Photography Notes
by Robert Monaghan
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Ball Head Lubrication Tips
From: xtnphoto@skypoint.com (Tom Nelson)
Newsgroups: rec.photo.misc
Subject: Re: Photographing lasers!
Date: Wed, 04 Mar 1998

"Eugene A. Pallat" eapallat@oriondata.com wrote:

> Do a double exposure.  One well lighted to show the equipment and the
> second in a dark room with fog to show the laser beams.

Bingo. Except laser techs won't let you use smoke or fog machines because
it gums up their optics. Use a piece of tracing paper for your exposure of
the beam. Run it along the beam with all the other lights out and it'll
expose only a moving spot that's illuminated by the beam. Exposure is
determined by how slowly you move the paper...          


From photopro@writeme.com Wed Dec 3 02:24:29 CST 1997
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.misc
Subject: Re: homemade strobe slave?
Date: Tue, 02 Dec 1997 20:33:24 GMT

Radio shack cat no.276-1657 assorted cadmium-sulfide photocells

Seems to work in the right lighting conditions. Just use them to short across the pins on the slave flash.

When the camera flash fires, the resistance in the photocell drops, and the slaves fire.

Can't beat the price $1.99 for five.

On Sat, 29 Nov 1997 19:01:13 -0600, Allen Cheuvront
chevront@vector.net wrote:

>A number of years ago, I built several studio slave sensors from a
>circuit I found in an electronics hobbyist magazine. I have since lost
>the circuit and the specs for the components (all 2 or 3 of them). The
>critical part was a lascr or light activated silicon controlled
>rectifier. I do not know where to find one, nor exactly it's part
>number. Several of these are still in use, primarily on an old Bowens
>system, and I'd like to build more. If anyone has information on this or
>another more modern equivalent, I'd sure like to hear from you!!
>tia
>a cheuvront


rec.photo.equipment.large-format
From: "Richard Davis" DrDagor@worldnet.att.net
[1] Slick Trick for Carryring 4x5 Film Holders
Date: Tue Apr 14 12:28:32 CDT 1998

Here's a trick for packing 4x5 film holders.

The insulated zipper bags sold for taking 6-packs of pop and beer on trips and picnics are exactly the right size for 4x5 film holders. Plus, the insulation helps protect the holders and offers a little bit of thermal insulation. Each bag will take about 5 or 6 film holders. These things are available all sorts of places, but you can get them cheap at Wal-Mart, K-Mart or Target--big discount stores.

--


rec.photo.equipment.large-format
From: billochem@aol.com (Billochem)
[1] Re: Slick Trick for Carryring 4x5 Film Holders Date: Tue Apr 14 19:45:56 CDT 1998

Also, putting the film holders inside resealable food storage bags within the insulated holder provides great protection from dust.

Bill - billochem@aol.com


rec.photo.equipment.large-format From: ulformat ulformat@teleport.com
[1] Re: Slick Trick for Carryring 4x5 Film Holders
Date: Tue Apr 14 21:19:38 CDT 1998

Yep, been using them for 7 years in the 8x10 size. 20 can "Arctic Zone" brand holds 7-8 8x10 holders (now if I could only get this off-the-shelf in a 12x20 size :-)

Don


rec.photo.equipment.large-format
From: steven T koontz [1] Re: Slick Trick for Carryring 4x5 Film Holders
Date: Tue Apr 14 22:31:02 CDT 1998

Richard Davis wrote:
>
> Here's a trick for packing 4x5 film holders.
> The insulated zipper bags sold for taking 6-packs of pop and beer on trips
> and picnics
> are exactly the right size for 4x5 film holders.

don't know what size mine is but mine holds 10 holders, a polariod back, two lenses on boards, a meter and a lupe. Carry my super graphic in my other hand and off I go! Like you said it's padded, has canvas cover, has an over the shoulder strap and really works great.. And cheap! Use one for all my photo outings and it doesn't *look* like a camera bag.. Who'd steal a soft sided cooler?

--
steve's photography & Z car stuff @ http://www.mindspring.com/~skoontz


From: steven T koontz skoontz@mindspring.com
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.large-format
Subject: Re: Stray light
Date: Tue, 14 Apr 1998 02:47:11 -0400

Stephen Oertwig wrote:
>
> I'm having a problem with stray light from somewhere.
>
> I got back some chromes that had one whole side wiped out because of some
> stray light.
>

well I had some "blown" shots kinda like what you saying before I started pushing on ground glass while I was pulling the dark slide so film holder didn't "lift" from the camera while I was pulling it.. Also I had some wierd reflections from some shiny bellows clips that I fixed by painting them flat black.. I would look through the camera like the film see's and hopefully you'll see the problem.(that's how I found those shiny clips)

--

steve's photography & Z car stuff @ http://www.mindspring.com/~skoontz
skoontz@mindspring.com


rec.photo.equipment.large-format
From: "Richard Brosseau" richard.brosseau2@sympatico.ca
[1] Re: Lens Transport
Date: Wed Apr 15 20:30:20 CDT 1998

I use Calumet wraps for the 4 lenses I carry in my backpack. They are out into a couple of plastic tupperware-like containers.

--
rbrosseau@channelware.com or
richard.brosseau2@sympatico.ca


Date: Tue, 21 Apr 1998
From: "Lehman John A." ffjal@aurora.alaska.edu
Subject: [Rollei] Bay III to screw-mount converter/step-up ring

Mark & Sue Hubbard hubbard@humboldt1.com wrote:
...
>  Is there such a thing as a Bay III to screw-mount converter/step-up
>  ring that would then give you access to a wide choice of inexpensive
>  rubber and metal lens shades??

