scott_davis5

<p>I've been using Jobo Expert drums for everything from 4x5 to 11x14. I use Pyrocat HD as a developer, which was developed for use in rotary processors (certain older formulas like PMK Pyro and ABC Pyro don't do well in rotary processors because of rapid oxidation of the developer). I use my negs for platinum/palladium printing, and have been extremely happy with the results. So, the myth that large format is incompatible with rotary processing is just that, a myth. I like rotary processing because it reduces/eliminates problems in handling film, such as scratches or fingerprints. I know many people are quite happy with tray processing, but I'm not terribly successful with it, and I'm not a big fan of standing around in the dark for half an hour with my hands immersed (albeit in latex gloves) in chemistry. For all of the previous reasons, rotary processing works fine for me.</p>

Segovia is a must-see while you're in Madrid. I lived there for two summers when I was in high school. The roast suckling pig (cochinillo) is a regional specialty, that and the sopa con judillones (they're big white beans, for some reason associated with Jews, thus the name). Definitely check out the cathedral, the Aqueduct, and a number of gothic and romanesque churches throughout the old city. The Alcazar (the famous castle on the end of the town, reputed to have been an inspiration (along with Neuschwanstein in Germany) for Cinderella's castle at Disney) is definitely worth the wander through, and don't forget to go down the hill below it to see it looking back from the river. Across the river there is a convent and shrine, and a Templar church reputed to have been a former hiding place of the Holy Grail.

 

In Madrid itself, definitely take a good long walk through the Retiro park, and stop off to see the Prado, Reina Sofia and Thyssen-Borzenmisa museums (go on Sundays when the admission is free). Wander around the Plaza Mayor, take in all the crowds around the Puerta del Sol, but don't linger too long as it is a horrible tourist trap and prone to pickpockets. Take one of the main roads off the Puerta del Sol and wander toward the river, where you can walk along until you come to the Royal Palace. Madrid is not THAT old of a city, for Spain, so if medieval buildings are your thing, go look in other cities, like Segovia, Toledo or Salamanca. Madrid is chock full of buildings from the 17th to the 21st centuries.

 

Go wander around the Chueca neighborhood (just off Granvia, which is not far from the Puerta del Sol) for interesting nightlife and dining. There are some fantastic restaurants there - Bazaar, Calle Libertad 21, (34) 91-523-3905 is one. It's an Asian/Mediterranean fusion cuisine restaurant. Desserts to DIE for - they have a chocolae cake they called "Chocolatissimo" that I swear was better than sex. More traditional Continental fare is outstanding over at La Dame Noire, Calle Pérez Galdós 3, 91-531-04-76. WokCafe ( Calle Infantas 44, 91-522-90-69) is also pretty good, with a very funky vibe and decor.

The park service is concerned about wear and tear on the Lincoln, thus no tripods - too many spiked feet chew up the marble. That's a great shot of the Big Three, as you put it. The Iwo Jima is probably the best spot still available- Rosslyn office tower rooves would still require a wide-angle because they're too far around to the side. If you asked the guards at the Carrillon nicely, bet they'd be happy to accommodate your shot request.

I was there in the "dry" season (October). The spray was much less of an issue. You don't mention where you're staying, but if you can swing it, while you're on the Argentine side, see if you can stay at the Sheraton (pricey, but worth it). The Sheraton is the only hotel INSIDE the park, which means you can be on the trails and walking around to see the various falls a full hour before most of the tourists arrive. Everyone else has to take the bus to the visitor center, and then get the little train through the jungle to catch the walkway to Garganta Del Diablo. If you're lucky ( I was ) you can get a room that faces the falls. It's quite an incredible thing to wake up before dawn and watch the sun rise over the falls, and see the mist cloud tossed up three or four hundred feet in the air. I took my Contax G1, and a 5x7 field camera. The only place I wasn't able to get a good shot was at the Garganta overlook itself - too many people. I managed even on the steel catwalks to get a couple of interesting shots of the river, because I was patient enough to wait to trip the shutter between bursts of people walking on my section. Carbon fiber legsets are a big help in this regard, and they're also non-problematic when they get wet from the mist and the humidity.

Try to see the fights at Seville- the bullring there is something else, and they'll attract national talent, not just the novillos as mentioned above. For Semana Santa and the Ferias, do expect to pay a premium for tickets. If you have your hotel already booked, try calling the hotel and see if they can get you tickets.

 

I came from the US to Spain in 2004, and brought a Hasselblad setup with me. I had easily 40 rolls of film between b/w and color, and it all went in carryon with me. I understand that "domestic" EU flights have lower carryon restrictions now, but don't let that stop you from using film if you like it. The prices in the EU, however, might be an obstacle. If you know where you're staying in Spain, use B&H Photo or Calumet's websites and order your film through them, and have them ship it direct to your hotel. They do things like this all the time, and it is not a problem. You'll also pay a fraction of those prices you quoted for your film.

There's a simple, but expensive, solution to this problem. Send the lens off to SK Grimes to have them machine you a set of stops, and they'll be able to tell you the exact focal length, as well as provide you with a set of accurate stops. Probably run you something in the region of $300 though.

