Filmwasters
Which Board? => Articles => Topic started by: formica on December 03, 2009, 08:10:00 AM
-
the otona no kagaku diy magazine/kit have done it again. this time they've created a diy TLR(http://otonanokagaku.net/magazine/vol25/index.html). i got mine two days ago, assembled it a day ago and shot a test roll(two shots posted below). it's very cool. possibly the favourite of these kits so far.
william
[Sorry, image deleted during forum software upgrade. Please re-upload if so inclined.]
-
Andrea, if I read Twitter correctly, Mr Nic Nicholls be selling these via his Four Corners Dark online shop. Might be worth getting in touch with him if yr having language problems.
-
i guess i just still see them on ebay ocassionally. there is a stereo camera kit on ebay right now for $32.
gary--where did you end up getting one from? i made three separate orders from three different places. it took them all a week to cancel my orders and say it was "out of print".
i think the stereo pinhole kit is still in print. at least it was still in print when issue 25 was published. issue three had some other kind of camera, and that one is out of print now.
william
i have the first camera. it's a pinhole, but it also comes with a plastic lens to make it a "real" camera.
[Sorry, image deleted during forum software upgrade. Please re-upload if so inclined.]
-
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2486/4165062211_6f493cc433_o.jpg)
-
i have the first camera. it's a pinhole, but it also comes with a plastic lens to make it a "real" camera.
ah, that is indeed it! i have a kit that was put out for the taiwan and hong kong market that is licensed from gakken, i believe it's supposed to be that camera, but it doesn't look quite the same. i thought i had posted about it here a long time ago, but looking now i can't find the post.
william
-
I couldn't wait.
Took about two hours to put together including getting the shutter to work which required a bit of trimming of the plastic. A bit of trial and error in parts as well as I couldn't read the instructions but overall, not too difficult.
(http://www.monopix.co.uk/posted_images/gakkenflex.jpg)
-
two of the springs are mislabelled in the instructions, just in case anyone is having trouble getting the springs to fit in the proper locations and can't figure it out. i hope everyone posts some test shots once they've shot 'em!
william
-
found this shutter assembly video http://otonanokagaku.net/magazine/vol25/mov_make.html
-
i didn't find the shutter to be particularly complicated...just a bit fumbly with my big fingers. there are only 3 parts if i remember correctly.
peeling the dbl sided tape for the mirror sucked! and i'm all out of my poster tape...so that was 5 minutes worth of messing about.
-
i like the gakken mags. skorj! it has a fujipet in it, as well as a history of film and some fuji film boxes.
Yup! Yours then is really second-hand, as I read it already. Nice magazine details there too. Much enjoyable.
two of the springs are mislabelled in the instructions,
They have apologized for this I see on their web page, and added the correct labels too:
(http://otonanokagaku.net/magazine/vol25/img/teisei.jpg)
本誌86ページ「ふろくの組み立て方と使い方」の部品名称に間違いがございました。バネの名称ですが、正しくは下図の通りとなります。ここに訂正するとともに、お詫び申し上げます。
The best part to me would be using the seal templates and choosing a suitable covering for it...
http://otonanokagaku.net/magazine/vol25/pdf/vol25seal.pdf
Glad to see two have arrived safely, and I notice it has a Sport Finder and adjustable vignetting as well. Neato. Looking forward to the results. Skj.
-
i didn't find the shutter to be particularly complicated...just a bit fumbly with my big fingers. there are only 3 parts if i remember correctly.
The problem I had was the pillar that the intermediate lever is on (that's the one where you have to leave the screw a bit loose) was slightly fat at the top and, as the lever lifted to get over the little step on the shutter, it would jam. I just pared off some plastic from around the top of the pillar and that fixed it.
-
adjustable vignetting as well
Any chance you can translate the bit which mentions moving the aperture ring from behind to infront of the lens. The bit before it seems to be suggesting different film speeds for indoor/outdoor use but is it also suggesting the aperture should be removed?
-
Mine arrived yesterday. Looks really good, haven't had time to build the camera yet. As others have said, the magazine seems to have some interesting stuff in it, just wish I could read Japanese.
I notice that the shutter does not have a B setting. Does anyone building this think it may be possible to keep the shutter open?
