"Universal camera" kick starter...

ChrisR

ChrisR

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Anyone else interested in the Mercury "universal" open source camera project on kickstarter?

I'm interested, but at the moment I'm not quite sure what I would get from the various rewards, ie whether I'd have to add a lens and/or back (having read what Alpa call a "camera"... an empty box!).
 
I saw that the other day when ThePhoblographer shared it on their Facebook feed. After watching the first 60 seconds of their project video I had to stop it because they were just annoying me by trying to make a poor slapstick movie without actually showing the camera in much detail (which generally worries me with Kickstarter projects!). From what I can work out, it's a set of spacers with extension tubes to match various lens flange depths and an idea to 'open source' the hardware so other users can build up a catalogue of lens details for them. The project also fails to specify that whatever lens you use will need to either be a leaf shutter medium format or 35mm or a Large format lens with shutter so not exactly 'universal'.

If you're thinking about backing it, I'd have a careful read of their rewards several times to figure out what you're actually paying for. I don't think any of them include a lens or back so you're basically paying for a body then having to build onto it.
 
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Seems expensive for a few bits of 3D printed plastic.

Could almost buy a real camera for that money :coat:
 
Hmm so it's a poorly finished and 3D printed Alpa knock-off with a s***ty looking helical mount. Better off importing a beat up Graflox backed Speed Graphic from the USA and stripping it down.
 
Morinaka said:
Hmm so it's a poorly finished and 3D printed Alpa knock-off with a s***ty looking helical mount. Better off importing a beat up Graflox backed Speed Graphic from the USA and stripping it down.
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Looks like the same helicoid as used on the Wanderlust Travelwide too. I understand that not everyone is stupid enough to build their own camera(!) so there's definitely a market for ready to go film kit but I can't help thinking this one is trying to do too much so may end up struggling with all formats rather than being very good at one. I'll watch the campaign anyway with interest.
 
I think I've decided not to back this one! Though it just might turn into something useful down the line. I like the idea of an "open source" camera system... but a system needs time to be useful compared to existing cameras. Thanks folks.
 
Sorry Chris if I've peed on your parade. I was just posting my own thoughts but agree that a funded 'open source' analogue solution isn't necessarily a bad idea, just that I'm not sure this one is trying to do too much. There's not a lot that I can see about how they're planning on making it open source? The basic principle of the camera is that the back is fixed a set distance from the face of the main body section and spacers are added according to the flange focal depth of the lens being used. The main issue I can see with this is that not all lens specs are available so if you're going to buy/use a lens that you don't own the original camera for, you're going to be guessing the right depth. I assume customers will provide the size to the company and they'll manufacture the spacer. Having wasted several prints on the lens cone for my 6x7 SnapShot I understand that 1mm off can really screw up your expected focusing!

I think they'd be better focussing on a specific type of camera like Intrepid/Wanderlust did so they can get it right straight away and build up from there.
 
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I bet even if this gets funded it won't be on time like most kickstarters, the more realistic Intrepid 5x4" camera one is only just now coming close to completing their backer's orders over a year after their stated deadline. I hope that camera eventually makes it to general sale, a new basic 5x4" field camera with movements for £200 would be nice.
 
I don't think you'd get very odds on that bet. I've invested in 5 Kickstarter projects and none have been delivered on the predicted date although 2 have finally come to completion, the Intrepid arrived a year after its original supply date and the Ondu about 6 months late. TBH whenever I invest in a project I take the whole thing as a bit of a leap of faith, exciting when they finally come to fruition though.
 
The only Kickstarter I've invested in (5x4 dev tank) is apparently due to ship early July which is 2 months later so not too bad although I'll believe it when it arrives :0)
 
Still not quite sure what's what here, but Emulsive have posted a slightly longer article on this project. There's a video that I haven't viewed yet (slow connection here). It does look like the kind of thing that could interest you, Steve, as you could no doubt invent all sorts of bits to add on!
 
I actually looked at their Kickstarter campaign again today and they've added that video in the article you linked so I watched it earlier. If they'd put that video up first they'd have probably got more positive responses straight away because it's a simple explanation of their kit. To be fair, each of the components look well made and the major spacers etc look like they're injection moulded rather than 3D printed which gives them rigidity but it's not something someone can do themselves at home which goes a little against their 'open source' idea. On the whole I still think it's an interesting idea but still a little too expensive when you can buy a Graflex etc field camera with some movements for less although the Universal will be much lighter.
 
