Vega 4x5 View Camera

This is a remix of The Standard 4x5 from Standard Cameras ( https://standardcameras.com ) and has been shared with permission from the owner Drew Nikonowicz ( https://nikonowicz.com ). The bellows and ground glass needed for the camera can be purchased directly from them!

I was building the Standard 4x5 when ideas on how to improve the desing started to flow. My goals were to add features, simplify assembly and use more widely avaliable materials. I called this redesign Vega 4x5, in honor of the first star ever photographed. The project file is open and avaliable in .f3d format as i want to make it easy for everyone to modify and customize anything about the camera, i look forward to the community contributions, let's keep film photography alive!

Modifications List:

• Geometry was mostly simplified as i liked a cleaner look.

• 21 metric screws instead of 66 imperial screws of 9 different lenghts/types.

• Printed part count was reduced from 24 down to 14.

• Better tolerances for the metric rail less play and smoother operation of the sliders.

• All files are in the best orientation for printing no need for supports.

• Tripod mounting via heat-set insert instead of a tee-nut which seems impossible to find here in europe.

• Bigger knobs with a new pattern i found it difficult to tighten the old ones and to keep the files at a minimum i used the same size of knob for all of the camera.

• New printed forks allow for more movements : the rear standard now also has rise, fall and tilt, the last of which was impossible to get with a double fork arrangment due to the obstruction of the darkslide (when in landscape orientation).

• Forks simply click in the zero position thanks to recesses in the tracks, instead of having to rely on visual marks.

• Front standard is now printed in one piece for an easier assembly

• New film holder clips allow for changing film orientation (portrait/landscape) while the rear standard is tilted

• Simpler mounting of the standards via 2 bolts.

• Easier bellows swapping done by loosening 4 screws at the top of the standards.

• Rear standard overhang is now 55 degrees as it was difficult printing the original part without sagging.

• Spirit levels on both standards for more precise adjustments.

Parts list:

Fasteners:

• 14x M3X10mm Button Head Screw

• 4x M6X30mm Hex Bolt

• 3x M6x50mm Hex Bolt

• 7x M6 Hex Nut

• 1x 20x1/4” heat-set insert

Miscellaneous:

• 1x 25x25x300mm Aluminum Extrusion

• 1x 127x102mm Ground Glass

• Bellows

• Large Format Lens

• Linhof Lensboard (STLs provided)

• 2x 10x10x29mm Spirit Level

• About 20cm of 1.5-3mm Elastic Cord

• 2x 25x25mm Endcaps

The bellows and ground glass can be made, but i highly suggest buying them from the folks over at Standard Cameras, as they are a drop in replacement and it's not easy to source all of the required materials, here's their shop: https://standardcameras.com/collections/all. Other sources are for example ebay or http://www.custombellows.co.uk/. It's also possible to 3d print bellows with 95A tpu, but i don't recommend it, they are way too springy. The specifications are:

Front Standard Opening: 96 x 96 mm

Rear Standard Opening: 145 x 145 mm

Recommended Stiffener Size: 12 mm with 2.5 mm gaps

Max Bellows Thickness: 0.4 mm

Recommended Bellows Draw: 35 to 300 mm