Many thanks to Skorj for getting this for us and for sending it so quickly.
Cheers
Mike
-
Any chance you can translate the bit which mentions moving the aperture ring from behind to infront of the lens. The bit before it seems to be suggesting different film speeds for indoor/outdoor use but is it also suggesting the aperture should be removed?
I will try!
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2760/4189514435_b7030e34f6_o.jpg)
Normal photographs in focus can be taken by using the aperture plate in the normal position. Greater depth-of-field can be obtained by removing the aperture plate, and a strong vignette can be obtained by installing the plate in front of the lens.
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4042/4190275010_da0971a974_o.jpg)
Left to right: Normal position, aperture plate removed, aperture plate in front of lens.
The section on film speed is an aperture vs. film speed guide as you would normally expect; with the aperture plate in, you can shoot ISO100 outdoors in bright sun, and while indoors you can shoot ISO400 with the aperture plate removed.
Assume this makes sense when you have the camera in front of you. がんばって！ Skj。
-
I notice that the shutter does not have a B setting. Does anyone building this think it may be possible to keep the shutter open?
I was thinking the same thing. I modded a Vivitar UW&S to keep the shutter open and it should be possible to do something with this. I'll think on it.
-
not exactly easy to just pop the aperture plate out, but nice that they thought about it.
they seem to be very open to modding and experimenting. i should send them a link about my stereo/pano mod with the chinese lens.
-
Some results.
(http://www.monopix.co.uk/posted_images/gf1.jpg)
I've posted others in this weekend's thread here (http://filmwasters.com/forum/index.php?topic=2602.0).
All the pictures were taken close up. I wound the lenses out as far as they would go without them falling out which got me to within about 12 inches of the subjects. I also decided to remove the aperture disk and also the funnel shaped piece that holds the taking lens in place. The lens stays in OK without it and I thought this would give the largest aperture possible and hence minimum dof. I'm pretty happy with the results.
Only problems I had were forgetting to wind on (no double exposure interlock on this one) so I got a few double exposures and also the frame spacing is variable. I'd recommend winding on a bit extra each time if you want to be sure of not getting overlapping frames. I also forgot to allow for the parallax error which, of course, was significant as I was close to the subject.
-
a short walk in my neighbourhood, the sun, the snow and the 400 film, made me do some correcting in the highlights
[Sorry, image deleted during forum software upgrade. Please re-upload if so inclined.]
-
I decided to cover mine.
(http://www.monopix.co.uk/posted_images/gakkenflexcovered.jpg)
-
Wow Peter, this is much better than the original black plastic...
Maybe we should start a "pimped gear" thread :)
-
Piet, I particularly like your last two.
Did you have the aperture plate in front or behind the lens?
-
Got mine assembled today.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hookstrapped/sets/72157623058590312/show/
Can't wait to get the roll developed!
-
Peter, the aperture plate was still in it, but after i've seen your pictures i removed it and give it another try.. :)
-
Oh, the plate was behind the lens..
-
Mostly a lot of flare off the low sun and snow.
Next, some close-up with the aperture plate removed... :chinscratch:
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4061/4211990772_f9036ac072.jpg)
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2795/4211229107_3eb53298e5.jpg)
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2621/4211991018_e0d69b4659.jpg)
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4017/4211228855_fb71b5f324.jpg)
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2795/4212459051_ece33763fa.jpg)
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4035/4213263098_7653be22af.jpg)
-
Some results.
(http://www.monopix.co.uk/posted_images/gf1.jpg)
I've posted others in this weekend's thread here (http://filmwasters.com/forum/index.php?topic=2602.0).
All the pictures were taken close up. I wound the lenses out as far as they would go without them falling out which got me to within about 12 inches of the subjects. I also decided to remove the aperture disk and also the funnel shaped piece that holds the taking lens in place. The lens stays in OK without it and I thought this would give the largest aperture possible and hence minimum dof. I'm pretty happy with the results.
Only problems I had were forgetting to wind on (no double exposure interlock on this one) so I got a few double exposures and also the frame spacing is variable. I'd recommend winding on a bit extra each time if you want to be sure of not getting overlapping frames. I also forgot to allow for the parallax error which, of course, was significant as I was close to the subject.
Peter - did you shoot these with ASA 400 film?
