johan_niels_kuiper

January 30, 2021

Guess what, it works fine. This is 1932, my favorite year in German camera making

January 30, 2021

Leica II, 1932. From the first batch. With a Nikkor.C 35mm 2.5 lens from the early 1950s and a Voigtländer Minifinder from 2005.

January 6, 2017

Pretty soon I plan to start writing several articles on the modern desire to create 'historical' Balck Paint Leicas in the kitchen stove, and on the scoundrels that create 'real' Black Paint Leicas and sell them online. Bookmark the website, there's a lot more articles on Leica and other brands and on photography to come.

January 5, 2017

A Black Paint Leica is a thing of beauty, that's for sure. Popular demand has brought the black paint Leica back to the market place and where the rough-looking black paint cameras were considered the ugly ducklings two decades ago, they fetch exorbitant prices in auctions and online sales these days.

Rightfully so? Or is there something wrong with those that draw their check book to pay what it takes to shoot (or fondle!) a Black Paint Leica?

http://www.johanniels.com/camera-gear-blog-posts/leica/101-bp-leica-m-fuss

January 2, 2017

Hello,

would just briefly like to link to an article on my website regarding the Horseman 842 Convertible camera. A great camera that is relatively unknown, and it shouldn't be really...!

http://johanniels.com/camera-gear-blog-posts/medium-format/50-horseman-842-convertible-a-medium-format-wide-angle-camera

I love mine, and am planning to build me a pin hole lens board for it, so that it will be even more versatile.

Anybody else got one?

July 29, 2016

The folks back in 2007 must have had a dud, this is a great lens. In fact, I bought back my earlier copy from the shop after two years, I kept missing it.

May 5, 2015

Of course this thread is several years old, but there must be other people ending up here who (like me) are looking for some good advice on the best scanner to be had for scanning 4x5".

I used to have a Microtek ScanMaker 8700 and sold it but now that I'm finally pushing forward to go shoot 4x5", I find that I can buy them for under EUR 100 easily.

There's an old review on Shutterbug that is filled with praise. Only setback, it requires a very sturdy desk, weighing in at 25 pounds... I happen to have that desk ;)

September 10, 2011

Here is a shot of the camera:

Sold at Christies in September 2002 for GBP 353.00, not including taxes & premium. Shot courtesy of Christies UK.

The left hand lever cocks the shutter, the right hand lever releases it. The camera has a frame finder, of which only the last frame is extended in this shot, the front frame is still stored, it can be pulled up on the front. The camera consists of a frame, a lens board that slides out sideways, and a rollfilm holder.

Mine came with all accessories and the box.

And here is a shot it can take:

Communist Center "Buzludja", near Kazanlak, Bulgaria.

Shot April 2011, Horseman Convertible CH842, Kodak Portra 400VC in 220 format. Scanned on a 1200dpi Microtek ScanMaker 8700 transparancies flatbed scanner.

Copyright Johan@Portretteur.nl

November 17, 2010

Up until today, FOMA still lists that same PDF file that states their Classic 100ASA available in Half Plate.

Has anybody here recently bought it from them? I'd be interested, it would beat cutting film to size all the time!

July 11, 2010

Hi,

there's a lot on the Hexar AF on <a href="http://www.portretteur.nl/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=54:the-ultimate-compact-camera&catid=40:rangefinders&Itemid=61">this page</a> on my website, including a reference to a strap that does fit, somewhere down the text.

Enjoy shooting that Hexar,

Johan

June 28, 2010

To paraphrase an earlier remark saying 'it's just a camera': it's just a camera, why not leave the button alone?

Replacing with the M3 shrouded button is not possible, because that one threads into the body while the M6 body does not have any threads. You would have to replace the complete M6 shell with an M3 shell, and the battery compartment in the M6 would probably be in the way.

Easier: just scratch out the red paint on the M6 lens button. It's not a cosmetic plastic cover, it's only paint with metal underneath. That's as close as you're gonna get.

