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phong

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Posts posted by phong

    Firmware update for Deardorff V8?

    in Large Format

    Posted

    >> You could call Jack Deardorff, but I doubt that h'll find it very >> funny, he's making the camera again.

     

    Last month on the Large Format Photography Forum -largeformatphotography.info/forum - Dave Parker (of Satin Snow) announced that jack Deardorff had just passed away.

    FYI: focal length in "Psycho" (Wikipedia)

    in Casual Photo Conversations

    Posted

    > Still holding onto this piece of myth, huh? The Simplex (made in USA!) had a 24x36mm frame size, predating the Leica A by more than 10 years.

     

    The Leica Ur came out more than 10 years than the Leica A. Even so, production dates do not indicate the exact date of the germination of the idea. Arguing down to the minutiae of exact dates is kinda silly. It's like 2 guys arging who's older: "I was born first!" "But I was conceived first!" :-) I think it would be very hard to know who actually came up with the idea first. As often as not, ideas do not come in a vacuum. For all I know, this particular one might have come from an orgiastic exchange among leading designers at the time. :-)

     

    On the other hand, I would gladly attribute the title of "Father of 35mm photography" to Oskar Barnack. DNA not withstanding, it is not always possible to tell who the "real" father is.

     

    - Phong

    M8 and Epson P2000

    in Leica and Rangefinders

    Posted

    Hi,

     

    I wonder if any one has successfully used the Epson P2000 with the M8. There

    is a blurb on the Luminous Landscape site that the Epson P2000 does not

    recognize the DNG files on the SD card on the M8 and would not download them

    from the camera. I wonder if the issue is resolved, perhaps with a more recent

    Epson firmware update. Thanks in advance for any info.

     

    - Phong

    Who else broke down?

    in Leica and Rangefinders

    Posted

    I almost certainly will; I'd like to check the camera out in preson, as well as get some photos from production units. I have been waiting for a digital M for several years now, and am glad that Leica finally did it. I also hope for a full frame digital M in the future.

    Pro Digital SLR vs Film Medium Format?

    in Medium Format

    Posted

    "Does the convenience of using a digital SLR far outweigh using a film Medium format ...especial large onces like the Mamiya RZ67? "

     

    I actually like the RZ67 better for certain things. If you are into formal composition, it is much easier to compose with the waist level finder than with eye-level finder. I also prefer the waist-level finder for certain kind of portraits (posed, formal).

    Which standard to rack?

    in Large Format

    Posted

    > Extension is extension. Moving either standard changes extension.

     

    I totally disagree with your conclusion. While it is is true that moving either standard changes extension, extension by itself does not change the magnification; it's changing the subject to lens distance that does. Moving the back standard changes the extension but does not change the magnification. Unless you move the lens (or the subject), the plane of focus and the magnification is fixed. You can take the back standard to China, and that would not change the plane of focus (or the magnification).

     

    A fixed subject and a fixed lens form a fixed plane of focus, totally independent of the back standard. Front focusing is moving the plane of focus to match the back standard - note that you change the plane of focus in this case; back focusing is moving the standard to match the plane of focus. With or without a back standard, the plane of focus is where it is.

     

    Back to the original question, for "normal" and far distances, focusing with either standard is fine; this include portraits. For close-ups, I find it easiest to decide on a magnification, calculate the bellows bellows extension for that magnification, set the bellows to that length, and then move the entire camera (thus maintaining the extension) to focus; a sliding rail is convenient for this operation. I think this is what Dan meant.

     

    To calculate the bellows extension, use the formula v = m * u where v is the distance from the lens to the plane of focus, u is the lens-to-subject distance and m is the magnification; or use a pre-computed table. To focus, you want the bellows extension to be v, obviously. Again this is only important for close-ups.

     

    All this is derivable from the basic equation 1/f = 1/u + 1/v, with u and v as defined above, and f is the focal length of the lens, and with the observation that m = v/u.

    Help evaluating new camera/lens

    in Medium Format

    Posted

    From what I can see in the posted photo, the camera/lens looks pretty good, but there is really not enough information to assess the condition of the camera/lens. If you have a baseline to compare it to, (for example, same shot, same film/development, same exposure, different camera) you can tell if the shutter is faster or slower; or take a series of the same photos at different shutter speeds and aperture combinations (keeping the EV constant, naturally), especially at the slower speeds (around 1 second).

