Our basic Shutter Actuator is for film shooters.

Our Universal Sync Box is for medium format digital back users. It uses active electronics to sync with and control your digital back, interfacing it with any type of shutter. It can automate sensor wakeup, shutter triggering, and more, taking the hassle out of digiback use on manual cameras and rendering it easy to shoot with vintage and experimental lenses (vintage, aerial, etc.). It also works to speed up and ease use of the Mercury ST (stitching) system when shooting rapid panoramas.

Read the full details and order here.

See this page for details and to purchase!

ST stands for “stitching.” This system is designed for medium format digital backs, and allows you to instantly and precisely shift your back into 3 (or in some configurations, 2 or 4) positions for easy, perfect stitching in post production. The result is to dramatically increase your practical sensor size—in most cases, to the approximate size of 6×9 film. Not only will this dramatically reduce your enlargement factor and greater than double your resolution, but will allow you to pair a digital back with larger format lenses. Instead of taking a tiny crop from the center of the image circle, you’ll be able to capture the real aesthetics and advantages of these larger lenses.

Shift movements are of course possible on some expensive technical and field cameras, but such rack-and-pinion systems are slow and cumbersome to operate. By contrast, the Mercury ST camera is far more compact, lightweight, and can be operated simply, with no need for knobs and cranking. You can take a high-end, perfect set of three shots for stitching in under 3 seconds! Capture you image before your subject moves or the light changes.

The Mercury ST system consists of three main products:

1. The ST Camera. This is our flagship, most advanced product in the ST line. It is an RS-0 camera, meaning that it is compatible with any lens that the Mercury camera system can adapt (and that’s theoretically nearly every medium to large format lens in existence). It is light and extremely compact, for easy field shooting.

2. The Graflok 45 6×9 ST Back. This Graflok back is compatible with most large format cameras that can accept removable backs in the Graflok/International style. This is an RS-20 back, meaning that it moves the film plane 20mm farther back than usual.

Both the ST Camera and Graflok 45 6×9 back accept the same “ST Inserts.” For users who wish to purchase both of these products, you only need one Insert for a given digital back. These are the Inserts available:

Mamiya/Phase One 645 backs

Hasselblad V Type 1 (compatible with particular brands of digibacks)

Hasselblad V Type 2 (compatible with different brands of digibacks)

6×9 Ground Glass. This ground glass insert can be swapped for the digiback, and can be used to compose the full-sized image that will exist after stitching. It can also be used for focus if you wish.

3. The Graflok 45 6×12 ST Back. For panorama lovers, this back is very similar to our 6×9 Graflok back, but uses special ST Inserts that are significantly longer to achieve a final stitched image approximately the size of 6×12 panoramic film negatives. The same set of Inserts are available for this back, but these and 6×9 Inserts are not interchangeable. This back takes up more space and generally requires 4 stitched images, so is slower, but it is perfect for folks who wish to shoot insanely high resolution panoramas.

For more information about the ST Camera and some sample images, most of which also applies to the Graflok ST backs, check out https://mercurycamera.com/mercury-st-stitching-camera/.

For detailed operation instructions, see section 2.3.6 in the latest Mercury User Guide, available in the Downloads section of the website.

ST components are extremely labor- and time-intensive to make, as they require many layered components within components, different types of adhesives applied over time, layers of fabric, etc. However, we do have a first batch ready to be purchased. Once those sell out, it will be some time before a second batch will be ready.

If you would like to place an order or inquire further, please email us at mercurycameraworks@gmail.com

We have also recently updated and expanded our line of digiback accessories. See this page for an overview of digital back compatibility and options within the Mercury system.

Full Kits Including Digital Backs

We’re also excited to announce that we have tested and certified four Leaf Valeo digital backs to be bundled while supplies last with the ST system. If you don’t own a medium format digital back, this is a very affordable way to experience the glory of CCD imaging, with one of the most famous and successful sensors ever produced. It generates stunningly sharp photos with incredible color and beautiful tonality even today, with all of the advantages of a large sensor. Each kit comes with the back, bluetooth ready, the full ST kit, and an exclusive Mercury CF Unit, specially manufactured to enable easy, fully portable use of Valeo backs, writing to an included CF card. These units come pre-programmed and ready to shoot at 50 ISO. In order to preview your images and change settings on the fly, you can add a used iPaq from ebay, which connects via bluetooth. We can set you up with the software.

And, based on a new procedure we’ve developed, we can provide your digital back in either standard color range, or full spectrum. Full spectrum backs will let in all wavelengths of light, allowing you to shoot standard color, infrared, or UV with only a change of a lens filter. I have posted a number of examples of infrared photos shot with the Valeo on a Mercury to the Mercury Works Facebook group.

