Day 5, building a ttv contraption for my mom. Since the Canon lens sets so low, and the Argus viewfinder sets so high, I used an extra quick release clamp I had laying around to get the lens and viewfinder in line. Now my mom can quickly take off the Canon for non-ttv shots when she wants.
Unfortunately, the clamp added more height than I needed, so now I have to raise the Argus up off the back board another 1/4" or so. Good thing she said ok to the extra weight and size, this puppy is growing!
Monday, September 8, 2008
mounting Argus on temporary back brace
We're going with the Argus--extra weight and size be damned! We want ttv clarity and sharpness, and the Argus will provide that.
I drilled some holes in the back panel of the Argus and am securing it to the temporary backbrace in order to do some test shots, and varify the distance from camera to camera before I cut and drill into the aluminum back brace.
I drilled some holes in the back panel of the Argus and am securing it to the temporary backbrace in order to do some test shots, and varify the distance from camera to camera before I cut and drill into the aluminum back brace.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
test--starflex
I'm still undecided about which base camera to use for my mom's new ttv contraption.
Not nearly as sharp as the Argus, but for size, weight and alignment, it's my likely choice of base camera for her.
Captured through the viewfinder Canon EOS 30D + Starflex
Not nearly as sharp as the Argus, but for size, weight and alignment, it's my likely choice of base camera for her.
Captured through the viewfinder Canon EOS 30D + Starflex
test--brownie
I'm pretty sure she won't like the fuzzy quality of this camera type--too bad, this would be an easy fit in alignment with her Canon.
Captured through the viewfinder Canon EOS 30D + Brownie Reflex
Captured through the viewfinder Canon EOS 30D + Brownie Reflex
test--argus
I love the sharp clarity of the Argus, too bad it doesn't line up well in positioning with her Canon--in my planned back-brace design.
Captured through the viewfinder Canon EOS 30D + Argus 75
Captured through the viewfinder Canon EOS 30D + Argus 75
determining distance
day 4 of building a ttv contraption for my mom. Before I cut or drill into the aluminum back brace, I need to determine the best distance from Canon lens to viewfiner top. I've shimmed under the Starflex to raise it by 1/8", and I've placed a piece of wood under the Canon lens temporarily, as it wanted to fall forward because it wasn't secured yet.
I put the Canon on the edge of the table, so I can view, and move the Starflex the correct distance. While viewing, I hold the flower over to Starflex to take a test shot.
The funny thing is my mom likely thought she would have her Canon back in a couple days--I hope she's not waiting by the mailbox for it's return.
I put the Canon on the edge of the table, so I can view, and move the Starflex the correct distance. While viewing, I hold the flower over to Starflex to take a test shot.
The funny thing is my mom likely thought she would have her Canon back in a couple days--I hope she's not waiting by the mailbox for it's return.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
messy studio--after
Day 3 of building a new contraption for my mom. The first step is to clean up my work table and clear a space to start!
Friday, September 5, 2008
building the contraption day 2
Day 2 of building a ttv contraption for my mom.
I have my mom's Canon EOS 30D and 60mm macro lens on a temporary backbrace (shown on bottom) which I’m sizing it up to find the right viewfinder base camera for her.
The positioning of the lens on the Canon body poses a challenge, because it’s lower than I'm used to—this will make using an Argus 75 difficult because of the positioning of the viewfinder.
Note the (top photo) Nikon D70 with 60mm lens has about ¾” clearance from lens to back board. Her Canon EOS 30D with 60mm lens (bottom photo) has less than ¼” clearance.
I have a couple options in building this contraption, I can raise the Canon up off the base, or I can use a different viewfinder camera.
This much I know:
My mom wants a base viewfinder that’s very clean and clear (she's not into the dusty ttv's). She wants the total contraption lightweight and small because she uses this camera out and about when photographing people and events in Vermont. She wants to be able to remove the Canon easily and quickly when she doesn’t want to shoot ttv style.
This narrows my options a little, so I'm thinking about the Starflex viewfinder camera instead of the Argus 75.
I have my mom's Canon EOS 30D and 60mm macro lens on a temporary backbrace (shown on bottom) which I’m sizing it up to find the right viewfinder base camera for her.
The positioning of the lens on the Canon body poses a challenge, because it’s lower than I'm used to—this will make using an Argus 75 difficult because of the positioning of the viewfinder.
Note the (top photo) Nikon D70 with 60mm lens has about ¾” clearance from lens to back board. Her Canon EOS 30D with 60mm lens (bottom photo) has less than ¼” clearance.
I have a couple options in building this contraption, I can raise the Canon up off the base, or I can use a different viewfinder camera.
This much I know:
My mom wants a base viewfinder that’s very clean and clear (she's not into the dusty ttv's). She wants the total contraption lightweight and small because she uses this camera out and about when photographing people and events in Vermont. She wants to be able to remove the Canon easily and quickly when she doesn’t want to shoot ttv style.