-
Peter - did you shoot these with ASA 400 film?
They were on XP2 processed in Aculux 15 mins. This is my usual combination and I usually rate it at ISO 200. A couple of shots taken outdoors in bright sun were over exposed but most were OK.
-
Hey, these are pretty neato! Pity I cannot find any more in the shops... The next edition is an electric guitar. Incidentally, I think a previous edition - a mini Theremin - was so popular, they reissued it. So, the same might happen with the TLR if similar demand exists. Love those covers too! Skj.
-
Just finished building mine. Posted a few build pics at http://cgmoyer.blogspot.com/ hope to test tomorrow
-
here's a youtube video on how to do long exposures on the gakkenflex. hmm, i wonder if the same thing would work with the bbf.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQneSzoxu1Q
william
-
here's a youtube video on how to do long exposures on the gakkenflex. hmm, i wonder if the same thing would work with the bbf.
what a great little video, he made it live. I watched the whole thing and I don't even have a Gakkenflex.
-
Just posted my first roll thru the Gakkenflex at http://cgmoyer.blogspot.com/2009/12/gakkenflex-test-shots.html Wow, this is my new fave cam!
-
Just posted my first roll thru the Gakkenflex at http://cgmoyer.blogspot.com/2009/12/gakkenflex-test-shots.html Wow, this is my new fave cam!
Nice!
-
Yes Mark, i would like to know that too.... i'm Dutch, but not that Dutch ....
[Sorry, image deleted during forum software upgrade. Please re-upload if so inclined.]
-
Gakkenflex available in the US
http://www.verycoolthings.com/vct/Neo_getpage.cgi?page=itemtoy&itemID=15629
-
OK. As long as you're sure. Thanks again for getting them anyway.
100%! Happy to see them used! Plus, I cannot keep the benefits of living in Japan all to myself... The last two sets must be popular, as out for grocery shopping I saw this line up at a local hon-ya, I went back today and the 25 (TLR), and 26 (Guitar) were gone. I noted too the non-current editions were tagged at \3250, and not \2500 as per the present issue. Such is life! Skj.
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2648/4236559234_cd19af9e01.jpg)
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2635/4236559130_35d1020046.jpg)
Left-to-right from Volume Nine; phonograph, telescope, kaleidoscope, hand cranked projector, doll, Theremin, fan, electric organ, electric engine, electric something, valve radio, synthesizer, TLR, electric guitar...
-
I know many people would probably be suckers for most of these kits... I always wanted a Theremin ;)
-
I know many people would probably be suckers for most of these kits... I always wanted a Theremin ;)
i have the theremin. it's a bit on the squeaky side, but fun nonetheless. i was always under the impression that the price depended on what the kit contained. alot of the kits you can find on ebay. you may also be able to find them at japanese bookstores(like kinkouyia(i can't remember how to spell it)). they all have isbn numbers so in theory you should be able to have a shop special order them for you.
william
-
I know many people would probably be suckers for most of these kits... I always wanted a Theremin ;)
http://shop.ebay.co.uk/?_from=R40&_trksid=m38&_nkw=theremin (http://shop.ebay.co.uk/?_from=R40&_trksid=m38&_nkw=theremin)
If you get one - make sure you get a delay fx unit too, it makes all the difference. Get a hurdy-gurdy too and you can go all Jimmy Page on us.
-
Or simply go overboard and use it with Guitar Rig (http://www.native-instruments.com/en/products/guitar/guitar-rig-kontrol/) ;D
(really nice piece of software for all who play guitar)
-
I notice this week, my local toycam lab has them in stock, in big numbers! Assume they're now in reprint, so start to pressure your suppliers if you want one. Good luck!
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4036/4413380112_415e952348_o.jpg)
See ya! Skj.
-
Mark, How much are these at Village Vanguard? Maybe I'll pick one up while I'm in Tokyo in May.
-
How much are these at Village Vanguard?
Grab as many as you can carry, as they're only \2530! Skj.
-
Mmmm I've been lusting after these since I saw the photos you lot posted in Dec.
I have a mate who is staying in Utsonomiya at the moment - is there anywhere I can ask him to pick some up for me ? i.e. what kind of shop ? r Is it only available in Tokyo ?
cheers
Tim
-
I have a mate who is staying in Utsonomiya at the moment - is there anywhere I can ask him to pick some up for me ? i.e. what kind of shop ? r Is it only available in Tokyo ?
