Analog Photography

I love adventuring. Skiing, backpacking, or traveling---I need to capture the experience. I don't want to depend on batteries so I travel with a mechanically operated film camera, usually a Nikon F2 or a Nikon FTn.

Up in the hills, with museum-worthy optics and mechanics, it's critical to protect my kit. I designed protective cases and a series of tools that let me roll, develop, and digitize my own film, end-to-end self sufficiency.

Photograph - Pyramid Mountain, Okanogen-Wenatchee National Forest, WA, USA

lens cases and body caps

Nikon F-Mount Lens Cases

50 mm Lens Case This series of cases allows me to carelessly pack my lenses into a backpack with assurance that they're protected	50 mm Lens Case Removal The lid threads on/off in 180 degrees of rotation	50 mm Lens Case Open
50 mm Lens Case Bayonet Mount The lens mounts to the lid with a bayonet style lock	135 mm Lens Case Rendering	55 mm Macro Lens Case The same design was adapted for lenses of 5 different focal lengths
135 mm Telephoto Lens Case The same design was adapted for lenses of 5 different focal lengths	28 mm Wideangle Lens Case The same design was adapted for lenses of 5 different focal lengths	80-200 mm Variable Telephoto Lens Case The same design was adapted for lenses of 5 different focal lengths
F-Mount Body Cap Rendering	Nikon Body Cap Additionally, I designed a body cap	Nikon Body Cap Installed The original body cap can be purchased $15, so I designed and printed my own for less than a dollar!

bulk loader and film digitizers

Bulk Film Loader

Bulk Film Loader The cheapest way to acquire film is to buy it in 100 foot rolls	Bulk Film Loader This device allows the 100 foot roll to be spooled into standard 35 mm film cassettes	Bulk Film Loader 2 strips of felt are adhered to the gap where the film exits to serve as a "light trap"
Bulk Film Loader This knob, printed as a nested assembly, locks the cassette in place and allows the film to be spooled onto the cassette	Bulk Film Loader This device typically costs $50, so I decided to design and 3D print my own -- total cost: $5	Bulk Film Loader Rendering
35 mm Film Digitizer Taking a digital picture of a film negative is the best means for preserving the original quality	35 mm Film Digitizer Rendering This apparatus secures the film precisely in the front focal plane of the digital camera and mitigates any reflection or light distortion	Medium Format Film Digitizer I also shoot medium format film (56 x 56 mm) so the latter design was easily adapted for this application
Medium Format Digitizer Rendering The tube is printed as two parts, friction fit together and the frame on the end snaps tightly in place