     

     

    While you could remove the photo after the discussion is over as Pavel suggested, it would be nice if you could leave it, otherwise the discussion will lose any value for later viewers.

     

    Cheers,

     

    - Phong

    Bubble level on MT Classic

    in Large Format

    Posted

    Brian,

     

    I think my bubble level is a Hama; I would take a closer look at how it fits the hotshoe on my MT, except my MT is currently with Marflex for servicing, and probably won't be back for a while, what with the holidays and my traveling schedule. I am surprised of the difficulty you're having, as it was really a no-brainer for me.

     

    - Phong

    TLR repair - Krikor Maralian now on his own

    in Medium Format

    Posted

    Marflex stopped being the official Rollei service organization almost a year ago; I talked with them just before the end of the year last year. In so far as I know, Marflex still is in business; I talked with Martin Arndt in early October, shortly after the move to their new location.

     

    973 263-5267

    121 Hawkins Pl. #115, Boonton, NJ 07005.

    marflex@aol.com

     

    At least since the beginning of this year, Krikor offered his service as an independant Rollei repair shop. I am glad to hear that he is an authorized repair shop now; regardless, his service is certainly top notch as is his reputation. I am not entirely sure what "authorized" means; I suppose he could get parts from Rollei easier than independents.

    Large Format Camera Conference

    in Large Format

    Posted

    Just a few lines to share my experience.

     

    I drove down to Springfield yesterday to attend the conference, and

    found it a quite rewarding experience. Michael Smith and Paula

    Chamlee were the reasons I came, as I wanted to see their work in

    person, and boy, wasn't I in for a treat. I am sure it's not for

    everyone, but Michael and Paula now have a fan in me. Jack Holowitz's

    session on LF portrait was excellent also. Jack is very unassuming;

    his work is much bigger than his words, and speaks for itself, to use

    a cliche.

     

    I throughly enjoy the print sharing sessions; it is invaluable to be

    able to see the works in person, especially in processes I am

    unfamiliar with (I was curious about Platinum/Palladium specifically),

    and there were a _lot_ of very high quality work there.

     

    The keynote presentations were very entertaining and interestting (Rob

    Gibson's on Historical (Civil War) Photography) and David Muench's on

    LF landscape photography), even if theirs is not my kind of photography.

     

    I didn't spend too much of time in the vendors area, (I am on an

    equipment diet :-)), though it seems quite well attended and stocked;

    I saw and even touched an Ebony camera :-). I escaped with only a $35

    damage (for a lensboard).

     

    Too bad I cannot make it today to hang out at the reception and

    perhaps meet some faces to put with names I recognize here and other

    LF net forums, and also meet other LFers in the area.

     

    If you are within driving distance and can make the time, I strongly

    recommend the experience. Kudos and thanks to Steve and View Camera

    Magazine, and also to the Western New England LF group (Bruce Barlow,

    Gene Laford, et al). From all apperances on the first day, you guys

    did a great job hosting the event. Hope the rest of the weekend went

    as well.

     

    - Phong

    boston area camera mart/sherri krauter this weekend

    in Leica and Rangefinders

    Posted

    Note that the show is NOT at the Waltham High SChool,

    but at Our Lady's School.

     

    From www.phsne.org:

     

    Our Lady?s School at

    Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted Church Complex

    920 Trapello Rd

    Waltham, MA

     

    Park between the church and school. Enter under "Main Entrance" sign, follow PHSNE signs to second-floor meeting room.

     

    Directions: From I95/Rt 128 X28 take Trapelo Rd 1.3mi East to Lexington St. go 0.2mi East to Our Lady's church on the right.

     

    Hope that helps,

     

    - Phong

    boston area camera mart/sherri krauter this weekend

    in Leica and Rangefinders

    Posted

    It really is a quality show. While I do not always find what I look for, I almost always find something interesting to buy at a good price. There is always a lot of Leica gear that you can check out in person. And it does not hurt to bargain a bit. (low ball at your own risk though :-) ). Some photos from a couple of years ago:

    <a href=http://www.pbase.com/phong/photographica>Photographica 2002</a>

     

    Now that the annual Hunt's show is just a fading shadow of its former self, this is the best camera show in the area for me. And it is infinitely more pleasant than ebay.

     

    Cheers,

     

    - Phong

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