Galvin Monorail View Camera (2 1/4 x 3 1/4)
Photo thanks to Larry Shirer - [email protected]
This camera is a fine example of a view camera with full tilt/shift
movements that employs medium format film sizes. With long bellows
extension, this camera could provide considerable closeup capability, in
addition to mounting long telephoto lenses from its larger view camera
brethren.
This neat and compact view camera has front and rear swing and tilt. Uses back-focussing by rack and pinion. Removable lens board. Also has the optional extension rod. This is a fine example of a low production line of specialty view cameras. The best thing about this camera is that the unique spring back is designed to open up wide enough to take a Graphic roll holder. Example shown has a Rapax shutter with ''T'', ''B'' and 1 sec to 1/400th of a sec. Lens is an f6.8, 90mm (3 1/2 inch) Wide Angle Raptar, stops down to f32. Accessories include a leather lens cap and a professional style cable release w/lock.
>So...Galvin users...what are you doing for >viewing the groundglass?
I'm near-sighted so I often just take off my glasses and focus that way.
When depth of field is critical, though, I use a small 10x loupe that is
less than 1" in diameter so it can be moved all around the ground glass
easily.
>Any nifty chimney finders or viewing >accessories that can be easily >made to work with it and don't cost four >arms and eight legs?
I've seen a Linhof Reflex Viewer adapted to work -- in fact, there's a
Galvin for auction on eBay right now that has one attached -- as well as
the magnifying hoods from both a Pentax 6x7 as well as a Mamiya RB67.
I've thought about going this route but last weekend, I forgot my focus
cloth and was able to save the day by using a cardboard box I found lying
on the ground nearby. It fit perfectly around the outside of the metal
frame and with both ends open, it worked like a charm.
As such, I'm thinking of putting together a similar hood but will use a
piece of ribbed plastic sheet instead of cardboard. It will not only be
much cheaper than adapting a hood from another brand of camera , it will
also be lighter and should fold up neatly for easy transport.
JG
From: [email protected] (John Hicks)
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
Date: Fri, 07 Jul 2000
Subject: Re: Galvin
[email protected] (OorQue) wrote:
>I've seen a Linhof Reflex Viewer adapted to work -- in fact, there's a Galvin >for auction on eBay right now that has one attached
I saw that ad; I understand the seller had Jim Galvin modify the
back...plus I don' t have a Linhof viewer laying around...
I was thinking maybe the Pentax fully-enclosed magnifier would work;
gotta find one to play with.
Just messing around today, I found that a 135 enlarging lens will
give nice magnification and just about cover a 6x7 viewing area....so
maybe a 150 or longer enlarging lens or a diopter of about 200mm f/l
fitted to a box velcroed to the to the back...?
There's gotta be an inexpensive way to do this and not make a huge
bulky gizmo.
Thanks for the input.
---
Date: Fri, 15 Sep 2000
Special thanks to Mr. Jeffrey Goggin for providing the Galvin brochure
from which the following specs were taken:
All aluminum construction
finished in flat black with black bellows
weighs 2 3/4 lbs without lens
Standard model has 9" bellows
long extension model has 14" bellows
14" monorail is in two pieces, a 5" front and 9" rear section
overall height is 7 3/4"
overall width is 7 1/4"
thickness when collapsed is 3 1/4"
uses 5" square lens boards
Movements:
FRONT:
tilt, swing - 30 degrees
lateral shift is 3/4" from center
rise is 3/4"
fall is 1/2"
REAR:
tilt, swing - 30 degrees
back may be positioned for vertical or horizontal format
patented back (#3896464) takes
standard 2 1/4" x 3 1/4" sheet film holders
film pack adapters Graphic type, Mamiya RB67, Horseman
120 and 220 roll film holders
uses positive rack and pinion gear focusing
tripod mount and front standard slide on monorail
Galvin Camera Manufacturing Inc
920 47th Street
Sacramento CA 95819
Phone (916) 451-9678 OR 451-0725
From: "Joe Lacy" [email protected]
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.large-format
Subject: Re: REPOST: Re: Homebrew 47 or Me and my Galvin
Date: Wed, 30 Jan 2002
Yes, I'm using a 9" rail on a standard bellows. I have ground down the
swings flush to the frame and reversed the rear standard. I you want I can
send you photo's. It works AND on a flat board!
Joe
Date: Wed, 30 Jan 2002
From: Joseph Lacy [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Me and my galvin and the infamous 47mm
Looks like I got it. I'll know more today but looks like I can focus at
infinity on a flat board. I had to hacksaw off some things here and there
and I have lost some movements. I do have front and rear tilts and front
rise on the 47. If you have an interest I'll tell you exactly how I did it.
Monte Collard is going to make me a 12" bag bellows for it and I'll get a
long rail from Jim Galvin. But at least I can shoot the 47, my 105 and my
150. If I can get the 203 Ektar on it then I'll be done.
I want a reflex viewer for it too. I'm not sure which one to use.
Joe
From: "Joe Lacy" [email protected]
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.large-format
Subject: Time to shutup and shoot
Date: Sat, 02 Feb 2002
Well, Joe has been busy, grinding, sanding, painting, glueing and cursing,
it's time to shut up and shoot.
Seems the Galvin I bought was the early model on the 9" rail. I don't think
they ever made a recessed board for it. Flat boards only. I did some fairly
major modifications to it so that the bellows will collapse close enough to
get to infinity on my infamous 47mm.
