jim_sanders

I've used Green's Camera Tech in Holly Hills, FL a couple of times for my Bronica gear. They do good work. Their address is:

 

Green's Camera Tech & AV Services

1246 Ridgewood Avenue

Holly Hills, FL 32117

386.257.1366

 

or on the web at

 

gct4repair.com

I thought about Bees, but finally went with Photogenics because I thought the build quality was a little higher. That being said, I spent a little more for 2 PL1250DRs than you are talking about.

 

Here's a thought though (one that I'm considering).

 

B&H has a kit of the Photogenic AK320 StudioMax II lights, which are supposed to be about 320 WS. Build is not as nice as the bigger Photogenic lights, BUT they use all the same accessories/reflectors at the rest of the Photogenic line. You can get a single AK320 with an umbrella for $229 or you could get a kit, which has two lights, two stands, two umbrellas and a case to carry everything for $585.

 

I'm considering getting two AK320s (one to use as hair light and one for background light) to go with my PowerLight 1250DRs.

 

Has anyone actually touched or used the StudioMax II (AK320 or AK160) lights that could comment on them?

 

Thanks!

I have two different brackets. I'm using a Stroboframe for my 35mm rig and a Newton bracket for my medium format gear. The particular Newton that I have doesn't flip, but I'm shooting square anyway, so I'm only using the bracket to get the flash off the camera and above the lens.

 

The quality of the Newton bracket is great - seems a little sturdier than the Stroboframe to me.

I have muslins from Studio Dynamics (www.studiodynamics.com) and Backdrop Outlet (www.backdropoutlet.com) - both have fairly reasonable prices. I've also checked Denny Manufacturing (www.dennymfg.com) but they seem a little higher.

 

Good luck!

My wife has decided that she'd like to try her hand at

producing "scrapbook videos" and, being the resident photographer,

she thinks I should also know the video side. Since I don't I

thought I'd ask about starting places here.

 

What is a good source for determining everything she would need to

get into this?

 

Basically, we would need to be able to scan photos (flatbed scanner),

accept other pre-shot video, either VHS, Hi8, Digital8, DV, add

background music, produce a master tape and then do multiple copies

to VHS or other formats (maybe even DVD).

 

I know the obvious things: DV camera, firewire for the mac, iMovie or

Adobe (or other) editing software. Will probably need additional hard

drives (80GB SCSI, 10000 rmp). What else? What are good sources for

information and pricing?

 

Thanks,

Jim Sanders

I haven't used the Lee or the Bronica hoods, so I can't say between those two.

 

I use a Lindahl shade on my SQ-A. You can check out their products at www.lslindahl.com I have a friend that uses the Sailwind pro shades and likes them.

 

Just a couple of other options for you to consider.

 

Good luck....

I had one Bronica back that would fire with the darkslide still in place. I ended up sending it in to Tamron for repair and everything is fine now. If the back is old, might be time for a look. I believe that the repair from Tamron was around $90.

 

Jim

How old is your flash tube?

 

I had a similar problem with a Lumedyne strobe. Would fire sometimes sometimes not. I thought it was old and/or shorting in the PC cord so I bought a new Paramount sync cord. Thought the problem went away, but not. I had recently had the strobe in for repair and they had replaced the back panel on the flash head where the sync cord connects, so I called them to see if there might be problems with the replacement panel.

 

During our conversation, they asked me to read them the code on the flash tube. We discovered that the tube was about 10 years old (I bought it used). They said that this was a symptom of the tube starting to go out. Bought a replacement tube and installed it and have not had a problem since (even with the older sync cords).

 

Just a thought.

 

Jim

The last response to this thread asked if anyone had purchased or actually testd the Bogen 3435 (Manfrotto 468) or Bogen 3436 (Manfrotto 469) yet. I, too, am interested in the answer.

 

I know from all the other ball head threads that, at least according to this forum, the Arca is the way to go. I just wondered in Bogen/Manfrotto had finally gotten closer to the Arca standard.

I <i>believe</i> that there were two viewing filters made: one which was for b&w and one which was for color. The color filter was supposed to compress the range closer to what film/paper can handle, rather than what the eye/brain usually sees.

For sync cords try:

 

www.paramountcords.com

 

just about any configuration that you need. Most good pro level

camera shops should have a good number of them in stock.

Actually, the quote should be attributed to only Paul Simon.

Lindahl can be found at www.lslindahl.com

 

Sinar can be found at www.sinarbron.com (although I didn't know that they 'did' filters).

While it is not instant, one cheaper alternative would be to shoot E6 film while you are learning. Many good sized cities will have some lab that can process E6 in an hour or two. With a light box and a loupe, you could at least study the results the same (or next) day.

I seem to remember that Bronica did an 'anniversary' special at one time and did a green version of the ETRsi. I searched their site to try and see if there was any mention, but couldn't find anything.

For Christmas last year, my wonderful mother-in-law gave me a

complete (used) Bronica SQ system. I ended up with an SQ-A body, 2

120 backs, 50, 80, 150 lenses, a non-metered prism, and a polaroid

back. What a great start! I've been shooting with the system,

getting used to square and medium format, etc.

 

Now the question: my lenses are the older "S" type (vs the newer PS

lenses). I'm thinking about upgrade strategies for the lenses to get

to the PS ones. First of all, has anyone compared, side by side, S

type to PS type lenses and what were the results?

 

While I'm not going to go out anytime soon and buy new (or used PS)

lenses, I'd like your thoughts on if I should replace with same focal

lengths (i.e. get a 150 PS) which could serve as a backup, or maybe

go with slightly different but similar focal lengths (e.g. get the

180 PS or a 200 PS). Since I don't do weddings, the need for a

backup of same focal length is not a driving objective.

 

I guess the other possibility is after buying the same focal length

in the PS series, I could turn around and sell the S version.

 

Ideas??

You might want to 'visit' www.paramountcords.com and see the variety of sync cords that they have. If they don't have a 'stock' cord they will custom make a cord for you.

 

Good Luck!

I have a Stroboframe for my 35mm system (Quick Flip). I didn't want to go the Stroboframe route for my Bronica, and did a lot of checking and finally decided on a Newton bracket. I've only had it for about a month, and really only used it in one situation, but so far I like it much better than the Stroboframe.

 

Search for their website (www.newtoncamerabrackets.com - I think). They have an 800 phone number that you can call. Robert Newton usually answers the phone himself and is a real pleasure to talk with.

The PS lenses are the newer lenses and were, I believe, computer designed. I've also heard that they are somewhat more contrasty and are more consistent in color balance between the various focal lengths.

 

The S lenses mentioned are not the ones for the S2 S2A, but are the original lenses for the SQ-A series.

 

As one pro told me, while the new lenses may be somewhat sharper, he still got his masters using the older S series.