OT: Enablement... 4x5 monorail view camera

[Darren Addy]

My Toyo/Omega 45D arrived from KEH today and it is a Beautiful Thing.
I don't know why, but I feel like a whole different way of thinking
about photography has finally arrived at my door. (Both my lens for it
and the recessed lens board are delayed thanks to the blizzard in the
eastern U.S. so it will be a bit before I get to take it out.)  Then
again, maybe I *do* know why:

It is like the diametric opposite of my Whiz-Bang K-3 II. It's a
bellows with endless swings, shifts, and tilts on both ends and a
rotating back. Composition with it requires a very slow, templative
process, the opposite of 8 fps. It requires separate metering
(preferrably spot metering). Each exposure can be developed
individually (or not). The resulting negative can be scanned (to go
back into digital post-processing world) OR printed the traditional
way in a wet darkroom. (I'm fascinated by both "stand development" and
"Lith Printing" at the moment and learning more about both.)

This camera has me pulling Fred Picker's "Zone VI Workshop" off the
bookshelf, with a purpose. It embodies the romance of an upside down
image projected upon a ground glass, under a focusing cloth, with the
ability to manipulate the plane of focus as well as perspective
correction at exposure time.

With the addition of this new format, I'm as excited about photography
(in all of its many forms) as I have probably ever been in my life.

-- 
Life is too short to put up with bad bokeh.

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Re: OT: Enablement... 4x5 monorail view camera

[Ken Waller]

Sounds like the trip will be as enjoyable as the destination.

Enjoy !

-Original Message-
>From: Darren Addy Subject: OT: Enablement... 4x5 monorail view camera
>
>My Toyo/Omega 45D arrived from KEH today and it is a Beautiful Thing.
>I don't know why, but I feel like a whole different way of thinking
>about photography has finally arrived at my door. (Both my lens for it
>and the recessed lens board are delayed thanks to the blizzard in the
>eastern U.S. so it will be a bit before I get to take it out.)  Then
>again, maybe I *do* know why:
>
>It is like the diametric opposite of my Whiz-Bang K-3 II. It's a
>bellows with endless swings, shifts, and tilts on both ends and a
>rotating back. Composition with it requires a very slow, templative
>process, the opposite of 8 fps. It requires separate metering
>(preferrably spot metering). Each exposure can be developed
>individually (or not). The resulting negative can be scanned (to go
>back into digital post-processing world) OR printed the traditional
>way in a wet darkroom. (I'm fascinated by both "stand development" and
>"Lith Printing" at the moment and learning more about both.)
>
>This camera has me pulling Fred Picker's "Zone VI Workshop" off the
>bookshelf, with a purpose. It embodies the romance of an upside down
>image projected upon a ground glass, under a focusing cloth, with the
>ability to manipulate the plane of focus as well as perspective
>correction at exposure time.
>
>With the addition of this new format, I'm as excited about photography
>(in all of its many forms) as I have probably ever been in my life.
>
>-- 
>Life is too short to put up with bad bokeh.



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Re: OT: Enablement... 4x5 monorail view camera

[Bulent Celasun]

Thanks Darren,

I really do wonder if I can devote my (always less than planned)
time to "view camera" work...

Please continue to share your experiences.

Bulent

-
http://patoloji.gen.tr
http://celasun.wordpress.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bc_the_path/
http://photo.net/photodb/user?user_id=2226822
http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/bulentcelasun


