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  #1  
Old 6th December 2008, 08:27 AM
Dave miller Dave miller is offline
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Default Bulldog camera

Has anyone any experience of Bulldog DIY large format cameras that they may like to share?
Details here.
As I'm considering buying one.
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Last edited by Barry; 6th December 2008 at 01:21 PM.
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Old 6th December 2008, 01:12 PM
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Dave, I did a review of their DIY 4x5 camera for B&W Photography way back in their April issue 2006 (although I seemed to have lost my copy). I still have the camera but it's never used now.

It was certainly easy to assemble thanks to the excellent instruction book which is illustrated with clear step by step photos. I used my own lenses to field test the camera and the results were very good. You had no way of telling which were taken on the Bulldog or my Ebony. Its just the Ebony offers more in the way of camera movements, looks and feels nicer and will I hope last a lot longer

I see they are now producing a DIY 8x10!

PS. the link you've given is not working on my computer, keep getting error message.
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Old 6th December 2008, 01:22 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Trevor Crone View Post
PS. the link you've given is not working on my computer, keep getting error message.
Too many http's, take more water with it Dave

Now working
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Old 6th December 2008, 01:35 PM
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Bulldog camera's are manufactured by Camera Bellows, who I thought were owned by Lee Filters?.

Sadly, I have read elsewhere that CB have just been closed by their owners, but have said that they will reform as a new company early next year. I am quite surprised as CB supplied bellows for a number of camera manufacturer's including KB Canham and possibly Ebony(?).

If this is true? sorry to be the purveyor of bad news
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Old 6th December 2008, 01:56 PM
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Quote:
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Too many http's, take more water with it Dave

Now working
Where would I be without you? Just testing the help desk response time you understand.
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Old 6th December 2008, 02:39 PM
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A couple of points I forgot to mention; the materials used are MDF and aluminium so it hasn't the rigidity of say a camera made of wood/brass. Also the sample I had was not completely light tight around the body joints, but this was easily cured by covering the body with gaffer tape. On the original version the front standard was flimsy, but having seen a recent kit this seems to have been rectified and now seems to be more rigid.
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Old 6th December 2008, 04:47 PM
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No experience of the bulldog but I have been considering buying Jon Grepstad,s book on building a 4x5 monorail , Materials are hardwood and brass and no specialist wood working skills or tools needed .


Paul
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Old 6th December 2008, 08:59 PM
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I keep tempting myself to get one for when I don't need the movements and bellows of my Shen or the old Arca I have but there's always a little birdy on my shoulder pointing out that I don't need it and what else I could buy with the money...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Trevor Crone View Post
<snip>

I see they are now producing a DIY 8x10!
Is there any mention on the Interweb somewhere? Dates? Prices?

If they do put it on the market, I want one!
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Old 7th December 2008, 07:45 AM
Dave miller Dave miller is offline
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Quote:
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I keep tempting myself to get one for when I don't need the movements and bellows of my Shen or the old Arca I have but there's always a little birdy on my shoulder pointing out that I don't need it and what else I could buy with the money...



Is there any mention on the Interweb somewhere? Dates? Prices?

If they do put it on the market, I want one!
Robert White here I ordered mine yesterday as my Christmas Project, so when the snow lays all about, deep and crisp and even; I won't have to go out in it.
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Old 7th December 2008, 09:32 AM
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Quote:
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Robert White here I ordered mine yesterday as my Christmas Project, so when the snow lays all about, deep and crisp and even; I won't have to go out in it.
A nice pressy Dave Keep us posted please on how the construction goes etc and of course on how it delivers the pics

You have a VERY generous Santa

Neil.
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