35mm Wirgin Conversion
Using a fixed focus 47mm f/5.6 and a masked 18mm Voigtländer finder, this camera gives you a 24mm x 3 3/4 negative.
6x12 conversion w/ upgrades
This is about as a premium of a version as you can make with this camera. It has a 65mm f/4 Nikkor and a masked 21mm Leica finder.
Zenzablad, a Hasselblad SWC body with a 40mm Bronica Zenzanon lens
This custom camera conversion was featured in Petapixel: https://petapixel.com/2022/02/12/introducing-the-zenzablad-apologies-to-victor-hasselblad/
6x12 Conversion with 65mm Nikkor
35mm Wirgin Panoramic conversion
This 35mm conversion provides a 24mm x 85mm panoramic image on standard 35mm film. Using a helical mounted 65mm f/8 Super Angulon the camera provides a wider image than the popular (and wildly expensive) Hasselblad XPan or Fuji TX-1.
Compact 6x9 Wide Camera
A small 6x9 camera with a helical mounted 47mm f/8 Super Angulon. The camera uses a 21mm Voigtländer finder which matches both the angle of view and ratio of a 21mm lens on a 35mm camera.
my normal 612 conversion
A Zeiss to 6x12 conversion featuring a helical mounted 65mm f/8 Super Angulon giving the photographer 6 images per roll of 120 film.
6x12 Panoramic with a 65mm f/4 Nikkor
This custom camera now lives in Cornwall UK where it is being used alongside normal and wide-angle 6x7 Plaubel cameras. The customer loves the idea of having a simplistic 6x12 camera with a Nikkor lens to match the normal and wide-angle Nikkors of his Plaubels.
He is hand rolling 65mm IMAX short ends from Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk onto 116 spools for use in this camera.
I can not wait to see these results, here is a link if you want to check out his work too: https://instagram.com/baggagepaddler
6x9 wide camera
Designed to be as small as possible for travel use alongside a digital camera. The camera used a helical mounted 47mm f/5.6 Super Angulon and removable viewfinder. After building a similar 6x9 camera for a client I liked it so much I had to make one for myself.
Zenzablad
Built on a Hasselblad Super Wide body with a Bronica 40mm f/4 Zenzanon from the ETRS system, the whimiscal camera is a fun (and affordable) build if the real deal remains out of reach. It was featured in Petapixel:
https://petapixel.com/2022/02/12/introducing-the-zenzablad-apologies-to-victor-hasselblad/
6x12 Panoramic Camera
6x12 Pano camera giving you six images on a roll of 120 film. The camera uses a helical mounted 65mm Super Angulon and a cropped Voigtländer finder.
6x9 camera with a 65mm f/5.6 Super Angulon
Commissioned by someone looking for something smaller than a Fuji 6x9 or Horseman Convertible with a similar 65mm lens. This camera uses a tack sharp modern MC 65mm f/5.6 Super Angulon mounted in an indexed helical and has already made some amazing images in the hands of its new owner.
If you want to check out Chris Newton’s peaceful and serine cityscapes, his website is: https://christopherknewton.com
The 45Quick
4x5 focus free Point and Shoot camera. Stopping the f/4.5 lens down to f/8 brings pretty much the entire world into sharp focus.
4x5 Wide Camera
This camera used a Graflok back that be oriented for either horizontals or verticals and a helical mounted 65mm Super Angulon. The camera is now in use at East Carolina University.
A 612 Standard in all black
After stripping the camera down to metal it was prepped, primed and painted black before being covered with a modern black leather kit. Finished with a second generation all black 65mm Super Angulon the body has a stealthy look perfect for keeping a low profile.
8x10 camera using a Deardorff back and a 210mm Fujinon L lens
While quite comfortable being used on a tripod in traditional large format manner, this camera allows the user to explore handheld uses normally reserved for smaller digital cameras.
This camera is now in use by large format master photographer Mitch Weiss at https://www.instagram.com/putneybellows/?hl=en and has been upgraded with a 210mm Dagor lens.
4x5 Super Wide
Using Cambo parts this camera has a rotating back, dual Arca Swiss dovetails, removal Russar finder and a helical mounted 65mm f/8 Super Angulon.
Custom 6x12 using a SINAR branded 65mm Super Angulon
6x12 Standard
This 6x12 Standard with a Linhof branded 65mm Super Angulon is in the capable hands of Will Sindey ironically all the way across the pond in Australia You can check out his work @ https://www.instagram.com/willsydney.
Polaroid 250 to 4x5 conversion
Creating an uncropped 4x5 negative, a custom rangefinder cam was installed to match the 125mm Fujinon lens. The entire camera weighs 1010 grams or 2.22 pounds without a film holder in the back.
Polaroid 250 to 4x5 conversion
Creating an uncropped 4x5 negative, a custom rangefinder cam was installed to match the 125mm Fujinon lens. The entire camera weighs 1010 grams or 2.22 pounds without a film holder in the back.