Take a junk Bay-III filter and a junk 52mm filter, remove the glass from each, and glue the b-3 inside the 52mm. It is almost a perfect fit.


Date: Sat, 25 Apr 1998
From: "R. J. Bender" rjbender@hilly.apci.net
To: rollei@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
Subject: Re: [Rollei] Rollei parts availability?

>>Hello,
>>
>>Are parts available for Rollei HFT lenses?  Specifically, I'd like to get
>>the rubber focus ring material for a 2 or 3 pin 50mm f/1.8.  Anyone 
know if
>>such parts are available and a have a phone number or address.
>>
>>Thanks,
>>Tony Zoccolillo

>Have you tried Marflex?  They are the only likely source.

>Bob  

===================

Three years ago I needed to replace the checkered grip on my 135mm Zeiss Tele Tessar. Marflex said I needed 3 rings of checkered material at $10 each plus shipping! I called Nikon and ordered checkered grip for their 360-1200mm zoom lens for $4.50. (This lens looks like it has more checkered grip than any other Nikon lens.) I have enough material left over to do 3 more Tele Tessars! How much do you need for your 50mm, Tony... 25mm by 20mm? Send me a private email with your address and I'll send you some for free.

R. Bender (A Nikon, Mamiya and Rollei user. Formerly known as Mamiya645@aol.com)


Date: Sat, 25 Apr 1998
From: Tony Zoccolillo tzoc@servtech.com
Reply to: rollei@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
Subject: RE: [Rollei] Rollei parts availability?

Thanks.....were thinking along the same lines...I had a Soligor 90-300 zoom with fungus, so I took it's diamond grid rubber ring and cut the pieces I needed. Other than the seam where to two ends of the strip meet, it indistinguishable from my other 50mm Rolleis. Was the diameter of the Nikon part correct for the Rollei 50mm lens? I had to cut strips and wrap it around the ring, because the diameter of the piece I had was too big to keep it as a ring.

BTW...if anyone is interested...I have a SL35M that until this week had a dead meter. I finally got it working all the time by cleaning some electrical contacts which are accessible under the lens mount and positioned at about 7:00 o'clock. There are three contacts that I cleaned with a fine sandpaper material. It's the thin mylar material with one side rough. I slid it between the contacts to clean each surface and it's been working fine for the past 3 days.

regards,
Tony Z.


Date: Mon, 27 Apr 1998
From: NapperWm NapperWm@aol.com
To: koni-omega@snoopy.cmagic.com
Subject: Re: [KOML] PC Connections

Aaron,

This is a common problem. Use some electrical contact cleaner onboth contacts and use a pair of needle nose pliers to slightly crimp the flash cord connector so that it fits tighter.

That should do the trick.

Bill


Date: Mon, 27 Apr 1998
From: Imageslide Imageslide@aol.com
To: koni-omega@snoopy.cmagic.com
Subject: Re: [KOML] PC Connections

Peter

The company is called Paramount, I have several of their cords. They make all varieties, Nikon screw-in, Koni screw-in, etc. Mine are pc screw in to household, fits my studio strobes and Norman. I believe they make all sorts though and will make any custom. Check your local camera store, will probably have to order, but they are quick to deliver and cheap.

Rick


Date: Mon, 27 Apr 1998
From: "Kotsinadelis, Peter" Peter.Kotsinadelis@octel.com
Subject: RE: [KOML] PC Connections

Paramount makes them (have for years) for many others.

You can call or write. They will make them to your specific needs, KO screw PC, length, coil vs. straight, etc.

  Paramount Cords
  720 E.239th Street
  Bronx, NY  10466
  718-325-9100 


Date: Mon, 27 Apr 1998
From: "Kotsinadelis, Peter" Peter.Kotsinadelis@octel.com
Subject: RE: [KOML] PC Connections

Yes.

  Paramount Cords
  720 E.239th Street
  Bronx, NY  10466
  718-325-9100

They are terrific but not the least expensive. I was able to acquire a cord from Midwest Photo Exchange for my ASA adapter on an older post-war Konica I 35mm camera which at $18 was half of what Paramount wanted. Ironically it was a paramount cord.


From: "Jose Lopez Jr." josepj@earthlink.net
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.large-format
Subject: Front Surface mirror supplier
Date: Wed, 29 Apr 1998

Just recieved a catalog from Focal Point Industries Inc. e-mail: info@fpointinc.com

They sell a 4x5 first surface mirror for $30.00.

Yes, a regular mirror will give you a double image.

Jose


From: "skgrimes" skgrimes@ma.ultranet.com
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.large-format
Subject: Re: Front surface mirror supplier?
Date: Tue, 28 Apr 1998

Using an ordinary mirror will not distort the image or disturb the focus. The risk is that you will see a somewhat confusing double image of two reflections: the reflection from the front surface of the glass and the more prominent reflection from the silvering on the back of the mirror.

An ordinary glass supplier should be able to help you with this. They often have mirrors which work both ways i.e. reflect from either side in which case one side is first surface. The other thing to try is "one way glass" which is 75% silvered glass which makes a good first surface mirror.

SKG


From: hmp793g@nic.smsu.edu (Howard Petefish)
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.large-format
Subject: Re: 4x5 Field Camera
Date: Fri, 01 May 1998

>       Jay Bender  writes:
>> Hi Craig,
>>   It is common for folks to believe that the only kind of camera that
>> can be a field camera is a "flatbed" design.  I'd like to suggest that
>> you consider that a monorail design might also make a good field camera
>> if it folds up small and is light in weight.  I happen to believe this
>> is true.  I have backpacked with mine for years.

>  I guess the major problem I have with using a
>monorail design in the field is that inorder to pack it
>up in a small volume, it requires a complete
>disassembly.  That just adds to the already large   
>overhead of doing large format photography. (My Bender
>is pretty though!)