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4029/4444593683_a0ebe123a1_o.jpg)
Easy!
http://www.village-v.co.jp/ (http://www.village-v.co.jp/)
(http://www.village-v.co.jp/imgs/shop_3.jpg)
Get him to drop me a note for further instructions if needed. Though now in reprint, the main bookstores are perhaps unlikely to have large quantities, where as some of the specialists like Village Vanguard & Camera Cabaret are more likely (as per above). I will check their stock level tomorrow, and amend this if they're all gone or something traumatic like that. Skj.
-
Dear Robot Action Boy. Any idea why this thread tries to log onto your blog thingy? Suggest an image file link perhaps? Can this be fixed, as I do not want to delete your great thread and photographs! Arigato! Skj.
-
Hey Skorj thanks very much for that ultra-prompt reply :-)
I'll send an email to my pal with the info right now.
-
neat store, i spent a couple hours there the day before i left. i still think about some of the stuff i should have bought while there.
-
okay i know this is an EXTREMELY OLD thread but i thought i would revive this instead of making a new one. I put together my gakkenflex ages ago and never got around to using it. i dug it out my camera tomb and completely forgot how to use it.
how many winds do i do to advance the film? is it one full rotation? also, its pretty hard to focus (for me at least) does anybody know a good way to zone focus with this? any info/tips would be much appreciated thanks.
-
okay i know this is an EXTREMELY OLD thread but i thought i would revive this instead of making a new one. I put together my gakkenflex ages ago and never got around to using it. i dug it out my camera tomb and completely forgot how to use it.
how many winds do i do to advance the film? is it one full rotation? also, its pretty hard to focus (for me at least) does anybody know a good way to zone focus with this? any info/tips would be much appreciated thanks.
A half rotation equals one frame advance, theoretically, but it doesn't always quite work out that way so I do 3/4 a rotation. Of course, I end up wasting even more film than normal but, hey...
I found that the focus worked pretty well, until I took out the aperture ring. But before I did that it seemed to focus well and now it still gives the appearance of focusing well.
-
I wind the film on half a rotation and it seems to work 98% of the time for me.
I must admit I can't really focus the thing as I rarely have my reading glasses at hand and even when I do it doesn't help much! So I guesstimate or even bracket my focusing.
Mike
-
okay i know this is an EXTREMELY OLD thread but i thought i would revive this instead of making a new one. I put together my gakkenflex ages ago and never got around to using it. i dug it out my camera tomb and completely forgot how to use it.
how many winds do i do to advance the film? is it one full rotation? also, its pretty hard to focus (for me at least) does anybody know a good way to zone focus with this? any info/tips would be much appreciated thanks.
do you have the original with the magazine? there's a guide there on how you can set up marks on the lens to know where your focus is. I can scan mine if you don't.
I tried looking in the online manual but I couldn't find that particular bit there.
http://otonanokagaku.net/english/manuals/pdf/twin_canera.pdf (http://otonanokagaku.net/english/manuals/pdf/twin_canera.pdf)
-
I do but I don't get it at all haha if you could give me a rough explanation that would be great. I don't had a yard stick or anything to measure distance and I have no clue how mark the lens up like in the pics.
And also thanks mike!
-
I guess I'm not understanding the focus problem. I find the coupled image on the focusing screen to be pretty accurate.
-
I do but I don't get it at all haha if you could give me a rough explanation that would be great. I don't had a yard stick or anything to measure distance and I have no clue how mark the lens up like in the pics.
And also thanks mike!
well basically if you can find a really contrasty subject to focus against, that'd help. I dunno if the them plate is meant to have the focus point on the top or the bottom of the top lens front or if that even matters. but I'd copy it or cut it out and then find something easy to focus against with the camera, put the template on and see if it works.
btw, what other cameras do you have? if you have an slr or anything with a rangefinder then you could use that to measure distance and compare to instead of a yard stick ;) or you might know how long you are? lie down on the floor and measure up the distance that way ;D
-
Oh that a good idea using another camera. I'll do that thanks.
-
is this a snap together type kit, or do you need glue/adhesive?