4x5 Globuscope #74 rebuild
I bought the body to build up to honor the original concept of the Globus brothers. A period correct Schneider 65mm helical fit perfectly into the body which was sold with a simpler focusing mechanism. After completing the camera, I placed it for sale and was overjoyed it was bought by Globus Studio co-founder Ric Globus as a museum piece for his private collection.
Notes about this camera are on my blog here:http://dirkfletcher.blogspot.com/2016/01/rebuilding-globoscope-74.html
Manual XPan
Built with a Nimslo back end with a helical mounted Bronica ETRS 40mm f/4 lens. The final neg is (a super sharp) 24mm x 3 1/2 negative.
6x12 camera
Custom 6x12 camera with a helical mounted 65mm Super Angulon and two Zeiss Ikon Nettar 515/16 joined together.
110b to 4x5 conversion
This camera gives an uncropped 4x5 negative and has a fully coupled rangefinder and an open ground glass-less 4x5 back that is similar to my Polaroid 250 conversion. This camera was built as quick and easy to use 4x5 camera for photographer and artist James Godman. https://jamesgodman.com.
6x12 Panoramic camera
Built on a Zeiss Ikonta 520/15 folding camera body that was stripped down to be repainted but it looked so good that I just polished it and left it that way. A modern multicoated fixed focus 47mm f/5.6 Super Angulon is mounted on a custom flange that holds the focus.
Construction notes and more pictures are here:
http://dirkfletcher.blogspot.com/2016/02/converting-classic-zeiss-folder-into.html
Custom 6x17 camera
Custom built 6x17 camera using the classic 90mm f/8 Super Angulon mounted on the bed of a Graflex 2x3 folding camera and a back made from two Zeiss Ikon Nettar 515/2 6x9 cameras that have been joined together. The inspiration for the 6x17 back camera from the 1970’s custom made ‘Longfellow’ camera.
Custom 6x12 camera
Similar to my all silver 6x12 camera, this was built on a Zeiss Ikonta 520/15 folding camera body. A single coated 65mm f/5.6 Super Angulon is mounted in a Fotoman focusing helical. The camera was recovered with a custom cut leather set from Hugo Leather Studio and finished with a metal lens shade, horizontally mounted Arca-Swiss plate and a Voigtlander 21mm finder.
Lightweight 4x5 field camera
Using the Harmon Titan pinhole rear standard and a focusing bed from a 2x3 Crown Graphic, this lightweight camera can accommodate everything from a 47mm to a 135mm lens. The body and some film holders fit compactly into a small Domke bag or backpack.
Build notes and more pictures are on my blog here:
http://dirkfletcher.blogspot.com/2016/11/i-had-been-struggling-with-this-camera.html
Ultralight 4x5 wide camera
Using the 4x5 Harmon pinhole camera made by Walker Cameras, this is a 4x5 point and shoot that is super easy and fun to shoot. Build notes and more pictures are here:http://dirkfletcher.blogspot.com/2016/07/ultra-lightweight-4x5-point-and-shoot.html
4x5/6x12 Wide Camera
Built on a Cambo passport camera with a permanently mounted 65mm f/8 Super Anguon in the Schneider helical.
Holga Stratosphere Project
Hands down the coolest project I did with students while at Harrington.After a failed attempt, a dedicated group of students and I photographed the earth from the stratosphere with four Holga cameras.
Click here for the video,lots more pictures and the entire story:http://dirkfletcher.blogspot.com/2013/09/i-couldnt-be-any-happier-to-share-with.html
The Earth
While all four of the cameras tripped 20 miles above earth, only one of the four captured the earth in its frame.
the 'Payload'
The top of the crate and its guts.Four Holgas, two Ford truck power door lock actuators, a satellite enabled GPS in a custom built gimbal, a flight recorder,a super loud whistler and a ton of lithium batteries.
2x3 Technical Camera
Built for use with a digital back, this Alpa inspired camera can shoot both film and digital.
2x3 Technical camera
With the customers 38mm Super Angulon XL mounted.
Custom finder for the 19mm f/3.5 Canon lens
Since the lens required the mirror to be locked up, I made a mount that replaces the normal prism with a finder.
Yashica 124G w/ a Hasselblad prism
Making the camera super easy to shoot with, the Hasselblad NC2 prism gives the shooter a 'righted' image at perfect chest level.
Demi EE17 with custom paint work
The Super Duper 3000
Custom built film to digital duping station.
custom cameras
I have been designing and building large format and panoramic cameras for over 25 years. Many of my cameras are born out of need or desire for something that isn’t commercially available. More often than not, my goal is to reduce weight and streamline functionality creating a unique camera that can easily be used in tandem with digital. In addition, the cameras I build are intended to to withstand the rigors of daily professional use. Using all metal bracketry and stainless steel hardware that is covered on both sides with a metal epoxy, my cameras are built to provide years of service to the most rigorous professional traveler.