2016-01-27 8:37 GMT+02:00 Darren Addy :
> My Toyo/Omega 45D arrived from KEH today and it is a Beautiful Thing.
> I don't know why, but I feel like a whole different way of thinking
> about photography has finally arrived at my door. (Both my lens for it
> and the recessed lens board are delayed thanks to the blizzard in the
> eastern U.S. so it will be a bit before I get to take it out.)  Then
> again, maybe I *do* know why:
>
> It is like the diametric opposite of my Whiz-Bang K-3 II. It's a
> bellows with endless swings, shifts, and tilts on both ends and a
> rotating back. Composition with it requires a very slow, templative
> process, the opposite of 8 fps. It requires separate metering
> (preferrably spot metering). Each exposure can be developed
> individually (or not). The resulting negative can be scanned (to go
> back into digital post-processing world) OR printed the traditional
> way in a wet darkroom. (I'm fascinated by both "stand development" and
> "Lith Printing" at the moment and learning more about both.)
>
> This camera has me pulling Fred Picker's "Zone VI Workshop" off the
> bookshelf, with a purpose. It embodies the romance of an upside down
> image projected upon a ground glass, under a focusing cloth, with the
> ability to manipulate the plane of focus as well as perspective
> correction at exposure time.
>
> With the addition of this new format, I'm as excited about photography
> (in all of its many forms) as I have probably ever been in my life.
>
> --
> Life is too short to put up with bad bokeh.
>
> --
> PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List
> PDML@pdml.net
> http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
> to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow 
> the directions.

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Re: OT: Enablement... 4x5 monorail view camera

[Darren Addy]

Thanks for the replies Ken and Bulent.

I'm glad to learn that my tripod (Manfrotto 3021BPRO) should be
adequate to support the camera. Also, I'm glad I chose the Arca-Swiss
p0 monoball as it appears to be more than adequate for the job.
(Although it is unusual to use a ball head with a view camera, it is
not unheard of, though it is a little more difficult than having the
separate axis controls - so I may still add another tripod head to the
arsenal.)

I also discovered that a black Polyester/Nylon-lined V-neck pullover
is PERFECT for this camera as a focusing cloth. The stretch v-neck
goes nicely over the rotating back and you put your head up in the
body opening. A hand can go up a sleeve for holding the focusing loupe
and yet can still do fine focusing without taking your hand out of the
sleeve.

I also found an interesting lens that I had to pick up because it was
priced so reasonably (at least I think it was). It is a Schneider
Kreuznach Symmar 135mm f/5.6 that converts to a 235mm f/12 lens by
unscrewing the front element. I also found in a forum thread, the idea
that by removing the rear element and screwing it into the front, one
can get a macro with a 3:1 reproduction ratio. (Yep: 3:1, not 1:3). I
guess I'll know more once it arrives. Some people seem to like it and
others are not so enthusiastic but the versatility in a single large
format lens was appealing to me - and its capabilitied fit well with
my Fujinon 90mm f/8. (Those focal lengths give me 35mm equivalents of
28mm, 45mm, and 78mm).

I still need to work out how I'm going to transport it while
protecting it. (There are reasons that they make Field Cameras instead
of taking a monorail out into the elements. But I'm not the first guy
to do that either.) I've got some ideas.

Here's a look at 'er: http://antiqueauto.org/assets/45D.JPG


On Thu, Jan 28, 2016 at 3:51 AM, Bulent Celasun
 wrote:
> Thanks Darren,
>
> I really do wonder if I can devote my (always less than planned)
> time to "view camera" work...
>
> Please continue to share your experiences.
>
> Bulent
>
> -
> http://patoloji.gen.tr
> http://celasun.wordpress.com/
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/bc_the_path/
> http://photo.net/photodb/user?user_id=2226822
> http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/bulentcelasun
>
>
> 2016-01-27 8:37 GMT+02:00 Darren Addy :
>> My Toyo/Omega 45D arrived from KEH today and it is a Beautiful Thing.
>> I don't know why, but I feel like a whole different way of thinking
>> about photography has finally arrived at my door. (Both my lens for it
>> and the recessed lens board are delayed thanks to the blizzard in the
>> eastern U.S. so it will be a bit before I get to take it out.)  Then
>> again, maybe I *do* know why:
>>
>> It is like the diametric opposite of my Whiz-Bang K-3 II. It's a
>> bellows with endless swings, shifts, and tilts on both ends and a
>> rotating back. Composition with it requires a very slow, templative
>> process, the opposite of 8 fps. It requires separate metering
>> (preferrably spot metering). Each exposure can be developed
>> individually (or not). The resulting negative can be scanned (to go
>> back into digital post-processing world) OR printed the traditional
>> way in a wet darkroom. (I'm fascinated by both "stand development" and
>> "Lith Printing" at the moment and learning more about both.)
>>
>> This camera has me pulling Fred Picker's "Zone VI Workshop" off the
>> bookshelf, with a purpose. It embodies the romance of an upside down
>> image projected upon a ground glass, under a focusing cloth, with the
>> ability to manipulate the plane of focus as well as perspective
>> correction at exposure time.
>>
>> With the addition of this new format, I'm as excited about photography
>> (in all of its many forms) as I have probably ever been in my life.
>>
>> --
>> Life is too short to put up with bad bokeh.
>>
>> --
>> PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List
>> PDML@pdml.net
>> http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
>> to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and 
>> follow the directions.
>
> --
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> to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow 
> the directions.



