james_chow3

>One year ago I had a friend in Tokyo buy 5x7 Velvia for me and send

>it over to me. I think it would be difficult to make a deal with

>them from abroad. It was in Tokyo's largest camera store. If you

>want more details, I can try to dig out the name of that store

 

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Do you mean Yodobashi Camera? It's the largest chain store in Japan.

My guess is that the head store in Shinjuku would carry it, as they

carry the most LF stuff of all their stores.

 

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It's a shame that 5x7 sheet film is so difficult to find. 5x7 would

be the ideal format, in that the lenses/cameras aren't as ludicrously

expensive as 8x10, nor is the equipment as bulky. Next time I visit

Yodobashi's head store, I'll try to note if they have 5x7 sheet film.

The International Pro Photo Show in Tokyo is next month, so I guess I

can ask the Fuji rep. I noticed that the Fuji Quickchange cartridges

also aren't sold in the US.

Horseman makes the SW612, which accepts interchangeable 35, 45, 55,

65, 75, and 90mm Rodenstock grandagon lenses. They also make a new

SW612 pro (on their web page) that has +/-15mm rise/fall and +/- 20mm

shift (no tilt/swing). Prices are a little more down to earth..around

$4K for the body, one lens, and a filmback. One nice feature is that

the filmbacks, basically LF 4x5 rollfilmbacks, can be interchanged,

so you can shoot 6x7, 6x9, and 6x12 with the same lens, essentially

like having 3 lenses.

 

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I believe Alpha markets a 6x12 format rangefinder (I know they have a

6x9), but at their prices, it makes the Linhof rangefinders seem like

a bargain!

I've seen an advertisement for a used Arca Swiss basic in 'B' condition for sale for $400. I presume this model differs from the F-line basic? If so, are any of the current F-line accessories (e.g., bellows/fresnel glass) compatible? I haven't looked at the camera yet, so I'm uncertain what is meant by 'B' condition.

For landscapes, I shoot almost exclusively velvia rated at 40. At 50, it's over-saturated, IMHO. For portraits, I really like E100SW. The extra warmth looks really good on skin tones. It also works well for photos in the high mountains/snow since it sort of acts like a built-in warming filter.

I've been thinking about getting a used Linhof 4x5 field camera and

noticed in a number of ads from camera shops in Tokyo that they sell

used mastertechnika's without a rangefinder (prices are about $2000 for

the body only). From the photograph, it looks exactly like the latest

mastertechnika 45's but with no rangefinder on the side of the body.

Was this camera ever sold in this configuration, or did a previous

owner perhaps remove it? I've also been looking for a used technika IV

or supertechnika IV but have found that they are virtually impossible

to find used in Japan, and, if available, they cost as much as a used

mastertechnika.

Which filter manufacturers make graduated ND fitlers large

enough so that they can be used with large (95mm diameter

filter size) lenses? It has to be significantly larger than

4x4 since the horizon often occurs at the top of the

image rather than the center (so a round, screw-on filter

won't be so useful). The largest ones I know of are by Lee

(4x6).

Hi. I read your homepage on LF photography and have been interested in

dabbling in it. I shoot exclusively 6x6 now (Rollei), but really like

the look of 4x5 shots w/ velvia. I've been considering gettting a used

field camera and one lens, like a 150 or 210 or larger. Okay. There are

a number of basic things I still don't quite understand about LF photography.

I presume that only a single sheet of film is used w/ one holder. Suppose

I can manage to load a sheet of 4x5 into the holder (I've yet to attempt

this). I guess one first needs to determine the movements, then extension,

and then bellows compensation for the exposure (after it's focused). How

does one compensate for tilts/rise,etc. I understand that the compensation

for extension is based on the difference between teh extended and infinity

focus bellows locations, but how does one account for the radial light

fall-off from tilts without resorting to complicated equations? Now suppose

I have the shot composed and use a standard loupe on the ground glass back

to focus. (does one really need a cloth for this? I have a schneider 6x6

loupe that has a pretty big skirt). Now I guess one then removes the ground

glass back,inserts the holder, pulls out the drawslide and takes the

exposure. Afterwards, one inserts the drawslide, pulls out the holder, and

goes on to the next exposure. How does one get teh film developed. Do you

just drop the holders off at the pro-lab and they remove the film , or does

one need to remove each individual sheet tat home and then drop off all the

exposed film in a light-proof envelope?

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Finally, I'm interested in a 4x5 view camera. So far , the horseman FA45 or

HD 45 look good, and I can get a used one from $700 to $1500 for the FA45 (the

$1500 one, while the HD45 is around $700-800). The Lindhof mastertechnika

looks really nice, but the cheapest used one I can find is $2500, and I dont

really want to spend too much since I'm not sure how much I'll like LF

photography, and plus I have alrady invested $$$ in my Rollei 6008 system,

which is my primary camera.

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Do you have any experience w/ the Horseman or Lindhof field cameras? Any other

brands that you'd recommend?