ardea Posted November 2, 2002 Share Posted November 2, 2002 Hello I'm new to LF photography and just bought a Shen Hao camera from Badger. For an inexpensive camera the quality of workmanship is quite hi. I was prepared to be dissapointed at that price level, being trained as a tool and die maker, but was pleasently surprised. Now to the question; Does any one use a jewelers loupe that attatches to and rotates out of the way on glasses to focus on the GG? It would be nice to have both hands free. Thank you, Richard Martel...Florida Keys. PS any LF users in the keys? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffrey_scott Posted November 2, 2002 Share Posted November 2, 2002 I tried that several years ago but it was a pain because you have to make sure you keep your head just the right distance from the GG so that the image will be in focus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eugene_singer Posted November 2, 2002 Share Posted November 2, 2002 Richard, I agree, dollar-for-dollar, feature-for-feature, the Shen Hao is one heck of a camera. You will probably find that the magnification of a jeweler's loupe is too strong for groundglass focusing. 4x to 6X is a more practical power range. Too strong, and the grain of the GG becomes magnified. Since you prefer to have both hands free, you may find that a pair of reading glasses with a neck cord will serve the purpose. I purchased mine at Wal-Mart. Try different magnifications, until you can see clearly at the distance you feel comfortable for GG focusing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david_butler1 Posted November 2, 2002 Share Posted November 2, 2002 Richard, I bought Eugene's Shen Hao off him and have been really pleased with the quality and capabilities of this tool. As far as loupes, my one gripe about the camera is that the focusing mechanism, the front gear track, must be adjusted on the right, which means you have to hold a loupe with the left hand. This works well for lefties, but it's a bit of a challenge with the rest of us. A small complaint really, but if you have success with jeweler's glasses please let me know. David Elias Butler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jean-louis llech Posted November 2, 2002 Share Posted November 2, 2002 Richard, you'll find something interesting on the Wista web site. It's a sliding magnifier which - I suppose - can be installed on any camera with a graflock back. You'll find a photo of this device at http://www.wista.co.jp/e_wista/e_show/e_acces/e_acces2/e_acces2.htm. Hope this helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lacey_smith4 Posted November 2, 2002 Share Posted November 2, 2002 as a question to you users, is the Shen Hao's front std pretty sturdy -- say, in field use, a little wind, any wobble tendency? My reference would be to a Wista, very fine otherwise, but the front was not rock solid. Not at all like a lock-down solid studio camera, and maybe I expect too much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tony_galt Posted November 2, 2002 Share Posted November 2, 2002 I'm a happy Shen Hao user, and indeed if you carefully lock everything down the front standard is very solid. Wind vibration hasn't been a factor with respect to the front standard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ardea Posted November 2, 2002 Author Share Posted November 2, 2002 Dear Lacey, I don't think one can "expect too much" but working within the design criteria of a field camera where weight and folded size are paramount goals this camera meets them well and the ridgidity of the front standard,I believe,falls well within the accepted levels of "stiffness" associated with this type of camera. Just tighten everything down...Now if I can just remember to do that... Regards, Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ardea Posted November 2, 2002 Author Share Posted November 2, 2002 Dear Lacey, I don't think one can "expect too much" but working within the design criteria of a field camera where weight and folded size are paramount goals this camera meets them well and the ridgidity of the front standard,I believe,falls well within the accepted levels of "stiffness" associated with this type of camera. Just tighten everything down...Now if I can just remember to do that... Regards, Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alec1 Posted November 2, 2002 Share Posted November 2, 2002 Yes, Richard, I use a Behr loupe. I love mine. They are easy to use, once you learn how to mount them, and they're handy as you don't have to hunt them up. Here's their site. http://www.excel.net/~behr/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lacey_smith4 Posted November 3, 2002 Share Posted November 3, 2002 quite a selection of mangifications and focal lengths, there. Help the non-optician amongst us -- would I favor a focal length that approximates the viewing distance I would anticipate (say, 4-5 inches), then the magnification? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce watson Posted November 3, 2002 Share Posted November 3, 2002 I'm nearsighted, which is actually a help here. I already know an optician (too damn well). Last time I had my eyes checked, I took my camera with me as a visual aid. I showed the good doctor that I wanted to be able to put my head six inches from the glass and have everything in focus, and magnified by about 4x. Three days and $230 later I had my own "stereo loope" that lets me do hands free work with the camera. Damn sharp since it corrects for my astigmatism too. When I'm not under the focusing cloth, they just hang around my neck. What could be easier? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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