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scott___1

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Posts posted by scott___1

    Drum Scanning for LARGE Prints...

    in The Digital Darkroom: Process, Technique & Printing

    Posted

    Greetings,

     

    I just received an order for several really large prints ? sizes that will

    require the absolute best quality scans available. In reviewing the scanner

    comparison on the largeformatphotography.info site, it appears that the ICG

    drum scanner is the best option, at least of those tested. As such, I?d like to

    have my originals scanned on an ICG scanner ? do any of you work with labs that

    run an ICG that you?d feel comfortable recommending? For those of you that have

    experience with such things, are the ICG?s as superior to Tango scans as the

    comparison would lead one to believe?

     

    thanks,

    Scott

    Fast Slide Film - 400 Provia, 100 Provis Pushed +2, Or??

    in Medium Format

    Posted

    good day,

     

    i've got a shoot pretty soon which is going to require me to hand hold a 6x7

    camera in pretty low light. As such, I'm trying to determine what's the best

    route film-wise to get the best combination of speed and quality. Has anyone

    compared the following...

     

    Provia 400

    Provia 100 pushed +2 to 320

    Astia 100 pushed +2 to 320

    Kodak 200 something pushed +1 to 400

     

    any inputs wuold be much appreciated.

     

    Scott

    Grafmatic film holders

    in Large Format

    Posted

    i started shooting 4x5 with grafmatics, and still think they are easier to load than cut film holders. handeling one septum is far easier than an entire cut film holder. as to the flatness issue, there's an article written on this or the other LF forum where flatness of several different holders was tested - the grafmatics proved to hold the film FLATTER than cut film holder or ready/quick loads. the convenience of having 6 sheets right at your finger tips is wonderful, and the steps you go through are quite easy to master - you won't even have to think about it after a few tries.

     

    look on ebay, find samples that run smoothly and have flat septums.

     

    scott

    Size of Arca-Swiss F-Metric C 10x8 camera?

    in Large Format

    Posted

    noah, i use a bag designed for laptop computers. i found one made by kingston that is the perfect size for the 8x10 rear and 5 holders. the case has a large 'saddle bag' type opening and is divided into two sections. one section is the perfect size for the camera, the other holds 5 holders in a sony neoprene laptop sleeve quite snugly. very compact with adequate protection. if you shop for laptop cases, most will be designed to give some sort of protection to their contents.

    Linhof MT vs Ebony 45SU

    in Large Format

    Posted

    my experience with woden cameras differes with brian's slightly. i actually found the canham wood to be the finest of those i tested. i didn't notice much difference between the ebony and the tachi and came away wondering what all the hooplah is around ebony cameras. if i absolutely wanted to shoot with a wooden camera, the canham is the only one i would consider. however, all of these cameras are in a completely different league from the technikas.

    Linhof MT vs Ebony 45SU

    in Large Format

    Posted

    i started with a tech IV and sold it to find a camera that was more flexible. i went through several wooden cameras (tachi, canham, and 2 ebonies(rw45 and sv45ti)) before finally coming back the linhof. this time to a master tech 2000. incidentally, i also auditioned a canham metal camera as well as a TK45S. i can say without any doubt whatsoever that i found the technikas to be the finest folding cameras made.

    Why Ebony

    in Large Format

    Posted

    steve,

     

    i think your follow-up questions are important ones and i'm glad you asked them. i value build quality very highly, initial and long-term. my cameras are used like tools, not as display pieces, and as such, i need them to work reliably on their first outing and just as reliably 5 years into our relationship. like you, i will pay, within reason, whatever the going rate is for such a tool. as such, i found after a lengthy tour through several cameras, that for my needs two cameras were ideal. when i will be going on long hikes or overnights in the wilds, i take a linhof master technika 2000. for EVERYTHING else, i use an arca swiss f-line metric.

     

    in my opinion, these are the pinnacles of design in their respective categories - the MT2000 is simply the best compact folding camera ever manufactured and the F-Line is the finest all around camera i have ever used. in my experience, there is not another camera available today that can compare to these. don't take it from me... i was talking with keith canham about his offerings and asked why he didn't make a folder similar to the Master Technika or a compact monorail like the F-Line and he said simply that there was no way he could improve on their designs.

     

    to your question about the sweet spot, if backpacking is something you do and price is a consideration, i'd say that a clean Linhof Technika IV or better would be the camera to beat.

    Why Ebony

    in Large Format

    Posted

    gary,<br><br>

     

    online forums are good for many things, unfortunately, they are prone to certain misunderstandings, as it is not possible to communicate subtleties like tone and body language. i meant no offense, and certainly hope the ebony owners on the forum take no umbrage by my response. i have found that ebony cameras, at the price point they sell for, come with a certain cachet, and this appeals to certain photographers, not all, but a few to be sure. for someone who tried two ebony cameras, one low-end and one high-end, i found there are better options for me for the money. for me, there is no reason to shoot with an ebony, unless i desired the cachet that that particular camera carries - which i certainly don't concern myself with - as i found alternatives that better do what i desire in a camera. after passing a wide variety of cameras through my bag, i have settled on what works best for me. ebony did not make the cut, but i know several photographers that swear by them. like you said earlier, our differences make the world go round.<br><br>

     

    my apologies for getting this thread off track. i shall leave it by simply saying that i tried two ebony cameras and choose otherwise for a variety of reasons, chief among them...<br><br>

     

    1. rigidity - being used to metal cameras, i found the ebony cameras sloppy by comparison<br>

    2. set-up / take down time - it took me longer to fold / unfold the ebony then some other cameras<br>

    3. ease of use - i did not like having to switch between focusing knobs<br>

    4. perceived long-term durability of a wooden camera that will be heavily used out-of-doors.

    Why Ebony

    in Large Format

    Posted

    gary,

     

    you do not know me nor have you any insight into my photographic pursuits or predilections so i find it quite humorous that you have chosen to impugn my honor with your implication. if you must know, i went through quite a number of field cameras whilst seeking the one that worked best in my hands, 2 ebonies amongst them - an RW45 and an SV45Ti to be specific.

     

    now, as to your skepticism of my claim that i have owned two ebonies and was underwhelmed with them both, what are you unclear on - that i owned two or that i was underwhelmed by them? if it's the former, that's a bit ridiculous, as i mentioned earlier, we've never met and you certainly have no notion of the means i have at my disposal to make purchases. if it is the later, well, that's the special form of ignorance found all too frequently on these quasi-anonymous forums whereby one presumes to know what another will find of use. i found the ebony cameras to be less rigid than i was comfortable with, which is not entirely surprising for someone used to using metal cameras.

     

    as to my contribution to the thread, i believe i answered steve's question directly... ebony cameras are expensive for a variety of reasons, the high cost of titanium and japanese labor contributing heavily to the overall cost.

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