-- 
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― Yann Arthus-Bertrand, Earth from Above

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Re: OT: Enablement... 4x5 monorail view camera

[steve harley]

On 2016-01-31 14:50 , Darren Addy wrote:

I still need to work out how I'm going to transport it while
protecting it. (There are reasons that they make Field Cameras instead
of taking a monorail out into the elements. But I'm not the first guy
to do that either.) I've got some ideas.


came across this today and thought it might inspire you:



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Re: OT: Enablement... 4x5 monorail view camera

[Darren Addy]

Thanks Steve. One piece of equipment that I *wasn't* considering was a
horse. That's going to mean a horse trailer and a truck to pull it.
This large format stuff is getting expensive!

On Mon, Feb 1, 2016 at 6:41 PM, steve harley  wrote:
> On 2016-01-31 14:50 , Darren Addy wrote:
>>
>> I still need to work out how I'm going to transport it while
>> protecting it. (There are reasons that they make Field Cameras instead
>> of taking a monorail out into the elements. But I'm not the first guy
>> to do that either.) I've got some ideas.
>
>
> came across this today and thought it might inspire you:
>
> 
>
>
> --
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> PDML@pdml.net
> http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
> to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and
> follow the directions.



-- 
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― Yann Arthus-Bertrand, Earth from Above

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Re: OT: Enablement... 4x5 monorail view camera

[John]

I think that's a mule.

On 2/1/2016 7:57 PM, Darren Addy wrote:

Thanks Steve. One piece of equipment that I *wasn't* considering was a
horse. That's going to mean a horse trailer and a truck to pull it.
This large format stuff is getting expensive!

On Mon, Feb 1, 2016 at 6:41 PM, steve harley  wrote:

On 2016-01-31 14:50 , Darren Addy wrote:


I still need to work out how I'm going to transport it while
protecting it. (There are reasons that they make Field Cameras instead
of taking a monorail out into the elements. But I'm not the first guy
to do that either.) I've got some ideas.



came across this today and thought it might inspire you:







--
Science - Questions we may never find answers for.
Religion - Answers we must never question.

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Re: OT: Enablement... 4x5 monorail view camera

[Darren Addy]

Googling is not turning up any Mule Trailers. They must be rarer.
Anybody have any idea what THEY cost?

On Mon, Feb 1, 2016 at 8:44 PM, John  wrote:
> I think that's a mule.
>
> On 2/1/2016 7:57 PM, Darren Addy wrote:
>>
>> Thanks Steve. One piece of equipment that I *wasn't* considering was a
>> horse. That's going to mean a horse trailer and a truck to pull it.
>> This large format stuff is getting expensive!
>>
>> On Mon, Feb 1, 2016 at 6:41 PM, steve harley  wrote:
>>>
>>> On 2016-01-31 14:50 , Darren Addy wrote:


 I still need to work out how I'm going to transport it while
 protecting it. (There are reasons that they make Field Cameras instead
 of taking a monorail out into the elements. But I'm not the first guy
 to do that either.) I've got some ideas.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> came across this today and thought it might inspire you:
>>>
>>>
>>> 
>>>
>>
>
> --
> Science - Questions we may never find answers for.
> Religion - Answers we must never question.
>
>
> --
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> http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
> to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and
> follow the directions.



-- 
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― Yann Arthus-Bertrand, Earth from Above

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Re: OT: Enablement... 4x5 monorail view camera

[Collin Brendemuehl]

The camera is nice.

Get a good focusing loupe.  You'll really come to appreciate it.
And a really good focusing cloth.
And a changing tent. A bag is ok, but a tent is wonderful.

