david_smith35

<p>Looks like an industrial air conditioning unit to me.</p>

<p><em>really don't want a centre column (due to extra shake - I assume that adding a moving part increases the risk of shake), surely better to just buy a tripod with longer legs?</em><br> Why do you object to a centre column, but desire a quick release plate which adds an extra<br> joint to the head?</p>

<p>Charles, just spotted your post about the SQAi which I've used for many years. As has been already stated, the 80mm is about the same as the 50mm on 35mm format when comparing horizontal angles of view.<br> The 50mm lens is about the same as a 35mm on 35mm format, the 40mm lens about the equavalent of a 26mm lens. I don't own a 65mm lens, so cannot comment. You mention a lens with a 1:1 ratio - I'm assuming you mean a macro lens, and if so, there is a 110mm lens which focuses down to 1:1 or life size. Bit of a rare beast nowadays though. There is no waist level finder with built in metering, but there is (or was) a cds focussing hood with built in metering which is the nearest thing to a waist level finder. I would advise you to use a hand held meter (I use an old Weston Master) - there are so many on the market, it's difficult to recommend one particular model.<br> As has already been stated, there is no meaningful difference between the Zenzanon lenses and their Zeiss equivalents - both are excellent.</p>

<p>Further to my above post, I've noticed that he appears to have ceased posting on the medium format forums for some strange reason. Not really a bad thing, since one can now make a comment or express an opinion without being constantly contradicted and argued with!</p>

<p><em>In my opinion vignetting is an absolute non-issue.</em><br> <br /> Well surely that depends on how critical your composition is at the top of the frame.<br> For portraits I would imagine it's not too critical, but with something like landscapes it can be very annoying to find you've included something in the frame which you didn't see because of the vignetting.</p> <p> </p>

<p><em>or by raising the centre colum of the tripod.</em><br /> Only true if the camera back is parallel to the tripod column. Far more accurate to use a paramender.</p>

<p>The Q stands for Quinten. He indeed can be helpful, providing you don't disagree with him or (heaven forbid) express an opinion which differs from his.</p>

<p><em>None of that flimsy carbon fiber stuff.</em><br> I've seen plenty of flimsy metal tripods.....</p>

<p>Wow Vladimir, you are a little bit touchy aern't you? I was only posing a question, sorry if it's upset you.</p>

<p>Vladimir, I'm puzzled how one camera can <em>feel</em> bulkier, although of similar dimensions to the other. Take a ruler with you next time!<br> Still, it's of no importance if you are buying a Rollei.</p>

<p><em>Hassy is smaller.</em> No it isn't - there's no significant difference in size or weight between the Hasselblad and the Bronica.<br> BTW, surely it's <em>a </em>Hasselblad?</p>

<p>"An Hasselblad"? surely it's <em>a</em> Hasselblad?</p>

<p>"Really heavy is what anybody wants who understands why and how tripods work."<br> And anybody who doesn't walk more than 500 yards from there car......</p>

<p>Well done, Eugen - you took the words right out of my mouth!</p>

<p>Daniel, the main difference is that the SQAi has TTL flash metering capability. Other differences are a redesigned folding winding crank, a double exposure indicator in the viewfinder, and an extended shutter speed range. Another minor difference is an electromagnetic shutter release button on the SQAi, which is slightly smoother in operation. One thing to bear in mind is that the SQA has a mechanical back up speed of 1/500th (fairly useless IMO) but the SQAi's shutter is entirely battery dependant and has no mechanical back up speed.</p>

<p>Joel, if you have a look at my portfolio, all the images are named.</p>

<p>Ho Joel, Not sure what picture you're referring to - would gladly give the location if I knew which of my images you meant. You can always PM me.</p>

<p>Joel, Just a tip or two - when you check the operation of the shutter, look at the front of the lens to check the leaf shutter opening and closing. It's easy to get fooled by the operation of the somewhat noisier rear shutter in the camera body which operates at a constant speed.<br /> Incidentally, just because the battery test light operates, don't take it for granted that the battery is okay. I've had an instance where the battery was on the verge of failing, but still managed to operate the red test light. Checking the battery with a voltmeter only gives you the voltage off load, and may be different under working conditions when operating the shutter.<br /> You can ignore my advice - I've just read the previous post! I didn't read the last page - still, it's nice to know my guess was correct!</p>

<p>Frank, a standard mount polariser works okay with the 40mm lens with no vignetting. You just need to be careful to ensure even polarsation across the frame - something which is not always possible, depending on the angle of the sun etc.<br> A neutral grad is okay, but finding one which uses a holder that doesn't vignette won't be easy. David's suggestion of using Blu-Tac is probably more practical - if a little messy.</p>

<p><em>Again, "that's the [etc.]"</em><br> And what on earth does does that nonsensical phrase mean? I realise that English may not be your first language, but if you are going to talk in riddles, I give up.</p>

<p>"I care about the real world application - can you hand hold something or not, in practice."<br /> Exactly. The real world is what my opinions are based on, and my own experiences using these type of cameras. And some cameras produce a better result than others hand held due to their design.</p>

<p>Are you talking about the S or PS version? My 40mm PS lens came with a detachable rubber lens hood.</p>

<p><em> No idea why Bronica opted for the 4 battery solution over the single 6v.</em><br> <em>I believe this was as a result of the introduction of the SQAi, which needed additional electronics to accomodate TTL flash metering. To save space they used four separate 1.5v cells rather than a single 4.5v.</em></p>

<p>"They are cumulative indeed",<br> And that's why the vibrations inside a camera affect the ability to hand hold. Period.</p>

<p>Handholding a camera does not in any way negate the effect of vibrations produced within the camera - they are cumulative and have an effect on the ability to hand hold.<br> Of course the vibrations produced inside the camera when mounted on a tripod are not enough to affect the image. The tripod holds the camera steady!</p>