uncle git

I've successfully used the RATOC FR1SX to connect an older SCSI Polariod Sprintscan 45 Ultra to an "early 2008"

mac pro.

It works a treat and has been rock solid for me. I used the excellent Vuescan application to drive the scanner.

Can't tell you if it'll work with your Flextight or not though.

Vuescan will drive most flatbeds on OSX - and it's excellent software.

http://www.hamrick.com

I even use it on an old SCSI 4x5 Sprintscan 45 Ultra filmscanner using a scsi -> firewire adaptor.

You could also buy the 500 F4 and resell it after - the loss is probably significantly less than the rental cost...

You will also be able to get surprisingly close to many large predators - though the 500mm was indispensable while I was there.

You can definitely get good solid creative images from less focal length - it's about the nut that holds the camera ;)

Some of my pics from Botswana last summer :

http://www.twistedcube.com/unclegit/Africa/

I've one and so far I love it to bits - no complaints so far.

It replaced a Lacie Electron Blue IV CRT - and it's got a significantly better color gammut and sharpness.

Well worth the outlay IMHO.

FWIW NEC have a 30" version of the above monitor due out this month.

Price at B&H for the 30" is $1900 ish

For the mac pro to connect to a SCSI scanner you'll need a rather expensive PCI-X SCSI controller. I know because had the same problem with my new mac pro and Polaroid 45 Ultra.

This little dohickey however, worked a treat and my mac pro is now scanning just fine with vuescan and the polaroid -

http://www.ratocsystems.com/english/products/FR1SX.html

It may not work for all scanners - but it's certainly worth a look as opposed to the $500 scsi card...

You may not be able to move to 8 cores later if apple ship the single CPU machine with a depopulated second cpu slot - they may physically not solder the CPU socket onto the motherboard.

I've not heard one way or the other thus far.

I've just ordered an 8 core machine - this is my first mac being a unix / windows guy thus far professionally - so it'll be an interesting trip ;)

Oh don't buy RAM from apple - go 3rd party and 1/2 the price for the same chips - same with hard drive upgrades.

Yes - but if all the tools are available in lightroom we wouldn't be paying $600 for a photoshop license would we?

There is your answer - if you want local corrections you have to pay the price of entry - $600 for a photoshop license in this case.

I can't see adobe ever putting local corrections beyond dust spotting and red eye into lightroom - just makes no sense from a marketing perspective.

Just ship it to canon repair in Irvine - coincidentally my 50mm f1.4 is there getting repaired as I type this ;)

https://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=OnlineRepairBookingAct&fcategoryid=216&modelid=7307

You should be able to click on that link to get an RMA number for the repair - just box it up and send it to them via registered mail.

They reckon it'll be 10 days from receiving it until you get it shipped back at the moment( it varies depending on their current workload.)

Mine just packed up as well - sending it to canon this week for repair.

$93 was the standard rate quoted - but they reserve the right to crank that cost up once they get a look at it.

Again no trauma - it just quit working - both AF and MF.

Sounds like a design defect - which stinks as it's a lovely lens to use.

That's weird - I've actually got both scanners you mention - and my IV destroys the Epson for 35mm film scanning.

Sounds like you have a faulty Nikon or something is wrong in your workflow.

Per - I'll probably come to the Joshua Tree workshop again this year - last one was a blast !

Graeme

The "Pro" version of the scanner comes with a full Silverfast Ai version and monaco EZ-color software for colour calibration.

The Monaco software with the scanner contains both a reflective and a 4X5 IT8 target.

I've only had my scanner a few days - but after calibration the 4X5's are coming in MUCH more accurately than before - granted I'm no digital darkroom wiz - but it seems to help my workflow.

At the moment I'm glad I went with the Pro version of the package.

If you backpack a lot consider the Toho monorail - it's amazingly light, robust, full movements - surprisingly long bellows draw and best of all it's just been re-badged to be sold as a badger brand camera - and they knocked off $400 off the price - it's now $850 ish.

http://www.badgergraphic.com/search_product2.asp?x=3839

Great review here -

http://www.thalmann.com/largeformat/toho.htm

Of course that's assuming that's within budget.

Thanks - that's exactly what the doctor needs before operation starts.

