j._morrison

It sounds like your managers are passively letting the "old" processor go to hell (sooner

than later) so they can get a new all-digital machine installed. I can hear them now telling

their bosses, "that unreliable piece of crap (the machine, not you) is costing us customers!"

I love analog film photography myself and hope that my Jobo Rotary processors are

around long after affordable and reliable commercial film processing is no longer

available.

Sounds like this is (one of) Ritz's way of telling FILM photographers to switch to digital . If

you make traditional photography difficult and substandard- it's easier to get those

shooters to make the switch. The employees have probably been told the "new machines"

are coming soon and they won't be processing film anymore so why give a damn?

Find a different lab who value your work and medium. They are out there and have carved

out a niche market for themselves- serving the analog film community.

Is there anyone here who is using the Jobo Expert Drums with the older model CPA-2 or CPP-2

Processor. There were 3 versions of the rotary motor and Jobo doesn't come out and say DON'T USE

the Expert Drums with the older models but they DID upgrade these motors over the years and suggest

that it might be good to upgrade an older unit "if the motor behaves sluggishly" etc. I was told by one

photographer who had inherited a Jobo from a friend that the friend had processed thousand of 4x5

negs without trouble in an Expert Drum with the 2nd revision two-bearing motor in a CPA-2 processor.

I suspect the stronger motor might be needed in a pro studio (heavy use) situation but not in all cases.

Thanks in advance for any comments or advice.

Ok, I attached the camera to my computer. The line DOES appear in the pictures although

it seems to change hues depending on the pictures. This confirms to me that there is

something wrong with the camera.

Aside from the vertical line, the camera is great and the images shot at the biggest size

look great on my display! This is not my first LCD that has had problem. My Apple

Cinema Screen was a mess upon arrival and had to be sent back TWICE to Apple. It's been

fine ever since but has more bad pixels than I would prefer.

Since the line does appear in the images when opened on my computerﾖ what does that

tell you about the problem?

Thanks again,

J.

Thanks guys. The line is present when viewing the screen menu, focusing, and taking the

shot. When I review the pictures, there is no line! What do you make of this? The seller

is sending an RMA label, thankfully.

When focusing the shot, the brightness level of the screen sort of goes up and down from

bright to too low but the picture that's saved seems to be properly exposed.

Thanks for you ideas, again.

I just received my first digital camera and I charged the battery as directed and turned it

on- the first thing I have noticed is a a straight vertical line running from top to bottom on

the LCD screen. This is a Konica-Minolta X60 Dimage. What can I do to correct this or

should the camera be immediately returned? Thanks in advance.

I usually shoot 120 and 4x5 (analog) and digital imaging is new to me. - JM

Check out Walter's Camera Repair on Sunset Blvd. near downtown and Chinatown. He's a

very nice old fellow and gives free estimates. Go to http://walterscamerarepairs.com/

for a very simple overview of his services.

I would urge you to go for the Wisner Technical Field for its innovative patented focusing

system. Wisner makes all of its own metal parts and leather bellows. You can find

good deals on used Wisners on eBay but even Wisner's new prices are a good value

whereas other quality fields are priced much higher. The downside is that Wisner's good

pricing and high quality has made it difficult for the company to keep up with all the

orders creating backlogs.

I just purchased a Zone VI "lightweight" Tripod on eBay. This tripod is actually pretty

heavy and will accomadate an 8x10 with ease. It's in excellent condition and came with a

Bogan 3047 head. Price $156.00! Earlier in the week, two others like this one sold in the

same price range. This tripod is just as sturdy as my Ries J-100-2 with the double-tilt

head. I can see why Fred Picker said his tripod was "the best damn tripod in the world". I

would only add- "for the money". Used Ries tripods in the same league are going for 4

and 5x more on eBay and only show up rarily. Check eBay for the Zone VI tripods as they

have been cropping up pretty frequently for the past couple of months. I also own a

Berlebach 2042 "Report" which is much lighter than the Zone VI or Ries and while rated for

16 lbs., I wouldn't want to put more than 7 lbs. on it and I would be careful at that. I

don't have any problem putting a $2000 Wisner on an $700 tripod considering the

consequences that often befall those using cheap but inadequate tripods- not the least of

which can be the destruction of a fine camera.

The Wisner site sells a Tenba FC4X5 and f64 cases for their 4x5 cameras. They also

produce beautiful wooden presentation cases for the Expeditions. They could probably

build one for your TF if you ask.

I really can't imagine attaching any sort of finder to a Wisner- a good dark cloth and loop

is all that's required. Who would want an ugly, metal finder getting in the way of making

fine art photographs?

For portraits- focus once leaving sufficient DOF and proceed. Get a long cable release.

The Wisner on a decent (wooden) tripod isn't going to go anywhere.

I own three wooden tripods- A Berlebach 2042 Report, Light weight Zone VI, and a J-100

-2 Ries with the J-200 double tilt head. (The Ries came with a very nice fleece lined

carrying case). The Berlebach is very lighweight compared to the Zone VI and the Ries but

has a unique "ball joint" on the crown which could serve as a head if you don't have

another head available. I have a Bogen 3047 on it and the Zone VI. The Berlebach is

pretty good for the money and I have used it for 35mm, 6x7cm, and 4x5 shooting and is

easy to carry. The Ries and the Zone VI are both heavy and seem to weigh about the

same. Both could support an 11x14" or bigger. Both are very well made and very solid. I

can put a Wisner 4x5 on either of these without too much worry. The Ries set up was

$500 used, the used Zone VI w/3047 Bogen head $158 and the Berlebach used but in

new condition was $122 without a head. If I had purchased the Zone VI first, I might not

have purchased the Ries (which new with head and case is about $1100). The Ries has

reversible legs for studio or outdoor use. The Berelbach has convertible feet for inside or

outside use and the Zone VI has just the spiked feet. Because the Zone VI is so solid and

the spikes are not too sharp- it can be used inside or out with little worry. I leave it set up

on a hardwood floor and it doesn't cause damage. Wood is a great material for tripods-

doesn't get too cold and absorbs vibrations better than metal. Wood tripods are beautiful

to look at and even the newest high-tech cameras look good on a wooden tripod but

traditional wooden cameras don't look very good on metal tripods. Wood is also

unharmed by the elements.

Elaine W.

The used newsletters appear with regularity on eBay. I recently purchased the whole set as

reprinted by Calumet in two binders (who now own them and the copyrights) for $36.00

plus shipping and handling. The original complete sets in the original binders seem to go

for $150.00- $225.00. I just have to admire FP for his passion and enthusiam for large

format photography. The newsletters are practical, down-to-earth missives sprinkled

with incredibly inspiring and beautiful descriptions of what photography can be. From

loading the film holders to making the exposure to printing the negatives-FP loved it all

and it shows in the photographs, products, and friends he left behind a bit too soon it

seems.

Jim M.