June 28, 2010

The Russians never faked an M4. Only FED-1 and Zorki-1 cameras are faked into Leicas.

That M4 at least had its ST and preview levers altered. Rest of it may be original, check the serial number!

November 20, 2009

Tom, thanks for the link you posted earlier, these shots are very nice, and indeed very sharp!

Pete, I like your shots a lot, thanks for putting them up for me to see!

When shooting portraits I am looking for results like the photos from Frank Petronio, whose work I admire a lot. Or even Sally Mann.

I want to go medium format to be able to print bigger without excessive grain. Digital I will not consider, there are too many people out there to distinct yourself with that and the process is a soul-less one, at least too much to my liking. The slower process when shooting MF or LF I consider a benefit, not a setback.

Thanks again for your responses, it might take a while, but I'll post some results up here in due time!

November 19, 2009

Thank you all very much.

I'm new to the 6x9 Century Graphic and was having some trouble finding suitable shuttered lenses for it.

I purchased a 3.25x4.25 Speed Graphic recently to use non-standard even non-shuttered lenses with, but it's near impossible to find film cut to the right size in the EU for that. Also, a roll film back is near impossible to find, and I am uncertain as to shaving the back and mounting a 4x5 back on it.

My main goal is (like Richards) to get shots from a bigger than DSLR quality, with of course that cool OOF look in the files. I plan to up the score of keepers shooting portraits with this camera, the 35mm format (Leica) and 6x6 (Mamiya C330) are not big enough for my taste.

Now I have a nice shopping list, that'll keep me busy for a while :)

If you like you can have a look at my work here: www.portretteur.nl

Your contributions to my search are much appreciated, thank you!

November 18, 2009

Hello,

I recently bought a Graflex Baby Century Graphic, which will arrive with a Graflar 101/4.5 lens attached. According to Graflex.org, this is the entry-level lens and there are better options.

The BCG will be used to shoot 'pure' portraits and environmental portraits, both mostly outdoors. I am looking for a sharp lens, size etc are of no consideration. It does not need to allow for collapsing on the body. Coverage of the frame is important, but dark corners are no deal killer when the lens is tack sharp.

If you have shots that prove the Graflex.org remark on the lens quality wrong, I'd be very interested to see them. Shots taken with alternate lenses are welcome as well.

Thanks for your suggestions in advance, much appreciated.

November 13, 2009

I own a Anniversary Graphic, 3.25x4.25 film. I got the negative holders, both single sided and dual sided (which look a bit big to slide in with the Graphic back...?).

Bought the camera through RFF complete with the flash (the Star Wars light saber model). Ordered film at sheetfilm.be but they have gone bust it seems, website is offline.

I now plan to order from lumiere-shop.de since they stock the 3.25x4.25 size I need.

I chose the Anni Graphic because of the view camera and the focal plane shutter, I plan to use non-standard lenses (projector lenses without apertures mainly) for shooting portraits. There was a Kodak Ektar 127mm on it, it now has a Zettar 150/3.0 on a custom made lens board.

Am I an LF photographer? Not yet I guess, but I will be.

Dutch LF shooters, feel free to contact me through email, I have a lot of questions on LF and am an experienced 35mm film photographer. We might be able to contribute to each others work. Johann#kuiper%ad*gmail%dot^com

October 9, 2009

Ferndowncameras: Last month I bought a black-rimmed Canon 50mm f1.2 in bad condition, but said to be a working item.

When it arrived, three of the aperture blades were ripped . I took them out, cleaned the lens up and shot a picture of the blades. Asked for a partial refund, which was given straight away. No need to take pride in that for Keith Rock though, since it was more than obvious that the lens was a non-working item, and as such deliberately listed wrongly.

Anybody got a Canon 50mm f1.2 in teribble condition available? It only needs to have three aperture blades straight... :)

September 29, 2009

September 24, 2009

Get a Konica M-Hexanon lens if you want sharp shots.