>  Mike McDonald
>  mikemac@mikemac.com

Mike, after unzipping my duffel-style bag I can mount my Bender-style monorail camera on a tripod ready to shoot in less than 3 seconds! How? I leave the camera on the monorail with the Bogen quick-mount plate attached. For transport the camera is suspended with lens attached, inverted in a small plastic waste basket with cutouts for the monorail, and this basket is centered in my High Sierra bag with room on either side for film holders, other lenses, dark cloth, meter, etc. This arrangement may not work if you insist on using a back pack, but for short trips is it great. I also constructed my tripod using padouk and walnut to match the camera woods. It is sort of like an improved Zone VI lightweight. Only problem--it won't fit in the bag!

Howie,

www.1-offwooddesigns.tierranet.com


From: mike@patsy.hunter.cuny.edu
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.large-format
Subject: Re: Surveyor's Trick with Large Tripods
Date: Thu, 07 May 1998

Richard, I agree, the more weight you can add to your tripod, the better. As long as you can find it on location, and don't have to carry it with you.

It doesn't matter if it's rocks, water bags or a case of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, mass is all that matters. Those Collapsable 5 gal. water jugs weigh only a few ounces, but can be filled with about 40 lbs of water, really convenient if theres a hose or faucet handy.

I do think that it is very important that the weight must touch the ground. if it's windy, this will prevent the ballast from swinging in the wind, and rocking the boat, er, tripod.

This trick can make marginal tripods acceptable, and decent tripods, Bombproof.

Mike Pencak

  "Richard Davis" DrDagor@worldnet.att.net wrote:
>
> I've seen photographers using this trick, so I bet many of you know this
> tip already.
>
> To steady a tripod (in a howling gale, for example), hang a heavy weight
> from the head so that the weight hangs under the tripod, almost to the
> ground.  Surveyors typically use sandbags hung from a chain, but there is
> nothing magic about the sand or the chain. I think a rock in a trash bag
> hung from a coat hanger would work about as well.  I've seen surveyors use
> water bags as weights, but I'm not sure these work as well.
>     


rec.photo.equipment.large-format
From: "Frank Filippone" red735i@worldnet.att.net
[1] Re: Surveyor's Trick with Large Tripods
Date: Thu May 07 19:43:16 CDT 1998

Also a good trick for those museums that do not allow tripods.... just get a 1/4 x 20 Eye Bolt at your hardware store, screw into tripod socket, connect string to bolt, step on string and lift up.... instant, cheap, light Monopod.....

--
Please do not auto-respond. Please respond to address below.

Frank Filippone red735i@worldnet.att.net
> On a similar line and perhaps not so well known..  A piece of cord (of the
> type used as a curtain draw string)with a loop at each end.  One end loop goes
> over the center bit of the tripod where the legs meet. The cord hangs down but
> not quite reaching the ground.  Your foot goes in the other end loop and the
> cord stretches to reach the ground applying a downward force which steadies
> the tripod. It does work in practice to steady a lightweight tripod.
>     


rec.photo.equipment.large-format
From: dj.mcmillan@trl.oz.au
[1] Re: Surveyor's Trick with Large Tripods
Date: Thu May 07 18:51:03 CDT 1998

On a similar line and perhaps not so well known.. A piece of cord (of the type used as a curtain draw string)with a loop at each end. One end loop goes over the center bit of the tripod where the legs meet. The cord hangs down but not quite reaching the ground. Your foot goes in the other end loop and the cord stretches to reach the ground applying a downward force which steadies the tripod. It does work in practice to steady a lightweight tripod.

Des
Melbourne Australia.


Date: Mon, 11 May 1998
From: Todd Belcher toddmb@intergate.bc.ca
Subject: Re: [Rollei] Replacing screens on older Rolleis

>I've read that Rolleiflexes made after 59 have a better, brighter
>screen and I think it's replaceable too. I recently found what appears
>to be a nice Xenotar 3.5E (type 2 #1,862,114) for $250 in good shape.
>Is the screen on that one significantly darker than the newer screens
>made after 59? Can I have one of the newer rollei screens installed
>on the 3.5E and what should I expect to pay for that?

The 3.5E has a ground glass screen, while the 3.5/2.8Fs (later models) have a plastic fresnel screen that is much brighter all around especially to the corners.

You might be able to find one of these later screes, but it would be difficult I think, as it is sought after by persons such as yourself. Beattie makes something called the Intens Screen Plus for the Rollei TLR for somewhere between $100 and $130. There is a size difference in the screens between the Es and the Fs. You must make sure that for a 3.5E you get the earlier screen that is smaller. I have also heard good things of Maxwell screens that are brighter than Beattie screens. I am not certain of the price or the performance as I'm not really familiar with them. I have some Beattie screens in my Rolleis and they certainly are a LOT brighter, similar to the later fresnel screens that Rollei issued on their cameras after '59. You must also make certain that after replacing the ground glass screen with the new fresnel screen that the image on the new screen coincides with the focus on the film plane. This can be out of adjustment due to a difference in thickness between the new screen and the old screen. The result of this will be that what you see in the finder will no longer be in synch with the focus of the taking lens on the film plane. Adjusting the focus of the viewing lens is the best way to fix this problem.


Date: Tue, 12 May 1998
From: toby tobyf@ziplink.net
Subject: Re: [Rollei] Replacing screens on older Rolleis

pascal@liman.Rutgers.EDU (Ligdas Pascalis) wrote

>Is the screen on that one significantly darker than the newer screens
>made after 59? Can I have one of the newer rollei screens installed
>on the 3.5E and what should I expect to pay for that?
>I own a yashicamat and one of the reasons I want to upgrade is its bad
>screen.  

