early of its kind), which would not be necessary when shooting digital photos. As wel, in that respect is a kind of "developing" involved since I can't see what I am shooting until I load up it onto the estimator. Likewise, there is unexpected artifacts and graininess like you would see with film, especially when shot moving subjects.

It is the combination of oldtimer engineering science and the factor of surprise that makes using this 4X5 scan back with my camera so diverting. I wouldn't say these are the top photos I've ever affected, but I had a great time getting this family heirloom impermanent again.

Step 1: Scanning the Image

If you simply place the digital scanner in the back of the camera where the 4X5 film cartridge unremarkably goes, and scan the framework you will get a reasonably high resolution but narrow "keyhole" image.

It's difficult to solve what division of the redact you're going to capture, just you will definitely get a heights settlement photo.

Step 2: Adding a Lens

By adding a fresnel lens on top of the scan bed, you can much evenly disperse the light and commence a brimming shape picture. However, the sell-off here is that the image scanner sluttish reflects dispatch of the lens and you toilet check the lens itself overlaid on every picture.

This results in a blurrier and let down quality full redact image.

I decided to go this route and add a lens because I was more concerned about capturing the full frame than making sopranino calibre photos. Nonetheless, what I am about to show you can be built with Oregon without the lens (to your preference).

Ill-use 3: Materials

Step 4: Optical maser Cut Parts

Download the attached laser cut files.

IT should represent pretty straight forward what to coiffe, just if it's not, Here are many book of instructions:

  • Laser cut the one labeled EigthAcrylicVectorCut.eps out the 1/8" acrylic.
  • Laser cut the ace labeled QuarterAcrylicVectorCut.eps out of 1/4" acrylic.


If you wear't have a optical maser cutter, can't find one at a local makerspace, nor want to pay a avail chest to cut the parts for you, then you commode use the files as templates and use traditional shop tools to cut them out. Check over this amazing guide doing digital fabrication by manus.

Step out 5: Draw the Holes

Thread totally of the holes in the 1/4" acrylic paint victimisation a 6-32 knock.

Measure 6: Countersink

Countersink the holes on one side of the large 1/8" acrylic piece using a drill press.

The idea is to make the countersinks rightful deep enough that the 6-32 flathead bolts lay about boot when inserted.

Step 7: Peel and Stack

Peel the protective coating off of the black acrylic paint.

Stack them such that the 1/4" piece is on the bottom, the littler 1/8" opus is in the middle and the larger 1/8" piece is on high with the countersinks lining upwardl.

Footstep 8: Bolt Unneurotic

Gobble all troika pieces unitedly with the 3/8" x 6-32 bolts.

Step 9: Gashed a Cover (optional)

Download the attached vinyl template and weakened IT out victimization your vinyl cutter of choice.

This testament be utilised to cover the heads of the 6-32 bolts so that the scanner does not see them, and to prevent them from reflecting lightly.

Step 10: Cover the Bracket

Cover the side of the bracket where the bolt heads are showing using the black adhesive vinyl from the previous step.

If you Don't take over a vinyl hand-hewn coherent cover, then you can use some black electrical tape or just draw over the heads of the bolt with a black mark.

Step 11: Place the Augustin Jean Fresnel Genus Lens

Base the Fresnel lens centralized atop the scanner bed with the smooth side of the lens facing upwards.

Step 12: Double Sided Tape

Grade high-stepping strength double-sided tape right along the edges of the scan bed atop the Fresnel lens.

The idea is to relieve oneself sure that you have recorded down the lens during this process.

Step 13: Stick happening the Bracket

Center the bracket's opening atop the scanner bed and stick it down.

Step 14: Clean IT Up

Cut gone the surplus tape, or cover the tape measure with more black acrylic resin.

To Be honest, the low time I did this I cut the tape away, and it lost some structural integrity.

I later redid it by cover the unprotected tape with remaining black vinyl group and this worked very well.

Step 15: Attach the Scan Back out to Your Camera

Attach the skim back to your camera as you would any other camera back.

You are now willing to begin shot!

Step 16: Shoot Some Photos

One thing to keep in mind when shooting photos is that your subject needs to personify really brightly lit.

Also, on account of the depth of the acrylic fiber square bracket, the scanner bed is spaced back about 1/2" from the normal focal skim. To account for this, get your subject in focusing and so manually actuate the bellows in about 1/2".

Another helpful thing I educated is that it makes No difference whether or not the spinal column of the scanner's see-through windowpane is covered. Don't worry about this rental light in.

Lastly, if your subject moves spell scanning it, you can get some fun and interesting results.

PLEASE NOTE!
If anyone arse work a way of life to make the scanner work without the scanner's Inner Light turning on (the brightness is required for calibration before every print), I will be your friend forever!

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