Here’s what’s available now, with initial release pricing (availability and prices not guaranteed to last):

Mercury ST camera, including one ST Insert of your choice: $435

Mercury ST camera with one ST Insert and digital back kit (including CF unit): $1075

(for full spectrum version add $100)

Mercury ST Graflok 45 back for 6×9 images, including one Insert: $350

Mercury ST Graflok 45 back for 6×9 images with one ST Insert and full digital back kit: $990

(for full spectrum version add $100)

Mercury ST Graflok 45 back for 6×12 images, including one ST Insert of your choice: $480

Additional 6×9 ST Inserts: $145

Additional 6×12 ST Inserts: $155

Just email us at mercurycameraworks@gmail.com if you’d like us to put together an order for you.

We developed the ST system with the generous help of Digital Transitions in NYC. They are the experts in digital back technology–don’t hesitate to reach out to them if you’d like to learn more about the capabilities of current digital backs.

And for any of you concerned that all of our work on digital backs heralds a turn away from film, don’t worry—Mercury Works remains as committed to the medium of film as ever! We are actively working on new, exciting projects for both film and digital.

The Base Plate mounts to one of three options: The Vertical Base Plate to enable vertical movements (rise and fall), the Horizontal Base Plate to enable horizontal movements (left or right shift), or the Shifting Camera Front (rise only).

When the Mounting Plate is integrated with either Base Plate, the combined module takes the place of a 10mm Front Spacer, and can thus be used in any Mercury camera configuration that has at least FS-10. The only limitations are that it cannot be mounted directly to a standard Mercury Front Panel (you need at least one Front Spacer beneath it, or it needs to be an XL Front Panel or Mini Front Panel) and you can’t mount an XL Focus Unit directly to it (that too would require at least FS-10 in between the two parts).

For camera configurations that don’t use spacers or are otherwise not compatible with the unit for reasons described above, the Shifting Camera Front can be used instead. This camera front panel can be used in lieu of the standard Mercury front panel. The Shift Base Plate mounts directly to it; when these are integrated, they act like any other Mercury camera, but now with front rise built in!

In almost all configurations, the Mercury Shift System enables from 15-17mm of movement. Some lenses with especially large rear elements may further restrict the maximum movement distance.

One integrated module can handle either vertical or horizontal movement; to change, you would swap out just the Base Plate part. If you need both horizontal and vertical movement simultaneously, you would need to use two Mercury Shift units–each consisting of a Mounting Plate and Base Plate or Shifting Camera Front.

Instructions can be downloaded here. They will be integrated into the next release of the Mercury User Guide.

Like all Mercury camera items, these can be purchased by emailing us at mercurycameraworks@gmail.com

Visit our Instax Wide page for details and to purchase.

Our 5×7 Back Adapter integrates with the rest of the Mercury ecosystem for maximum compatibility and ease of use.  We will initially offer the 5×7 camera as an integrated XL Front Panel and 57 Back Adapter.  Customers can purchase new lens kits and other components for it, or integrate their existing lens stacks into the new configuration.

Because the Graflok standard was never defined for the 5×7 format, we decided to create our own, which we call Merclok 57.  This uses a robust slider system like Graflok, but is spaced to lock onto standard sheet film holders, as these will be the most commonly used backs.  Most wooden 5×7 sheet film holders (Kodak, Ansco, Baco, etc.) mount directly.  Plastic sheet film holders (Fidelity) require a simple, thin spacer to lock properly.  If you wish to mount a 6×17 roll film back, you will need a spacer kit.  These simple spacers snap onto the roll film back, providing the proper spacing for Merclok mounting.  We have spacer kits available for the Dayi 5×7 roll film back and the Canham 6×17 back.

A 5×7 Mercury works best with lenses from 105mm to 180mm.  Longer than that will vignette; shorter would require a great deal of recessing.  However, 210mm lenses vignette only a small amount, and are still usable.  The 57 Back Adapter itself is RS-60.  Compatibility and focus unit considerations can be determined by consulting the RS-60 column in the Mercury View Lens Database.

The standard Merclok 57 sliders are black, but you can order them in any of the standard Mercury color highlights.

We have also developed, as part of the 5×7 Mercury ecosystem, a 5×7 ground glass back.  It provides 100% 5×7 coverage for focus and framing and includes indicators for 6×17.  While this is the recommended solution, we have also developed slide-on spacers for the Mercury 4×5 Limited Ground Glass which will allow it to be mounted in vertical orientation on the Merclok 57 system.  This will only provide partial coverage for focus.

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Integrated Mercury 5×7 Body: $215

Upgrade to color highlights (choose color): $15

Dayi 6×17 Roll Film Back Spacers:  $10

Canham 6×17 Roll Film Back Spacers: $15

Fidelity Deluxe sheet film back spacers (in highlight color if applicable):  $5

Mercury 5×7 Ground Glass Back: $70

Spacers for Mercury 4×5 Limited Ground Glass:  $25

One small batch of cameras is available now.  Email us if you would like to purchase one.