Jump to content

scott bacon

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    155

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Posts posted by scott bacon

    Crystal Mill lens limitation

    in Large Format

    Posted

    Michael, Awesome image of the mill!! Brent, your's is really nice too! ;-) Jay, just for comparison, my shot below from Oct 2003 is with a 135mm (on 4x5) from the same spot as Brent's. You can't back up too much because the hillside will block the falls shown in Brent's image. FWIW, I also shot this with a 75mm from the same spot on the same day. But I liked this one better since you can see the dusting of snow on the distant peak better.<div>00DeZr-25780084.jpg.bc6fa8f74c8b015cd7e58e71a22331e9.jpg</div>

    Photographing in China

    in Travel

    Posted

    <p>I had absolutely no problems using a tripod when I visited China last May.

    But I didn't go to Shanghai. I was in Xi'an. I also did some night photography

    and the images are posted in both the

    <a target="_blank" href="http://baconphoto.com/gallery/collection.php?category=27">

    gallery</a> and <a href="http://baconphoto.com/travel/2005-xian/index.shtml">

    travelogue</a> sections of my website. Enjoy your trip! I found the history and

    culture fascinating and I was enthralled with the people. It was an awesome

    experience.</p>

    Travel/Adventure Landscape Photography

    in Nature

    Posted

    I, too, shoot mostly 4x5 landscapes. But I use a smaller format (recently digital) for my travel photography for a number of reasons: 1) I'm willing to sacrifice the quality of 4x5 for the speed and convenience (as you mentioned) of a smaller format. 2) Shooting more images, visiting more places in less time, is the way I need to travel due to limited vacation time. 3) I prefer travelling very light. 4) I found that I rarely want to print one of my travel images larger than 16x20 and I'm happy with this results from my smaller format (recently digital).

     

    Over the years, I've used several different travel systems:

    - 35mm SLR, 2 lenses covering 28mm thru 300mm

    - MF Rangefinder, Fuji GA645Zi

    - Currently, Canon 300D (Rebel), 2 lenses covering 18mm thru 300mm

     

    I really enjoyed using the Fuji rangefinder - very compact, light, outstanding results. But I feel I get very good quality from the 300D and it has the added convenience of no scanning. I can't even begin to add up the hours spent scanning after a 7 week Europe trip, by rail, all shot on 645.

     

    I'm sure you know this, but you don't get a whole lot by upgrading from the Canon Rebel to the 20D. There are more similarities between these cameras than differences. Make sure the differences are worth it (to you and your shooting style). With your circumstances, the better build quality of the 20D might warrant the switch.

     

    Hope this helps.<div>00C358-23248384.jpg.e8d75103a314b4f8519e8f9a5416b6c7.jpg</div>

    Photocraft in Boulder, Colorado

    in The Wet Darkroom: Film, Paper & Chemistry

    Posted

    Photocraft is certainly a pro-level lab. They are extremely knowledgable and consistently reliable. I've taken ALL my E-6 processing to them for the last 7 years - 35mm, 645, and 4x5. I've also had some drum scanning and LightJet printing done there. I've always been pleased with their work and customer service. And I just happen to be lucky in that they are located right down the street - a 10 minute walk.

    Tele vs. lens of Equal focal length

    in Large Format

    Posted

    Kevin, large format lenses with a tele design require less bellows extension than the focal length to focus at infinity. For example, a normal design 300mm requires 300mm of bellows draw to focus at infinity. A Schneider Tele-Xenar 300mm only requires 220mm of bellow draw to focus at infinity. This is allows the use of longer focal length lenses on field cameras with limited bellows draw.

    Tele vs. lens of Equal focal length

    in Large Format

    Posted

    Its hard to answer your questions in broad terms. It really depends on the specific tele lens in question and which lens of "normal" design you're comparing it with. That being said... Tele design lenses are generally larger and heavier. Some of the older tele lenses will not have today's modern multicoatings, for example the Schneider Tele-Xenars. This means they may be more prone to flare, but are not necessarily "less sharp." I have a Tele-Xenar 300mm f/5.5 from the 50s that I'm quite happy with (besides the size and weight). There are several modern teles that are multicoated and regarded quite well, performance-wise. For example, the Nikkor 360T.

