abiggs

Definitely Don Cameron, in the San Francisco Bay Area.

www.doncameron.com

He has a huge array of workshops available, all during the year. I hope this helps.

I suspect not a single person who is attacking Mr. Reichmann has done such a test for himself/herself. I would refrain from attacking people, unless you have a leg to stand on.

I took a 1Ds out for a test drive last week, as well as with a 503 Hassy and some nice lenses. After getting the Velvia and Provia chromes developed, we scanned them in a Polaroid 120 MF scanner. Not the most professional tool to do such a test on, but it is what we had.

We came to the same conculsion that Michael came to: prints up to 13x19 were just plain better from the 1Ds. Period. Apparent sharpness was much better on the 1Ds, as well as the grain/noise factor.

Did we print larger than 13x19? Nope. But I don't normally print larger than that anyway. Do I want to believe that an $8,000 camera will outperform a $1000 Pentax 67 camera? Asolutely not, due to the size of my pocketbook. But it is what it is.

I wish we could get away from all of this name calling, and lpmm crud. Does it really matter? Why don't YOU go out and do a similar test for YOURSELF. It is the only way to make a convincing case, now isn't it?

Oooh. Easy question.

First of all, the winter is beautiful, but difficult to get around. And the summer is, well, just way too busy. The spring is beautiful, as the waterfalls begin to flow. And the fall is my favorite time of year, because most of the people have left, and the foliage is beautiful.

There are many places to go in Yosemite. The valley floor is, by far, the most visited. This is where most of the famous photographs of Yosemite come from. Most of the overdone photos are either right next to your car, or a short walking distance away. So, a light monorail wouldn't be too dificult to carry around. Keep in mind, these are for the 'popular' photographic opportunities.

My favorite place to photograph is in the high country, near Tuolumne Meadows. This area is closed during the late fall, and doesn't open up until very late spring each year, as it is accessed off of Tioga Road.

There are many places to stay, for many different budgets. If you camp, you will need reservations in advance. If you want to stay in a lodge, this is also true. There are also b&b's in an area called Yosemite West, just outside the park, but only accessible from within the park. The major sites in the valley are only a 15 minute drive from Yosemite West.

Hope this helps.

I would love to see a review, whenever it hits the streets. I have a friend who is intrigued with the entire LF experience, but doesn't want to commit huge funds to jump in.

Who knows, maybe this will be the camera that actually increases the LF community to newbies!

Duncan Philips' Collection is one of my favorite galleries on this

earth. A great place to view great art. Someone please post a review.

I think your answer should be: "You gotta pay to play". Only after

they pay a huge sum for the images, they can have them. Otherwise,

the images should be on a 'per use' basis.

<p>

$.02

Sounds like a deal to me. The later in the fall, the better. Less

crowds, and better (cooler) weather.

I have had absolutely great success with workshops here in the San

Francisco Bay Area. I started in LF last spring, and have taken a few

workshops, both in the studio and in the field, from Don Cameron in

Santa Clara.

<p>

This is not a shameless plug, but an example of how my work with

large format has gotten tremendously better by having a mentor close

at hand. I probably could have learned many of the same things

through books, but it would have taken much longer to become

competent with the tools.

<p>

Just my $.02

<p>

Andy

I will be in the near future. I am moving from the San Francisco Bay

Area back to Texas at the end of May. We will be moving to Austin,

and will be taking many trips to the Guadalupe Mountains and Big Bend

in the near future.

<p>

Feel free to invite me out some time.

I have found the following:

<p>

1. Singh-Ray makes the best ND filters on the market

2. You can get by with only 2 filters: 2-stop soft and 3-stop hard

3. Practice, practice, practice.

<p>

I leared the technique from Galen Rowell last fall on a 3-day

workshop. There is a direct correllation to how 'hard' the grad

appears on film, in relation f-stop and lens length combination. The

longer the lens, given the same ND grad filter, the less 'hard' the

line appears. Also, the smaller the f-stop, the more defined the

line will be.

<p>

Practice, practice, practice.

Rodenstock 210mm APO Sironar-S. Maybe a Grandagon 90mm, too. Can't I

have 2 lenses in heaven?

Wasn't it Fred that said you can never, ever take pictures of cows

or covered bridges, because they have been taken a million times

already?

Thank you for the information, Richard. I am sure that many frequent

members would want to know.

<p>

May Fred rest in peace.

I have found that the Fujinon lenses have the best coverage for 4x5

enlargements. The Nikkor is barely acceptable. If you don't already

have the 135mm in your hands, try looking for a 150mm Nikkor, or the

135mm Fujinon.

Definitely get Dan's book. I bought it a few months back, and this

might be my direction in regards to printing.

<p>

One note: the technology changes swiftly, and his book is getting

out of date. In the jan/feb issue of Photo Techniques, he wrote an

update on how to do the process with desktop inkjets, notably the

Epson 1270. He also makes a few suggestions on what transparency

materials to use.

<p>

Good luck, and I hope we keep this subject alive.

I just took a look at Robert White's web site, regarding the 13xx

series Gitzo carbon fier tripods. It appears that he is selling the

center columns and top plates separately from the tripod. I am

confused.

<p>

What is the 'default' top plate that you would get with, say a 1325

or 1348? Since these tripods have no center columns, per the Gitzo

we site, this seems confusing, as well.

<p>

What is a 'levelling base'? Or an adapter to 75mm or 100mm bowl?

<p>

I want a second tripod, in addition to my 1228, which is not

appropriate for large format.

For stability purposes, I would choose a newer Ries tripod.

