Has anyone already made or know of the existence somewhere of a model of a classic large 1940's style press photographer's camera?

Something resembling this Graflex Pacemaker Speed Graphic 4x5with the oversized flash reflector.

I will try my best on this robcat.

here is how the camera is coming along. i need to work on the semi-circle around the lightbulb. i needs crits!!

That looks fab!

Semicircle? you mean whatever is holding the reflector on? we can probably get by without that. We might not see it.

here are some things I'd do though...

-make the reflector a bit more shallow, you could probably just scale it a bit flatter.

-roll the edges of the reflector so we never see a single thickness edge.

-we probably wont' have time to "rig" this, so model the bellows in a somewhat extended position. And if you did that you might not have to worry about the tracks it slides on.

-oops...here's a major one... bevels... all the 90° corners should have a small bevel rather than a peaked edge. Check out the "cube" primitive one the CD for an example of how to spline it. They're easy to do if you build them into your cross sections before you extrude or lathe a shape.

The proportions are looking real good.

Thanks!

wow! i am so glad that you are liking it! some of the things that i don't quite understand that you are saying is about rolling the reflector so we never see a single thickness edge? What are the bellows? Are they the squiggly looking things that come out of the camera? LOL. How am i going to go back and bevel? i don't want to have to start all over?! :-( this has taken me quite a bit of time, just for this much that has been done. i also prefer that you guys don't rig this, because the way i have modeled it, it will be too hard to rig.

Also after i get done with this, i need someone to tell me how to make this camera look plastic. I need a good plastic material.

Bountiful Bevels...

bevels_mp4.mov

Here is another update of the camera! I can't figure out how to bevel it. If it isn't going to be shown up close, is the beveling part really necessary.

First step, make a cross section for the box like I showed in the video. Post it here.

This is important for every model you make, not just cameras.

Ok i will try it again tomorrow. i am super sleepy right now. are you liking the idea of the camera though? do you think it will be good enough to be in the movie?

It better be, we need that camera! Get some sleep and then remake the box with bevels. It's easy!

thanks!

Hey Rob,

Just a quick step you probably forget to mention, when you extrude the two cross sections for a shape like the box, the inner shape will then have it's normals pointing in the wrong direction. After the extrude, turn on Show Normals to take a look-see, and select all the patches for the surface of the inner box, and Flip them to point in (or to say it another way, always point Normals to face out so the camera sees them).

I picked up a new technique after watching this, thanks!

-Jim

You're right about the normals. I always have "show backfacing patches" or whatever that's called turned "on" so I never notice the normal direction until I start adding a material that is particualr about it and things start to look weird.

sorry that i haven't been on here. i have been at school, tennis, and work. i am working on the camera right now. i will post an update later!

Ok, I have finished modeling the camera itself. I am now moving to the texturing of it. I need help making this camera look plastic. What settings should I use to make the camera look like plastic? I also need a shiny reflected metal surface. To achieve this, do I need to use environment maps? How would I do this? Hope that you guys can help! Thank you!!!!

Sorry, i didn't catch this post!

Where's the camera?

I am so sorry that I haven't been on here. We have had a family crisis. I will try to work on this later tonight! Once again, I am so so sorry!!!

the modeling part is now done. i will now try my best to texture the camera.

Tanner, can you put it up on the SVN under Props?

I want to see it beforeyou jump into texturing it.

BTW, no plastic on a camera like that, it's all metal and leather.

oh ok i have to get the SVN first.

enjoyed the tutorial

Tutorial?

Somewhere on this forum there's a post explaining how to set yourself up with it.

Hey everybody!

Tanner was unable to complete this so I was asked to finish.

The first version was misplaced somewhere so I started from scratch. This is really painfully innacurate and a lot of the cool little details are gone, but since this is for a quick shot and the film itself is more stylized I think it will do. The reflector is from a later model of the same camera that looked like it might be easier to model. Robert, let me know if you would like to have the other style.

Click to view attachment

Thanks for looking. The bellows are up next.

Lee

That looks fab; more than enough detail.

Shoot...that's what I like to hear!

Here's another update, finished the bellows and textured...check props/misc/camera

Click to view attachment

Lee

Looks Great! thanks!

I was thinking of making one of these for my shot. After seeing yours, I'm glad I didn't. This looks excellent!!!!

George

Lee,
I've gotta say... that's one great looking camera.

I haven't read this thread yet but saw the last image and thought it was photo reference... so... thought I'd let you know.

Nice!

Simply amazing!

Thanks George, I hope you get some good use out of it!




Dang Rodney, you need to post in my threads more often (even though this isn't really MY thread) Thanks a lot, seriously!

EDIT: Stian, I didn't see your comment until later, but thanks just the same!

Lee