jamesevidon

How did you couple a Nikkor lens to the Hasselblad X Pan? I have looked high and low for a lens adapter that will take third party lenses.

Thanks. That clears it up.

In reviewing the Hasselblad Flexbody CP as an additional equipment for my Hasselblad 500C/M I noticed that among the 120 format masks, there is also a 4x5 mask. I don't believe the camera can shoot 4x5 since it is made to accept the Hasselblad 120 magazines. So what is the 4x5 mask used for?

Good point.

Really nice image. From time to time I also open up my old negative and transparency files and occasionally scan one or two.. Sometimes I think I was a better photographer then than I am now. As convenient as digital is, the old manual film equipment forced one to think and take time before shooting. I suppose that is why, in the last year, I have been re-acquiring film camera equipment, mostly in medium and large format. This Covid-19 lockdown has put a crimp in my efforts, so I am patiently waiting to crawl out of hiding and get to shooting.

Try Glennview.com (index.htm) This website store is full of old stuff for view cameras, press cameras and everything large format including 8x10 and larger that you probably won't find elsewhere.

Your comments were helpful. The Horseman with the increasing back looked like an erector set fix for turning it into a4x5. Solution? I bought a pristine Super Graphic 4x5. It's fairly light weight for a large format camera, comes with a rangefinder, Schneider 135mm lens with Synchro Compur, revolving back and Graflok. :D

I read an article about balsam separation that was interesting. Among other things it stated that carefully putting the lens with concave surface up in a temperature controlled oven at 300 degrees will soften the balsam liquid to state and with the concave surface up, the air gap in the separation will migrate up and out leaving the balsam intact and no longer separated. I'm not dumb enough to try it, but it sounds like an interesting approach. I tend to leave camera repairs to the experts and just take pictures. I don't know what process my camera technician uses but he told me it was not complicated and he usually charges around $200 or so to re-cement the lens; whatever that means.

Separations may not be serious depending where the separations are. Obviously, your example showing separations across the element needs fixing. Separations can be remedied by a good camera technician with the right equipment. The balsam cement dries or shrinks, etc. I got a quote for about $200 or more depending on what's needed for recementing. So a lens with separations can be restored.

rodeo_joe|1. and dan_fromm|2, Thanks for your responses. I sort of figured that would be the answers to my questions, but as a newbie to large format, I didn't want to walk into a situation where I'd end up with the wrong equipment. I am a long time user of 35mm film and digital. I recently went back to using film as well and have a Plaubel Makina 67. From there I added a Brooks-Veriwide 6x9 and now I am hungering for 6x12 for landscape/panoramas. I did buy a beautiful Zone VI with a 150mm, but I found it too limiting using a 6x12 roll back. You know;.. focus with a hood, slide in the roll back, shoot. Remove the roll back, refocus new subject, slide in the roll back and so on. I am now looking for a 4x5 with a clip-on or built-in rangefinder, optical viewfinder and focus independent from the ground glass...etc. I appreciate the helpful responses and stay healthy in these troubled times.

I am considering purchase of a Horseman VH-R even though it is only 6x9 format. I am also considering purchase of a Horseman Increasing back (6x9 to 4x5 inch) that will allow me to shoot 4x5 as well. Do the Horseman Increasing backs accept Graflok type roll film backs or only non-Graflok backs? I realize there are obvious other options for 4x5 and can buy Graflex made press cameras with Graflok as well as Linhof etc. But the Horseman is a lot lighter although with the addition of the Increasing back the weight difference may be insignificant. increasing back? Does anyone have any knowledge about the Graflok compatibility issue with the Horseman 6x9 to 4x5 increasing back?

Contact Camera Wiz by e-mail and pose your question. He is considered the top Makina repair person. I had my Makina CLA'd by him. He's a straight shooter. Frank Marshman camerawiz@msn.com

It is a bit more money, but I recommend the Plaubel Makina 67. I was able to buy a very clean one that did not have a functioning exposure meter for around $1K which is really an excellent price. The 6 x 7 images are really spectacular. Nikon went all out on this lens. The huge viewfinder/rangefinder is really bright and contrasty. It is quite compact and not all that heavy. It is currently undergoing a CLA which will bring the meter back to life. I was very lucky to find it at this price. Another great choice would be the Zeiss Super Ikonta B or BX. They can be had for around $500 or so in really great condition. Certo6.com can CLA these folders for not a lot of money. Jürgen is a really good guy and knows his stuff.

Now that I've shot a test roll in my Brooks-Veriwide, there are apparently some light leaks. Looking at the light trap with the back opened, I see that there is neither felt or foam in the light trap grooves. Is this normal and relies only on the flat black surfaces of the light trap groove, or do I need to have someone fit and install foam? Note: The dark slide slot is already taped over and shouldn't be a light leak source. Can anyone help me?

