Building a Large Format Camera for Wet Plate Photography Part 2

This is part two in my plywood camera building process (part one here: • Shapeoko 3: Building a... ). The main camera structure is built on my Shapeoko cnc machine.
The project turned out quite nice but there are a couple of flaws here and there. I tried to fasten the vacuum hose when the Shapeoko was running which caused an indent in one of the corners. Not very clever. There are also some chip outs here and there both from the cnc and the table saw (it is after all plywood...).
I used a water based finish hoping to avoid yellowing the wood but it did not work very well. I usually use oil/poly mix for finish but wanted to try something different. I am not very happy with the finish. I like the beautiful natural color in bare plywood but it seems to be impossible to avoid yellowing when finish is applied.
I am new to cnc machining and need to learn more about it. I am quite happy with the design but there are some things I need to improve.
I hope you enjoyed this project and subscribe to my channel. I will make videos building more exclusive cameras in walnut and cherry wood in the future.
Check out my site at dieter.me

[@JorisMaas]

Amazing camera! I love the design.

[@BillSinWorkshop]

Wow....it came really awesome man! Beautiful work, perfect project, well done!

[@DieterSchneider]

Thank You

[@bobwinberry]

Wow, what a great skill set! thanks for sharing

[@chentiangemalc]

such a beautiful looking camera, i want to make an 8x10" camera at some point...just finished building my dark room this weekend....

[@jamesjohnston6765]

Now that is something I would love to own.

[@kevinscottkoepke]

Very nicely done!

[@DieterSchneider]

+Kevin Koepke Thanks

[@reallybadaim118]

You sir are the man! Good job!

[@DieterSchneider]

Thank You

[@FLOridany07]

Incredible skills and a beautiful project.

[@DieterSchneider]

+Dani Thank you so much. Will make more camera building videos :)

[@FLOridany07]

+Dieter Schneider Photography Yes please! I find it fascinating to watch objects being built from literally nothing - especially in the wet plate section, as I'm way to clumsy for that myself.

[@stiganasheli]

This is the best camera build I've seen. Please add all the details on Large Format Photography Forum. I like the (very) clean workshop you have.

[@DieterSchneider]

+stiganasheli Thank you. I will probably do some improvements on the design and (when I have time) write a detailed tutorial.

[@theclovercross]

@@DieterSchneider did you ever release any details? this looks great! :)

[@infofotoart]

great work!

[@DieterSchneider]

Thank You Sir!

[@AlfFisher]

Interesting job. As I understand it, you have made the camera again :) Mark.

[@DieterSchneider]

yep, thanks :)

[@yopyopo]

Amazing!

[@JoelHouck]

Hi Dieter, magnificent work. Are the plans for your camera available?

[@SFCSDM]

Great video, wish you would have shown what you did for the plate holder.

[@sergeiyatsenko]

Yes, a plate holder is the most important part

[@snay1345]

Another excellent video. Is that bellows made by you or did you buy it from a supplier? I always find when making a new glass it is easier to grind it then cut it to size. It helps get an even grind over the whole size so you don't have to go over the edges again to match them up.

[@DieterSchneider]

+Alexander Snay (Alexander) Thank you. Bellows is the only thing I did not make here. I had a bellow I bought from a supplier in china (ebay) a couple of years ago. Great tip on the ground glass, I will try that. Thanks :)

[@peter2712]

Wow, nice video. I must have been out sick the day they taught that in school.

[@boudebier]

amazing project! is there any way you could release the cad files? i would love to make one myself.

[@Yatukih_001]

How many mm is this lens? Congratulations and great job and really well done!

[@alaryani100]

Thank you We want to see the results of this camera

[@jokerrabit]

very nice, how does it hold the plates? and why have the back move instead of the front?

[@michaelpetersenfilm]

Beautiful cameras. How about a design for Polaroid Originals 8x10 similar to their cameras with mirror in a box. Would it be possible? Relatively huge, of course and with rangefinder. Or better mirror the image in front of the lens with a mirror-filter attachment and then shoot 45 degrees sideways?

[@davefoc]

Beautiful design, very nicely executed. I just built an adapter to attach a Darlot Opticien 1983 lens to my Canon EOS camera. Is that the lens you use in the video? Thanks

[@benjaminharris5499]

Dieter do you release your cnc drawings or gcode for this camera ?

[@user-ss6zt2mo1l]

Nice!

[@DieterSchneider]

Thanks

[@Jsun1O1]

Nice... Where do you get the accordion part or how do you make it?

[@JoelHouck]

What grit of Silicon Carbide Powder do you use to grind the glass?

[@klausphotobaer5754]

WOW !!!

[@lanepelissier91]

Great video! Glad to see you using the Gripper tool, I love mine! I'm a little confused though. I see your ground glass is on a door with magnetic holds, where does the wet plate go? would be nice to adapt to sheet film holders as well. Good job man!!!

[@DieterSchneider]

+Lane Pelissier Thank you Lane. Yes, the gripper is nice, butI must admit that I use it less than I should unfortunately. I have not made the wet plate holder yet. Right now it's snowing like crazy here so it's not much wet plate photography during winter. I will test the camera when spring comes and I will include the making of the plate holder in a video as well. Thanks for wathcing :)

[@stanislavgdovin3247]

@@DieterSchneider Hey :) I just found your videos and they are amazing! I am about to start planning and sketching my build and I was wondering if you ever got around to make those holders? Thanks for your work, Stan

[@trevoroneill8131]

@@DieterSchneider where is your first video & instructions how to make this

[@baronvon8407]

Nice thanks

[@DieterSchneider]

Thanks

[@user-ry4ie9de5r]

Nice work! Subscribed to your channel. Is it possible to get the plans for this?