For a very nice, inexpensive package to do what you're looking for, look at a Shen-Hao 4x5 - either the FC or the HZX model. The FC is a non-folding field camera design, intended for use with wide-angle lenses. The HZX is a more general-purpose camera. They take a very inexpensive bag bellows that is very high-quality. Look at the Rodenstock 75mm f6.8 grandagon for a lens- it will cover 6x17 at infinity, even wide open, so you can get movements with it in 4x5 or anything else smaller. That combo would run you around $1000, if you get the camera new and the lens used.

In much of Asia, the best exchange rate is given at banks and other reputable money changers for USD $, and the bigger the bill, the better the rate. Travellers checks, although safer than cash, will definitely get you a worse exchange rate. When you can use them, credit cards offer a better rate, but they will be extremely difficult to use outside of service-industry businesses that cater to foreign tourists, like hotels and major restaurants. That said, there is absolutely no reason to carry that kind of cash on you for that length of time outside of Seoul, Beijing or Tokyo. Even Bangkok or Singapore isn't that pricey. Do NOT leave that kind of cash in your hotel room diaper bag. If the room has a personal safe whose combination YOU can control, lock it in the safe. If not, have the hotel front office lock it in their safe, where someone has to sign to take it in or out of the safe. I did this in Cambodia and it worked out very well... I put my excess cash and my important documents (passport, plane tickets) in an envelope sealed with tape, and the front desk clerk had to go into the safe, hand me the taped envelope, and I would open it, get out what I wanted, then tape it closed, and we would both initial the envelope again. Nothing ever went missing.

Ok- the looney tunes show has gone on long enough. For pete's sake, how can a rangefinder framing be MORE accurate than a ground-glass? That's like saying a trebuchet is more accurate than a satellite-guided missile!

The Ilex #5 is not only a good shutter in itself, it is also almost user-serviceable it is so simple. If you have basic organizational skills and can use a screwdriver, you can do a pretty thorough CLA on it yourself. As has been mentioned before, you will cut the maximum fstop of the lens by a whole stop or more converting to a Copal #3, which negates one of the better reasons for switching - the extra shutter speed at the top end.

 

Just as a ballpark, you're looking at at least $600-700 for the conversion from the Ilex #5 to the Copal 3. About $300-350 for the new shutter, and a similar amount for machining the new mount adapter and calibrating the new f-stop scale. You can get a LOT of professional CLAs on that Ilex #5 for that kind of money.

 

The difference between the Copal 3 and the 3s is that the 3s is slightly smaller in diameter. They are in fact two distinct shutter models.

Look for the Fuji 250 f6.7. It has a much larger image circle than the f6.3. The difference in speed between f6.7 and f6.3 is less than 1/4 stop, so for brightness on the groundglass it is imperceptible, and unless you're shooting chromes for publication, is probably well within the acceptable margin of exposure error. I have been very pleased with my Fuji LF lenses - I have the 250 f6.7 and a Fuji 300T f8 telephoto for my 4x5. Both are outstanding in terms of sharpness, contrast and color fidelity.

I just got home from a trip to Buenos Aires, Argentina. Flew from Washington Dulles airport to Ezeiza, Buenos Aires. I took my 5x7, five lenses, loupe and spotmeter in one carry-on bag which was sized to fit the carry-on size restrictions. In my second carry-on bag I had all my film, and my 35mm. At each security checkpoint I passed, I was asked exactly what WAS that thing I was carrying(the 5x7), and several times I was asked to take it out of the bag to show them, but never had to set it up. Nobody even blinked at my 35mm kit (Contax G1 rangefinder with 45 and 28mm lenses). One security inspector wanted to look at my film, but a panicked shout in her direction when she tried to open the box cut that short. I flew United Airlines from DC to Buenos Aires, and Aerolineas Argentinas from Buenos Aires to Iguazu. I also took a ferry from Buenos Aires to Colonia, Uruguay, which involved an international security checkpoint. This was also not a problem.

I see a number of people have mentioned renting a motor scooter. When I was at Angkor in 2003, it was said that foreigners could not rent motorscooters, and certainly cannot rent cars. I would double check on the regulation before planning on doing your own transportation.

 

Yes, Banteay Srei is magnificient. It is ornately carved, and the stone itself is reddish in color. Your best bet for transportation in the area is either a hired motor scooter driver or a hired car. Negotiate the price for the driver for the whole day, in advance. I have a contact there who is an excellent guide and can help you arrange any services you need, from hotels to transportation, and he is himself an excellent guide. Email me if you would like his contact info.

Around Washington DC, there is Penn Camera, which has five or so stores in and around DC and its suburbs. Best ones to check are the Tysons Corner, E Street, Beltsville, and maybe Springfield locations.

 

In New York, check with Calumet Photo (Call first, the NY store can be a bit neglected, but you never know what they'll have). Also, Lens and Repro. Most of the other NY stores I would stay as far away from as possible, especially ANYTHING in or near Times Square.

