newton_shrader1

<p>I am thinking about updating my system with a 4x5, and I notice that the wooden Shen Hao models from China seem to still be available new.<br>

Can anyone give an opinion on the long term reliability of the Shen Hao 4x5?</p>

<p>When I was involved many years ago with large format photography, you could buy brand new Schneider 90mm or 210mm for under $500 each.<br>

Those days have gone away. Although there seem to be lots of used lenses out there, is there any source for new old inventory for 135mm or 150mm lenses that might have been discontinued (new old inventory,for example)?<br>

If not, is there someone like Congo or Geronar still making and selling new less expensive 135mm or 150mm view camera lenses that might work on a 4x5 field camera?<br>

Thanks.</p>

I was looking at buying a used old Wollensak 90mm f6.8 lens.The shutter is working well, but I notice that between

the back two elements there seems to be a light haze that looks sort of like a water stain,but it is only visible when

you hold the lens at an angle.

The last element in the Wollensak is held in place by a brass retaining ring. I believe that the way the lens is

designed, the retaining ring could be removed and the tiny lens element could be lifted out to be cleaned.

If I am able to disassemble easily(presuming I can reassemble and center lens element),is there any way to clean

the light stain off of the glass (I have a feeling that just lens cleaner and tissue will not get the job done)?

At least locally in Texas in an area of 250,000 population, there is only one camera store and no sales of 120 or 4x5

film of any description. There is no local lab that still processes either 120 or 4x5.

I end up buying film from NY (Adorama or B and H) or California (Freestyle). I can process black and white in a

pinch, but Kodak 120 processing is available for E-6 (through Target of all places). For 4x5, again I can only do a fair

job of processing b&w,but color of any sort has to be sent 300 miles to Dallas, San Antonio, or Houston.

Still, with all of those problems, I would prefer 120 or 4x5 over the digital cameras I can afford.

I just bought an old Bronica ETR-C body and 75mm f2.8 MC.

When I fire the body (tried with a couple of different batteries), the mirror swings up

immediately, but then there is a one second delay before the leaf shutter opens

and closes.

In one of my friends' old Hasselblad cameras, there is no delay between firing the

camera and the shutter opening and closing.

Everything seems to happen in tenths of a second.

This is the only Bronica lens I have currently, so I don't know if it is a body

problem or lens problem. I suppose if it is a lens problem I can replace the lens

cheaper than I can repair it.

I am open to suggestion. Thanks.

Over the last few years I have had many 16X20 enlargements made from my

Fujicolor negatives or Fujichrome transparencies that I shot with my old 500C/M.

Have the current crop of medium level slr's (12mp-such as Canon 5D) reached a

point that they can make equivalent quality 16X20s to Hassie?

I saw in an older article that in some cases the resolution of the 12mp

digitals really was not all that close to film (the article cited the seeming

inability of 12mp or similar digitals to clearly resolve the print on the

street signs).

Thanks.

The Ikeda is a real gem of a camera if you someone is trying to find a super light 4x5 camera. The lenss are not as good as modern designs but if working will still give very good results.

I have been looking for an Ikeda or Nagaoka myself,so I will keep an eye out on e-bay for your equipment.

I recently broke the tip off of the crank on my old style a12 back on my 1980s

vintage 500cm.

The crank appears to be attached to the rest of the mechanism with a single

metal pin.

If I can find an old a12 back to use for parts, would it be tough to remove the

small crank from the a12 with the intact crank and replace the broken one?

Many years ago I purchased a new Mamiya M645 Super with three backs. I used it pretty lightly, but a little over a year I had the camera, I had to have the three backs repaired.

I sold the entire out fit within a few more months after I had heard that other owners were having problems.