And a good lens.  The 135/235 is fine for b&w but that's it's limit. (I had
one.)
A modern NIkkor or Rodenstock makes a fine lens and these days the prices
are quite modest.
If you can dig up a Rodenstock Ysarex *135mm*, that's a keeper.  It's among
the last of the series and performs beautifully.
If you happen to be rich, a Super Symmar ...
Or camera bling ...
http://static.photo.net/attachments/bboard/00F/00FHx2-28225684.jpg

A few shots with a plasmat or a Tessar and you will soon see the image
formation difference over and above the Gaussian design.


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Re: OT: Enablement... 4x5 monorail view camera

[John]

At my camera club meeting last night the main speaker gave a
presentation on wet-plate collodion process photography. He's doing both
tin-type & glass negatives. He said most people who try it only last
about 6 months and never touch it again. He's been doing it as a
professional portrait photographer for 4 years now.

I found it really interesting, and his images were quite good, but I
don't think I'm going to try it myself.

I also got a lead for some part-time work I might be able to handle.



On 2/2/2016 7:15 AM, Collin Brendemuehl wrote:

The camera is nice.

Get a good focusing loupe.  You'll really come to appreciate it.
And a really good focusing cloth.
And a changing tent. A bag is ok, but a tent is wonderful.

And a good lens.  The 135/235 is fine for b&w but that's it's limit. (I had
one.)
A modern NIkkor or Rodenstock makes a fine lens and these days the prices
are quite modest.
If you can dig up a Rodenstock Ysarex *135mm*, that's a keeper.  It's among
the last of the series and performs beautifully.
If you happen to be rich, a Super Symmar ...
Or camera bling ...
http://static.photo.net/attachments/bboard/00F/00FHx2-28225684.jpg

A few shots with a plasmat or a Tessar and you will soon see the image
formation difference over and above the Gaussian design.




--
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Religion - Answers we must never question.

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Re: OT: Enablement... 4x5 monorail view camera

[Stanley Halpin]

> On Feb 2, 2016, at 4:53 PM, John  wrote:
> 
> At my camera club meeting last night the main speaker gave a
> presentation on wet-plate collodion process photography. He's doing both
> tin-type & glass negatives. He said most people who try it only last
> about 6 months and never touch it again. He's been doing it as a
> professional portrait photographer for 4 years now.

On my recent travels, in Valparaiso Chile I was taking pictures of some of the 
street art when a passer-by noticed the 645Z, stopped to ask what it was, etc. 
He then introduced himself as a professional photographer doing portraiture 
using exclusively wet-plate collodion process. Such persons provide a nice 
counter-balance to those who think that photography is all about the newest and 
best toys.
> 
> I found it really interesting, and his images were quite good, but I
> don't think I'm going to try it myself.
> 
> I also got a lead for some part-time work I might be able to handle.
> 

That sounds good!

stan


> 
> 
> On 2/2/2016 7:15 AM, Collin Brendemuehl wrote:
>> The camera is nice.
>> 
>> Get a good focusing loupe.  You'll really come to appreciate it.
>> And a really good focusing cloth.
>> And a changing tent. A bag is ok, but a tent is wonderful.
>> 
>> And a good lens.  The 135/235 is fine for b&w but that's it's limit. (I had
>> one.)
>> A modern NIkkor or Rodenstock makes a fine lens and these days the prices
>> are quite modest.
>> If you can dig up a Rodenstock Ysarex *135mm*, that's a keeper.  It's among
>> the last of the series and performs beautifully.
>> If you happen to be rich, a Super Symmar ...
>> Or camera bling ...
>> http://static.photo.net/attachments/bboard/00F/00FHx2-28225684.jpg
>> 
>> A few shots with a plasmat or a Tessar and you will soon see the image
>> formation difference over and above the Gaussian design.
>> 
>> 
> 
> -- 
> Science - Questions we may never find answers for.
> Religion - Answers we must never question.
> 
> -- 
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Re: OT: Enablement... 4x5 monorail view camera

[Darren Addy]

Thanks for the tips, Collin.
I found one of these (with a bunch of scales) for $5 at a thrift store
(Just need to fashion a way to keep it around my neck):
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=40696&gclid=Cj0KEQiAxMG1BRDFmu3P3qjwmeMBEiQAEzSDLoPsJd5-X24vAKPJsV_tfFq2IpM3UR-PIzmGE7dChtwaAtZS8P8HAQ&is=REG&ap=y&m=Y&Q=&A=details

Black & White is all I'm planning on doing, ATTM. I've heard good &
bad about the 135/235. I'm trying to buy stuff "right" so if I don't
care for something I can at least get my money back out of it and try
something else.

