GreenReaper

Has anybody out there in Hedgehog land fiddled with the idea of adapting a DSLR to a 4x5 camera?

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

I BOUGHT A Nikon F mount adapter plate for a Cambo 4x5 I had in the store just to play with it. It was fun to use my D800 on the back of that view camera for a couple days, funny looking too. Results were good, but not overly impressive. The camera sold and I re-sold the adapter for the same as I had paid for it on Ebay, but it did cost me their 12% seller final value fee. Would I do it again? Likely, if I had a 4x5 with a top quality lens to play with, but I wouldn't go buy one just to do it.

pwilsgm Loc: Detroit, MI

Thanks for sharing! Real interesting to me & I imagine to other similar ancient "Big Box" users from the past eras. Oh what fun(?) to heft around 4x5, 5x7, 8x10, & 11x14's, with their "2x4" board(wooden), tripods, gigantic lenses, heavy film holders, super sized flashes (& bulbs) & other electrical componentry. 16x20, 20x24 & 40x60 specialized studio cameras, with the attendant necessary knowledge of bellows factors, nodal points, hyperfocal distance, filter factors, scheimpflug rules, lighting complications(carbon arc, polarizing etc.). increased the joy! Y'know - if I could only wrap my head around modern technology, it sure seems like it would be nice to be able to use a little thing-a-ma-jig that does all the brain work for you. I'm still trying to learn to use my auto focusing & exposure 35mm film cameras capably! So kudos to you folks who'll actually try to marry a do everything digital body to one of those "Big Boxes" Hey have you tried coating your own glass plates to use with them yet? No - you don't know what you're missing - and be very grateful that you are missing that kind of experience! But keep on with your experimentations. Go for it all, guys & gals! -- Phil

busted_shutter

Have considered trying to convert an old D90 to a 4x 5. Back-burner for now, while I get my health in order.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

Not exactly to the point, but, when I had my 4 X 5, I had a couple of 120 adapters that worked vert well. I have heard of 35mm adapters, but never seen one. Some 4 X 5 digital backs have adjustable masks for sizing down to 24 X 18 mm (half 35mm frame). Very expensive!

busted_shutter

$200 on Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Fotodiox-Adapter-Calumet-Horseman-Graflok/dp/B004G13XBW

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

I meant a digital back which dials down in image size to yield any size image smaller than 4 X 5. One common use is for identification shots. At least one federal agency has one that they use at 4 X 4 with a quad lens front (prism front in testing) to deliver four identical 2 X 2 passport shots; I'll leave it to your imagination as to their purpose. One travel photographer uses his with a special dark slide to produce two 5 X 2 panoramas (10 X 4) on one image.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

In not sure of what value that is.
Is it to have the tilt/swings ?
Or to pre-check a shot like with Polaroid, before shooting film?
Would you have to use live view to focus.
I mean, it's still just a FF isn't it.
SS

Pablo8 Loc: Nottingham UK.

I have an adapter plate for my 5x4 Sinar, to attach any Nikon body (film or digital). Very usefull if one has a number of small items that need the movements of the Sinar, but more convenient (less expensive)in smaller format. I also have a 6x7 film back for the same reason.They are not 'Toys' , they are 'Tools'.

Pablo8 Loc: Nottingham UK.

One will view through the dslr viewfinder for focus composition and exposure reading,etc.

mrtobin Loc: North East Ohio

sounds like you have inhaled to much mercury vapor. :)

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

By comparison, on a 4x5 camera it would be an extreme crop sensor!

BobHartung Loc: Bettendorf, IA

Did a quick google search. One of the hits is:

http://fotodioxpro.com/index.php/lens-mount-adapters.html?cat=13

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

This is the one I used, but I only paid half this much for it at the time. It has since been sold, as has the Cambo.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/For-Nikon-To-Linhof-Sinar-Toyo-Wista-Horseman-Cambo-Arca-4x5-/131032540976?pt=US_Film_Backs_Holders&hash=item1e8225e730

gessman Loc: Colorado

The one I got to hook up to my 5D2 moves around the back of my Calumet 4x5 to six different positions for a shot at each position and then you stitch the shots together for a whopping huge digital image with all the benefits of a 4x5, or 2x3, tilt, swing, etc., just as though you had a 4x5 digital back which I could not otherwise. So for $200, you get 4x5 digital if you have the DSLR and the 4x5 already. This might be the ultimate application: http://www.kapturegroup.com/solution/three.html

I failed to note that the "ultimate" is for a medium format body to 4x5 adapter. I didn't read far into the story so I don't know if this is available for 35mm or not but it very nicely demonstrates the process. You view, frame, and focus the 4x5 first, slide the 645 frame over and move around the image for you 4 shots in this case, then stitch.