    Help with tripod for motorcycle travel + Digital Rebel

    in Accessories

    Posted

    I couldn't find the model you mentioned, but I use a Velbon Maxi 343E with my Canon Digital Rebel w/ 18-55 kit lens and it supports it just fine. It comes standard with a small, but sturdy, ball head, is rated a 4.5 llbs and costs about $70 new from bhphotovideo.com. I'm not sure if the the 18" folded length will be short enough for your father's needs. HTH

    Central CO next week

    in Travel

    Posted

    Both Loveland Pass and Guanella Pass are nice sunset locations with road access (open in winter though check road conditions due to weather).

     

    Mayflower Gulch is one of my favorite locations in the area. Although you'll need snowshoes or skis to get up into the bowl. There is a small parking lot on the East side of Hwy 24 about 10 miles South of Copper Mountain and I-70.

     

    HTH.

    2 stop ND grad not enough??

    in Nature

    Posted

    Its certainly possible that the 2 stop GND was not enough to compensate for the lighting difference. But really, the best way to determine this is to meter the difference in the field using a spot meter (spot meter option built into your camera?). Take a reading using a spot on the mountain. Then take a reading using the same spot on the mountain in the reflection and see what the difference is - 2 stops? 3 stops?

     

    The other "trick" to properly using a GND is the placement of the filter. It is almost impossible to hand-hold the filter in just the right location, unless you're much more coordinated than me. ;-) You need to stop down the lens (use depth of field preview on 35 mm cameras) to see exactly where the transition zone of the GND will fall in your composition. Slide the filter up and down in the holder to determine the best placement.

     

    Hope this helps.

    equipment For Havasupai Indian Reservation.

    in Nature

    Posted

    I've backpacked into Havasu Canyon twice. I think you will use your 28-105 the most. And it would be nice if you had a lens covering even wider angles, ie. 17-24 mm. The canyon is fairly narrow, and the waterfalls are big. You will get a lot of use from a wide angle perspective. You might only use the 100-400 for macro/intimate shots and shots pointing up or down the canyon. You may not use it very much. I'll let you decide whether or not you want to carry it. ;-)

     

    That being said... The hike in is relatively easy (by backpacking standards) - downhill or flat. The hike out can be fairly difficult depending on your conditioning and and the weather/temp. :-) Temperatures in late September should be pleasant (though I've only been in April and May). You only need to carry enough water for the hike itself. There is fresh spring water at the campground and, of course, the running stream.

     

    I highly recommend taking a day and hiking down to the Colorado River from the campground. It is very beautiful and there are lots of great photo opportunities.

     

    Enjoy and I hope this helps.

    Another western US location question

    in Nature

    Posted

    I'll just make a comment on #3. If you're planning on visiting CO in mid to late september and want to do 4x5 landscape (I do the same), then I would highly suggest the Crested Butte, Kebler Pass, McClure Pass, Marble area vs. Rocky Mountain National Park. Those dates are usually very close to peak aspen colors. Rocky is nice, but there are other places that I would consider better at that time of the year. Enjoy!

    Spotmeter purchase advice needed

    in Large Format

    Posted

    I've used the Minolta Spot F for 6 years and have been very happy with it. I bought it used on eBay and have never had a problem with it, except my own stupidity of being caught in the backcountry without an extra AA battery (a weekend of sunny-16).

    I recently bought a lightly used Sekonic L-508 (also on eBay). I think I will miss the LED readout in the viewfinder, but I have already enjoyed using the incident meter. Having both functions in one meter is very convenient, IMHO. I'm pretty sure that the L-508 will replace the Spot F, but I'll give it a few months of shooting to be sure.

    2 Open days in Colorado...help!

    in Nature

    Posted

    Lots of good suggestions so far... I, too, would advise against travelling all the way down to the San Juans. It is, undeniably, one of the most beautiful places in the U.S., but a loooong drive from RMNP.

     

    I would recommend spending an extra 2 days in the park. I can't imagine that the workshop will have you do much hiking and there's lots of great hiking to fantastic locations - like the links Rich posted.

     

    In the Indian Peaks, driving the Peak-to-Peak Hwy south from Estes Park, I'd recommend Brainard Lake and hikes to either Blue Lake or Lake Isabelle - both are gorgeous at sunrise.

     

    Mount Evans is nice. The Summit Lake reflection is definitely a morning shot. There is a very nice stand of twisted, wind-blown bristle cone pines before you reach the summit - good both morning and evening. The road is the highest paved road in the continental U.S. and goes to 14,000 ft. Mountain goat and Bighorn sheep sightings are extremely common. This is about a 2 hour drive from RMNP.

     

    Enjoy your trip!

×
×
  • Create New...