ken_sinclair1

"totally agree that large formats are completely unsuitable for macro work"

Sorry..... but just have to disagree with that statement. I spent almost 30 years making innumeral photo-macrographs onto 4x5" film on close to a daily basis in a Govt research insitution. Should the need arise to photograph something the size of a postage stamp ter ARE better ways. A Scanning Electron Microscope used to allows you to expose at MANY hundreds of times magnfication onto 4x5 film. An SEM is however a rather expensive piece of equipment... and you cannot carry it around 'out into the field'.... But I don't think you will be able to get that 'wow' exposure in colour

Ken

To fill the frame with, say, a postage stamp on 5"x4", you'd need an RR (reproduction ratio) of around 5:1. Even using a 50mm lens you'd have a bellows extension of 300mm and a subject distance of less than 60mm. Plus need a very sturdy tripod to keep the whole rig steady.

In short, any subject that requires a high magnification - macro or telephoto - is better done on a small format.

As for 10x8 vs 5x4 in general; there's a law of diminishing returns. Theoretically 10x8 could give twice the image quality over 5x4, but since it's 4 times the area, then its costs are also nearly 4 times as great for film and processing. Outsourced scanning is also going to be a lot more costly for 10x8 as well. With no guarantee that the end print quality will be noticeably better.

Earlier this year, I decided it was time to 'invest in a scanne fo making slightly enlarged negatives onto 'Pitorico' for the 'alt photo' processes via an inexpensive Cannon I believe its the 'colour of the ink' on printing the negative (rather than the DPI) to provide the best results.

Ken

Andrew,

I've been using the Bi-Kardan for quite a long time... built like a

tank and after a mile or so hike, seems to weigh about the same. I use

a 75 Grandagon on a modified recessed bellows... I took the bellows

part off and now use just the leather "bag". The Grandagon allows for

about 1 to 1.5 cm shift before vignetting. I have the extender for the

back that allows for Polaroid use in the horizontal mode. A couple or

so years ago I went on a search for a second extension rail and an

8x10 rear standard.. both of which turned out to be scarcer than

hens'teeth, so I bought a B & J 8x10 at but fraction of the price I

was expecting to have to pay for a "conversion" set up.All I have to

figure now out is to find a way to allow me to safely and securely

attach my Linhof board mounted lenses (small) to a B & J wooden board.

<p>

Ken

I wish to retain my 240mm on it's present Linhof lensboard, but would also like to be able to mount it on a wooden lensboard for use on another camera. Can anyone provide me with information on "convertible" hardware that will allow me to attach my Linhof board to a wooden board?

<p>

Ken