Pascal-

Try Maxwell precision Optics on Decatur, GA at 1.404.244.0095 you won't be disappointed. He manufactures the Hi-Lux focusing screens and will give you a few stops of brightness. Good luck.

Regards-
Toby Fitch
Brooklyn, USA


rec.photo.equipment.large-format
From: Linda A Whatley linda_aw@ix.netcom.com
[1] Re: Shutter Time Testing
Date: Wed May 13 22:22:43 CDT 1998

A lower technology method, for testing the slower speeds, at least:

When the shutter opens, start saying "Tea for two at one." With some practice, 1/4 second falls on the "for" syllable, 1/2 second falls on the "two" syllable, and 1 second falls on the "one" syllable. ;-) This also works for timing bulb exposures.

- Larry Whatley


Date: Sun, 17 May 1998
From: Todd Belcher toddmb@intergate.bc.ca
Subject: Re: [Rollei] Cleaning focusing screens and grey cameras

>   Dear Rollei fans,
>
>   I was just wondering: how is the best way to clean plastic
>focusing screens on Rollei TLR?

There is a product called Novus Plastic Polish (Minneapolis) that is specifically made to remove scratches from plastics. (1-800-548-6872 toll free) It wil also polish paint. It comes in 3 grades. Use grade 2. This polish is abrasive , but is so fine an abrasive that it will polish plastic to a smooth, glossy shine. I have used it on the screens and other plastic things with great results. BUT not on the fresnel side. Only on the smooth side!

...Todd


From: "David Foy" nomail@this_address.please
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
Subject: Re: FUNGUS AMOUNGUS
Date: Sat, 16 May 1998 02:36:05 GMT

Fungus spreads in the adhesive layers that bind multi-element groups, which is what nourishes it. Getting rid of it involves separating the elements, cleaning off the old adhesive, and re-cementing. It's almost always uneconomical, and if the fungus has etched the glass, which is usually the case, the etched elements have to be replaced.

What is often called "fungus" on glass surfaces is really cloudiness from atmospheric deposits. Ed Romney's cure for this haze has always worked for me -- 50/50 household ammonia/drugstore hydrogen peroxide, swabbed on, allowed to do its work (you'll sometimes see foaming) and rinsed off with water (remove the lens from the camera or shutter first).


From: cbsivlp@ibm.net
Subject: Re: Blurry Filter
Date: 13 May 1998 20:54:08 GMT

photo_fan@yahoo.com writes:
>Blurry Filter
>
>Greetings all.   I was hoping that someone could help me out with a photo
>project I am working on.  I was wondering if anyone had ever heard of or 
used
>any material that allows people to look clearly through it, but when someone
>attempts to take a photograph through it, it blurs and distorts the
>photograph.
>
>If anyone can send me any information on this to photo_fan@yahoo.com, I 
would
>greatly appreciate it.
PINE 3.89   MESSAGE TEXT          Folder: INBOX  Message 177 of 190 100%

>If anyone can send me any information on this to photo_fan@yahoo.com, I 
would
>greatly appreciate it.
>
>thanks much!!
>

The material I use for that kind of photograph can be found in bags that mattresses are packaged in, or the kind you get when you pick up your dry cleaning. Both of these materials are clear when you look through them, but the picture is blurred because of the material these bags are made from.

Patrick G Horneker


From: Allen Greenky spamblock@see.signature.below
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
Subject: Re: Composing With A TLR
Date: Tue, 26 May 1998

Wes Massengill wrote: Is there a
> simple trick in composing, to be able to end up with the picture
> enlarged to the standard format, ie 8x10, 11x14, 16x20 etc.

That is the easy way, you can get pica tape in most any graphic arts supply. Trying to think rectngle while looking into a square window was always a problem for me, which is why I choose to go 645. What a lot of photographers do is go to square format prints. This makes wedding albums unique and avoids the vert/horz problems. I was always running into problems croping a square neg into 5x7 format. I just started charging the same for 8x10's and 5x7's and pointed out that they were only an inch or so bigger than a 5x5.

BTW, 5x7 is much narrower than 8x10/4x5 it translates into a 3 1/2 x 5.

To avoid the spamblock in the headers, fix the address below
allen greenky esq uire AT rico chet DOT net


Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
To: bikkerr@mediaone.net
Subject: Re: Composing With A TLR
Date: Tue, 26 May 1998

Ed Romney, in one of his books, suggests putting a 7mm square peice of
tape in each corner of the groundglass viewfinder to help visualize the
aspect ratio of either a vertical or horizontal crop (8X10 or 5X7 for
example). A 7mm square comes out about right.
 __                     __
|__|         /\         |__| <---tape squares
         Vertical
               |
   <--Horizontal--->
 __          |         __
|    |         \/        |    |
                                 

Regards,
Dave

Wes Massengill wrote:

> I have just converted to the medium format with the purchase of a
> Yashica 124G, and am very pleased so far. My question is: Is there a
> simple trick in composing, to be able to end up with the picture
> enlarged to the standard format, ie 8x10, 11x14, 16x20 etc. I don't
> think the grid lines in the view finder are calibrated for this. I was
> thinking of applying some narrow tape to the viewfinder screen to help
> me when shooting.
> Thanks in advance.  


Date: Thu, 28 May 1998
From: Ilkka Haapavirta ilkka.haapavirta@nmp.nokia.com
Subject: RE: Homemade n90s remote cable

David DeGrado djdegrado@worldnet.att.net wrote
>Will the homemade N70 cable work on the N90s?
>I have read digest #183.  This homemade cable will connect
>to the MB-10.  Has anyone made a 10-pin connector cable
>that goes on the camera?  If so, can you post how you made it?

