edela_rothman

What type of photography do you plan to do?

 

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I recently acquired the Ebony 23S for travel purposes. It's an

amazingly nice camera - from the overall concept and design to the

craftmanship and build of the camera. It is very quick to setup,

rigid, and intuitive to use.

 

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My only wish is for an interchangeable bellows for use with wide

angle lenses. I think the camera could be improved here. While the

universal bellows allows for a 58XL lens on a flat board, I'm not

able to get the maximum movement noted in the specs due to the size

of the rear element.

 

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Note also that there is no geared rise/fall or shift as with the Arca

Swiss. This is generally not important for landscape work, but for

studio and some architectural photography applications, where

precision matters, the geared movements are a great benefit.

 

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You can order the camera with the Horseman 6x9 angle viewer. The

Ebony shop will modify the camera back to accept the viewer (for

which you pay a nominal fee). They do a very nice job with this

modification, and it does not detract from the beauty of the original

design at all. The viewer itself is a bit bulky - it's almost the

same size as the 23S itself - but it is lightweight and allows for

rightside-up composition. Do not expect miracles with the viewer,

however. In low light situations, it will be difficult to see the

edges of the image through the viewer. Nonetheless, it is a handy and

useful tool for composition.

 

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I like the horseman rollfilm backs. They are compact, lightweight,

easy to load, and work great with the Ebony camera. I have not used

the Ebony 6x9 polaroid back so cannot comment on it. One thing to

note: the 23S only accepts rollfilm backs. You will not be able to

use 6x9 sheet film holders.

 

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Regarding lens selection, many of the lenses for 4x5 and 5x7 are just

too big and heavy for the 6x9 format. There are some lightweight gems

though that cover 8x10, for instance, the Fujinon 240mm APO. I have

the 110XL for 4x5 (my favorite) but do not plan on carrying it when I

travel with the 23S - it's just too heavy.

 

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Overall, I'm very pleased with the 23S. It is a joy to use (and

that's an understatement really - WHOOOOOEEYYY!). I'm hoping that

Ebony will continue to improve the design of the camera and maybe

come out with a 23SU, based on the 45SU design. The three benefits

would be: 1) interchangeable bellows, 2) asymmetrical tilts/swings,

and 3) longer maximum bellows extension. This of course would come at

an extra cost, but it certainly would be one awesome camera.

For used equipment, I'd try to find a used beatup Deardorff outfit.

I've seen some on eBay for around $1000. These cameras and lenses are

not in great shape, but they're capable of taking great photographs.

And it's a good investment - you can have it restored.

 

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As for new equipment, the Tachihara 8x10 sells for about $1200. This

is the same camera as the Wista. It does not have a lot of extension,

but it is a good camera to start out with, given its cost.

 

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Last year a used one (in mint condition with very pretty pictures)

sold for $1300 on eBay. I kind of laughed at that. Jokes aside, the

fact that you can turn around and sell the camera for nearly what you

paid for it is something to consider. If you don't like the format,

you can simply sell the camera.

The Fujinon C 300mm is sharp, sharp, sharp on 4x5. It is just as

sharp on 8x10 with no movements. With movements, however, resolution

at the edge deteriorates. This is just an observation. Anyone want to

test this?

I use 1370M low profile panhead (magnesium) with the Gitzo 1325

tripod for my 8x10 camera, and it's great, but this setup is overkill

for the Toyo VX. For that camera (and anything lighter), go with the

1270M low profile panhead.

 

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I would suggest a lightweight carbon fibre tripod, but if you are

developing arthritis then I would recommend going with the non-twist

type leg locks. I love the carbon fibre tripods, but if I had

arthritis (or tendonitis or carpal tunnel) I would probably find the

twist locks a problem.

Iomega now makes a 20GB portable drive called Peerless. It accepts

both 10GB and 20GB disks. You just buy more disks as your need grows.

You have a choice between a USB or FireWire connection.

 

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The Iomega drives are much faster than burning CDs/DVDs. The 10/20GB

disks are also pretty compact so you could easily store them

somewhere offsite.

 

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This is not a permanent solution. Then again, I'm not sure there is a

permanent "digital" solution yet. CDs/DVDs have a limited lifetime

and obsolesence is always a problem with any digital technology.

 

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http://www.iomega.com

Try Superior Archival Mats at http://www.superiorarchivalmats.com/

I have the non-folding Toyo VX, which I love, and recently acquired a

non-folding Ebony 23s for travel purposes, which was the closest

match to the Toyo VX in the 6x9 format size. Both cameras are very

quick to setup, and for that matter pack up! That is why I prefer a

non-folding camera design over a folding one.

