Re: Pinhole macro stereo - 35mm test bed

[P3D sid herbage <sidh@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

P3D Jamie Drouin wrote:

>     I had also considered this option since it would indeed be fairly
> simply to modify an existing SLR body.  My only problem was that the images
> would have to be half-frame since increasing the width of the film plane
> could possibly sacrifice the internal shutter mechanism.  I'm not sure how
> far you can push open a Realist film path before killing the shutter...do
> you?

>From what I've seen of most SLR's, increasing the gate width would certainly
kill the shutter but since you would have to widen the chamber in front of
the gate would also probably wipe out the mirror mechanism (which is usually
either side of this chamber) along with a number of other internal mechanisms.

Since this alone would render the camera un-restorable to normal use, the
concern over the shutter may not be that important since it's not really
needed using pinholes.

However, if you want a truly easy-to-modify 35mm body for pinhole (or lens)
experiments, I'd stongly recommend that you seek out an old Kodak Pony camera.
These are obtainable from flea markets, garage sales and the like for a few
bucks (if you can get one with a defunct shutter, so much the better - and
cheaper). It has a rotating-knob wind and non-interlocking film counter
(which is handy).

The whole film gate lifts away after removing 4 screws and can be separately
widened using a hand nibbler (cut in a direction away from the film so that any
burrs will not lead to scratches). The chamber in front of the gate has bakelite
walls and can easily be cut away (I used a router cutter in a drill press). The
whole lens turret is on a bayonet mount and can be twisted and removed through
the inside of the camera leaving a flat surface on the camera front about 30mm
from the film plane on which you can mount a block (wood, plastic etc) as a
platform for the pinholes.

If you want to remove the trim panel from the front surface, there are two
screws on the front and two more accessible after removing the top cover (this
can safely be done ... the only loose parts are the shutter button and its
return spring, which won't fly apart if you remove the cover gently ... and in
any case, you could discard them and plug the hole in the body).

-- 
    ... Sid (sidh@xxxxxxxxxxxx)


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