-
I don't remember much snaping, mostly screws and no glue.. not 100% sure though.
ah, yeah! you can find a guide here on how to build it. that should give you an idea :)
http://otonanokagaku.net/english/magazine/vol25/description.html (http://otonanokagaku.net/english/magazine/vol25/description.html)
-
No, it doesn't need any glue, it's just clips and one or two screws. It's actually fairly simple to put together though looks a bit daunting to start with.
I find the focussing is actually fairly accurate, given the limitations of the lens anyway. The vignetting is really heavy, but the centres in my pics are generally quite nicely in focus. I took my aperture ring out (and, er, lost it) which makes the vignetting even more extreme - but it's nice for single-subject pics and close-ups. The birdbath pic is with the ring, the coot is without.
-
Thanks for the help, I've got one on the way that should be here Friday!
I'll have something cool to do this weekend!
-
I have just bought the Recessky clone & hope to assemple it this week end. Looks like the aperture ring is surplus to requirements!
-
Mine is assembled and ready for a day trip tomorrow!
It was fun, I had to do some filing of one part to make it fit, but for the most part it went together well.
Including my spaghetti break, it took 3 hours to complete.
Hope the weather cooperates tomorrow!
-
sounds great guys! I'm thrilled to hear that people are still getting these fun fun cameras~
-
Built mine, after spending most of the day trying out a Van Nicholas Mistral, :) ;D :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)It will be mine.
Back to the camera, it is loaded with expired TriX and I just need to persuade Mrs B to model for me so I can shoot off a roll.
-
I bought a Recesky as a Xmas present for my son, but my wife convinced me to hold off on that until his birthday, which is in October! So for his 10th birthday, the boy will be getting this (a project that we can do together, assembling it), plus a cool "waterproof" 35mm toy camera, because he likes to play in the pool.
This thread has been very helpful with little hints, hopefully the assembly will go well. Thanks everybody!
-
jojonas pointed out this old thread about the gakkenflex / ressesky TLR toy cameras, and I learned some stuff reading these old posts, so I thought I would reboot this thread (for at least the second time from the looks of it) instead of drifting the World Toy Camera Day thread OT into a thread about these crazy TLR kits :)
So my first roll was fairly successful, in that it produced images where I could recognize the subject matter ;)
I have taken Francois's suggestion my "groundglass" a bit more frosted. I bit of a hack job but some 500 grit sandpaper and toothpaste hopefully have helped haha. I hope now that the focus is more than me guessing.
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7406/10807304556_f9e600e67d_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mcduffco/10807304556/)
Toy TLR - 03 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mcduffco/10807304556/#) by dsmccrac (http://www.flickr.com/people/mcduffco/), on Flickr
(http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2825/10807202706_97fff158bd_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mcduffco/10807202706/)
Toy TLR - 02 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mcduffco/10807202706/#) by dsmccrac (http://www.flickr.com/people/mcduffco/), on Flickr
-
yeah, why not? Keep it in one good place :)
I think that I never put up any shots in this thread, so here's a roll:
(http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6157/6179460502_64924db440_b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonasfx/6179460502/)
toycamera walk with a taste of caffenol (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonasfx/6179460502/#) by jojonas~ (http://www.flickr.com/people/jonasfx/), on Flickr
-
I modified this tiny TLR with Industar 69 & 61 lenses. Not perfect but it comes with interesting result:
太陽花學運 (https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/EhhoYpn9d7hHLMbXmBml19MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=directlink)
-
wow! I love your shot~
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/cWCJ2BKbNqxHbeQ4epaKTmlSCAf32m6i59P0zTk0VfQ8=w375-h565)
I had two broken olympus mju cameras that I was planning to combine with a recesky tlr for a similar mod, but they got chucked in the move up north now..
either way, seeing your results makes me happy :) was it hard to fit the lenses in and get them to focus properly?
please put up more shots with this kit, okay? :)
-
Thanks! ;D
Not sure about the lens diagram of Olympus mju... to do a similar mod, the lens' better be triplet or tessar based one. It's because if the unit focusing distance is not enough, still you could shift the first element outward compromising. It's exactly what I faced while modding it. ;)
-
Wow! Talk about a smooth result... Very impressive.