 

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The disadvantage of the non-folding camera design, in general, is the

limited bellows extension, something you should be aware of. If you

plan on doing close-up work or use lenses longer than 300mm, you

should perhaps look at the Canham DLC 45, Linhof Master Technika,

Arca Swiss 45, or the non-folding Ebony cameras.

 

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The Toyo VX has the following advantages over the Ebony design:

geared and yaw-free movements, interchangeable monorails for infinite

extention, and interchangeable bellows (I prefer a bag bellows when

working with wide angle lenses). Its collapsing monorail is quite

unique and one of the nicest features of the camera. And I love its

geared movements - rise, fall and shift - identical for both the

front and rear standards.

 

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Metal may also have an advantage in bad weather.

 

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The Ebony is absolutely beautiful - a work of art. Its main advantage

is in the design of the back - it offers a very simple, straight-

forward solution to using rollfilm backs - something that eluded me

with the Toyo VX. The Ebony is very rigid for a wood camera. In fact,

I am willing to bet that it is just as rigid as the Toyo VX and many

other metal cameras on the market.

 

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The Toyo VX weighs about six pounds, the Ebony 2x3 about four. Check

Robert White and Badger Graphics for pricing.

 

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Both cameras fit rather nicely in a top-loading, Trim Trekker

backpack, which allows for quick access to the camera. The bag also

has a separate lower compartment or drawer that slides out, and can

hold three to four lenses. It comes with a backpack harness and a

shoulder strap, so you can decide how you want to carry your gear.

 

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Another note: for quick photography you will need to ditch the

focusing cloth. The cloth gets in the way of the knobs and can often

jar the rear standard. It can make or break getting the shot off in

fast-changing light situations. Get a bellows-type folding hood (both

Toyo and Ebony make one), monocular or reflex viewer.

FYI.

 

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For those who have helped in this effort, keep up the good work!

Has anyone used the Walker Flare Buster accessory? This appears to be a multi-purpose accessory. Walker describes it as follows:

 

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"Apart from being used as a lens shield the Flare Buster is also useful for holding rectangular resin or polyester filters in position, holding small reflectors for use in table top shots or macro work and for holding vignettes."

 

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http://www.walkercameras.com/accessories.htm

 

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Does the ebony shade clip have the same capability? Is its arm flexible enough to be positioned in front of the lens so as to be used as a holder for resin filters?

 

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http://www.ebonycamera.com/acc.html

Incorporating is a tricky matter. There's a lot of "free" information on the web, but it is often misleading. Do your research. Seek sound advice from professionals. There are lots of options available - C Corp, S Corp, LLPs, LLCs, etc. - each type has its own set of rules and regulations AND ramifications. S Corp in general is easier to manage than C Corp, but you must file to become one by a certain deadline, and if you have missed that deadline than the matter gets trickier. As a photographer you may actually save money as a C Corp, depending on where you incorporate (and you don't necessarily have to incorporate in the state that your business operates), because the corporate tax rates are generally lower than the personal tax rates. BUT you have to deal with payroll and quarterly corporate tax returns. Then there's LLPs (you may be required to have at least two partners here) and LLCs (which is gaining popularity, but rules vary state-to-state). I could go on and on. This is not an easy matter, and the deeper you dig the more confusing it can get. I think the decision varies from business to business. So as far as a "concensus" is concerned, I really doubt that there is one.

Schneider 110XL.

How old is your SA75? I chose the SA75 f/5.6 over the SA72XL about

two years ago and have been very happy with the decision. As far as

resolution goes, the SA75 has the edge (according to Schneider

Optics), though the difference is marginal. The SA75 is sharp with

excellent color rendition. The only real advantage of the 72XL is its

image circle, which makes it more suitable for the 6x17 panoramic

format (e.g., Linhof Technorama 617S) or the 5x7 format.

 

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The SS80XL is very compact and light compared to either the SA75 or

SA72XL, and when it was released I was very excited about it.

However, as mentioned above, there are still some unanswered

questions as to its overall performance. The jury is still

out . . . . In the meantime, I'll hang on to my SA75.

Ebony 810SU

 

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A non-folding 8x10 camera with asymetrical tilts and swings with at

least 600mm of bellows extension (for use with Fujinon C 300mm, 450mm

and 600mm lenses) and interchangeable bellows for wide angle lenses.

 

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Okay, it doesn't exist now, but maybe with some prodding . . .

Did Reinhart Wolf (German architectural photographer) ever publish a book of his photographs? Is it available in the U.S.? Is it available abroad, and if so how may I get my hands on it?

 

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Thanks much to anyone who may know.

