gregg_matthews

<p>If you desire a fairly priced light bank that requires no speed ring, opens like an umbrella, packs small, and gives the option of directing the flash head either forward or backward (to control diffusion), look into the Apollo line from Wescott. I have several models from the biggest to the smallest, and I think they're a smart design. Quick, and lightweight. Easily handled by a single person. Good color and light efficiency. They'll work with any flash you own.</p>

I have the same focusing issues as Darius. The "High D" original with my 6008i did not suit me for field-focusing because the image looked focused within a wide range of barrel twisting. Plus, it had no microprism aid, and, a way too-tiny split screen for critical focusing. So when I found out that some users find the "High D" to be bright with not enough bite, I bought the OEM 6003 screens thinking they'd have more "bite", plus they have a microprism ring and a larger split-image focusing aid. Well, that didn't solve my problem, nor did sending them (6003) to Brightscreen for optical 20/20 conversion. They still didn't have any bite. I did buy an accessory loupe (I can't recall the maker) that screws onto my 45 prism eyepiece and can be flipped out of view when composing. I magnifies the split-screen and microprism so I can achieve critical focusing... but what a pain to have to keep flipping it up and down between shots. Otherwise, I have noticed that I have an easier time focusing the Schneider lenses than the [Zeiss copy] EL lenses.... even 40mm. I have the EL lenses in 50, 80 and 150mm, and they are the most difficult to focus because they don't snap into focus... they creep into focus. The EL lenses are sharp on film, but I think the helicoid focus ring is too slow to give a confident image on the focus screen. Since it's been 8 years since I've looked into this, I'd love to hear if Rollei has come out with any new screens for the 6008i that will improve focus confidence.

 

Gregg

I remember a lighting tool called the Venca Beep which, when connected to the sync

circuit, would produce an audible beep when the flash was recharged, alerting the

shooter that the strobe was ready to fire again. It was offered about 15 years ago and I

can't find it now that I have a use for it. Does anyone know where to find it, or how to

make one?

Use long-ish exposure of the existing light, plus use the modeling light only

from your strobes for fill, using softboxes to help soften and blend the model

lights to the ambient light.

Your sensor is really clean when you can eat off it.

The most important difference between the 2 cameras mentioned is that one is a

Canon.

I've learned the hard way that a new camera is about to be released shortly after the

rebates for the former model ends.

Good answers, thanks for your replies.

I'm probably one of the thousands of suckers who bought the Finney pinholebody cap (f

180 @ 50mm). I tried it on the Canon 10D but all I could get were well-exposed fuzzy

pictures. Is that all I should expect? Has anyone got good results out of this?

Your batteries are probably too old to hold a charge. Just buy new ones.

Deffinitly get the 1.4.....but wait to buy it second-hand when all the pros will

sell them off to get the new 50mm 1.2. I tested the 1.2 yesterday at it is sweet!

My local store is selling them for $1600... or not selling them!

 

I actually was dissapointed by the 1.4 as far as speed and construction. But I

was even more disspointed by the 1.8 years ago (v. 1). Oh yeah it was sharp,

but the aperture kept getting stuck, despite a Canon repair. I could have

turned it into a yo-yo when it broke down in Kalmazoo.

I'm filing this one under " My Hopless Digital Back."

How can I remove a repeated post I've made?

Okay, here's the third photo. If anyone would give me tips to uploading a few

pics, I'd apreciate it.

I didn't figure how to upload 3 pics yet. ~Gregg

Jon, I have a complete Kowa kit for sale from Florida. Especially intriguing is

the 40mm F4, which is worth $900 or more and are very hard to find. The

other is the case, which I've never seen again anywhere, or even mentioned.

The Polaroid back, and the tripod mount that is necessary to allow back

exchanges while on the tripod is also very hard to find.

 

The rest of the kit, the Super66, 45 prism finder, WL, focus ring, 55, 80, and

150mm are very reasonably priced. I'm selling the whole kit for $1500.00 plus

shipping. All the glass is clean and the body is in good shape functionally and

cosmetically. The speeds are accurate, but the 55mm needs some attention

by Ross Yerks to tension its cocking mechanism. I've also got a Kowa camera

strap, a couple Kowa lens boxes, a rare Kowa 86mm skylight filter for the 55

WA, an instruction manual, and a couple rubber lens hoods. I've attached

photos for you to see the kit, and one (cropped) photo taken with the Kowa.

Check out the Kowa Forum, you can get a great system for low money and

with it's auto dark slide feature it's faster and battery-less than most MF .

You could buy a Kowa Super 66 with 4 lenses (40 - 150mm), waist level and

45 prism, polaroid back, and case for $1500 or less. It's a retro-looking, beefy

SLR that requires no batteries and makes beautiful negatives and slides.

Check the Kowa forum for sales. Good Luck! ~Gregg

Just some typical folding rubber shades for WA and normal will do fine. Tiffen,

Vivitar, Kenko, to name a few.

Great answers, especially the first one. Thanks all for your time and humor.

~Gregg

This is my first time on this site. I'm a editorial photographer in Florida and have been

shooting Canon digital for 7 years. My extensive Rollei 6008i manual focus system has

been neglected for some time now, but I'm reluctant to sell for a small return. I'm hoping

an affordable MF digital back will be available in the near future. What are the chances

there'll ever be a full frame (and I mean 6 X 6) digital back available for the 6008i for the

equivalent cost of say, a modern dSLR? Thanks, Gregg

Ever since I started shooting with digital cameras, I've come to use smaller

and lighter flash sources. My #1 kit these days includes a brace of Sunpak

shoe mount strobes fitted with optical slaves, powered by HV battery packs

and triggered with a radio slave. It's makes a small kit that's easy to carry and

quick to set up and shoot. Sunpaks sell for about 70 bucks, vs Canons that

are about $380. I only use the canon flashes for mouting on the body. The

sunpaks are used with various attachments and mounted on lightstands.

~Gregg