Cameras and Accessories

by Sarah Saunders | Sep 5, 2018  

Having grown up as part of what’s sometimes referred to as the ‘Oregon Trail generation’ – the oldest of the millennials – I took most of my pictures with an actual film camera, and not a smartphone. In my home office, I’ve got a short bookshelf that’s crammed full of photo albums and boxes stuffed to the brim with pictures that have not yet made it into an album. While I do love and appreciate my current iPhone and its excellent camera, I’ve always felt there was something magical about capturing a moment, having it developed or printed out, and then being able to hold that moment in your hand.

However, time does march on, and as is the case with many other older technologies, 3D printing is merging with photography to make all sorts of innovations possible, like 3D cameras, new tools, and 3D printed camera accessories. But that doesn’t mean that analog photography is dead.
Dora Goodman makes handcrafted, open source 3D printed cameras, along with camera straps and other open source camera projects, like a camera bag.

“Back in the days everything was created to last, and serve a lifetime. Tailors custom made garments that would serve for decades, while analog cameras were designed to even outlive their owners,” Goodman states on her website. “As opposed to this, nowadays in such an accelerated world, it seems as if we are living in the time where products are replaced every year or so according to a currently trending direction. And yet while both our point of view and end result may constantly evolve, analog photography has remained a chain linking us to permanence through our unchanging connection to our camera.
“With the help of my products, I try to pass on my perspective, and the way I visualize the timelessness of analog photography.”

With Goodman Lab, a team of local design and photography enthusiasts, she is part of a movement dedicated to making high quality, 3D printable open source projects. Now, Goodman wants to share her concepts and ideas with makers around the world.

“I have been working on creating an open source projects that I’d now love to share with as many photography enthusiasts and makers as possible,” Goodman told 3DPrint.com. “I provide the necessary files and plan / design for it, therefore it would basically be available for anyone with access to a 3D printer.”

The first of these open source projects is the Goodman One camera, which Goodman has been working on for the past two years.

“The basic gist was a dream to dress up the classical medium / large format in a new modern look while still remain in the track of allowing some experiment, playfulness and mobility,” Goodman wrote.
“I wanted to make a modular camera that easily accepts leaf shutter lenses, and permits multiple photography techniques – be it wet plate collodion or digital back.”

Goodman hopes to share the open source camera with anyone who has access to a 3D printer. While she is taking donations in order to “constantly improve the Goodman One,” Goodman will be making the 3D printing plans for the Goodman One and its accessories available free of charge in the future.

“I’ve uploaded the simple M3 version and slightly more complicated BRASS version of the camera. There is also a Roll film magazine and a Ground glass in the accessories folder,” Goodman wrote.
“Pretty soon I will share the optical viewfinder, leaf shutter lens adapter, cold flash mount, shutter cable holder, sheet film holder, sheet film cutter, sheet film holder for the developer tank, camera strap mount and the GOODMAN ONE IGUS version.”

Using Goodman’s assembly instructions, makers can create the 3D printable camera as is, make some tweaks to it, or even re-plan the whole thing and pass it on to others.

“I have already designed a roll film and sheet film back, viewfinders, cold flash mount and a couple of other accessories to attach, but would like to challenge all of you makers out there to go ahead and develop the camera even further,” Goodman wrote. “The Goodman One could therefore be a device almost free yet rather light and durable allowing creative freedom for any experimental photographer.”

Goodman says that she uploaded an “early challenge” to her site to help makers get started with their own Goodman One. The challenge includes printer settings, a multitude of files, and “a detailed note on both the necessary particles and procedure needed to put the camera together.”
Recently, Goodman also launched the Goodman AA (Art Adapter), her second open source camera project. The AA is a 3D printable DOF adapter that works with any smartphone and comes with a replaceable projection screen.

According to Goodman’s website, “It gives you great creative flexibility, plus it’s very easy to assemble.”