AFAIK, F70's 2-pin cord uses different voltage levels on one pin for  
focus/meter and shutter release, respectively.  F90's 3-pin cord has
separate pins for focus/meter and shutter release.  So, just for shutter
release the F70's cord might work when connected to the right pin in
F90.
Here's what I know about the 10-pin connector:

           2     3
     1                 4
           9   10
     5                 8
           6     7

Pin 1: Shutter release (when shorted to ground)
Pin 2: ?
Pin 3: Vout +5 V (for data cable)
Pin 4: Data in
Pin 5: Data out                                    
Pin 6: Ground
Pin 7: Ground
Pin 8: ?
Pin 9: ?
Pin10: (Normally at 6 V), @1.5 V: meter, @0 V (ground): focus.

Rgds, Ilkka    


From Nikon Digest:
Date: Mon, 13 Jul 98 09:28 PDT
From: sclark@level1.com (Scott Clark)
Subject: Home-made remote cable?

Hello all,

I currently own two Nikons, N2000 and N70. Being somewhat of a tight-wad and having a fairly decent understanding of electronics, I've made my own remote cable. I just had a hard time justifying $70.00 US for a simple switch that I can fabricate for under $1.00.

It seems to work nicely at this point but I'm concerned that the resistor value that I've used (1K ohm) to activate the metering and auto-focus may not be absolutely correct and end up causing some sort of failure in the future. I've looked around the web and Nikon digest archive (which is voluminous) and haven't really found anything definitive on the subject. Does anybody have any insight on this resistor value? Any help is greatly appreciated.

Scott


From Nikon Digest:
Date: Mon, 13 Jul 1998
From: Mark Malkin mm15@cornell.edu
Subject: Home-made remote cable?

The Nikon remote cable for the newer cameras that I disassembled (MC-12) uses 3 diodes in series ( Voltage drop = 0.5 each so they are silicon diodes) to activate the meter/camera systems. Shutter trip is activated by a contact closure.


Date: Mon, 13 Jul 1998
From: dseeber@kiwi.dep.anl.gov (Diana Seeber)
Subject: Homemade N70 Cable

I got a letter from a fellow stating he's used a 1K resistor on the shutter-release cable he made from Radio Shack parts, to activate the autofocus; aanother switch without, to fire the shutter. Says it works for him...

Regards,

gil


Date: Tue, 21 Jul 1998
From: dseeber@kiwi.dep.anl.gov Diana Seeber
Subject: Homemade N70 shutter release cable

Hi, Nikonuts --

Just made myself another shutter release cable for my N70, and in testing it noticed the camera DOES focus before the shutter will fire. Don't need the 1K resistor some folks mention to accomplish the focus. The test is, first focus on something close, then aim at something far & hit the cable button. Should work for you, if it works for me, I'm thinking.

Besides, don't you usually focus first (maybe even putting the camera/lens on Manual afterwards) & then use the shutter-release cable?

Regards,

gil


Date: Sun, 31 May 1998
From: Bob Shell bob@bobshell.com
Subject: Re: [Rollei] 6008 Flash problems


>I had the same problem with my 6008i -- my studio setup wouldn't fire if it
>was hooked up via a sync cord, but a nikon shoed flash that I plugged right
>into the camera worked fine.
>
>What I found out?  The sync cord on the 6008i is polarised -- if I took the
>two-pronged cord out of the socket on the pack and rotated it 180 degrees,
>the flash would fire.
>
>Not sure why this is.  Now I just know the direction the cord has to point
>to ensure the flash fires.
>
>Warren 

Warren,

This is true with most cameras using solid-state switches to trigger flash.

Unfortunately, flash makers never standardized polarity on studio units. They did on hot shoe units, so no problem with them.

I solved this and some other problems in my studio years ago by just getting rid of synch cords completely. All my flash systems are connected to Wein infrared triggering systems. The little triggering unit is an infrared flash unit with hot shoe, so it works on any camera with a hot shoe. It also comes with a cord, so you can hook it to cameras without hot shoe.

This has the added advantage to me that when I am teaching my lighting workshops I can have three sets going at once and they don't trigger each other. I use the multi channel Wein system, and could theoretically have five sets going at once if I wanted.

No synch cords to trip over, either!!!!

Bob


From: "Richard Davis" DrDagor@worldnet.att.net
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.large-format
Subject: Re: Center Filters for 90mm on 4X5?
Date: 23 Apr 1998

Whether you need one or not depends on your application. If you are doing black and white with little shift--e.g. portraits--the filter isn't essential. But if you are doing color interiors for Architectural Digest, you better get one.

The difference between the $800 filter and the $400 filter is that the expensive one is matched to your particular lens, while the other is just a pretty good approximation. If you did a test, you would probably see less than 1/3 stop variation with the $800 filter, and no more than one stop with the $400. With no filter there can be as much as 4 stops difference between the center and the extreme edge of the image circle.

Some time ago I tried to get people interested in figuring out how to make our own center spot filters. I didn't get any takers. Anyone had more time to think about it?


From: evphoto@insync.net
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.large-format
Subject: Re: Center Filters for 90mm on 4X5?
Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998

IMHO, The Heliopan CF filter works just fine, and if you really think you need one try Lens&Repro; in NYC. but I have a question for you: have you used the lens yet? I shot with mine for years before getting the CF filter. And then the only reason I bought one was because I shoot 6x17 panoramics on a camera that let's me shift. I am primarily an architectural photographer who shoots mostly transparency films. The 90mm Grandagon is a beautiful lens with lots of very even coverage


From: kirkfry@msn.com
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.large-format
Subject: Re: Center Filters for 90mm on 4X5?
Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998

> Just bought a Rodenstock 90mm f4.5 for my Linhof Technica.  Salesmen are trying
> to sell me an outrageously expensive center filter (about $800).  Do I really
> need this?  Anybody have any experience with the Heliopan filters?  Their 82mm 
> center filter can be bought for about $350.
>

If you were the salesman you would too. Try it without. I've used a 90mm for years without a center filter, however, not for chromes where it may be more critical. With negatives it tends to even out as there is a bit of fall off in light out at the edges of you image in the enlarger.


