alpenglow

Greetings all,

I keep hearing great things about the Mamiya 210mm KL lens, and I'm thinking

about getting a used one. I have a 180mm C lens, and I wonder if anyone here

has experience with the 210 and how it might compare to the 180 C.

Many thanks,

Mike

Dave,

I missed the part where you expressed interest in a tilt lens. You should know that Mamiya has a tilt-shift lens for the 645 series. I had one but hardly ever used it, so I sold it a few months ago. It's a beautiful lens... not "cheap", but worth the money is you have use for that application.

Mike

Hi Dave,

I'll put in my vote for a Mamiya 645 system. My hike around system is a ProTL (I also have a Pro and a 1000S). The ProTL and Pro are amazing cameras with increadible lenses... including the 45mm and 35mm for your wide options (28mm and 22mm equiv.). They have the interchangable backs, all sorts of finders, are light, have amazing variety of lenses and can be had for a song. While 645 may seem small, you will be astounded by the huge prints that can easily be made, either with traditional enlargers, or from drum scans. Digital has a long way to go to match the resolution of 645, and when it does, you'll have to sell the house to afford one.

Mike

PS... I also have an RB67 system and TLRs... but I don't think they fit your requirements.

Scott,

You can't go wrong in any of the parks. Just depends on what type of landscape you are most interested in. If you want the barren open tundra, then Gates of the Artic. If you want huge scale, mountains and tundra, then Denali. Big trees with coastal rainforest and moody weather, then Glacier Bay. Only you can decide what you want most. Access will definately be easiest in Denali. Remember... you are not permitted to do your photography while in uniform. So it'll have to happen when you're off duty. There are very specific and strict regulations about this. I know, since I'm an old "parkie" and worked as a Ranger for a number of years at Denali. Don't let a professional photographer catch you in uniform with your camera and tripod.... and an NPS truck!

But also don't only look at the land around you through your camera's viewfinder. Put the camera down and truly experience this great land through your own eyes and senses. It is magical.

Mike

For sure stick with large format film for the best quality in the size of prints you mention. No dedicated digital camera system can match the quality and resolution of a 4x5 or 8x10 negative (or chrome) drum scanned. Only you can decide if you feel comfortable enough using the equipment. But the best quality will come from film.

Mike

Erin,

Any good quality lab that processes B&W film can do infrared. But it would be good if you "interviewed" them first to make sure they will treat your film with care. I used Praus Productions in NY, and they did a good job (www.4photolab.com) Then there is "dr5 lab" in Denver who will process IR traditionally, as well as doing reversal processing to turn the negatives into chromes. I haven't personally tried them yet, but I hear lots of great reviews. I'll probably be sending some of my Efke 820 film to them in the near future. They are pricy though (www.dr5.com).

Good luck and be sure to post your results here on PN,

Mike

Erin,

The 120 format Efke IR820 film (which I assume you'll be using?), resonds much better, (more dramatic), to a darker filter (like the Hoya R72), than the red 25. I use a bay 1 to 49mm filter adapter with my Yahica Mat, and it seems to work well.

Mike

Hello Jazzmine,

I would suggest that you pick up a copy of the book "Medium Format Cameras: User's Guide to Buying and Shooting", by Peter Williams (check it out on Amazon). This is a good place to start understanding what options are out there, and how the equipment will fit your needs. You have to ask yourself what do you want from the format, that 35mm isn't able to provide to you.

Mike

Thanks Q.G. for the idea, and I'm glad that solution works for you... no denying that it looks good. But I'm in the same camp as Richard since I too am not looking for an "easier" way to do it. The process of making the image in the camera brings me more satisfaction.

Thanks again everyone for the ideas!!

Mike

Wow... thank you all so much. Here I thought I was trying something new... Haah... I should have known better. I was all set to start filing down a 120 spool like Evan suggested, and I even thought about the idea that Mark mentioned of wooden dowels, but I think Sheldon's idea takes the cake. I've got to start looking for an old Bic Biro pen. That seems like the easiest solution, and your results are beautiful (and exactly what I was after). I love the look of having the image bleed into the sprocket holes which can't be done with a regular panoramic/25mm adapter. Brilliant. I'll give it try.

Thank you all soooooo much!

Mike