The elusive Nikon D7000 is now in stock with a $400 rebate for a lens!

While this has nothing to do with the do-it-yourself kit, I figured you might be interested in knowing that the D7000 is now in stock at Amazon with a rebate for up $400 for a Nikkor lens, as it's been nearly impossible to find for the past two months. If you are planning to buy one, get it now, I think the rebate is set to expire in a few days! I already have mine (though I missed out on the rebate).

P.S. Buying this (or anything else) though the link above or below will earn me a commission (at no additional cost to you), which will make it more likely for me to resume the work on the DIY Kits. So, if you want to support me, please go to this link www.amazon.com and bookmark it. Please keep in mind, I would NEVER recommend anything I don't believe in no matter how much money that would make me.

Update : Production of DIY Camera Kits won't start in 2010

Due to an imminent move the camera kit won't start production for at least 6 months. If you were planning on ordering a bellows kit, do it now as it won't be available for more then a couple of weeks. I will still be trying to finish the next prototype before the move and then do the CAD/CAM work for all cameras & projects I am planning on offering, but production of the camera won't start this year.

The good news is that the newly acquired CNC equipment works as I hoped it would and it makes manufacturing of metal parts much more accessible.

Project update

The new tooling is almost in place. I decided to acquire a CNC plasma cutting system for the metal parts as using the mill was unacceptably slow. I also acquired a larger CNC machine for cutting the wood parts and I'm testing it now.

In the mean time I made some changes to the design to simplify it a bit and to take into account new fabrication capabilities. I will make a new prototype and test the new design.

Will post pictures when available.

Idea! Cheap DIY tempering bath for E6/C41 film processing

If you want to process your own E6/C41 you need a way to keep water at precisely 100F temperature  (well, 100.4F but that's just nitpicking...) . There are many dedicated solutions, like the Delta Eco 1 Basic Unit Thermostatic Water Controller and if you have the resources, by all means, get that.

But you are reading this blog, so you are most likely on a tight budget, like me, so here's a much more cheaper solution. Get a fish tank heater, set the desired temperature, put it in a cooler, fill it with water and turn it on. The only caveat is that most fish tank heaters top out at 93F so you won't make fish soup... But it's not all lost, the WON Pro-Heat IC Heater 50 W can be easily modified to go higher then the 93F it was designed for, see this link on APUG for instructions. This is what I will be using (as a wash water source) for the ATL-1000 I just purchased. I'll add pictures once it's all setup.

If you have a little more cash, the Won Brothers D-58 LED Digital Display Temperature Controller and Won Brothers 3 Prong Titanium Heating Element 350 Watt Heater will set you back $120 but it doesn't need to be modified and it's way more professional.

Happy processing!

4x5 Folding Ground Glass Hood (prototype)

My newest prototype for a folding hood. Sometimes (say, in some neighborhoods) it doesn't feel wise to stick my head under a black cloth... This should greatly assist with composition, as it blocks most of the reflected light on the GG surface. It also extends enough that one should be able to easily focus his/her eyes on the GG while the eyes are right at the opening.

The hood collapses almost flat, that one can use a short loupe on the ground glass for critical focusing and of course for ease of transport.

The device still needs some sort of device to hold it flat. The hood mounts to the camera with 4 semi-transparent velcro dots. They are very easy to install, they are not very obtrusive and should it be necessary or desired, they can be removed and the the residue cleaned with glue remover.

Thoughts?

DIY Camera Bellows Kit success story #2

I received these pictures from Colin P, of Alaska, one of my  clients for the DIY Custom Camera Bellows Kit.  

Colin wrote, "it looks and works great!".  He assembled these bellows with the kit which was created based on the dimensions he provided.

The camera is a beautiful 4x5 Gundlach, Colin fully restored himself. 

DIY Camera Bellows Kit success story

	I just received these pictures from Paul McEvoy, of Somerville, MA, one of my first clients for the DIY Custom Camera Bellows Kit. Paul wrote, "I'm super psyched, they look beautiful". Paul assembled these bellows with the kit which was created based on the dimensions he provided. The camera is a beautiful 5x7 Eastman View Camera No 33, Paul restored himself.
The camera also uses a 5x7 Ground Glass made with the DIY Ground Glass Kit.