Totally Off Topic: Canonblad, the homage camera

[CJB]

For anyone with an interest in photography, or woodworking, a little project I've just completed for fun.

For the photo-buff: I have a few Hasselblad cameras, all film, with lens focal lengths from 38 to 300mm (and most points in between). Pricing for the digital backs being what it is, a little homage to the cameras designed by Victor Hasselblad seems appropriate.

For the woodworking buff (Col. B'man his'self): A little bit of time with a scrap piece of pine, two hours on the miter saw and router table, and I came up with whatcha see. A few doo-dads for effect, a little bit of Yankee engine-ooh-ity and there ya go.

Seriously, I saw a "Rollei" wooden knock off on the net, and thought, why not a Hasselblad. So I made one this weekend. It's not a replica, just a bit of homage, using the Canon Powershot N as a basis. Those are going cheep - $130.00 shipped, so it made it all the easier.

And, like the Hasselblad, the Canon can be set to take SQUARE photos. I'm sorta in love too, as the image quality is at least decent (in daylight situations).

And, that's that!

[Bawanna]

You gotta put one of them black sheets over your head when you take a picture with that.

I don't know much about camera's, I always thought the old west camera's where they held the flash and lit off who knows what for a flash were wicked cool.

[gb6491]

I like it Is the waist level viewfinder operational? If so, details please, young sir.
Regards,
Greg

[yqtszhj]

I like that ingenuity.

[CJB]

Viewfinder woks 100 percent

[marcinstl]

I was wandering around the park one day and off in the distance spotted a photographer with what I thought was an 8x10 view camera on a tripod. (yes, I'm old enough to know what that looks like). I got closer and come to find out it was a tripod with an iPad mounted on it, using a dark cloth. hehehehe, kids these days. if ya got some more of that clear pine and some flat black paint, seems like it would be easy to build a Glock.

[gb6491]

Viewfinder woks 100 percent

Ah, I see now...I didn't realize the Power Shot N has an articulated LCD screen.
Regards,
Greg

[RRP]

if ya got some more of that clear pine and some flat black paint, seems like it would be easy to build a Glock.

This gave me a heck of a chuckle. Thanks for the laugh!

[ltxi]

Now that is nice!!

[downtownv]

I got a closet full of classic 35mm film cameras if you want more projects.

[CJB]

No need for film cameras, thre Leica M's, two Canon EOS, three Hasselblads, and a 4x5 Cambo sitting here!

Somebody asked about details.

Camera takes great pictures. Amazing in fact up to ISO 1600, after that noise reduction smears details. The results are really pretty amazing (and I currently have Canon EOS 5DmkII and 7D cameras and high end lenses to compare it with). Cost $129.90 shipped to my door from B&H Photo.

Block 'o wood, was a cut off from a leftover wood rail support. Those are 3-1/4 x 3-1/4 x what ever length you cut. It required some milling down to... somehting like 2-1/2 inches x 3-1/4 inches, which I was able to do pretty easily on the router table (lacking a joiner or planer or working table saw). I put some relief cuts into the block on the router table - to make the attachement bands easier to align, and to make the battery door, memory slots accessable. Also had to mill in a relief cut because the back of the camera isn't totally flat, but has a little hump at the battery area. No big deal. Most of the time was spent getting the thickness down to 2-1/2 inches. The releif milling was quick, as also was the final rounding over of the edges. Some MinWax stain was used for the finish, and had to also use some walnut stained Plastic Wood to get the worst of the voids and nasty end grain filled. That stuff does take stain pretty well, so I lucked out. Cost = nil, as I had the wood and stain from other projects.

The strap is a USGI M1 Carbine sling. The swivels are an Uncle Mike's stainless set. Swivels $11.75, the sling I had.

Hardware is stainless screws and finish washers, cost about $5.000

The little brass things are "thumb nuts" and I got some in the 6-32 size and had to drill them out to accept the #6 wood screws. They hold some leftover o-rings I had, which secure to the cameras strap mounting fixture. Cost on those brass nuts was $1.50

And unseen, is a Manfrotto tripod adapter plate set into the bottom, flush fit (and held in place with good 'ol JB Weld) that thing was $11.00.

So, I got a few hours of tinkering, and less than $150 into it. I think I'll get that much fun out of it, as its gonna be my #1 fun camera for daylight shots at Bike Week. Yah... wish me luck!