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Forgot to add, the Instax back still depends on you buying a ready made Instax Mini/Wide unit from Holga/Lomo which then appears to be modified with a flat Graflok plate. The video suggests that Universal are working on their own panoramic 35mm back and possibly others but there are no specific details.
 
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RaglanSurf said:
I don't think you'd get very odds on that bet. I've invested in 5 Kickstarter projects and none have been delivered on the predicted date although 2 have finally come to completion, the Intrepid arrived a year after its original supply date and the Ondu about 6 months late. TBH whenever I invest in a project I take the whole thing as a bit of a leap of faith, exciting when they finally come to fruition though.
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H'mm wasn't Ferrania film one of them? Doesn't seem to be on sale ATM :rolleyes:
 
excalibur2 said:
H'mm wasn't Ferrania film one of them? Doesn't seem to be on sale ATM :rolleyes:
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Yes exactly Brian, Ferrania film was one of them and their original proposed supply date passed 18 months ago but according to their latest update delivery is imminent. Of course I'll take that with the aforementioned pinch of salt but I am convinced they'll get there eventually.
 
RaglanSurf said:
Yes exactly Brian, Ferrania film was one of them and their original proposed supply date passed 18 months ago but according to their latest update delivery is imminent. Of course I'll take that with the aforementioned pinch of salt but I am convinced they'll get there eventually.
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Maybe in the future some group might ask permission from Kodak or Fuji to kickstart production of some of their films we miss (y)
 
excalibur2 said:
Maybe in the future some group might ask permission from Kodak or Fuji to kickstart production of some of their films we miss (y)
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That's a great idea, I suppose the problem is accessing the plant required to produce film. It's one of the problems that the Ferannia folk have had is getting the machinery up and running and they had access to a lot of the original kit. I'm still hopeful that one day somebody will do a Kodachrome Kickstarter.
 
Interesting subject on how they produce types of film i.e. do they have machinery set up for different types of film OR is one production line used and they vary the chemicals on the film..... and also is it produced in one factory.
Well if different machinery is used for different types of film then maybe a group could buy that machinery and with permission from say Kodak.....start it up somewhere else to make the film that was discontinued.
 
Generally with large scale chemical production, you'd have one production system for each product. But when specialist equipment is used, then they would likely run one batch at a time with heavy duty cleaning between batches.
 
robhooley167 said:
Generally with large scale chemical production, you'd have one production system for each product. But when specialist equipment is used, then they would likely run one batch at a time with heavy duty cleaning between batches.
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Ah so a group could buy the production machinery for the film type not produced anymore as if the film type is discontinued and is a seperate production line, then the machinery is just doing nothing and a waste of space.
 
RaglanSurf said:
I'm still hopeful that one day somebody will do a Kodachrome Kickstarter.
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I understood that there were some aspects of the Kodachrome process that might not get approval these days for elf and safety reasons?
 
I'm still hopeful that one day somebody will do a Kodachrome Kickstarter.
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I feel like i'm the only film user who doesn't think Kodachrome was that great, not shot any personally as i was too late to film to have that chance, but i've scanned a load of it and projected some and thought it was OK, most likely better than the other colour films back in the day but wasn't blown away by it or anything. Maybe i've just been spoiled by modern emulsions.
 
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I wasn't a Kodachrome fan either but I seldom shot transparencies back then. As a commercial photographer, 90% of my colour shooting was on negative film. When I did shoot transparency, my favourite was Agfa CT18, which was much more sutble than Kodachrome.
 
Morinaka said:
I feel like i'm the only film user who doesn't think Kodachrome was that great, not shot any personally as i was too late to film to have that chance, but i've scanned a load of it and projected some and thought it was OK, most likely better than the other colour films back in the day but wasn't blown away by it or anything. Maybe i've just been spoiled by modern emulsions.
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You had to get the exposure right and also the right subject and light conditions that suits it...in dull conditions it couldn't turn a scene from a pig's ear into a silk purse.....but my Kodachrome shots in the 60's haven't changed (stored at room temp) which is not surprising as estimates say it would take over a 100 years before there could be a slight colour shift (IIRC correctly it was one colour that was the weakest).
 
ChrisR said:
I understood that there were some aspects of the Kodachrome process that might not get approval these days for elf and safety reasons?
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Yeah some of the developing chemicals are thoroughly unpleasant...
 
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