david_payumo3

Who cares if Ron does like what you say? Your are talking about

customers' actual experiences. If a LF company provides bad customer

service let's hope they get boycotted. Maybe they will have time to

fix their poorly built cameras and finish backed order cameras. If a

company is not run on honesty, integrity and high standards than why

is it in business? I don't know why you need to protect Wisner, Dan.

You are being way too nice. I hope more potential Wisner customers

see this post. When we buy something from a camera company we aren't

buying just the product, we are buying customer support. Only by

complaining about Wisner's business practises will any changes happen.

Equipment purchases are tough. Only by using equipment for a long

time do we find out if a piece of equipment is worth it. I have a

Fuji 645i Rangefinder. Its a sharp medium format camera but it

doesn't feel good to use. I don't like the control layout and I don't

trust the meter. I don't want to dump it because I would lose money

on it. I have a bought new Ries tripod. Its nice but I don't like

the screw legs and locks. Its too slow to use. I also don't like the

Manfrotto 3275 head that comes with it. The joints of the head are

loose. Dan, just consider these equipment purchases to be camera

rentals and dump the equipment before you become a camera collector.

I am going to dump the tripod as soon as I have the money for a gitzo

tripod and arca swiss head. Good luck on search for the proper tool.

I would recommend renting lenses before you buy them. Since the

working style of LF is different you may not use the same lenses that

you use in 35mm. I have a 150mm 4x5 lens and I do EVERYTHING with it.

A 90mm would be too wide for my taste. You should also look at

people's work and find out what they use to get an idea of what can

work for you. Remember to buy the best equipment you want because

trading in equipment is expensive. You should also find out what you

can rent in Korea because you maybe limited, if you shoot an unpopular

camera brand or want a certain piece of equipment.

KHB Photographix, Henry's, Downtown Camera or Vistek probably have

used 4x5 enlargers. Check them out in downtown Toronto.

The problem with a leather bellows is care and maintenance. If it

dries out or is exposed to the really harsh elements it will be

damaged. Syn is just plastic. I don't have to treat my camera with

kids glove and the bellows hold up fine. The syn bag bellows is very

good. It is very large and the one pleats allows for a lot of

movement. It is cheaper to boot. I don't have my camera handy but I

could movement the syn bag bellows to the max of my Discovery's

ability.

My friend has a really old enlarger. Its the Omega D series. It looks like a double condenser enlarger. Both condensers are in a metal tube and it does not look like its meant to be move easily for different enlarger lenses. She was using a 135mm lens with it. She bought a 50mm lenses so she could do some 35mm work. She isn't able to get an large magnification with the enlarger. Increasing the enlarger's height and the image is still 6x9 inches max. It might be the extended lens cone she put the lens on. We tried playing with the condenser but they always projected the same size image. Does anyone know what is wrong with the enlarger and what I have to do to increase the size of the image? Thanks.

Hello Ellis,

 

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I like the images you made. I understand that you are a

generalist in photography. The work shows your skill, experience,

professionalism and vision. If you want to take your work up a notch

I think doing personal projects would help (see seankernan.com). I

would like to see work that you do for yourself. This might not be in

line with your commercial photography goals but I would be interested

in that type of work. Clients would see what makes you unique. I say

all this critque with respect because you've always been helpful,

thanks.

Hello Ellis,

Oh Canada,

 

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I am in Toronto and I shoot a beloved A-S Discovery. I got it from

Amplis when they use to sell A-S directly to photographers. From now

on I am going to buy LF gear from harrysproshop. The owner is a

former Alt camera exchange dealer. Brian is a very friendly guy. Its

grey market import and he deals with the warranty himself. I drink

anything Labatt's because my dad works there! Being in Toronto I've

met Burtynsky. Great nice prints and very friendly dude. I am going

to assist Bob Burley who is my teacher at Ryerson. He is a very good

architectural photographer. I think his website is designarchive.com.

4x5 is pretty common in Toronto shops. Sinar is plentiful and the

film selection is good. I recommend Prolab @ Photomethods and

Colourgenics as good labs in T.O. Happy Shooting, Canucks!

I would consider the Rodenstock Sironar S 150mm f/5.6. I use it for

everything. I know its suppose to shot at infinity but close up it

does work. Its a modern compact lens that has a lot of coverage. A

limiting factor with lenses is not their converage but the size of

your bellows. Arca Swiss and Sinar has really large bellows and that

helps get the most coverage out of a lens. You can do extreme

movements and the bellows will not vignette. You are only going to

buy a normal LF lens once. If you get the best lens the first time.

If you shoot 6x9 the Sironar has enough resolution for 6x9. You

should consider the digital lenses from Schneider and Rodenstock for

roll film.

