Yes, what if ? no more ? RED BUTTON ???

I have learned that there is a new model of the L45s Option 1. This month

seems to be the month of innovation; we have two handheld 4x5 cameras with

technological improvements. One of them was presented in this forum, the other

one on the most popular auction site.

The first of these cameras, uses the provided --Red Button-- to activate the

shutter from the body of the camera, just as a normal camera would. This

leads to less blurry photos and a steadier aim.

It was found that while holding the camera with one hand and reaching for the

shutter tripping level with the other hand, that there was a brain-motor

function disconnect that has ruined many a negative. The --Red Button--

coupled with the shutter removes this impediment.

The L45s Option 1 still retains the --Red Button--, or so it seems (for

ergonomic reasons?). I do not see any mention of it in the camera

description. I think that no improvement of this device has been made in this

version( could have been removed).

This button is located in the most awkward position in the Polaroid 110 camera

body, just below the left hand thumb ( ouch ! )as one holds the camera. The

other hand, obviously, is reaching for the tip of the front standard to

activate the shutter release. I can only imagine the consequence of this,

more blurry photographs and failed compositions. The decisive moment has thus

been overwhelmed by twisting forces (?oooops!).

In the first camera, the bellows and front standard unfold automatically by

spring tension. No paws in there to put fingerprints on the lens surface.

The L45s Option 1 has had problems in that the front door of the camera needs

to be opened by hand, then pulling out the front standard and bellows. This

model has a stop click by where the standard is pulled in position. This

results in that the struts, if pulled with sufficient force, will distort the

shape of the front standard struts and misalign the film plane from a range of

2000 to .25 ( I hope that it is not kilometers, -- a measurement unit has not

been specified-- ???).

Why has this been found out only now, is a mystery to me. The 110 camera

model is 40 years old and has been used continuously, no complaints regarding

this that I know of. Was this a stratagem to increase the weight of the

camera?

The other camera with identical lens, weighs in at 1.5lbs. The L45s Option 1

has been declared to be at 2.5Kgms ( 5.5lbs, the lightest ? ). This weight

includes, I presume, the reinforced front struts so that they become less

flimsy and ineffective ( due to blurry photographs, and need a mule pack train

to carry the loads).

Wouldn?t anyone think that it is time for an independent evaluation of the new

L45s Option 1 and other 4x5 handheld cameras?

( I do not recommend the 75 foot cliff rappelling test. The camera that

weighs 5.5lbs will be the one to be jettisoned first, thus rapidly failing the

test.)

We, in the photographic community, never had the opportunity for an

evaluation, a comparison of all the handheld LF cameras available. In other

formats, and with other manufacturers, specifications are clear, show units of

measurement and describe accurately the nature of the product and evaluations

are a normal thing to do. Is this too much to be asked of a camera that is

overweight and overpriced? This will eliminate the associated driveling

gibberish, assign correct units to measurements and define words correctly.

Also, a new word of interest to all practitioners of the photographic arts has

been introduced for the first time: Graphy?.

I am just tempted to ask myself if you --either you have it or not--this

Graphy. If you do not, do not bother trying, get out of photography as fast as

you can.

The reason why L45s Option 1 has a --Red Button-- to be used as an placebo

emergency switch to be used when the photograph fails, located just right

under your left thumb. I just came to this conclusion.

Is there a question in there somewhere?

I don't have any Graphy- can I still keep shooting with my K1000 like always?