You are right about the prices. Good time to get into large format, price-wise.

On Tue, Feb 2, 2016 at 6:15 AM, Collin Brendemuehl
 wrote:
> The camera is nice.
>
> Get a good focusing loupe.  You'll really come to appreciate it.
> And a really good focusing cloth.
> And a changing tent. A bag is ok, but a tent is wonderful.
>
> And a good lens.  The 135/235 is fine for b&w but that's it's limit. (I had
> one.)
> A modern NIkkor or Rodenstock makes a fine lens and these days the prices
> are quite modest.
> If you can dig up a Rodenstock Ysarex *135mm*, that's a keeper.  It's among
> the last of the series and performs beautifully.
> If you happen to be rich, a Super Symmar ...
> Or camera bling ...
> http://static.photo.net/attachments/bboard/00F/00FHx2-28225684.jpg
>
> A few shots with a plasmat or a Tessar and you will soon see the image
> formation difference over and above the Gaussian design.
>
>
> --
> PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List
> PDML@pdml.net
> http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
> to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow 
> the directions.



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― Yann Arthus-Bertrand, Earth from Above

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Re: OT: Enablement... 4x5 monorail view camera

[Darren Addy]

The 135/235 arrived today and the shutter would only cock twice before
refusing to cock again. So it is being returned.

Sort of intrigued by the Ysarex you mentioned. Will have to keep my
eye open for one.

On Tue, Feb 2, 2016 at 11:07 PM, Darren Addy  wrote:
> Thanks for the tips, Collin.
> I found one of these (with a bunch of scales) for $5 at a thrift store
> (Just need to fashion a way to keep it around my neck):
> http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=40696&gclid=Cj0KEQiAxMG1BRDFmu3P3qjwmeMBEiQAEzSDLoPsJd5-X24vAKPJsV_tfFq2IpM3UR-PIzmGE7dChtwaAtZS8P8HAQ&is=REG&ap=y&m=Y&Q=&A=details
>
> Black & White is all I'm planning on doing, ATTM. I've heard good &
> bad about the 135/235. I'm trying to buy stuff "right" so if I don't
> care for something I can at least get my money back out of it and try
> something else.
>
> You are right about the prices. Good time to get into large format, 
> price-wise.
>
> On Tue, Feb 2, 2016 at 6:15 AM, Collin Brendemuehl
>  wrote:
>> The camera is nice.
>>
>> Get a good focusing loupe.  You'll really come to appreciate it.
>> And a really good focusing cloth.
>> And a changing tent. A bag is ok, but a tent is wonderful.
>>
>> And a good lens.  The 135/235 is fine for b&w but that's it's limit. (I had
>> one.)
>> A modern NIkkor or Rodenstock makes a fine lens and these days the prices
>> are quite modest.
>> If you can dig up a Rodenstock Ysarex *135mm*, that's a keeper.  It's among
>> the last of the series and performs beautifully.
>> If you happen to be rich, a Super Symmar ...
>> Or camera bling ...
>> http://static.photo.net/attachments/bboard/00F/00FHx2-28225684.jpg
>>
>> A few shots with a plasmat or a Tessar and you will soon see the image
>> formation difference over and above the Gaussian design.
>>
>>
>> --
>> PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List
>> PDML@pdml.net
>> http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
>> to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and 
>> follow the directions.
>
>
>
> --
> “The Earth is Art, The Photographer is only a Witness ”
> ― Yann Arthus-Bertrand, Earth from Above



-- 
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― Yann Arthus-Bertrand, Earth from Above

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