john_padden

<p>Thanks, Rick, for another great posting. I don't think I have ever run into any of the Praktica "B" series bodies here in the Mid-Atlantic states. But I didn't know then that I should be looking for these highly regarded cameras.</p>

<p>My favorites among your included images are: "Adam", a very pleasing well composed portrait; "Bay Window", because of the great tonality, crisp edges and realistic perspective; and "Beech Leaf", because everything is focus!</p>

<p>I have a very long way to go to work through all your many past postings, but I am looking forward to the challenge!</p>

<p>Hi Rick. I am bowled over by your posting! I hope to use it in the future as a guide to what a model posting should contain and should look like.<br>

Folks looking for information about the Altix and what it is capable of will be pleasantly surprised to find such a well thought out, well executed, informative and beautiful write-up. You are providing all who will see this with a great service. Thank you!<br>

You are also gifted in selecting your subjects and composing your images. Your are not using a view camera here with tilts and shifts but you still manage to center your subjects and avoid any key-stoning of the vertical elements. I am very impressed.<br>

I'll need to work real hard in cleaning up my cameras to get them to look anything like what you have achieved with this Altix. Thanks for the hints on how you proceed with a typical camera exterior cleaning.</p>

<p>Ralf, thanks for taking the time to take, scan and post these images. I too particularly like the "Lost Tourist" shot. What will be your next project?</p>

<p>Sorry I missed you at the Second Sunday show.</p>

<p>Thank you all for your responses.!<br>

Dan, thanks for the reminder to broaden my search a bit more before coming hat-in-hand to this Forum for what may be easily available information. After clicking through the first four pages of search results I have only a bit more information on C-Claron lenses generally and not much on the 477/6,7 - just that there are other examples for sale in online auctions.<br>

Dave, thanks for the link back to the appropriate JSK website page. And I'm not going to attempt to use this lens on my 5 x 4 camera.<br>

Rodeo Joe, thanks for your observations. That's an intriguing point about the possibility that lens corrections in this case might be optimized for green light. That sounds like a nice experiment to try.<br>

Alex, thanks for your comments. This is a very large lens and to me a bit unusual and yes the size impresses and suggests a valuable lens (but not necessarily for the uses I may have in mind). So, I long ago added it to my collection of projects yet to be done.<br>

Which kind of brings me to the realization that having asked about this lens type, I should at this point try to use it and see what happens and report back on my experience.<br>

Thanks again everyone.</p>

<p>Well, I am starting with what I think is a hard question. This Schneider - Kreuznach C-Claron 6.7/477 lens mounted in a barrel has a serial number above 14 000 000, so I assume it is not too old. The barrel has a 7-curved-blade iris aperture marked 6,7 8 11 16 22.<br /> But I have not seen any information on "C-Claron" designated lenses.</p>

<p>Another great find, Ralf. Like everyone else I'm anxious to see some images taken with it.<br>

Missed you at the 10 October Second Sunday show. Did you go?</p>

<p>I also was at the Second Sunday show in Wayne, NJ on 10 October and was disappointed but not too surprised by the low vendor count. I walked around a bit dejectedly for a good while and was about to give up without buying anything when I happened upon an Arca Swiss view camera on my way to the door. Well that and two subsequent $5 purchases for small items kinda made my day.<br>

I have been going to camera shows now and then for a few decades. I like them a lot. They can be exciting and are something to look forward to. Online auctions provide a broad selection of items to pick from but the search is time-consuming and not quite as enjoyable as walking around a busy camera show. I am also discouraged with buying a $10 item online and being asked to pay $15 shipping plus 8 plus percent NY sales tax on the total.<br>

What can we do to encourage more vendor participation at shows? I'm doing my usual part - attending any show within reasonable distance. But that seems not to be enough.<br>

Shows are still worth while for me. What can we do to keep them viable?</p>

<p>Wow, so much guilt. So many of you want to scale back your collecting. Why not just continue enjoying the collecting and shooting experience?<br>

This is my first posting to this forum, so hello everybody. I have been visiting this forum, reading and viewing and I have been very impressed: good information, nice images and a friendly atmosphere. Hope I can join in and make a contribution to the discussions underway.<br>

Yes I am an avid collector and my new year's resolution will be to actually use more of the classic equipment surrounding me as I write this. And this posting is also a part of my resolution to become more active in the photography community. At least with this posting I am making progress on that front.<br>

I recently purchased an Agfa Isoly-mat (4x4cm images on 120 film) and that was the first camera I reached for today to take a photo of my family as they embarked on a local shopping trip. I only had a few minutes, they were anxious to leave. Then I glanced at the back of the camera - no film! No time to load. So I grabbed my Mamiya 645 and took the shots. But I was of course disappointed in not getting to use the Agfa.<br>

I am encouraged to read that at least one of you is interested in shooting 3 1/4 x 4 1/4 film. That is one of my pet projects. I also see there is some interest in the Mamiya Press Super, a camera I admire and have on my (still long) wish list.<br>

Steve Smith, nice work on your 6x12 camera. I look forward to seeing the completed project on your Web page and of course enjoying some of the images you capture with it.<br>

Happy New Year everyone!</p>