This narrows my options a little, so I'm thinking about the Starflex viewfinder camera instead of the Argus 75.
choosing my base camera
Top Left: Duaflex and Argus, note from back panel to bottom of viewfinder is a space of about 1”. The Duamflex or Argus work well with my Nikon where the lens sets high on the body, but not so well with the Canon—which sets low.
Lower row: Brownie Starflex on left, Brownie Reflex on right.
The Brownie Reflex could work well and be very simple to build a contraption because of the flat back and ease in disassembling/reassembling. I have 4 of these, but each one has a very dusty lens and moldy mirror. This isn’t the look she wants. Besides this is a very heavy camera, so it’s the second strike against it for my mom’s contraption.
The Starflex is a candidate because of the viewfinder position, and I have one that is very clean and clear, still in the original 1950's store package. My mom will like the bright clarity of this viewfinder and especially the lightweight.
The Starflex poses many more contruction issues because there are no flat panels. This body is all curves with odd viewfinder angles. Building the contraption to house it will be more work, but in the end, I think it’s my best choice.
Lower row: Brownie Starflex on left, Brownie Reflex on right.
The Brownie Reflex could work well and be very simple to build a contraption because of the flat back and ease in disassembling/reassembling. I have 4 of these, but each one has a very dusty lens and moldy mirror. This isn’t the look she wants. Besides this is a very heavy camera, so it’s the second strike against it for my mom’s contraption.
The Starflex is a candidate because of the viewfinder position, and I have one that is very clean and clear, still in the original 1950's store package. My mom will like the bright clarity of this viewfinder and especially the lightweight.
The Starflex poses many more contruction issues because there are no flat panels. This body is all curves with odd viewfinder angles. Building the contraption to house it will be more work, but in the end, I think it’s my best choice.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
selecting the base camera
Step one in building a new ttv contraption for my mom (sylvia skea), is picking her base camera. She likes them clean and clear, and an Argus 75 was her first camera as a child, so that's the one!
contraption 1
My first step in building a new contraption for my mom was getting her to mail her Canon and lens from VT to PA.
The second step is to finish this thing within a few weeks, or she's be going through ttv withdraws, and that's not a good thing.
The second step is to finish this thing within a few weeks, or she's be going through ttv withdraws, and that's not a good thing.
contraption 2
In building this new ttv contraption for my mom I determine the distance from camera to viewfinder, as Rustman taught us to do, so that I get the largest possible viewfinder image, and make sure everything lines up.
Once the light block housing gets under construction, this back brace will change, and it will have a handle on the back side, all in shiny black!
Once the light block housing gets under construction, this back brace will change, and it will have a handle on the back side, all in shiny black!
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Friday, August 22, 2008
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Saturday, August 16, 2008
old viewfinder
this is one of those 1" viewfinders off the side of a bellow camera. I love the notched metal square frame.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Monday, August 11, 2008
Friday, August 8, 2008
Monday, August 4, 2008
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
jumping teens
They agreed to pose...for lunch. Always hungry--teenage boys. I lined them against the pool because the light was nice. While I was framing and giving directions, I told them to jump up. I didn't mean 'in', I meant 'up'. Fortunately one questioned me and I clarified, as the other five were ready to take the dive.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Monday, July 21, 2008
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
ttv enlarger contraption
I rebuilt this enlarger contraption and switched out the duaflex to an argus 75, as it fit a bit more snug. The Nikon and Argus are supported by a back brace, which I made to fit and support by existing screw holes and bolts within the existing enlarger whenever possible.
It's rigid and solid and the base is on wheels. The whole unit glides up and down on a track. I've used it successfully for long exposure, flight-light lit still lifes. My plan is to do some portrait shots when I can get the kids or their friends over to model!
This unit isn't portable, it sits in a corner of the basement. The main Nikon camera is removable to use on my main portable ttv contraption.
It's rigid and solid and the base is on wheels. The whole unit glides up and down on a track. I've used it successfully for long exposure, flight-light lit still lifes. My plan is to do some portrait shots when I can get the kids or their friends over to model!
This unit isn't portable, it sits in a corner of the basement. The main Nikon camera is removable to use on my main portable ttv contraption.
newborn robins
this robin built her nest so low, I couldn't resist getting the shot which was a challenge at best. I stood on the ladder, contraption in hand. My exposure was tested ahead, I relied on auto focus and shooting blind. Fred held down the branch below and moved the top branch aside. I took a few shots, most of them missing the birds all together, this one capturing them just right.
Two days later I tried the shot again but the third egg was gone, the two little birds doing fine. The robin parents and all their friends making quite a bit of noise until we moved away only seconds later.
Two days later I tried the shot again but the third egg was gone, the two little birds doing fine. The robin parents and all their friends making quite a bit of noise until we moved away only seconds later.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
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