From: "Patrick Bartek" bartek@skylink.net
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.large-format
Subject: Re: Center Filters for 90mm on 4X5?
Date: 22 Apr 98

Regarding Center Filters for 90mm on 4X5?, Jeff Ivers wrote:

> Just bought a Rodenstock 90mm f4.5 for my Linhof Technica.  Salesmen are trying
> to sell me an outrageously expensive center filter (about $800).  Do I really
> need this?  Anybody have any experience with the Heliopan filters?  Their 82mm 
> center filter can be bought for about $350.

The image circle on that lens is so big (236 mm), that unless you're using radically extreme movements, you DON'T need a center filter. The salesman just wants a bigger commission. Filters have VERY high profits on them.

By radical movements, I mean swings/tilts greater than 25 degrees or rises/shifts greater than 30 millimeters or so or a combination thereof.

I have a 90 f8 Fujinon SW with a 100 degree image circle (219 mm) and routinely use 15 to 20 degree swings or tilts and up to 25 mm rises or shifts without a center filter and have experienced no noticeable fall off or image clipping.

If you plan to buy say a 75 f6.8 Rodenstock or wider (f4.5 ones are less of a problem because of the bigger image circle), you should consider a center filter. I have the 75 f6.8 and without any movements, it has very apparent falloff -- about 1 to 1 1/2 stops to the corners. I bought a used center filter for it and no more hotspot!

Later...

--
Patrick Bartek
NoLife Polymath Group
bartek@skylink.net


From: jdb@jdb.sc.scruznet.com
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.large-format
Subject: Re: Center Filters for 90mm on 4X5?
Date: Thu, 23 Apr 98

I'd recommend that you work with the lens some and see whether the illumination falloff is too much for your use.

I know that for the Schneider SuperAngulon 47mm f5.6 XL, this looses 3 stops at the corners versus the center. So I got the center filter to help for this extreme example (Note that the center filter does not compensate for all of the light loss; my CF compensates for about 2 stops worth). Also remember that using a CF cuts light at the center infavor of the edges (that is how it compensates). So you have a very dark image, even when wide open (f4.5 would be f 11 to 18, I would guess).

For the 90mm lens on 4x5, I would think the loss would be much less and that you could get by without the filter. Note that on b and w, you and burn and dodge as needed. For trannies, this is not possible.

I repeat: try first without the filter and see if there is any negative impact for your type of shooting.

jdb


From: bobsalomon@mindspring.com (Bob Salomon)
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.large-format
Subject: Re: Center Filters for 90mm on 4X5?
Date: Thu, 23 Apr 1998

Their is no difference in correction between the Heliopan and Rodenstock filter as far as exposure is concerned. But unlike anyone elses center filter the Rodenstock center filters that are currently made are the most color neutral of any center filter.

The fall off of modern wide angle lenses is 1 1/3 stops center to edge (except for the some wide coverage Schneiders which need special filters).

The center filters will correct this fall off to almos 0. If you buy the very dense 9.9 factor Heliopan filter rather than the standard density one there will be no fall off at all.

Center filters need to be stopped down at least 2 stops to work. If you do this with our Rodenstock and our Heliopan center filters you will see no difference in the correction between the 2 filters.

This was proven in a test in Shutterbug a few years ago in an article by Leif Ericksenn who did comparisons with Schneider, Rodenstock and Fuji lenses with Rodenstock, heliopan and Schneider filters. There was no difference regardless of which filter was used on any lens.

Bob

--
PLEASE SEND ALL E-MAIL TO ME AT:
bobsalomon@mindspring.com
HP MARKETING CORP. Gepe, Giottos, G-O light, Heliopan, Kaiser, Linhof, Pro Release, Rimowa, Rodenstock, Rollei, Sirostar


Date: Wed, 3 Jun 1998
From: Peter.Kotsinadelis@exchange.Octel.com
Subject: RE: [Rollei] Rollei Straps (was Optech, etc.)

The easiest way is to simply put one layer of black electrical tape. I have this on my straps and it doesn't look that bad. Saves the wear on the camera. If this doesn't work for you, suggest you go to Radio Shack and get come heat shrink tubing. Cuti and place it over the clip and use a heat source to shrink fit it to the clip. Should look form fitted if that's what you are looking for.

Peter K

On Rollei straps:


Date: Fri, 5 Jun 1998
From: Terry Price terry@free.midcoast.com
Subject: RE: [Rollei] Alternate Rollei 35 lens cap

>
>
>   Dear Rollei fans,
>
>   For a long time, I know that there's a film container cap that
>fits on Sonnar lens of Rollei 35S, making a nice lens cap.
>
>   Today I realized that this container isn't from Agfa nor Ilford,
>it comes from Konica 35mm film.
>
>   Unfortunately, this cap doesn't fits on Tessar-lensed 35's.
>
>   Regards,  

> Regards, > >Mario Nagano >nagano@canalvip.com.br >nagano@mail.regra.com.br

Another great source of alternate lens caps is your local drugstore. I've been able to find pill bottle caps to fit almost any camera. You have to use the non child proof ones. Sometimes they come in black which looks really official.

