OLIVA Reflex Camera
Testing and experimenting with new cameras and lenses design can be challenging, but also very rewarding and fun. i designed this particular camera in a way that it suits the also newly designed 150mm lens with manual focus.
Image 1 , 2 - Oliva Camera
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The biggest challenge was to design the lens design in a way that it allows focusing at the right projection plane, and the shutter, so it lets light in for the correct amount of time, and evenly along the projected image.
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The shutter problem was solve by designing a rotating curtain mechanism with a thin rectangular aperture that covers the lens aperture while rotating. For the pre load and rotation, springs are used.
Image 3 - Exploded view of the Oliva Camera​
SHUTTER MECHANISM
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The shutter allows light to get in the camera for a certain amount of time, so as the image is exposed correctly on the photographic paper. This shutter works with sliding curtain, that unfolds from the spool on one side of the camera, and winds up on the opposite spool. The curtain has an opening with rectangular shape that lets light in the camera while the curtain is sliding. In the image below, the length of the curtain was calculated.
Image 4 - Curtain shutter asembly process
​The pulling force that allows the curtain to slide automatically is generated by a spring located on the outside of the camera, which is connected to the curtain spool by a thread.
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In order to be able to wind up the spool agains the pulling force of the spring, a ratchet mechanism is added to the loading spool. This mechanism also acts as a trigger, releasing the shutter curtain to take the picture.
Image 5 - Front view of the shutter curtain once installed​
RATCHET MECHANISM
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The ratchet mechanism consists of a rotating element provided with teeth attached to the spool, and a locking element that is used as a trigger. This systems prevents the curtain to release itself during loading phase.
LENS​
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The lens is a 150mm focal length single element. This lens allows to manual focus, which translates into the ability of moving the glass element forwards and backwards. It has been designed with a M42 thread for mounting on the camera.