 

Don't miss B&H, in any case. It is an experience in and of itself. Absolutely the largest all-camera/video store you'll ever see - they have their own dedicated three-truck FedEx loading dock. The store spans the entire block between 33rd and 34th on 9th Avenue. Operated primarily by Hassidic Jews, it's a cross-cultural experience in itself.

Many thanks! I'll try to take good notes when I'm there and post actual names/addresses if anyone is interested when I return.

Only take pictures of extremely touristy things, like the temples. Do NOT point your camera at any government buildings or soldiers. You'll be lucky to escape with your camera confiscated, VERY lucky to escape with only your film confiscated. Myanmar is one of the most hot and humid places on the planet - don't forget to pack some dessicant silica gel packs in your camera bag to help deal with the humidity.

Does anyone know if there are any camera stores in Buenos Aires that

specialize in or just stock a decent quantity of used/antique camera gear?

I'm planning my trip to Argentina (going in early september), and I'm going to

include a trip to Iguazu in my itinerary. Where would you all recommend

staying- is it worth the extra money to stay at the Sheraton inside the park,

or is it easy enough to get around without a rental car if you stay in town?

If staying in town is an option, which hotels would you recommend?

If you go visit Eastern State, walk to it from the general direction of the Art Museum, and return the same way, or walk due south on 20th or so. Don't keep heading east, as the neighborhood downgrades pretty fast. Around the prison though is quite safe and fairly pretty. Eastern State is a must-visit for a photo buff... it would be very easy to spend an entire day or three wandering around photographing the complex. If you go, take the acoustiguide thing they have and do the self-guided tour. There is a tremendous amount of interesting history that you won't pick up just by reading signage in the building.

As someone who ACTUALLY lives inside the borders of the District of Columbia, I resent the implications of a lot of people here that DC is some kind of urban war zone. Perhaps in some b-grade action/sci-fi films it is, but it is nothing like you are painting it to be. Yes, there was a recent outburst of robberies on the Mall. They were at night, and targeting individuals acting like victims. The only parts of DC that are "dangerous" are the parts you wouldn't ever go into as a tourist. I have spoken to the rangers at the WW II Memorial, specifically about the tripod question, and they had no problem with it at all. I have even been down there to do a portrait shoot with my 4x5, tripod, lightstand and reflector, and nobody said anything to me about it. Ditto at the Lincoln. While you are at the WW II, go take a short walk toward the Lincoln from the WW II, and on your left, back in the trees, is the WW I memorial. It is not a national memorial, but rather a District of Columbia memorial. There is no national WW I memorial. There are so many interesting things to see in DC that are away from the memorials. Congressional Cemetery, where many of the famous (and some infamous) are laid to rest (Henry Clay and J. Edgar Hoover, among others), Embassy Row on Massachussetts Avenue, the National Cathedral, the streets of old Georgetown up the hill from M and Wisconsin, toward the University campus, the list goes on. If you'd like to know more about any of these things, ask an actual native - drop me an email and I can point you to more specific information about any of these items or other things that might catch your fancy.

Also check with The Strand, in New York City. They have a giant photo book section, often with some substantial discounts.

 

http://www.strandbooks.com/home/

Change the groundglass on the Shen Hao for something brighter. The factory original is bad, but just about any alternative will do. I have a Keith Canham GG and Fresnel mounted on mine, and it fits without modification. It is also extremely bright and easy to use, even with f8 lenses. The Bosscreen or the Maxwell will also be a help. Even a SatinSnow groundglass would probably be an improvement over the factory gg.

If you want to get a quick glimpse of the cliffs and the coastline, you can go for a walk on the trail that runs along the cliff-tops in San Francisco itself. Drive out to the very end of Geary Boulevard, just before it drops sharply downhill and to the left at Cliff House. You'll see on your right a gravel parking lot. Pull in here, and park your car. You and your bride can go for a pleasant walk through the pines, on the trail that begins at the end of the parking lot. At the parking lot itself, and at several points along the path, you can get down to the beaches at the cliff base. If you go early in the morning, it will most likely be foggy and quite chilly. If you go at mid-day or in the afternoon, the fog will have burned off and it will be very sunny and warm. You can also drive just over the Golden Gate bridge and head up into the Marin Headlands. There are a number of very interesting and photogenic military emplacements, some of which date back as far as the Civil War. You'll be able to get great city views, looking back through the Bridge. There is also a black sand beach at the cliff base on the Marin side, but you MUST walk down, as cars are not permitted on the path.

You may have better luck seeing one in some kind of wild animal park than trying to see one free in the wild. Do a google search to see if there is one near San Francisco.

I'll put in another vote for the Sea & Sea MX 10. I rented one when I was down in Belize - On Ambergris Caye there is a good underwater camera rental shop - Joe Miller Photography, in San Pedro Town. They can hook you up with a good kit whether you want to rent an MX10 or a Nikonos. Word to the wise- if you shoot film, Do NOT get it processed down there in Belize. I've been warned that the Belize Color folks don't do good q/c on their equipment, so you're likely to get scratched negs, mediocre prints and a fat bill to boot.

 

Another word to the wise - pre-book your rental camera if you can- if you just show up, they may not have what you want to rent in the shop.