drew bedo

Hello Bill;

 

What about that classic 4x5 image of the Hindenberg burning? Surely that clasifies as a "Grab-Shot". What about the news photos taken with press cameras in 4x5 and 5x7, some as late as 1960 or so, most were hand-held, zon-focused and flash-lit "Grab-Shots" The Graflex and Bush press cameras are still out there and people use them.Lets not forget the sophisticated and modern Linhoff Technicas either. There are now also 4x5 conversions of the Polaroid 110 B and other Polaroid bodies that have been rebuilt into effective range-finder large format grab-shooters. As I think about the act of grabbing a shot, maybe the phrase at first referred to ho hard the photographer grabbed onto the camera while taking the shot!

 

Regards,

 

Drew Bedo

www.quietlightphoto.com

Michael: I have used Ocillo Raptars for macro shots in the past and had what I feel were ood results. Some shots were made with an 8x10 camera at 12" to 16" of bellows extension( 4 to 5 stops additional exposure) with multiple "pops" of several strobes. Magnivication wasgreater than life-size. I got a pocket watch to cover a 8x10 chrome.

 

These lenses are not the same as the latest generation aspheric/XLS whatever, but if you like the images that you are getting and work within thedesigned limitations of these lenses you can have a good Time doing LF Macro photography.

 

Regards, Drew Bedo

www.quietlightphoto.com

Hello Glen,

 

Working with medical/lab/research films can be fun. At one time I was given several hundred feet of expired 70mm Tri-x in a medical setting. I re-spooled it and shot it in a roll-film back on a speed graphic. The x-ray dark room had a Kodak X-Omat roll to roll continulus processor and the Tri-X just went right through. Looked good...thats how it was being used at that lab.

 

Currently I am looking for medical films in large format, 8x10". I have used Koidak "Ektascan" and I know that there is (or was) a similar product from Fuji. These were used in Nuclear Medicine and Ultra-Sound applications. Typically they are much less red sesnative than T-max or even Tri-X. I have rated these films as high as ISO 200 and developed as Tri-X. Any leads on a box of this film?

 

Regards,

 

Drew Bedo

www.quietlightphoto.com

Bill; I think that the actual name of the lense that you have described is "Tele-Optar". They show up on e-bay in arrel mount or in shutters and were made in both 10" and 15" focal lengths. Regards.

Ed; this is a lense origenally designed to image the screen of an ocilloscope. These instrument cameras were set up to focus on a four to six inch square CRT from a few inches away. The format would have been 3x4 (or so) Polaroid pack film or 4x5 sheet film in double sided film holders as used in your camera.

 

At infinity, these lenses only cover a 6x6 cm format (no movements). With the bellows extended into the macro range, the image circle WILL cover 4x5 (again no movements). Many of these lenses have a maximum aperature of f/1.9 and may only stop down to 16 or 22.

 

The optical quality of these lenses is a subject for debate. I have used one for extream macro to image a two inch pocket watch onto 4x5 and 8x10. The extension was 12 to 16 inches and the extension correction was quite a few stops. I remember making 10 or 15 "pops" with two Vivitar 280s and bracketing. I liked the image but again this is open for discussion.

 

So then; this is not a general purpose lense for 4x5 photography. Yet it can be a useful lense if you are willing to work within it's limitations.They show up on e-bay and go for less than $50.00.

 

Try it out, it could be good fun.

 

Regards,

 

Drew Bedo

 

www.quietlightphoto.com

A number of years ago, when I could still see well, I used one of these type lenses (Ocillo-Raptar) for macro shots greater than 1:1. I mounted it on both a 4x5 and an 8x10 camera and just cranked the bellows out. These lenses are only designed to cover 6x6cm at infinity, but of course they spread out when extended. I was able to cover an 8x10 'chrome with a two inch pocket watch, and I liked the shots. By all means, put something together and shoot!

Diwwan,Noah,Dean and anyone else really; I would like to avoid the quicksand surrounding all this and suggest a different conversion/alteration/remanufacturing project. Is there not some way to adapt a range finder to the lense coneand focus mount of a Foto Man 4x5? This would result in a handy 4x5 that would easily focus on the fly while hand-held. Perhaps some of those old Polaroid rangefinder parts could be grafted on in some effective way. I cannot do these DIY work-shop projects myself, but would really like to see someone do it.

 

Regards;

 

Drew Bedo

www.quietlightphoto.com

I shoot in 4x5 abd 8x10 with B&W and 'chromes. All my work is now scanned on an Epson 700. Minimal manipulations in PS are done for color balance and contrast (and spotting if necessary). Prints are made on Epson printers with archival pigmented inks. Silver prints are sometimes done by special request.

