Large Format photography group - From "zero to hero!"

Thanks guys. I found a similar one without the clear plastic for next to nothing so went for that.
 
Perhaps but I'm hitting the focus more now that I've got a focusing Schneider loupe than I was with the various cheap options I tried.
 
steveo_mcg said:
Perhaps but I'm hitting the focus more now that I've got a focusing Schneider loupe than I was with the various cheap options I tried.
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I will at some point get a proper one but im off to bonnie Scotland on Saturday and needed something quick to take with me. Bit of a trek as we have to pick up friends in Edinburgh first then shoot across to Fort William. The CMS and our friends are walking the East Highland way and im support so I'll have a big van and lots of room for cameras. :-D
 
Andysnap said:
I will at some point get a proper one but im off to bonnie Scotland on Saturday and needed something quick to take with me. Bit of a trek as we have to pick up friends in Edinburgh first then shoot across to Fort William. The CMS and our friends are walking the East Highland way and im support so I'll have a big van and lots of room for cameras. :-D
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Ah well if needs must. Sounds like fun.
 
InscRedDSC04689.jpg I had to Google "East Highland Way"! If you end up in Aviemore, make sure that you pop down to Glenmore (on the road to Cairngorm) and have tea (or coffeee if you must) in the cafe on the right hand side of the road just in the 40 mph limit. It's the one on the edge of the camp site, not the tourist info one on the other side of the road. You're almost certain to see red squirrels on their feeders. Failing that, Inschriach Nurseries tea room has an even greater likelihood of getting squirrel or greater spotted woodpecker photos. If you're in to that kind of thing...
 
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And if you're shooting squirrels on large format, don't forget your hammer and nails to keep the little gits still while you focus :)
 
StephenM said:
View attachment 45885 I had to Google "East Highland Way"! If you end up in Aviemore, make sure that you pop down to Glenmore (on the road to Cairngorm) and have tea (or coffeee if you must) in the cafe on the right hand side of the road just in the 40 mph limit. It's the one on the edge of the camp site, not the tourist info one on the other side of the road. You're almost certain to see red squirrels on their feeders. Failing that, Inschriach Nurseries tea room has an even greater likelihood of getting squirrel or greater spotted woodpecker photos. If you're in to that kind of thing...
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Thanks for the tip Stephen. Actually (and please excuse the digital nature of this shot) I've been quite lucky with Reds this year.
Red-Squirrel-12 by Andy, on Flickr
 
Well that went well, ordered 2 dds off of the bay and 4 arrived... win :banana:
 
I have two lenses in pneumatic shutters but haven't been able to find suitable bulbs, although 5 mm (OD?) PVC tubing seems to fit well. For example the miniature blower brushes, which come from China ,are too soft to take the pressure and the nozzle and attached tubing blow out.

Today I was at Blackpool in the medical engineering department and noticed this item (well not literally this particular manufacturer although it looks identical) ...

Accoson AC1502 INFLATION BULB AND CONTROL VALVE

I ordered a couple from OnCall Medical Supplies. £6 each, approximately, but not too much if they work, and they have a valve for extra long exposures.
 
So I have a question regarding LF lenses for use with roll film adapters.

Inspired by the thread @stevelmx5 posted a link to some weeks ago about the MF cameras that people had made out of MF backs and modded LF lenses onto, and coupled with steves cracking 110 conversion, it sparked in me some inspiration once I'm free in a few days time :D

Naturally, through the format being smaller, the standard lenses for 5x4 effectively become longer. As such, where I want to make a camera out of a 6x6 back, I'm going to need a lens wider than my current standard 90mm for 5x4.

Rodenstocks' Grandagon range (35, 45 and 55 mm lenses) appear to be designed exactly for this purpose with generally smaller image circles and uber wide focal lengths. My question is, does anyone know of any other makes/ranges/lenses that are "lenses in copal shutters" and also designed for use on roll film? The grandagon range are £lol, so something cheaper than the £4-500 would be awesome!
 
Nice to see I'm not the only one with an over-active mind bud! Good luck with it, you've got a few weeks to get it built before the lakes meet :0)
 
Oh mate, I'm always thinking of things I want to do, it's just I always have either a lack of time or money, or both!

Also, I need a turret milling machine.

:(
 
Woodsy said:
Naturally, through the format being smaller, the standard lenses for 5x4 effectively become longer. As such, where I want to make a camera out of a 6x6 back, I'm going to need a lens wider than my current standard 90mm for 5x4.
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Normally a standard lens for MF is somewhere in the 75-80mm range, why would you want a wider lens (as a standard lens)? I must be missing something...

Edit: perhaps you meant standard as in the one you normally use, rather than standard lens as in the 50mm ffe?
 
