bill_youmans

Sorry about the title...I bought several "as is" film holders at an auction and didn't get to

look at them until later. They are all in good shape but one has all of the flat black paint

removed from the divider plate (both sides). This is the inside plate that the film rests

against. It's just shiny, smooth aluminum. I assume they paint the inside for a reason, so

I'm wondering what effect (if any) I'll see when using this holder.

 

Before I run a sheet of 4x5 through it, has anyone used a film holder that is shiny silver

instead of black beneath the darkslide? What'll happen?

 

Bill

Michael - it measured right at 34mm wide open (f9). The wealth of knowledge on this

forum is amazing. Jim - I bough the Copal used without a lens.

 

Thanks so much to both of you for the response and the link.

 

Bill

Hello -

I've got a neat G Claron 305 f9 that fits perfectly into my Copal 1 shutter. My question is:

since the shutter has an f-stop scale that reads from 5.6 to 64, am I correct in assuming

that the marked f5.6 now equates to an actual f9 and so on? Something tells me it may

actually be a little slower than f9 because of the shutter space between the elements? My

negs look okay with this preposition, but I'm open to more knowledgable opinions.

 

Bill

I'm contemplating a 6-month project that requires 8x10 negs

contacted printed for display (would be B/W portraits). I've got a

4x5 SinarP setup, and am looking for the specifics to "upgrade" this

camera to shoot 8x10. I think my list includes an 8x10 back, a 12"

extension rod, and a larger bellows. Then the more obvious search

for a "portrait" length lens for 8x10, and of course film holders.

 

Anybody done this, and what should my final shopping list look like?

 

Thanks in advance - Bill

I'm curious - does this film "remember" its curly origins when you process it in a tray? Might be hanger-only?

In another life, I earned good money taking high school class reunion group shots. I'd split the class into 2 groups (A-K, L-Z) and create three lines of folks - first row was seated on floor, second row was seated in chairs, third row was standing behind the people seatd on the chairs. Working from the center of the photo, all the people were turned slightly towards the center person, so the space required for the people was dramatically reduced because they were turned almost 45 degrees to me. I shot everything on a Hasselbald and a wide angle lense (50 Chrome Distagon ?). I could easily accommodate 100 - 125 people per group.

Lighting was easy - two Bowen Monolights set on stands at about 8' high, and about 6' out from either side of the tripod. Bare bulb (no reflector) and full output always gave me f8 or f11 at about 20 feet on VPS.

This isn't a fancy way to light the scene, but it was quick (essential with that many people waiting on you!!!) and dependable, and the negs were always evenly lit and the large neg made for nice enlargements. One other tip - always give a group this size a "countdown" before you shoot so they are looking at the camera. You'll be surprised how few stragglers there will be in a group this size if you let them know when the shutter is closing!

Hi Michael -

 

I was at REI today (before reading your post) and saw a very large insulated "ziplock" type bag that was being sold as a "keep it cold or hot" food container. Looked very durable and big. Sorry I hadn't read this earlier, or I could have measured it. This was at the Park Meadows outlet.

S&S Optika also has a very nice darkroom available for LF. Ask for Tim, he's an 8x10 shooter.

Michael K -

 

Your ethics are admirable and an example to all of us.

Thanks.

Thanks Ellis. They were very helpful!

For future reference, their info is:

 

 

Sinar Bron Imaging

 

17, Progress Street

 

US-Edison, N.J. 08820

 

attn. Larry Makoski (Service Dept.)

 

Tel. (1) 908-754-5800

I need to replace the white gear block for the rise/fall feature on

my Sinar P. The gear pad is stripped for about 1/2". I'm sure I can

do it myself, but I need the part. Any suggestions for a Sinar parts

resource?

 

Thanks in advance -

Bill

Instamatics came with an owner's manual AND two shutter speeds??

 

So much for those myths!

Taking photos at the Super Bowl (from Section Nosebleed, Row 99, Seat 200) will turn out best if you remember to use the flash on your disposable camera.

The tripod gets muddy, wet, dinged and bent,

But of shutter speeds, filters, and Zones we oft vent.

While silently doing its job without fail -

The tripod holds up our work through all the travail.

Back in 1984 I almost lost my black Tiltall when I walked away from it in a wheat field at 10pm on a moonless night. I was doing a story on wheat harvest teams working at night - time exposures, etc. I had to ask the combine crews to walk the fields with me to find it so they wouldn't run it through their expensive threshers. Today, my old 3-legged helper has glow-in-the-dark tape around each leg (which are also epoxied on) so I can always find him in the dark!

Of course I meant DBM mount.

I need some clarification - I'm seeing Sinar DBM mounts in

classified ads and I don't know what they are. Do they have a

shutter? Is the shutter in the camera? I'm guessing a Sinar DBM

mount is not usable on another brand of camera??

 

Thanks as always - Bill

Hey Scott -

Isn't "hekuva" Polish for great deal? You were pumping that sale so hard I assumed your real name might have been Flemingzded in the old country! Just kidding! I'd been watching the Eb*y listings for a month and came across the Poland offer probably at the same time you did. I'd never bought anything on Eb*y from Poland, and certainly nothing for that much money. It's been challenging to this point, but I'm confident we'll reach an understanding.

 

Bill

Since this forum is world-wide, I'm looking for any large format

users in Poland that could help me with some translation issues

regarding an Eb*y equipment purchase in Warsaw.

 

Thanks in advance!

 

Bill

Where should I start in my search for used 11x14 equipment? I sold

my green monster (Calumet C1) a year ago but can't shake the need to

face the devil again and go bigger.

 

Maybe I just need some counseling.

I will join the chorus and say "well done Butch!!!"

And I'll be the first to ask - what did they cost by the time you finished? Hours? Parts?

 

Ever consider making more and offering them for sale?

I'll throw a vote to White Lightning/Paul Buff monolights. I've knocked them over, dropped them on pavement, mounted them in gymnasiums, theatres, homes and used them in the studio...without a misfire.

 

I haven't used the other brands, so my experience is limited to this brand. That said, I can attest to their ruggedness and value as they have always performed, despite my "look out!!!" moments.

Thanks Barry -

 

I just realized that I wasn't pulling the small white tab out BEFORE making the exposure. As usual, operator error.

 

Bill

I borrowed a Polaroid 100 back to do some test shots with my 500CM.

The exposures are great, but I'm only getting 3/4 of the horizontal

width of the frame. The vertical image is 100%, so why would the

frame be cut-off horizontally? I'm using 672. The glass plate is

clean and everything fits great. I remove the darkslide completely.

Should I expect to see a square image on the roid, or have I set

this up incorrectly?

 

Bill

UFG - ultra fine grain