Jim; There is an organization in England that activly supports disabled photographers in the UK with adaptive equipment and organises outings and so on. They have been cordial in exchanginging information with me ( I am visually impared and live in Texas). Perhaps someone there can help hou with Nuts-And-Bolts suggestions for shooting frm a wheelchair. Try the Disabled Photographers Society at:

 

www.dps.uk.org

 

Regards,

 

 

Drew Bedo

Check out B&H, KEH and of course, e-Bay for current selling prices of similar items.

Hello Greg,

 

I have a Schneider 210 of that vintage. I have used it and like it, though I never did use it "converted" as I never wanted to open up the lense and shutter in the field. If you do not have much into the original purchase, then it would be worth it to you to get it refurbished. I have retired mine and now shoot with more recient, though still not cutting-edge modern lenses; 90/f8 Nikkor SW, 150/f5.6 Fujinon, and a 210/f5.6 Caltar (Rodinstock). The important thing as the Nike people used to say is "JUST DO IT"

 

Drew Bedo

www.quietlightlightphoto.com

Hello Jade:

 

For many years I had a Burk and James field camera. It was a 5x7 but had a 4x5 reducing back. It had every movement and a huge amount of draw...for 4x5. These are reuued, nbasic durable and inexpensive on e-bay. Lense boards are easily adapted or fabricated. They have never been considered heirloom keepsakes like Deardorffs. B&J made pretty much the same model in 4x5, 5x7 and 8x10. They were workhorse equipment made for hard work and painted battle-shim grey. If you would ever wish to, they strip down to a well joined light colored hardwood. They can refinish nicely.

 

Good luck in your search.

 

Drew Bedo

WWW.quietlightphoto.com

Noah;

 

Thanks for actually thinking about what might be possable. There are thousands of these bodies (and lense sets) around. The bodies are going for about the same as a Polaroid 110B.

 

I had another thought yesturday; a relay lense at the original film plane to throw an enlarged image onto the expanded film plane. Like a reversed enlarger...is this optically possable, or have I had a "Brain-Burp"? I had a fevered vision of a camera-back to attach to a Hasselblad body. "Blads are almost as cheap now as Polaroids are expensive. There are millions of Hasselblads just rotting in closets out there now.

 

Regards;

 

Drew Bedo

Johnathon, Richard, Dan and Steve;

 

Thank you all for your thoughts on this concept. I will digest your remarks and re-evaluate what it is I wish to accomplish.

 

Regards

Thanks for the responses. I am aware of the coverage issue. The choice of the c-220/330 seriee is primarily for the intercangable lense plates and long focusing draw. These features allow a set of lenses that will cover the 4x5 format while the focus draw/extension will allow for infinity focus with the altered film plane. Some of the old press camera lenses in the 127mm to 135mm range would be a starting place.

 

I am also aware of the excellent Gowland cameras (I thought Peter Gowland had passed away reciently). These cameras are large-ish, hefty and costly.

 

I started looking at this concept while looking for alternatives to the Littman-type of camera format. This C-220/330 format would be less compact than the Polaroid based cameras. but the Polaroid 110B bodies are now selling for $150 to $200+ on e-bay these days. Again; thanks for your thoughtful input on this.

Has anyone converted say, a Mamiya C-220/330 to 4x5? I realise that there are

issues with back-focus and so on. The interchangable lense boards would ease

lense-swapping. Is this too far off to be done. The bodies are cheaper than

Polaroid 110B on e-bay now. Is this worth looking at seriously?

Hello all; I have a jogging stroller with three pneumatic wheels. Its been stripped down to just the lower cargo level and works great for my 4x5 and 8x10 gear. Many scenic areas are handicap-accessable with wide, gentle pathways. Mine knocks down to fit into the bed of my pick-up. Load, Roll, and Go!

Hello,

 

I am interested in a 4x5 polaroid conversion. I have run across an old thread about the Lit(t)man patent controversy so I know that there passions out there. I could not quite sift out who the other conversion gurus are. How can i get more info on these other makers? Please contact me privatly at:

 

vjbedo@academicplanet.com

 

Regards,

 

Drew Bedo

(2281)787-0317

 

Drew Bedo

Hello, I have followed/read most of the most readable entries to this thread, so I am aware of the passion on both sides. I have been a camera bahser for many years in a very small way. Mostly by adapting Ocilloscope cameras from 70mm to 4x5 macro capable units for my own use. I am now working in large format exclusivly dur to deteriorating vision. The Polaroid to 4x5 conversions facinate me and are attractive due to the compact storage and use with a grafmatic. So then...who actually make these items (besides G.E.L)? Please contact me privatly at:

 

vjbedo@academicplanet.com

 

(281)787-0317

 

Regards,

 

Drew Bedo