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Definitely useful, appreciate it :) but my question was really about whether there are other LF (style?) lenses out there that, like the rodenstock grandagons, that are designed for roll film use. i.e., ones that have a smaller image circle, slightly more compact etc. Or am I missing something? :/
 
If you don't need the lens to cover 5x4 then you could look out for a Horseman/Topcon lens designed for 6x9. Some of the apparently cover up to 5x4. They are to be found in focal lengths 65, 75, 90, 105, 120, 150, 180 and maybe 210 mm. They have enough coverage for modest movements on 6x9.

I recently bought a Horseman 760 technical camera, a version without the rangefinder, and it came with a Horseman 65mm f5.6 lens and a 6x7 roll film back. I got it cheap because the viewing hood is missing and the shutter needed a service. No big deal as I can use it with a focussing cloth and the shutter overhaul only cost £37. But even though it is a poor man's Linhoff it's a cracking little camera.

As far as nice second hand wide angle lenses go here is something to whet your appetite.

http://www.teamworkphoto.com/lenses-c-77_187_197.html
 
Update on the Accoson AC1502 INFLATION BULB AND CONTROL VALVE for powering pneumatic shutters.

It works a treat. As I mentioned before I have two lenses with pneumatic shutters. Sadly the one with the Bausch and Lomb shutter doesn't work. I don't know if the shutter is jammed or what. I can still use it with the shutter release and a piece of string luckily. The other unbranded shutter works fine.
 
Thanks for the info all :)

It seems sadly that I have very few options other than to spend a fair sum of money. Well that's that plan on hold then! :(
 
I've been looking at an alternative. Not as neat looking as the Rodenstock lenses but then I won't need to sell one of my kids either! Pick up a Voigtlander Perkeo ii and fit the lens to a solid mount rather than the bellows. That's one of the smallest 6x6 folders so should have a relatively short flange back distance I'd imagine. I haven't looked into it enough to get any actual measurements but might be a cheaper option? It's not going to be as slim as a LF lens install but should keep the costs down at least.
 
Slowly getting into the swing of using the MPP. One from Loch Garten in Scotland last week on Fomapan 100.

Loch-Garten-3 by Andy, on Flickr
 
I'm going to have to get a shift on to get them all processed.
 
Don't know whether to groan or be impressed!
 
I have a quick question :) What's the best way to send your LF filum off for lab developing? Was walking into work this morning (as in, from the car park, I'm not walking all the way :D ) and there were small patches of mist in the trees, which were starting to turn a bit orangey. Made me want to shoot some autumn landscapes and suddenly my head was filled with ideas of buying some Velvia 50.

I've only shot B&W and C41 in 5x4, and all of them have been developed at home so I've never had to send sheets off. If I had 2-3 sheets of E6 I wanted to send to somewhere like Peak, what's the best method of packing? Obviously I can put the sheets in the dark bag and light tight box that the film comes in, but then I'm stuffed for the next time, unless they tend to send the box back?
 
I always ask them to send dark bag and boxes back, some add a little extra for the return postage.
 
Ahh ok, that makes life easy then. I better get on and finish a box then so I can send some film off in it! Think I have a few sheets of Fuji 160NS left or about half a box of Fomapan 100, need to get a move on if I want to shoot some autumn colours lol
 
Anyone have any experience with using expired slide film in 5x4? Macodirect are selling Velvia 50 that expired in October 2014 for £65 plus postage. Quite tempted to get some as I've heard so many good things about it that I'd like to be able to say I've used it :D
 
Not that it's what you asked, but just be warned that it's quite hard to scan on account of it's density.

Otherwise, I'd say that if it's been cold stored, a year OOD is essentially nothing. If it's been frozen, I personally would shoot it at box speed.
 
50 isnt a very forgiving film, i found it really easy to blow highlights unless the exposure was spot on, the 100 is a lot more flexible.
 
Woodsy said:
Not that it's what you asked, but just be warned that it's quite hard to scan on account of it's density.

Otherwise, I'd say that if it's been cold stored, a year OOD is essentially nothing. If it's been frozen, I personally would shoot it at box speed.
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Ahh ok I wasn't aware of this, thanks :) My V550 scanner seems to be having a few problems lately which I'm struggling to sort out so I'll probably be getting a lab scan until it's sorted (or I've been forced to fork out for a new one :( )
 
I think I need a lens spanner wrench thing.....

So,
Question 1 - Do I really need one?
Question 2 - What sort?

I've seen a square jobbie which has Copal 0, 1 and 3 on it or an adjustable thingummy-bob with screwdrivers, pointy things and screws.

Cheers

Andy
 
1) you don't *need* one, you can get them off with screw drivers, but it's a ball ache if it's screwed on uber tight, and like me last time, you risk scratching things or worse.
2) I believe the sort is only a matter of what size ring you want to remove. AFAIK, any copal 0 spanner thinger should remove any copal 0 retaining ring.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UK-Pro-Le...69ce1bd&pid=100005&rk=4&rkt=6&sd=200978102480

Something like that might work.
 
You only really need a lens spanner if you've got more than one lens. Have you got more than one lens Andy?
 
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