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Toyo 45G and ground glass question...


avid

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Can anyone recommend a solution to improving image on the ground

glass on a Toyo 45G? The image is so dark even under a dark cloth, it

is frustrating. Is there a way to put something like a bright

Intenscreen or a fresnel glass? What are my choices? Can I switch out

whatever it is myself without disturbing the focus plane?

 

Thanks

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Watch out for SatinSnow. I waited a month for mine and when it arrived it didn't have the corners cut as I had specified and it was too short to fit my camera. I sent two e mail messages about these problems and received no response to either, no "sorry about the problems," no "we'll send a correct one right away," no "refund is on its way," just total silence. I have the impression that this is an outfit that was good when it was small but that has been unable to cope with its success.
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Hmmm...I don't find mine all that dark, most of the time I don't need my hood at all. However, I'm not sure if this is the original screen, but it sure ain't fresnel. How fast is your lens? Viewing at f11 and smaller is not that bright.

 

For landscapes, there should be better choices. I do mostly buildings and urban landscapes, where more extreme movements are really useful, but the camera definitely isn't light.

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Oscar, most of the lenses are f/5.6 to f/8 and I always have it wide open for focussing. Perhaps you have a bright screen of some sort that mine doesn't. They do provide factory installed fresnel in some cases which mine missed it seems.

 

You have perhaps answered my other question as in you use the system on location and not only in studio. Do you find it too bulky? It seems I will have to use it mostly near my vehicle because the camera and tripod adds up to quite a bit.

 

Peter's suggestion of satinsnow is appreciated. I will look into it and I hope I don't have to go through the ordeal as Brian had to.

Any other suggestion for other products, anyone?

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I use a 5.6 lens and don't have any fresnel - it's just plain ground glass. Of course, whether brightness is a problem or not depends a lot on the conditions, the user etc.

 

I do use it in the field, I can do that, but definitely wouldn't mind it being lighter :-) OTOH, I've never had a problem with vibration, even doing macro (though I don't shoot in hard wind.) this really depends a bit, you must really try out and see for yourself how it works for you.

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I loved my 45 G...but it's a silly camera for the field. IMO you'd be better off with an old press camera and a modern lens. Most of the old Arizona Highways stuff was shot that way. No need for expensive "field cameras" unless you have unique needs for the movements and a bunch of lenses.
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  • 4 weeks later...

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