I've also found 35 mm film cannister caps that fit my f3.5 50mm Elmar nicely.

Terry


From: "Steve Shapiro" sgshiya@redshift.com
Newsgroups: rec.photo.marketplace
Subject: Re: *Question* - Cutting Case Foam for Equipment
Date: Mon, 23 Mar 1998

The 'How To' was great, and ...
Thanks for the tip, Steve.
Steve

>Try shopping GOODWILL or garage sales/thrift shops for cases.  Hard
>sided luggage, cosmetic cases etc., can be had for a couple of bucks
>each.  Rip out the fabric liners, add a rubber seal if you wish
>(silicone caulking) to make them really tight.  Cases like this do not
>scream VALUABLE, so they are less likely to attract attention (and
>theft) than our favorite aluminimum boxes.  They can provide excellent
>and cheap protection.
>
>Good luck.
>
>Steve 


From: Jarrell Conley jarell@mindspring.com
Subject: Response to Kiev 88 paper problems and soft box material
Date: 1998-03-23
believe it or not, I've made soft boxes out of frosted shower curtain material, cheap at any discount store. You can make the box itself out of foamcore board (if you want to use a box) or just stretch it out , bank your lights , and fire through it. Just be careful about getting a curtain without any "color" to it. and do run a test roll.


From: Roy Adkins raa1@ra.msstate.edu
Subject: Response to Kiev 88 paper problems and soft box material
Date: 1998-03-24

Before I actually bought a manufactured soft box I tried many homemade solutions. The one that worked best for me was building a box out of white foamcore board (highly reflective, but doesn't color the light) I would then cover it with wax paper, to get the light even more difused you can place a layer of wax paper in the middle of the box paralell to the outer layer.

Hope this helps.


Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998
From: Mark Walberg Walberg@simmons.swmed.edu
Subject: Re: [Rollei] non-Rollei shades?

Jeff and others, An idea for a cheap lens hood that should cost less than a dollar, see http://www.angelfire.com/ca/erker/page4.html

I bought a soft black rubber pipe cap at the Home Depot last weekend that should work just fine after I cut the back out to fit over the bayonet.

Mark Walberg walberg@simmons.swmed.edu


Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998
From: Eric Goldstein egoldste@bu.edu
Subject: Re: [Rollei] non-Rollei shades?

Mark Walberg wrote:

> Jeff and others,   An idea for a cheap lens hood that should cost less than
> a dollar, see    http://www.angelfire.com/ca/erker/page4.html

This works well, the auther Greg Erker is a fellow stereo photographer and this method was developed for a Sputnik MF stereo camera...

Another inexpensive solution is to get a Bay I to Series V adapter. Series V lens hoods are usually a buck a piece in your neighborhood photoshop junk bin. This also allows for the use of cheap Series V filters as well...

Eric Goldstein


Date: Tue, 21 Apr 1998
From: Bob Shell bob@bobshell.com
Subject: Re: [Rollei] non-Rollei shades?

>Jeff and others,
>
>Is there such a thing as a Bay III to screw-mount converter/step-up ring
>that would then give you access to a wide choice of inexpensive rubber and
>metal lens shades??
>
>Mark H.

Yes. There are adapters from the various Rollei bayonet sizes to standard series sizes. Tiffen might still stock them, but old camera stores are your best bet. When an old camera store near here went out of business about ten years ago I went to the auction and bought all of their series adapters and filters for a song (the song was "A Boy Named Sue", they gave me the stuff if I'd promise not to sing again!).

Anyway, I sold this stuff off via ads in Shutterbug, and only have a handful of filters left. But there must be other old stores around which still have a lot of this series stuff that once was popular.

Bob


From: "Dirk J. Bakker" dbakker@mindspring.com
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.large-format
Subject: Re: Source wanted: Camera Bag Padding
Date: Sun, 07 Jun 1998

Hi Dan,

I made a case for my 4x5 monorail, which fits inside a Kelty backpack. I used the urethane foam you want but I got mine from discarded packing of old PCs. I believe it's generically referred to as "hard-charcoal" foam.

I did my case four-ply. It's lined in the outside with heavy tent-making material (also man-made), this wraps an inner shell of the "corrugated plastic" used in crates by the Post Office. Then I carved the gray foam to exact shape of the view camera (in two halves that close into one another) and lined the foam halves with black felt. The two halves are closed with a heavy-duty plastic zipper.

Regrettably, the only part that is not very durable is the foam, as it tends to get powdery over time. (It has not happened on mine yet, mind you, but I've seen it in other uses). If you intend to put a lot of work into the project (like I did mine) you may want to consider the material's longevity (i.e. check out the alternatives, below).

Another suggestion, places like REI carry all manner of buckels, straps, bindings, etc. even arnesses to carry the bag as a backpack.

HTH,

Dirk

PS. try these sites to get ideas,

     for urethane foam: http://www.cyber-case.com/cases/generic.htm

     for Silicone foam: http://www.magnifoam.on.ca/nfpro.htm

 for corrugated plastic: http://www.millsind.com/industri.htm   

       for Temper foam: http://www.keesgoebel.com/t.foam.htm
                        (perhaps for the shoulder strap)    


From: Kerry Thalmann K.Thalmann@worldnet.att.net
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.large-format
Subject: Re: Source wanted: Camera Bag Padding
Date: Thu, 18 Jun 1998

guran.c.ellqvist@telia.se wrote:

> I am mainly using the kind of stuff that is sold as sleeping pads for hiking.
> The thickness you can get vary, but I normally use it 6-8 mm thick.

Hi Guran,

Can you verify that there is no out-gasing from this foam that could possibly damage lens coatings? It certainly is inexpensive and readily available. I am worried about the potential for out-gasing, however.

