Open 4x5 rail camera (WIP)

10.06.25

Uploaded new complete version with front swing and rear shift.


21.10.24
Made a new front standard with swing and much more stiffness. The carbon tubes are not recommended. Print the new towers in some very stiff plastic, like ABS, PC or GF/CF filled materials.

This will however add some mm to rise. A new rear is needed to have balance.


 

20.12.23

Made an extra knob at the front tube clamp, so can now lock front tilt so that it does not move.

15.12.23

Designed a dovetail style front shift. A lot more stable and rigid then first design.

Scrapped the carbon tube idea, to use carbon fiber filament instead. 

Update 12.12.23

Made a v2 with rigid rear. I find that I almost never use rear movements anyway. Made for much more compact and rigid design, becomes around 10cm deep. Could probably use 47mm XL lens with this now.

Update 05.10.23

Finally received the Chamonix bellows and updated the carbon tube design.

Update 24.08.26

Uploaded a version using 16x12mm carbon tubes instead of printed towers. Added different movement options for the rear, see picture. Swing, fixed and shift. WIP / untested

Update 24.08.23

Gotten it to a working state, but would not recommend building it as I did. I had to use and jury rig my old Wista bellows to work. Needs redesign to fit Chamonix bellows. Would also need a better design for rear, so that graflock backs could be used.

Currently a work in progress. Have not been able to print or test all the parts yet. This is version 2 of a camera I have built and currently use, but with many improvements and modifications.

The “towers” should be printed in something very still, preferable carbon fiber reinforced plastic.

M3 and M4 bolts and nuts, as well as M3 heated inserts in most places.

Need to make some thumbscrews for the rear film holder frame. I couldn't come up with a better/easier way to turn the back from landscape to portrait etc.

Idea is to use some long semi-soft springs between the glass frame and the film holder frame, to create tension to keep film holder in place.

I used some Chinese Wista bellows from ebay, but I think the Universal Bellows from Chamonix cameras would be a much better option. They are more expensive, but come with frames already attached. Would have to redesign bellows attach method. The Wista bellows can work fine, but I need to design a much better way to attach them. I would not recommend using my current method. I still think Chamonix with already attached frames on is the way to go.

Remix and share alike.