[@IvanLietaert]

Wow! That's pretty amazing! How many hours did you put in this? Where did you get the designs? I love it when I see young people building stuff from scratch. If you are clever, you can turn this into a profitable business!

[@DieterSchneider]

+Ivan Lietaert Thank you Ivan. I used a couple of days in total with gluing. I designed it myself.

[@erwindegroot8760]

Looks nice, but how do you attach a filmholder to this camera ?

[@DieterSchneider]

+Erwin de Groot Thanks. It uses a plate holder for wet plate photography. It is attached with magnets

[@muthafuggy]

Awesome video. Beautiful camera. You kill it at carpentry. What did you use to rub in on the ground glass?

[@DieterSchneider]

+Garrett Meyers Thank you. I grind it with 400 Grit Silicon Carbide. I rub it on the glass with a piece of glass. You can go higher on the grit for a smoother screen (800-1000)

[@LEAPTUNING]

What didd you do for the shutter?

[@glennlawrie-smith8570]

Love the build. But, where did you get the bellows and lens?

[@DieterSchneider]

Thank You. Usually I build the bellows too but this one I bought on ebay. The lens is also from ebay. I also buy lenses on Etsy (search for brass lens).

[@georgemohr7532]

I am going to echo other postings here: great work. Any plans to release detailed plans for the camera, especially considering that many folks who might like the camera do not have your sophisticated woodworking tools? It is not clear to me as to where you got the lens from and the shutter, shutter release etc. Can you clarify that please? Lastly, when you go to test the camera in the spring, do you need an assistant? Last question (and I will leave you alone) How certain are you that there are not any light leaks? From the assembly I see it would seem that there would be none but I suspect that not all details of construction are seen on this video.

[@DieterSchneider]

+George Mohr Yes, I actually have. I plan to make a version that dosen't require the shapeoko. It might take some time though. The camera is built for wet plate photography so there is no mechanical shutter. Old brass lenses is often found on ebay and etsy (make sure the lens covers the plate size you wish to use). Light leaks is only a consern in the plateholder but not hard to avoid. The plate holder is not in the video but plans will of course also contain the construction of the light holder as well.

[@georgemohr7532]

Thanks for your response. I am looking forward to seeing the version w/o the shapeoko.

[@cnl1213]

let's see some images taken by this camera!

[@woodcamera]

wonderful video.. I also wish to know the power when you made for ground glass.

[@DieterSchneider]

Thanks. Sorry, but not sure I understand your question.

[@woodcamera]

my apology for the typo. I meant 'powder'

[@DieterSchneider]

Ah... that makes more sense. It's silicon carbide powder 600 grit. You can get it here amzn.to/2jCT8qp

[@ThodorisKarakozidis]

Amazing!!! Which powder use at 02:03 for glass??

[@elpancreas8925]

Not exactly what he used, But personally I use an acid that garaffiti artists (?) use for tag windows and stuff.

[@Alexa_Spencer]

Can you share the files and diagram used to make this?

[@samacochan]

May be a cardboard version for the beginner DIY ers

[@RolandoLora]

Wow, all the details. The glass, the magnet, the finishing. Such a work of art. At the beginning of part 1 I thought, mmm I might be able to do it... then I found myself saying "you gotta be fucking kidding" way to many times :) Did you design the schematics? will you be posting photos soon?

[@DieterSchneider]

Thank you. I designed it and it is not very hard to build it (if you have a cnc). I plan on making a non-cnc version as well but have not had the time yet. Will post it here on my channel :)

[@DanekR]

I like! I wish I had a camera! How much does it cost? Greetings from Poland! :)

[@thorstenthiel760]

Tolles Video toller Handwerker

[@TaiChiBeMe]

Woodwork has never been one of my strong points. Woodshop was fun but I learned I wasn't very good at it. I bet you could learn to make musical instruments!

[@kimsujic]

How much is it? Where can I order?

[@user-it8gk3ke7h]

Where can I buy one?

[@moonchart]

Would you consider custom making one of these?

[@DieterSchneider]

No, not now. I might in the future though, but don't know when.

[@johnramalhete5365]

I don’t see this on your website

[@SebastianMorath]

OMG, this is wonderful!!! But wait a second... Where is the shutter???? Is that just a art stuff?

[@DieterSchneider]

Large format cameras don't have shutters. Shutter is in the lens, or for wet plate you just remove the lens cap

[@SebastianMorath]

AHA, GET IT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!!!

[@mariajoseromero6454]

hi where is the first video of this process?

[@DieterSchneider]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y3uTfHaVaL6ojMk

[@JasonRenoux]

Dieter are you based in Deutschland by any chance? If so, we need to talk 😁 Great video 👍🏻

[@DieterSchneider]

Thanks. I live in Norway

[@JasonRenoux]

@@DieterSchneider do you build this for yourself or as a hobby? (Asking for a friend 🤣)

[@vreaurelaxare3070]

Eigentlich wollte ich wissen, wie die Aufnahme der Nassplatte gelöst ist. Dafür konnte ich sehen, daß "Photography" auf keinen Fall fehlen darf.

[@edmundooliver7584]

are you going to stain the camera

[@DieterSchneider]

+edmundo oliver no

[@636117]

Where is part 1?

[@DieterSchneider]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y3uTfHaVaL6ojMk

[@636117]

+Dieter Schneider cool, thanks. Are these for 4x5? I don't have your talent/tools...how much would it cost to make one for me?