Subject

6x6 cm Film Holder

I built a 6x6 cm film holder after working out the bugs in the camera using 35mm film. My idea originally was to use

120 roll film cut to size but this created a new set of problems with film handling such as film curl making loading

and processing a real hassle! I decided to go with cut 4x5 sheet film , with the only disadvantage being the

availability of 2 decent films for astrophotography: Tech Pan and Fuji Provia 100. The film holder is very

similar to the 35mm holders with the exception of using a glass platen for curving the film and a Kenko gelatin

filter holder which uses 3" Kodak Wratten filters. The white paper shown in the holder has a target which is used

with the microscope I built in the right side photo. This solved my problem of centering a star in the camera which

before was to center it on the paper while looking in the side of the tube. This has proved to be a very reliable method

for me. After centering the star it is also centered in the finder and guidescope and finally with the AP 1200GTO mount.

My goal is to shoot primarily Tricolor Tech pan and use the Provia 100 for comets or other bright objects.