First thing I did is cut off flush the swings front and rear that prevent
the body from collapsing standard to standard. Now the standards meet.
Second thing I did is reverse the rear standard. This worked fine for
verticals but the angle of the brackets held off the roll film back from
being flush, so it was back to the hack saw and grinder. I notched out
enough for the back to slide it. Now my back fits flush.
When I glued the bellows the epoxy oozed over into the cardboard strips next
to the back. So, I removed that and Velcroed the opening using the female
side on the Velcro. The back fits tight now so I don't "think" i have any
light leaks. We'll see.
The biggest headache, (as if the above wasn't enough) is the lens boards.
I'm still working on that problem. I made some temporary ones using
Plexiglas and black duct tape. They are some bizarre thickness that no-one
seems to have in wood. The standard bits you buy at home depot or either too
large or too small. That's still a work in progress. I may have to resort to
calling Jim Galvin and shipping the whole system off to him for boards. But
first I'm going out and shoot it the way it is. 47mm on flat board seems to
hit infinity fine and my heliar is no problem. Next will be aa slighlty
longer rail for the 203 and a bag bellows. Both of those are the easy parts.
Then there was a back problem. I bought a Singer 6x9. I went out in the
freezing cold and shot, shot some in the studio. As luck would have it the
clutch is broken.so all the images are hosed. I bought another insert
yesterday so I think I've fixed that problem. We'll see today, it's time to
shut up and shoot.
If anyone wants photo's of this camera during this process I can send them.
It's been sort of fun...kinda. :-)
Joe
From: [email protected] (P. MacGahan)
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.large-format
Subject: Re: Time to shutup and shoot
Date: 2 Feb 2002
...
I'm not really familiar with a Galvin, so I can't help much. Even so, when
making a wooden lensboard, I found that model airplane hobby shops are a good
source of various thicknesses of very fine plywood. To make up the thickness
you need, you might need to glue more than one piece together.
From: [email protected] (Largformat)
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.large-format
Date: 02 Feb 2002
Subject: Re: Time to shutup and shoot
The 9" and 14" models took the same lensboards and a recessed board was
available. Did you ever think of calling Jim Galvin himself for help/advice?
steve simmons
[Ed. note: thanks to Jim Headley for providing these photos and info on his projects!]
Date: Wed, 11 Dec 2002
From: Jim Headley [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Galvin Monorail Modifications
Hello,
I just heavily modified a Galvin Monorail and thought you might like to
see it. Love to have your opinions on the modifications and feel free to
use it in anyway on your website if you would like to.
I painted it this weekend and have photos of it online if you'd like to
check it out.
I really love the Galvin Monorail. I've been collecting and using
cameras professionally for 23 years and the Galvin is my favorite
camera. I own 2 Galvin cameras and am hunting for more.
I modified a Galvin for my own use as an architectural photographer. I
made the front and rear standards of the Galvin rock solid with the
addition of an Arriflex Matte Box. The box is also a great lens shade
for the 47mm f:5.6 Schneider MC Super-Angulon which I mounted onto a
recessed board. Full movements of the original camera have been
preserved if the matte box is removed. The matte box simply slides off.
It also slides forward to access the shutter controls.
I also had to install an internal cable release into the camera body as
the large 47mm 5.6 lens would not allow a cable release to be attached
while on the recessed board. It just wasn't possible. This is my first
attempt and is fully functional but a little crude in design.
I've recently rethought the internal cable and came up with a slightly
better design that I will try as soon as I locate another recessed lens
board. This design does not allow the removal of the lens board due to
the cable. The newer design will allow the removal of the board. I
painted the camera a deep textured grey.
I call it my Galvin Arch as it was designed for architectural use.
Photos of my Galvin Arch can be found at:
http://www.manualsrus.com/ampawn/Galvin-Arch-1.jpg
http://www.manualsrus.com/ampawn/Galvin-Arch-2.jpg
http://www.manualsrus.com/ampawn/Galvin-Arch-3.jpg
http://www.manualsrus.com/ampawn/Galvin-Arch-4.jpg
http://www.manualsrus.com/ampawn/Galvin-Arch-5.jpg
http://www.manualsrus.com/ampawn/Galvin-Arch-6.jpg
Also I did not do this modification to bastardize the original Galvin
design. I did this to fit a specific purpose and it works well. The
Galvin started out as an excellent medium format camera that was
lightweight and still retained full movements. I just tried to make it
better for my application.
Sincerely,
Jim Headley
Founder of Manualsrus.com
Casper, Wyoming USA
[Ed. note: we are sorry to note the passing of Mr. Galvin...]
From: [email protected]
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
Subject: we lost a star today ~
Date: Mon, 29 Dec 2003
Jim Galvin of the Galvin View fame passed away today about 4 pm PST.
Due to heart failure. I will miss him big time. He added So much to my
world personally and as just a friend.
You will be missed by all you touched Jim, and that is Many of us.
http://home.earthlink.net/~thom_b_foto
>magnifying hoods from both a Pentax 6x7 as well as a Mamiya RB67.
>As such, I'm thinking of putting together a similar hood but will use a piece
>of ribbed plastic sheet instead of cardboard.
John Hicks
From: Jeffrey Goggin [email protected]
To: Robert Monaghan [email protected]
Subject: Re: Galvin brochure .jpg...
Galvin 2 1/4" x 3 1/4" view camera:
Joe Lacy's modified Galvin Camera with 47mm Super Angulon
Thanks to Joe Lacy for this photo of his interesting project!