Now that I've shot a test roll in my Brooks-Veriwide, there are apparently some light leaks. Looking at the light trap with the back opened, I see that there is neither felt or foam in the light trap grooves. Is this normal and relies only on the flat black surfaces of the light trap groove, or do I need to have someone fit and install foam? Note: The dark slide slot is already taped over and shouldn't be a light leak source. Can anyone help me?

I just bought a very nice Brooks Veriwide 6x9 cm format on eBay with the original 120/220 roll film body. After purchasing and receiving it, I found that the adapter plate that accepts the body to the lens/shutter mount body is the same as the old Graflex XL. That means that if you can find an adapter plate, it will accept all the Graflex Graflok and Horseman et al film magazines and backs. That gives you the wide variety of Graflok compatible film backs available on Ebay for very reasonable prices. As I see it, should the original and now ancient Brooks film advance fail, there are ready replacements in the wide choice of Graflok compatible film backs allowing you to change from 6x9 cm all the way down to 645 format if desired, while retaining the excellent Scheider Angulon lens and Compur shutter. I just purchased from Ebay a junker Graflex XL with a fully functional XL film back for a song. It is my intention to separate the film back and XL adapter plate from the junk camera body which I will trash. Hopefully, with the XL-Graflok adapter plate, I'll be able to extend the usefulness of my Brooks Veriwide camera with the many compatible film backs that are available for very reasonable prices.

I'll admit to start with that I have never used either camera. I did buy a Minox 35 GT on -Ebay that was advertised as perfect and fully functional. When it arrived it was fully non-functional and completely dead. Communicating with the seller we determined that it was probably shaken up in the shipping probably dislodging the shutter solenoid magnets. I returned it and got a full refund. Then after reviewing the various Minox Forums I found that this is a problem with the Minox 35 sometimes correctable by the owner that wishes to disassemble in order to expose the electronic. Sometimes a careful use of an air bulb to dislodge dust cures the problems. I'll Admit that it is a very attractive camera, given it's size and performance to slip in a pocket and carry about. But after surfing the various forums, I'll probably shop for the Contax T, pay a little more and get a more rugged camera, should the desire for a pocketable camera arise again not withstanding the part availability issue. But as a recent purchaser of a Zeiss Ikon Contessa in E+ condition, parts are not a worry for me. There are enough rough looking functional cameras at bargain prices on eBay, so that, if used as a spare parts bin, it may not be a problem. There are some really ugly but functional Contax T's on Ebay.

Send an email to DAG Camera Parts in the U.S. He is a top repair specialist for Leica et. al and he has a lot of Minox 35 experience and parts to boot. I'm sure he'll answer you and may have some knowledgeable suggestions. Featured Products

The gray petrified log has some real potential, carvings aside. Bring down the highlights to bring out the texture in the highlighted areas, crop to suit and you'll have a real winner. Also try processing for a B&W image, if you are so equipped. I don't know if it will be a more dramatic image but it would be worth a try. I like images like that as the texture is interesting. Good image!

I ordered a 6" cable release with what appears to be a very thin diameter pin end and my local camera store said their Walnut Creek store bought up a lot of Graflex XL parts and they do have the original cable release which they ordered for me. The problem with the O.E.M. cable is that it is 18" long so I'll have to wrap it out of the way somehow. Maybe the sort one from B&H will work.

I just purchased a nice Brooks Veriwide panoramic camera. There is only one part missing and that is the cable release. What length do you recommend where the cable release post on the shutter is @ 90 degrees on the left hand side as you look at the front on the camera head on, and is therefore a very short distance from the two tangs that hold the cable release.. Another problem I have is that while the top tang is split so you can bend the tabs to slip the cable into the hole, the lower tang is not split and will not allow the cable end to slip through the hole. Any suggestions wi/ll be greatly appreciated. I am ready to go out and shoot some landscapes to test the camera's performance and light-tightness and a loose hanging cable release is pretty awkward for hand held photography.

It looks to me like it is "Kodak 8" but I do see it. I assume the scratchy stuff to the viewer's left is on the wall and not an artifact. Roll film backing does have #'s on the back for older cameras that have the red or green sighting windows, and that is probably what you see. Photoshop healing brush should get rid of it.

The female thread 27mm filters fit the Zeiss Ikon Contessa 35 folding camera. I know because I just bought a cherry one on eBay and started shopping for filters. The lens has an annular groove that is male threaded on the inside for the filters and there are also 32mm slip on filters that go over the front element of the lens. I understand that the 27mm filters also accept an adapter ring with male threads so they will fit on the Contaflex as well, but don't quote me.

So Sorry for the late response but I just noticed it. Yes, I will sell. I had to buy mine from the U.K. It was the only place I could find one. For my +.5, I paid GBP17 plus postage or about $30. I'll sell you my +1.5 for the same amount + mailing. I suggest Priority USPS mail. If you are interested, let me know @ evidonjamess@gmail.com