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"Medium Format Photography" by Leif Ericksenn was the book that I used to learn about medium format photography. It has lots of useful information on the different formats available to suit your style of shooting in order to allow you to make a more informed decision. I still use this book today as a source of inspiration. Nice portrait by the way...very creative.

How about color and contrast? I have an ektar 203 that is single coated and sharp with some of the macro shots I have done and the color on the slides seemed fine. I wasn't too impressed though with the farm house shots I did from the side of a road over the summer. I think I have to do more testing with this one to warrant spending the money for a new lens. Thanks for your thoughts.

I was considering this lens for my field camera and was wondering

about other owner's opinions on it. The older ones I believe were

only single coated, subject to flare, but had a decent image circle

so it can be used as a wide angle on 8x10 if I ever get one. I

haven't seen too much information here on the lens other than it was

really sharp. If there are other ones that I may consider then

please let me know. I have a 135 5.6 sironar-n with multicoatings

that I like. Thanks for your help.

I handled the camera over a year ago at Adorama. I don't remember all the possible movements, but the ones I tried were all rough and grabby. For what they are asking, I think it may be better to put the money elsewhere.

I was able to purchase a Schneider push on lens cap for the rear element of my Rodenstock 135 5.6 Sironar-N and I believe the size was the same as the front, 40.5mm. I got it from B&H Photo for around $15 I think. I also use the calumet wraps when they are on the board.

X-rays are certainly possible. One of the girls already suggested Frankenfeet. Christmas could be Mr. and Mrs. Claus surrounded by eight elves. Spring months could be toes surrounded by bouquet of flowers. These are just some of the ideas I am thinking about so far. Thanks.

This is not a joke. I have to photograph women's feet. I was asked

to do a calender for a women's organization for podiatry. We are

trying to get ideas for different themes for the seasons. I think I

will be using my hasselblad with my 150 sonnar and some proxars.

Any recommendations? Should I consider digital for calender print

output? There is probably a tight budget for this. I am just

trying to get some thoughts together, so thank you for your

constructive recommendations.

Medium Format Photography by Leif Ericksenn (hope that is spelled right on my 2 hours of sleep). I learned a lot from this book when I started checking out cameras. It still remains a source of inspiration today.

A friend of mine has the same camera and got a beattie screen for it. It was definitly bright and had a microprism on it. The replacement screen beat even his bronicas and cheap is relative to everyone individually. I wanted to replace the dark screen on my yashica lm, but I found the original screen easier for focusing, just not so good for viewing. Accumats went into each of my hasselbleds. I have good things about Maxwells, possibly for my rollei 3.5e3 someday.

I just got back from the catskills with the CF as my only camera purposely. I left the hasselblads, digital stuff, and rolleis at home. I am getting nice negatives, sharp corner to corner using slight tilts and swings. I am not advanced enough to need all the other movements yet. I bought the camera new from a dealer at a great savings so it was less than the other low cost cameras so it was a good choice for me to start with. I am still happy with the purchase for my purposes. If I do need more movements, then a small monorail will be in my future.

This almost happened to me while I was setting up to photograph my friend's two year old daughter for halloween. One tripod leg off the floor, but safely made it back down. I think my heart stopped for a couple of seconds. I think I would agree with russ. If test rolls are w/o incident then it should be fine. If you are a working pro, then you can't afford to have equipment fail at a critical time so a service check may be appropriate. You may consider having a backup body and lenses. I got an elm for the purpose because the price was right. Good luck.

Have you ever considered those plexi-mounted prints? There was some discussion about this here. They give a shiny wet look that is really rich. I have seen prints at around 72" x 48" from the studio I help out in and they look stunning.

I don't do photography daily, so I am not in a rush for the processing. Most places in the city (the place was Print Zone on W30th) wanted about $20 or more for their service, some with 24 hrs turn around and some about a week. I decided to take a chance with B&H's C-41 service processing and 5x5 matte prints at $7.19 a roll and about five to seven days turn around. I haven't experienced a problem yet with their service (35, E-6, or 120 C-41) before I started using Allied and I don't have to worry about mailing. I did like the way they individually analyzed and numbered each negative and proof. Thanks.

I have heard good things about A & I. How is their turn around time? I never tried them because I was always worried about stuff getting lost in the mail (I regularly get my neighbor's mail and even some from four blocks away). I saw there were some of mixed reviews for Duggal and Spectra. I was looking for 5x5 proofs in four rolls of 120 160VC from a model shoot. I will try and stop by the lab around 30th Street to check them out. One of the fashion photographers I know uses them regularly for his medium format film (when he isn't using his canon 1D. He ordered a bunch of those plexi-mounted prints (something like 60x 80s?) in the past and they looked good. Thanks.

I primarily used Allied in Brooklyn for my C-41 120. I was told

they moved to NJ? Any updated experiences with some of the other

labs in Manhattan like Dugal, Spectra, L & I, etc.? I was told

there is a pro lab around 30th Street between 6 & 7 that was pretty

good. Thanks.

There is a back movement similar to the graphics where you can hyper extend the back by pressing on the bed struts and pushing the body back (15 degrees fixed?). This is probably useful for drop bed with the 75mm lenses or you can do a rear tilt and adjust the front (tilt, rise, fall) to get this rear tilt to the degree you want. It is probably not as easy as on a monorail, but still possible I think.

I picked up a RH-10 6x7 back yesterday for $49, but missing a dark slide. I also have a 90 wollensak raptar that I don't use too much, but may be a slight wider normal for this format. I will have to see about a rangefinder (can I grab a side kalart from a speed?) and focusing panel. I think I would like to use this camera primarily handheld.

Lots of great information coming in. I am relatively new to large format (primarily with a sironar-n 135 and an ektar 203) and use the ground glass for focusing of the image. I figure the century would be nice to shoot like a handheld rangefinder (if I get the infinity locks set right for the lens, kind of like my kodak pocket Ia, scale focusing). There are two sets of scales on the left side of the bed. I am hoping to get to an area in the lower catskills known as Hawk's Nest that overlooks the Delaware River next month. Last year, I did this trip with a hasselblad, a rolleiflex 3.5 planar, and a canon s45.

On the back is only the sliding metal tabs attached to the main body.

John has an interesting thought. I may be able to fashion a frame and focusing glass for the back, focus, then attach the film magazine somehow (it still has the sliding clasps but I may have to modify). Or maybe set up the infinity focus for which ever lens I get and just use the frame finder and scale focus with the guides on the rails? Thanks. I am new to view cameras still and I have been getting by with a toyo field 4x5. Thanks.

I just got a mint century graphic body for $15. It is missing the

graflok back and lensboard & lens and rangefinder. I am having

difficulty finding the back so I can attach film holders. Auctions

seem to primarily have the completed cameras for a lot more. Any

recommendations? Thanks.

General medium format books I found helpful: Medium format advantage by Wildi & Medium format photography by Eriksenn.

Another piece of advice: if you see the owner running, try to keep up. Good luck with the shoot.

I'll look to purchasing a manual. I was using a 4x5 negative, the larger condensor set (I had mistakenly put the top one convex up, but I corrected it), and the 4 inch cone. I also purchased a set of Ilford multigrade filters for it. I think a contact cleaning, a new bulb, and more testing will help. Thanks for all your assistance.

The 4x5 negatives are well exposed. I had some prints done at a lab previously and they turned out nice. I was getting exposure times like three minutes wide open and it didn't seem right. I'll try to get to B&H for a replacement bulb and eventually a better lens. I also have a C760XL Dichro for medium format and 35 stuff. Thanks.