ULF plunge ...in a big way.

I just did something that was probably stupid. I just bought the

following off of ebay:

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?

ViewItem&item=1367034187&r=0&t=0&showTutorial=0&ed=0&indexURL=0&rd=1

 

My experience with large format doesn't extend beyond a couple years

of fooling with 4X5 and I have no familiarity with the listed lens or

with how one would process sheet film of that size. Any input on

those two matters? Specifically, is anyone familiar with that lens

and care to guess what a comparable focal length for 4X5 would be?

Also, I process all my sheet film in open tanks and that's clearly

not going to work for this monster -- so what should I start thinking

about: tray, or tube development? Thanks for any help...

 

-Michael

This is not a ULF camera. It's 18x24 cm, the European version of the 8x10" format. I suppose you're going to need to order filmholders and film from Europe, which is okay if you're already over there, but is a bit of a limitation if you're in the U.S. You might try an 8x10" holder to see if it fits. If it does, you're in luck.

 

The ad says the lens is "30mm." Surely that's a typo. A normal lens for 8x10" is about 300mm, and that's what I suspect it is. A Tessar is one of the most common lens designs. Try it out, and see how the ex-Soviet version is. It might not be bad.

 

Some of these Russian cameras have an interesting shutter arrangement--kind of like a Packard in a box mounted behind the lensboard, but with adjustable speeds.

 

You can process the film just like any 8x10" film--tanks and hangers, trays, or tubes, as you prefer.

Even over here in Europe, 18X24 is a rare breed. 8X10" is the industry standard.

If I am reading the auction item description correctly, you are now the proud owner of an 18x24 <b>centimeter</b> view camera. Converting that to inches, it is approximately 7x9.5 inches. <br>Big? Yes.<br>Monster? No. <p>Tray or tube development should be no trouble. Finding film may be a hassle but you can always cut down a sheet of 8x10.

Thanks guys. Good thing I see the humor in my stupidity. I'll just have to play around with it and see what I can make of it.

 

-Michael

I looked at a box of Fortepan 400 (rebranded as Classic Pan) from www.fotoimpex.de, and noticed that it comes in 18x24. They ship to the U.S., and you do have one filmholder, so that might be a place to start. You can treat Fortepan 400 more or less like Tri-X.

Thanks for that effort, David. I'm not giving up on this project. Somehow or other I'm going to get some usable shots out of this thing.

Michael, the description says it is a plate camera. If the holder is designed to take a glass plate, you've got some hoops to get through to get film in it. Good luck.

I couldn't access the ebay ad, but from Davids answer I inferred its a Russian LF camera. In that case you might want to check out this web site: http://www.pauck.de/marco/photo/stuff/fk/fk.html

http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?MfcISAPICommand=ViewItem&item=1367034187