danac

I'll just leave it as is. I have printed dozens of fine sharp photos with it over the last three years. It is a four element lens made in Japan. If I get in the mood to spend more money the brand new Beseler Printmaker 67 will get the nesessary parts to do 35mm.

The bellows are attached to the lensboard so it must unscrew without a jam nut but an 800 pound gorilla tightened it. Trying to force it off might make a mess of things.

One more question. I read that it is possible to print 35mm negatives with a 75mm or larger focal length lens but is it as effective as when done with a 50mm enlarger lens?

Is it possible to change this lens for a better one? Is it a 39mm mount?

My camera collector friend just sold me a like new El-Nikkor f/4 75mm lens for $50. It's flawless with the plastic case and ring. He bought it new several years ago and only used it a few times. I'll see if Freestyle will take the new (unopened box) Beseler lens back for a refund. I made some photographs today in Rocky Mountain National Park with my new/old Mamiya 645E. This is pretty darned exciting considering how long I've wanted to have a complete medium format set up.

The "quality" lenses I just researched on ebay all looked as if they just came out of the bargain barrel at the local pawn shop. I will keep looking for a new-in-box or like new one. But in the meantime I ordered the Omega 75/4.5 with my enlarger etc.. I'm never going to do color. Enlargements will be no larger than 8X10. The lens was made for the Printmaker. And I need something right now. I have no doubt that my darkroom equipment will continue to grow one step at a time.

The lens that Beseler sells for the 67 Printmaker is an Omega El-Omegar 75mm f/4.5. I doubt that it is one of the better ones. It has a 39mm mount. If I purchase a better used lens it will have to be in like new condition. I just got my new-in-box Mamiya 645E with an 80mm lens plus a pristine 45mm lens from Japan today. I'd like to get the enlarger business settled soon.

The borrowed 23C turned out to be pretty much an aged basket case. Folks, I am just an amateur hobby photographer. Compared to some of you I'm just a "fool standing on the corner." So I don't need a high quality enlarger. I'll never process color negatives and don't want to get into 6x7. The enlarger will be a much better fit for my small darkroom. Besides as stated before, I really cotton to new things and I don't mind spending the money. So I have decided to get a Beseler 67 Printmaker, a 75mm lens, lensboard and 6x4.5 negative holder. I don't need the 35mm kit as I have another enlarger for that.

I have a friend in town who has over 100 very nice old cameras. He also has a Beseler 23C II (the blue one) that he let me borrow today. It has a 50mm and 75mm lens. There is a 35mm negative carrier but that's all. I need to find a carrier for 4.5x6. It's two thin round pieces hinged together with a handle. He even converted it to a cold light. The enlarger was purchased by him in or about 1970. The instrument is in fine condition. I downloaded the manual since he really doesn't remember how to use it.

I need an enlarger that will work with 6X4.5 sized negatives and doesn't cost a fortune. Only black and white will be printed. Will a 75mm lens work for this smallest of medium format negatives or do I need 80mm? The Beseler 67 condenser with a 35mm lens kit new comes to $800. I would need the bigger lens too. That's a lot more than I expected. Maybe medium format wasn't such a bright idea. I could buy used but have no clue what to look for. I prefer new though. I've been using a Beseler Cadet II for 35mm so don't really need a 50mm lens. Forgive me if this thread has already been beaten to death but I looked pretty far back and didn't see anything.

The lens is an N model with a 67mm filter thread just like the standard 80mm lens. That sure saves on filter costs. I don't know what the mirror rest/brake is but the camera is new in box and has never been used so things should be in good shape. At most the camera is twenty-one years old. Rest assured rodeo_joe|1, I will probably get a 1000s body sometime down the road.

Last night before I saw the last few posts, I bought the camera and a mint 45mm wide angle lens both from Japan. I know the camera is ugly but the larger negatives are what matters. The first generation 645s are classic beauties like Grace Kelly or Ingrid Bergman. The 645E is like the girl next door. It was definitely overpriced but the big attraction was that it is brand new and never used. Besides, my wife, who is a very fine photographer, didn't like the RB67 and really likes the 645E. I can still get a 1000S body down the road and the lenses will work with it. I guess I've come a long way since the original post. Thank you all for the great comments. Soon I will be busy photographing many of my favorite scenes up here in the Colorado Rockies all over again. In a few weeks Deb and I will be in Zion and Bryce National Parks. I'd better get a five roll bundle of Tri-X.

Would $1400 be too ridiculously high a price for a brand new in box 645e? I like new things.

I bought it today. The images I made with it were very nice at all focal lengths except for one at f/4. There was some vignetting but smaller apertures were all fine. The sky was a little washed out but nothing a #8 or #15 yellow filter can't handle. No worries about CA as I only intend to use black & white film with it. Me happy.

Don't laugh but I have just discovered a camera that really excites me. It's the Mamiya 645E. They are smaller, lighter, less expensive, has a built-in meter, no dark slide to work around and they were all made after 2000. The negative is a bit smaller but still between two and a half and three times larger than 35mm. There's even a brand new one on ebay from Japan.

As little use as the cameras get I may not live long enough to expose forty roles of film;). There is a British Car Conclave in Denver this weekend. Over 500 Brit cars and motorcycles will be exhibited. It will be a perfect venue for the FTb. We are taking a trip to Utah next month. The A-1 and AE-1 will go. The FTb stays home. Whenever one of the above gets used careful notes will be taken. I've had the AE-1 for forty-one years now. The A-1 for three. The FTb for a few months only.

I have come to the conclusion that the FTb 12% metering mode is far less effective for landscapes than the meters in my A-1 and AE-1. The landscape practice photos I took were simply terrible. Once again, my only photographic interest is black & white film landscapes. Nature photography and portraits where the subject is backlit seems to be the province of 12% metering but I very seldom ever make those images. I really want to use that darned camera though.

I just came from a friends house who owns an RB67 (not an S) with lots of accessories. He bought it new back in the day and still looks brand new. It was the first time I ever saw or held one. It is much larger and heavier and than expected. What a surprise. You would need a pretty stout tripod for it. The only back was for 220 film but he said you can use 120 in it. How does that work? No, he doesn't want to sell it. He also had a very impressive collection including a pristine Eastman 5X7 glass negative camera that was like new. It also has a 4X5 back for sheet film.

I just borrowed a flawless looking zoom as above from a friend. Anyone have experience with one?

Estes Park, Colorado. Canon A-1 50mm f/1.8 FDn on Delta 100

That was the time to buy them.

Senior moment. Here is the link: 【UNUSED】 Mamiya RB67 Pro S ProS Body w/120 Film Back,Strap from JAPAN C08 | eBay

I am very tempted by this unused RB 67 Pro S body and 120 film back. It's the closest thing to new out there. Is it a fair price?

After much study over the last week I can now appreciate the efficacy of a spot meter for landscapes. Deb always has her Canon T7i. It has a "spot" meter that covers 3.5% of the view so I can try it for a somewhat equivalent tool.

At this point I think the L-308 would be a good choice for my needs.