Some time ago I bought a Voigtlander Bergheil 9x12 film camera, partly because it sported a gorgeous Heliar lens which was top of the range. Sadly the camera didn’t come with a plate or film back and it turned out that finding those was difficult and costly when you did. So what to do?

3D printing offers the advantage of customisation, allowing photographers to create parts tailored to their specific needs.

The process of designing and printing parts requires a degree of technical skill. 3D modelling software can be utilised to create precise designs that match the original specifications. Fortunately, the community surrounding film photography is vibrant and supportive, with many sharing designs and advice for successful adaptations.

I managed to find an adapter that lets you use 4x5 film on a 9x12 camera. I got a fellow film user to print it for me and it worked a treat. I then needed a 9x12 ground glass so I took an old 9x12 plate, removed the emulsion and then ground the glass myself using waterstones I own for knife sharpening.

This all went together eaily but still left me frustrated at not being able to shoot the large collection of 9x12 plates I have picked up over the past few years. Enter a German eBay seller who had Linhof film/plate holders for 9x12 in a 4x5 cassette. Perfect!

I experimented with the camera and 4x5 film at the weekend and will post the results when I develop them. I wanted to check for light leaks as well as seeing if the lens filled the 4x5 dimensions, which to be fair is only slightly larger than 9x12.

I am still on the lookout for proper 9x12 plate holders so if you have any please do get in touch: morris@liveinawe.org