The journey didn’t stop with the DIY field camera. Drawn by the allure of precision and ease, I eventually acquired a Graflex Super Graphic. This camera, while delightful in its functionality, brought its own set of challenges, not least of which was its weight. At nearly 60, every kilogram carried, whether on the hip or in the hand, felt doubly burdensome.

This realization led to a new vision: a camera that would not only embody the essence of large format photography but also be light as a feather. With this goal in mind, I turned to the modern marvel of 3D printing. Plans were once again drawn up in Fusion360, with Ideamaker slicing the designs into printable layers. The Geeetech A10 printer was tasked with bringing these designs to life.

Initial forays into 3D printing were fraught with challenges. Issues of stability and dimensional accuracy plagued the early prototypes. However, persistence is the mother of invention. After numerous tweaks and tests, I discovered settings that yielded stable, accurate camera parts. These prints took time, but the result was a camera that was both lightweight and functional, a true testament to the blend of traditional craftsmanship and modern technology.