The ones you have uploaded more seem made fuzzy in software than being soft due to an older lens. Personally, I feel this is not the way to go, vintage lenses render sharpness and contrast in a way no software can. And on big prints, it shows too! Like said, getting only one lens to go with the camera might not be a good idea.

When digital, I shoot an M8 with Konica M-Hex lenses, but certain situations call for an old Jupiter-3, a Canon 50mm f1.2, a Summar or an LTM-hacked Wollensak 50mm f2.8.

Visit RFF to find out a lot more about the lenses mentioned here, there's threads on almost any lens that fits an LTM or M mount Leica there.<div></div>

August 12, 2009

Hello,

I need to create pages in Joomla! where a registered user can view and download their photos. These pages need to be access-protected, so only the client can view them after logging on. Something that supports a link to a ZIP-file as well would be neat.

Anybody have a lead on where to look?

I'm also interested in a shopping module that can be made user-specific. PayPal functionality tied in with that would be greatly appreciated, BTW...

Either one would do the trick for me.

Thanks in advance,

Johan Kuiper

www.portretteur.nl

July 18, 2009

Hello Bill,

thanks for the links. After checking out the demo for the full version of Soudslides, I'm pretty convinced this offers what I need to get going. I can recommend anyone to take a look at the program, it looks very good!

July 17, 2009

Hello,

I've spent some time looking for a good and simple-to-use Flash applet creator to showcase my shots, but so far have had no luck finding it.

I'm looking for a tool to create a Flash file with, that can handle the following specifics:

<ul>

<li>background soundfile</li>

<li>no index or navigation buttons, save for 'replay' </li>

<li>photos that 'move', I need a tool that lets me set zoom and slide on photos when creating the Flash file</li>

</ul>

I would be happiest if it were possible to just upload selected shots onto a website folder using FTP, but a Flash file with 'embedded' shots would be fine as well.

To give an idea on what I'd like to have, please visit <a href="http://www.pieterjandepue.be">www.pieterjandepue.be</a> . I've contacted the photographer but his site was built by a web designer he lost track of, so that's a dead end.

Should you have any suggestions that sort of match my requirements, I'm still interested!

July 3, 2009

Wartime cameras often were brought along to the States by American soldiers, so there's your means to get it over the Big Pond in your story.

Problem: The Leica III camera probably was too expensive for a Hungarian Jew to own. Any cheaper camera would probably not be picked up by a German officer or doctor, since Leicas were more easily available to Germans with an above-average income (like officers and doctors).

Solution: introduce either a relative or a neighbour in your story, who was the original owner of the camera. This previous owner might be deported earlier by the Germans, allowing your character to come into possession of the camera. A brief episode should suffice, no need to get into details on this in the greater scheme of the story.

Enjoy your story, there's something magical about the fashion in which good stories come into existence, as if they are unfolding themselves while writing..!?

July 3, 2009

There's also a Ricoh 519, similar model. Trigger wind is quite useful, providing the mechanism is working flawlessly.

The lens is somewhat low on contrast, so for shooting B&W it's somewhat flat. When scanning, you can easily add some 'punch' in PhotoShop. It's a sharp lens though, and for shooting color, the low contrast allows for quite nice portraiture work.

If I'm not mistaking, there were auxillary screw on lenses available for this camera, you could mount a wide angle or tele lens onto it, like on the Yashica GSN cameras.

I particularly like the Leica M3 style design, with the windows and the frame counter on top.

Enjoy your shooting!

June 24, 2009

Enrique, you must be Hispanic. No offence, right?

BTW, I'm Dutch. Don't feel offended by that either.

We're all something Enrique, its just that some of us are dumb as well. No offence, right?

Back on topic: I agree with Patrick, Kodachrome sales were declining before the arrival of digital. It's too bad the process is expensive and requires large quantities to make it profitable. I own slides my uncle shot in the 1970s and they're as bright as day after 30 years.

Sign In

Profiles

Forums

Blogs

Events

Downloads

Gallery

Store

Posts posted by johan_niels_kuiper