Definitely rock solid. Not the lightest in the crowd, but it sounds

like weight doesn't rate as high as stability.

Anybody check out Thursday night's 'Nightline', featuring Meyerwitz's ground zero photographs and interview?

<p>

A fascinating segment.

I have a 1228 for my Canham DLC 4x5, and it is pushing it. I would

much rather use a 13xx Gitzo, instead. The 1228 can support the

weight, but the spread of the legs is too small. I would like to

have the legs spread farther out, and lose the center column.

<p>

In a perfect world, I would have a 12xx for 35mm gear, and 13xx for

MF and LF gear.

Here is a pleasant update to my depressing posts last night.

<p>

After speaking with the insurance company yesterday, they indicated

a maximum of $250 would be reimbursed. They indicated that it was

because my vehicle was not at our own home location at the time of

the theft. After an agent called back this morning for some more

information regarding the listed items that were stolen, I heard

something that puzzled me. I inquired further.

<p>

It appears that the person I spoke with yesterday assumed, through a

series of wishy washy questions, that these items were used in a

business of photography. Not the case. Would I like to make $$$ with

these items? You bet. Not the right time, though.

<p>

Anyway, because I asked more questions, they re-opened the case, and

have sent out the paperwork to get the whole reimburesement process

started.

<p>

Word to the wise: always ask questions. These people cannot read

your mind, even though they have no clue on how to ask direct

questions.

Thank you, everyone, for all of the thoughts and ideas on what to do

regarding getting this equipment back. And going forward with

insurance companies.

<p>

Yes, I knew better than to leave it in the car overnight. What is

done is done. I am just disappointed, because I have spent so many

hours upon hours reading and learning as much as I can regarding LF

photography, darkroom techniques, etc etc etc. I just feel that I

have been slowly building up a system that would last for years to

come. It certainly takes the wind out of one's sail.

<p>

I took inventory on what was stolen, and I can definitely recover.

At least I left my 35mm gear at home! Here was my post to

rec.photo.equipment.large-format earlier this morning:

<p>

"To all who live in San Francisco area:

<p>

On Saturday evening, my vehicle was broken into in the Russian Hill

area.

Most of my large format equipment was stolen, and I am in the

process of

trying to do my due diligence to get something back. It is a long

shot, but

what the heck.

<p>

here are the items that were stolen:

<p>

Rodenstock APO-Sironar-S 210mm f5.6. Serial # 11558913

Schneider Symmar 150mm. No serial number recorded

Pentax Zone VI modified digital spot meter

Leica 5x loupe

Fuji readyload holder with box of Velvia/Provia

misc filters to fit Cokin P holder

Domke black satchel

<p>

If anybody happens to see this equipment at a pawn shop or camera

store,

please let me know. I am heartbroken, and this will take a long time

to

build back up.

<p>

Kind regards,

<p>

Andy Biggs

abiggs@tvmcapital.com"

<p>

Thanks again, everybody.

<p>

Andy

My wife and I were house sitting for a family member up in San Francisco this past weekend. Off to a great start, I photographed the Golden Gate bridge from different viewpoints, capturing some great images on 4x5 Tri-X film.

<p>

Until I woke up.

<p>

We got into our car this morning, which was parked on the street behind the garage, only to find that it had been borken into. The thief obviosly didn't know what to think of a collapsed Canham 4x5 camera. Strange looking, he must have thought. Hmmm, now this Domke black satchel would look great, though. Gitzo? What is that? He left that, too.

<p>

I am sure he will never appreciate the differences between a 210mm Sironar-S and a Sironar-N, or my modified Pentax Zone VI spot meter. Absolutely not. And my assortment of filters, film holders, Leica 5X loupe and many others.

<p>

Anyway, not to make a sob story worse, it will take me a long time to accumulate these tools again. My wife and I were planning a month-ling trip in southern Utah / Arizona / New Mexico in May. I just don't have the energy to feel excited about photographing those places in 35mm. I anticipate that I will again get these items again. Not for a while, though.

<p>

I called the insurance company after filing a report with the police. All seemed to be going well, until the agent depressingly told me that they would only reimburse me up to $250, since the crime happened at another location other than our home. Ba humbug.

<p>

Thank you all for all of the wonderful information you have given me over the last 12 months since I purchased my first LF camera. I have learned a great deal. Hopefully I can return the favors when I get back into LF again.

<p>

Keep shooting.

<p>

-Andy Biggs

Ha ha ha. It blocks the wind! Won't help you with length of

exposure. Maybe a larger aperture will! he he he.

<p>

Seriously, my umbrella is a necessity here in the San Francisco bay

area. Wind wind wind. My umbrella blocks the wind at the time of

exposure, so my bellows doesn't get a chance to act like a sail. And

to keep my tripod on the ground, I have been using a Gitzo 1228 with

a center column. Not the greatest, but i bought it for my 35mm gear

a while back. Saving for a Ries. Anyway, I hang my backpack or Domke

satchel on the hook on the column to keep it anchored.

<p>

Hope this helps.

Thanks to everyone who posted their ideas. Very much appreciated. I

look forward to spending time out on the Colorado plateau, hopefully

being there before the summer crowds rush in. My 4x4 will be ready

to go, and our backpacking and camping gear cleaned up and packed up.

<p>

I guess the next step is to buy enough film to last the whole trip.

And to do some film testing with the new color filters I purchased a

few weeks ago.

<p>

Thanks again, everybody. Without the incredible forum, I might have

given up on large format altogether a while back. And special thanks

to Tuan.

<p>

-Andy