The lens is actually a post war Linhof select angulon - so it's not like I can't pick another up if I make a horrible mess of it :)

Does anyone happen to have a Compur Rapid shutter service guide ?

I recently purchased a 90mm Angulon Linhof select and the shutter is

a bit slow especially at the slow speeds - I'd like to basically like

to take it appart - soak what needs to be soaked, lube and re-

assemble.

Probably grasping at straws and shout send it out for professional

cleaning - but I kinda like tinkering myself.

I'd just like to chime in and say I had a blast - I was one of the least experienced photographers there, and this was the first time I'd ever hung out with photographers - everyone was very friendly and more than happy to answer all my dumb questions.

The standard of the prints shown by the other photographers attending where inspiring to say the least.

If you haven't been to one of these workshops - it's WELL worth the time and effort.

Special thanks to Per and Harvey for taking a look at my transparencies - the critique was extremely usefull and I feel I really learned alot from talking with them - the experience has definately helped to shake me out of a rut and start thinking about my photography in a completely different way.

Oh yea - and the taco's rocked :)

Great - I pay $1195 for my Toho and they bring out a rebranded camera at $850 a few months later.

Oh well.

I have been using the Toho for about 6 months now - and I have to say it's an impressive little beastie - it has it's quirks - but it's very lighweight, loads of movements and surprisingly stable once it's all locked down.

I've done most of the modifications of Kerry's site to my camera and am very happy in the way it operates.

If you are hiking with large format - the toho/badger, quick/readyloads and a CF tripod are the ultimate in lightweight functionality.

The Canham looks good as well but I've not had the chance to play with one yet.

Joshua Tree would be perfect for me.

I can get to that one :)

I'd love to meet some other large format shooters - I've kind of been learning in a vacumn with just books - I think it's about time I became a bit more social :)

I have the new Kodak holder that comes with the nice case.

Works a tread with fuji and (obviously) kodak packets.

Zero jams or problems so far.

As a novice large format shooter I wanted the freedom of taking the camera whereever I hiked - so I build my system to be compact, lightweight and fully functional. Camera is a Toho FC-45X for reference.

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For a bag - I use one of the larger camelbacks - it allows me to carry my camera, lenses, quick/readyloads plus all the bits and bobs that a large format shooter needs. It's a little disorganized internally at the moment - but I imagine I could get something to sort that out without too much hassle - some kind of padded pull out tray for lenses - I think <a href=http://www.gnassgear.com>Gnass gear</a> sells some for both film holders and lenses.

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The major benefit of using a camelback - 100oz of ice cold insulated water.

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The CF Tripod straps to the side and wetgear goes nicely in the webbing at the back. Small hikers first aid kit inside or in the other side pocket.

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Add an internal drybag and you can take large format to places you normally wouldn't think possible or sensible - such as up the Zion narrows.

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If LL Bean are going to design one an internal drybag would be a fantastic optional extra.

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<a href=http://www.camelback.com/rec/cb_prod.cfm?catid=6&product_id=217>My Pack</a>

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This plan may not work nearly as well for cameras that can't detach the standards from the rails - but for the toho it's a very compact way of travelling that gives me freedom to take large format where ever I chose to ramble.

Hey - I'm a large format novice in San Diego - I'll up up at Joshua Tree this weekend as a matter of fact - doing some climbing and large format experimentation.

I'd love to meet up with other like minded souls who can beat the basics of the art of large format into my dumb Irish skull.

I also just purchased a Toho - again largly due to the information out there on Kerry's site.

I'd be interested in the levels and the maxwell kit for the toho if anyone has any more information on them.

The only complaint I have about the camera is there seems to be no detent for the front and rear tilt movements - so it's kinda hard to get it exactly zero'd - not a biggie - but a minor annoyance.

I'm a large format novice - but my impression of the camera so far is very positive - it was easily light enough to hike up the Zion narrows with on a recent trip to Utah. Everything broke down small enough to slide it into a drybag in my camelback. Very nice to have an entire 4x5 rig and 3ltr of water on your back in one small lightweight and waterproof backpack :)

It seems pretty sturdy as far as construction goes - everything is well machined and works as designed thus far.

No regrets except it's taken me this long to see a 4x5 negative on the light table :)