Two guys on this board got Ebony cameras for Christmas. They owe their wives big time. My Dad buys all my gear for me. I am still in school and I am grateful for the "funding". Please tell me about those camera equipment gifts! Happy Boxing Day!

Grey Wolf,

 

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You owe your wife big time. I don't mean a material gift. You have

to do even more chores around the house and take her out every week.

That should pay for an Ebony...oops I forget how much those things

cost. LOL ;^}

 

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I can only get an Arca Swiss!

Vision is needed for photography. Its hard to get somewhere when you

don't know where you want to go. Stieglitz may have not conceived of

the idea before he photographed the ship but an idea has to be in the

picture. When it is conceived isn't so important. Its just a matter

of time when the photographer understands what they are doing.

 

<p>

 

Atget is the best stock photographer ever. This is not an insult but

one of the highest praise I can give to a photographer. He made

photographs and then people thought of them as art. Critics,

curators, gallery owners and collectors understood what he really

wanted to do. Personally I think the work is okay. Hoever I respect

his impact. He is lucky that Abbott took the work to New York and

people liked it.

 

<p>

 

"Vision is a feedback loop"

- David Payumo (I am paraphrasing. I think.)

I used LF cameras in my university photography program. The cameras

were the worst cameras in the known universe. The really old MPPs and

Cambos. I kept on reading photography books and magazines. I realize

a lot of photographers I love use LF. I love Andreas Gursky and Sally

Mann for example.

 

I purchased a beautiful Arca Swiss Discovery (one of the best cameras

ever made). I realize now its the best camera for me. I still use

35mm but thats for event photography or candid/casual people

photography. Medium format is too much in between a fast camera and a

big picture camera therefore I dislike it. Its also too expensive.

 

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I love the ritual of the big camera. When I make a picture with a kit

that weighs thirty pounds, I know I am going to make a good picture.

 

<p>

 

I can't remember anything and I use photography as a memory trigger.

I want to have the biggest negative or transparency to help me tell

the story of my life.

I am working on my current project and I am using colour, light and motion to document my school. I am using an A-S Discovery,150mm lens, Tungsten Halogen clamp lights and long exposures of moving people. I made some excellent images but I haven't made my best image yet.

Robert White sells it for a little cheaper for non-Americans. The

head probably won't make it to Canada because its a high end, low

demand product. Only a few would probably get sold a year. I can't

see the dame thing in person. I might have to go to a camera show in

Germany or NYC. If anyone actually gets to use it please tell me

about it. It will probably be available in the speing.

I've asked sales people but I just want to make sure...the Manfrotto 3275 Geared Head CAN fit on the Gitzo CF 1325 tripod? The head has two inch plate on the bottom but needs to be clear of the tripod plate because a knob would be blocked. I could get a metal spacer as a solution. Has anyone done this modification? Any possible details or solutions I miss please tell me. Sorry to ask a question that should be dealt with a camera store but I don't like camera stores!

Don't tell anyone you use colour print film that our little secret.

Everybody thinks you need to print slides but of course our prints

prove people wrong. It is bad to be a factory but a production goal

is important. Yes we have to go with the flow but we can't get

anywhere without a goal. I never expect to make that special image

everyday however I need to make a lot of images to find that special

one. I try to enjoy life and when I can't take a picture I will just

enjoy the moment. However we are photographers and photographing our

lives is what we need to do. This discussion is really good because

this forum is technical and we don't talk about what we actually make

with our great cameras. I am doing a school documentary project of my

photography program at Ryerson University in Toronto. I can't believe

you use a IIama. So does the animal live with you or do you just

rent? What film do you use to get massive N- development? Portra?

Please e-mail me offline.

The Phillips 4x5 camera has been out for a while. What do people think of it? Oren Grad has a good review at the phototechmag.com site. Anyone care to give an opinion? How does it compare with the Canham DLC? Is their customer service good? How long did you have to wait for the camera? Were you able to look at the camera before you bought it?

You can learn all that stuff by buying a 4x5 camera and a digital

back. You should assist a commerical photographer in your hometown.

If you want to come to Toronto. Ryerson, Humber and Sheridan are the

major schools that I know of that could teach you something about

photography. Sheridan and Humber are colleges that focus on the

technical and business side of photography. Ryerson is a BFA program

that is wide open, you can do anything you want. Personally I went to

Ryerson. I am finishing up my 4th year. However I would rather

assist a commerical photographer than go to school. I was talking to

a friend of my that just graduated. She has tens of thousands of

dollars to pay off in debt. That money could have been spend on

equipment and projects. You just need to find a commerical photog

mentor. Save your money and teach yourself. The school isn't a

miracle worker. If you don't have the ability to learn or work hard a

piece of paper isn't going to help. My experience at school has been

equally good and bad. I don't think I could recommended it for the

weak/stupid/unmotivated/casual.