Hold the Cardboard Camera!
Well it looks like eBay (and Midwest Photo Exchange) have saved me for the moment from experimenting with cardboard cameras. I found an old B&J Grover 8×10 monorail camera body and picked it up for $140. Like most things that come in a bit cheaper than standard it has a few problems, but nothing I can’t overcome. (The problems were clearly noted in the eBay post BTW). There are some more pictures of the unit here. From the reading I did before bidding, I understand this unit was more of a Ford than a Cadillac in its’ time, but a respectable piece of equipment apparently. It also is waaaay cheaper than the many thousands of dollars to buy a new one. It probably weighs a ton – but hey, if I was worried about that I would carry one of those credit card sized digitals and forget about Daguerreotypes. :)
The idea of building a camera still seems fun, but this will help me get to the point of taking images sooner. Of course I haven’t forgotten the whole lens, plate carrier, fumers, plate prep, etc., etc., etc. But that all seems like more fun.
I wonder what focal length lens I should make first? I wonder how I’m going to attach this thing to my tripod?
The photo here and the one’s in the gallery are from Midwest Photo Exchange – a great resource for new and used camera and imaging equipment.
Daguerreotype Process | andy | May 21, 2008