I need to purchase a Horseman rollfilm holder for a 6x9 camera. They come in either 120 or 220 versions. My questions:

 

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Has anyone tested the film flatness for 120 film versus 220 film for Horseman rollfilm holders?

 

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Has anyone performed this test with the Mamiya 7 or Linhof Technorama 612PC II (cameras which can use both 120 and 220 film) to see if indeed 220 film was superior in terms of film flatness?

 

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Does anyone have a preference in this matter (from personal experience using both 120 and 220 rollfilm holders). Pros and cons of going one way or the other.

 

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Thanks much.

Glazier's Camera, Seattle. Most LF cameras on display. Knowledgeable

staff.

 

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Badger Graphic, Wisconsin - call beforehand for camera availability

and store hours. They're primarily a mail order store. Great prices.

I purchased this lens from Robert White earlier this year. It's a

fairly large and heavy lens as far as enlarging lenses go. I have a

Beseler 45 MCRX enlarger and found that I needed a special adapter

board, which cost another $100 or so. The barrel of the lens is quite

thick; hence, the adaptor for the Ilford Variable Contrast B&W filter

kit will not fit (actually it does but it's so snug that it would

probably mark the barrel of the lens with time). Besides these

points, the lens is great. Very sharp. I got it for color work and

cannot complain about the quality. Superb.

Hi Ellis,

 

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I mainly plan on using the camera for external shots of architectural

subjects - modern buildings of varying size and height, and

cityscapes. I currently use a 4x5 monorail (Toyo VX) that suits my

needs just fine. I know I would have been just as happy with an Arca

Swiss 45 or a Technikarden 45 - these are all very nice cameras. I

simply got a better price on a Toyo VX while in Japan. I currently

use a bag bellows with the VX when using extreme movements with wide

angle lenses.

 

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I will be traveling abroad and carrying my equipment at all times (I

do not feel safe leaving it in a hotel room). Hence, I'm looking for

a lighter load. The 23S is 2.5 lbs lighter than the VX. It can be

fitted with a Horseman angle viewfinder, and uses rollfilm. It is non-

foldable, which is my preference (like the VX). It uses linhof size

lensboards (unlike the Arca, another very, very nice camera). All in

all, 23S meets a lot of my requirements, though it would be nice if

it had geared movements and a yaw-free design like the VX, and

asymmetrical tilts and swings like the larger ebony cameras - but

well hmm gosh I don't need a rolls royce.

 

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I just need to know: does it allow for movements with wide angle

lenses?

 

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It is not possible to check the camera out in person. Hence, my post.

Greetings,

 

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Am interested in the Ebony 23S and would like to know, from those who have experience with the camera, if it allows for movement with wide angle lenses (45mm to 58mm) for architectural subjects? Is the standard bellows flexible enough? Is the bellows interchangeable - i.e., can I purchase a balloon bellows if I find that I need one?

 

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I plan on using the Ebony 23S as a travel camera for architectural subjects.

 

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I have the specs in front of me, but need actual hands-on experience with this camera to judge whether or not I will have enough movement with wide angle lenses.

 

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Thanks much

Looking to experiment with Cibachrome paper as film. Any resources on technique, pitfalls, filters, etc.?

I'd like to learn more about cibachrome printing and masking techniques. I've tried my hand at it, but I know I could use some guidance. Does anyone know of a good workshop? Do any folks like Christopher Burkett teach?

 

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Thanks much.

Was Ilford's XP-2 ever available in cut film sizes, namely 4x5? Is there an alternative film with similar qualities - i.e. long tonal range with "highlights that go on forever" (Ctein 2000)

Darn, I missed the Linhof booth. I didn't see it. I am sorry, I'm a

Linhof fan.

Wista makes a 4x5 rangefinder - the RF model. Check B&H Photo for

specs and details. Check Robert White for price. I haven't actually

seen this model, but it looks a lot like the Horseman VHR (6x9),

which is a very nice camera.

One of the most exciting things to see, for LF photography, was the

new Schneider 80mm XL lens. It is very compact in size and has a

wider image circle than the existing 75mm Super Angulon. As one of

the Schneider reps said, "Progress marches on."

 

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Overall, this was a very interesting show, very informative and well

worth the time. LF gear on display included: Horseman, Arca Swiss,

Canham, Walker, Toyo, Wista, Ries, Ebony, and Hasselblad (ArcBody &

FlexBody). Both Walker and Canham were there in person.

 

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There is a new Gitzo carbon fiber tripod called "The Explorer." It

has greater flexibility than the existing mountaineer line (1227 and

1228 models). It is geared more towards 35mm and medium format though.