My dog is verrrrry annoyed you’re keeping us on tenterhooks!!!! Just last night I was looking at 5x7 with a graflock. But even that still meant another $1100 for a DaYi 6x17 back to go on it… And sure, compared to 4500-6k for a Shen Hao that’s a “bargain”, but geez that’s still 100 rolls of film up front… As soon as you said “bellows are unsurprisingly kaput” I was like “that’s an economic oopsie”, and then when u were “make em myself” I was starting to shrink even further into a puddle of inadequacy…. Really look forward to your next episode. (Are you now having xpan regrets?)
Haaa, sorry, not sorry. I knew from the beginning the bellows would need replacing, that was a given, but what I didn't know was how finicky they are to get perfect 🤦🏻♂️ I reckon if I made another set I'd get there, but at the stage, I'm over cutting out cardboard supports forever. Oh no, the Xpan is my GOAT camera, I will be buried with it.
Agreed the Magic Viewfinder app is far from great, it's pretty much the only option on Android though 🤦🏻♂️ IOS has so many better ones, almost worth getting an iphone
I designed my own 3D printed roll film back for use on the shen hao, and then I made the back able to convert to a point and shoot camera as well, since I can use that right away. I posted a bit about it on largeformat forums a few weeks ago. I have lever action film advance on mine. I'm building my own ebony/shen hao 6x17 field camera though because of the cost to buy a new or used version. I need to wait for better weather to set up my wood working shop before I can get to the wood camera build though
You sound surprised about the precision of timber made parts. Have a look at an Ebony! a skilled craftsman can produce incredibly precise designs with stable fine grained woods.
Oh not surprised by what can be done with timber, probably more surprised at how well they have stood up against the test of time, decades and decades and yet they still fit perfectly, I doubt anything made now out of newer materials would do as good a job.
Thanks for sharing the video, have been toying with a similar project for my 5x7 rittreck for a while, though also have an old half plate camera I need to restore that would also be a prime candidate for a 6x17 back that I hadn't considered before. Out of interest, where did you source the thinner fabric for the bellows?
Yeah, the Rittrek was on my list of possible donor bodies. I found a window blackout material, it is white on one side and black on the other, so I had originally organised it until I realised, the white sides are on the glue down side so you don't see it. Much thinner than standard blackout material
Can’t wait fir the second part of this. Thought the bellows would be a pain, I’ve ordered bellows from a company in the UK for my own 8x10 custom build.
They definitely are a challenge, I got better each time, the only problem, each attempt takes hours. I'm sure if I stick with it I'd get there, but as this is the only camera I need bellows for, it's not a skill I really think I need 🤣
One week ago i decided to start my own 3d printed 617 project and now your video has been recommended to me. Thank you! Already waiting for the second part. Peace
