davea1

<p>I have been using the G10 for a couple of weeks now. It's easy to take it anywhere, unlike my DSLR and a backpack of lenses. All the criticisms listed above are valid, but it has incredible ergonomics for those of us used to manual controls from older 35mm cameras. I took to it right away. </p>

<p>I love the exposure comp. dial and use it set like Dan, above, at -1/3rd stop. Additionally, having an optical frame that adjusts with the zoom with diopter control is great even thought its coverage is around 77%. The ability to dial in the ISO and the program mode quickly gives you additional creative control that isn't apparent from a listing of the specs alone. Shooting RAW and using DxO or PTLens for corrections provides the ability to get back blown highlights and play with a bit more dynamic range than one would expect for a camera of this type. The 15mp size has given me the ability to crop liberally without loosing too much resolution. I've played around with manual focus, and the manual exposure modes and found them to be quite useable, unlike these features in any other compact camera I've used in the past. </p>

<p>In order to get the autofocus to respond more quickly, I took it out of face detect mode, and only use the center autofocus point, half-press, getting focus confirmation/lock; recompose and shoot. Fairly responsive if you anticipate the lag. I appreciate the comment from Paul above to use manual focus, stop down and prefocus on a set distance and then shoot when in the "zone". This is the technique that most of the older street shooters used and I am glad to see that it can be used with the G10.</p>

<p>I'll try to post some shots over the next couple of weeks. </p>

There are several brands of 120 storage containers. The one sold by Porters is located here: http://porters.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=PCS&Product_Code=15-0254

 

A metal storage container with a screw cap is sold by Acratech at: http://acratech.net/miva/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=AOS&Product_Code=12FC

www.ktcamera.com has more details on the handheld 4x5 camera shown at the top of the page at:

 

http://www.ktcamera.com/English/45%20CAMERA.asp

 

I have also asked a seller of one of these on eBay to give us a bit more information about the camera on the LF forum(here).

The reason I made the original post was because I hadn't seen a discussion or either one anywhere. I wondered if anyone else had purchased one of the 4x5's or 6x12's and could share their experience with us.<div></div>

Has anyone yet had any experience with the new hand held 4x5 camera

listed on the KT Camera site?

 

http://www.ktcamera.com/English/index.asp (second item)

 

Also, has anyone had any experience with the new 6x12 handheld

camera listed on ebay by thkphoto on ebay:

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7524320177

 

Website: http://www.chinaphotography.com/ebay/612.htm

 

Perhaps Paul Droluk could compare his hand-held 4x5 and 6x12

offerings to these. With Fotoman and these two new players, the

availability of inexpensive helical mounted LF lens cameras is upon

us.<div></div>

20 years ago, I used the back-and-forth method of final focusing. Now my eyes don't focus on the ground glass, so I use the reading glasses method and rack it back and forth for rough focusing and follow up with a 10X loupe for critical focusing.

 

I tried to use the back-and-forth method of focusing when stopped down the other day, thinking it would help with critical focusing but found that the image so gradually goes out of focus on both sides of the critical focus plane, that it was useless-- I now use the loupe wide open and hope that modern lenses won't shift a significant amount when stopped down.

The one I got off eBay came with the 6x9, 6x6 and 645 masks.

I purchased one of the Chinese Da Yi 6x12/6x9 roll film backs on eBay

the other day. I know there is a review of the 6X17 roll film back by

the same manufacturer elsewhere on the photo.net site, but nothing on

the 6X12 back. (Although looking around, this back is attributed to

Shen-Hao in other posts).

 

The back attaches via a Graflok 4x5 back and weighs about the same as

the Wista/Horseman 6X9 backs. It is made up of nicely machined metal

with rubber and felt light seals and a removable metal dark slide. It

comes with a default opening of 6X12 (56X114mm) with masks for 6x9

(56X86mm) 6x6 (56x60mm) and 645 (6x45mm). The masks are attached on

the lens side of the holder by four small machine screws. (take a

small jeweler?s screwdriver with you into the field to change masks)

 

The roll film holder is held in place by two spring steel bands which

compress onto two protruding lugs on the roll film part of the holder.

The film is loaded into the holder with the help of a spring loaded

retractable bottom bracket. The film is advanced by a knob rather

than by a leaver. There is a large spring loaded pressure plate

(75x120mm) to keep the film flat and rollers at each end at the bend

near the film spools. On the half of the holder, immediately next to

the dark slide, there are two pin rollers like the kind on later

Graflex RH-8 holders to facilitate the film transport.

 

The Dark slide moves in a recessed track and pulls in and out smoothly.

 

Running film through the holder with the dark slide removed, I found

that the film is held very flat. The film advance is manual and the

frame number is indicated in the window in the back of the holder. One

can observe the frame numbers as printed on the back of 120 film

(precluding 220 film). By advancing the film on alternating frames,

i.e., 1,3,5,7, etc., on either the 6x12 or the 6x9 windows proper

frame spacing can be maintained quite easily.

 

In summary, the quality of construction was far above what I was

expecting for the low price (US$248). I'm able to get into 6x12 using

my 4x5 with roll film without having to have a 6x9 and a separate 6x12

back. I'll post an update after a bit of use to see how it holds up.

<div></div>

Hi;

 

I've owned both. The Toyo comes with a fresnel lens between the groundglass and the lens. It is bright and works well with wide angle lenses up to 90mm on a standard lensboard. I like the sturdiness of the Toyo metal camera vs the wood Wista, even though the Wista is lighter. As a bonus, the back on the Toyo is a Graflock standard back, allowing a variety of roll film backs to be attached. A reflex or mono viewing hood, and a rotating back are available as an upgrade. The groundglass has a lightly etched grid showing somewhat more clear rather than a heavy dark line. It also has marks for 6x7 and 6x9 roll film very descretely marked at the corners.

<div></div>

<div></div>

<div></div>

<div></div>

When buying a used 67 several months ago, I tried out several finders on the body. I found the prism finder to be unacceptably dim, and found the chimney finder to be much brighter. I meter off camera, and don't mind the reverse image.