Kerry
--
Kerry L. Thalmann Large Format Images of Nature
A Few of My Images Online at: http://home.att.net/~k.thalmann/


From: ed romney romney@edromney.com
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.misc
Subject: Re: Vivitar 283 high voltage
Date: Tue, 09 Jun 1998

To bypass the problems described below why not have your camera fire a small pocket strobe and trigger the big one held off camera with a slave unit? . I love to do this. I learned to synch multiple flash bulbs long ago mostly from studying Gordon Parks's excellent book "Flash Photography. Later I transferred the technique to 283 Vivitars. I had a Metz once but liked Vivitar better. Nothing looks any better than a picture shot with more than one flash . I have shot many groups and banquet pictures with more than a hundred people in some of them using multiple flash or strobe. Incidentally a simple No 5 bayonet base bulb puts out more light than almost any strobe a man can carry and they fire on 3 to 4.5 volts easily. Best wishes... Ed Romney

[Ed. note: the vivitar 283 and some other strobes put up to 150 volts or more across the firing contacts - that's okay with mechanical contacts (actually, not so fine, since they can pit from sparking and dirt), but bad news for electronically fired cameras, which can fry if such high voltages are pushed thru them. This is one way around this problem...]


rec.photo.equipment.large-format
From: dagronk@aol.com (DaGronk)
[1] Re: Source wanted: Camera Bag Padding
Date: Tue Jun 16 09:35:08 CDT 1998

A friend of mine crates the art at a major museum and uses a material called Ethafoam for this purpose. I have a little around to pad out some tool boxes that I use for my gear. I don't know if there is any chance of residual chemical fumes leaching out of it, but if they're using it to pack artworks, I guess that it is probably reasonably inert.


rec.photo.equipment.large-format
From: "Dirk J. Bakker" dbakker@mindspring.com
[1] Re: Source wanted: Camera Bag Padding
Date: Tue Jun 16 15:46:14 CDT 1998

Hi,

Just keep in mind that the packing may be intended to be used for short periods of time. Just so long as you don't leave items in permanent storage, it should not be a concern. BTW, I e-mailed the place that had the Temper foam and asked them if they had samples. Well they sent me a box full of 3x3x18" rectangles of the stuff. It comes in 4 color-coded grades of compressability and being that it is used in prosthetics it is inert . It definitely is worth considering. It's the only foam that I know of that's supposed to absorb energy like a gel and it feels like it's organic.

Check it out,

Dirk

Addendum:

Okay here is the site for Temper foam:

http://www.keesgoebel.com/t.foam.htm

Dirk


From: Tsun Tam ttam@cybernex.net
Subject: Response to Making a copy board
Date: 1998-06-15

Check www.porters.com. They carry two sizes of steel 'copy boards.' These can be used successfully with the 'rubber refrigerator magnets' to hold the print down. The magnets are thin enough so that they do not cast any shadows from the light source.


From: stefan poag stefan@icon-stl.net
Subject: Response to Making a copy board
Date: 1998-06-15

If you do your own printing, why not use the enlarging easel? I use the easel; it holds the prints perfectly flat, they line up perfect each time. I move the easel blades in to a half inch or so of the edge of my print and he print very flat. I use the enlarger column from a broken durst entarger as my copy stand.

When I get the over the place where the easel blades intrude into the picture with polyester photo tape.


rec.photo.equipment.large-format
From: "Bob Salomon" bobsalomon@mindspring.com
[1] Re: Help.........Sync this!
Date: Fri Jun 19 17:09:12 CDT 1998

An electric shaver cord or a TV cheater cord has the same hole placement and size as a bipost.

Your lens may be coated. But it isn't multi coated.
PLEASE ADDRESS ALL FUTURE E-MAIL TO ME AT:
bobsalomon@mindspring.com

>I recently purchased a Super Speed graphic, which I'm using out in the
>clubs of Manhattan. (Weegee wannabe!)
>
>Anyway, so this camera comes with an Ektar 127 mm f/4.7 in a S-C shutter
>(you don't want to know what I paid for it, I've all ready resigned
>myself to eternal damnation)
>The 127 mm is a beautiful lens, that multicoating looks sweet! The only
>prob is the bayonet sync terminal.
>
>Anyone know if there are adapters to go from this bayonet male into pc
>female. I don't need another cord, I've already given Paramount more
>than they deserve.  


rec.photo.equipment.large-format
From: dickburk@ix.netcom.com (Richard Knoppow)
[1] Re: Help.........Sync this!
Date: Sat Jun 20 05:49:56 CDT 1998

Unfortunately this is probably an ASA bayonet connector. There were a couple of different sizes of bayonet flash connectors, the ASA is the smaller of the two and was used on several Kodak cameras. I don't know if anyone makes an adaptor for these. I managed to find an original cord at a swap meet but have seen few others. I makshifted a connector for a larger bayonet connector (on an old solenoid) out of a pilot lamp socket. Not very satisfactory but works. I am surprized that a Compur shutter would have one of these, most of them have either bi-post or PC type. This is a very late Ektar, the last of them were mounted in Synchro-Compurs. I also doubt that it is multi-coated, they quit making them too soon but it will still have an effective coating and is an outstanding lens. It should be stopped down to f/11 or smaller to get the corners of a 4x5 sharp.

Kodak serial numbers after about 1938 have code letters for the year of manufacture. The key is the word CAMEROSITY standing for the numerals 1,2,3, etc. These are the last two numerals of the year. Thus a lens numbered RS-111 was made in 1947.

---
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles, Ca.
dickburk@ix.netcom.com


rec.photo.equipment.large-format
Date: Sat Jun 20 23:03:31 CDT 1998
From: Anyone nospam@pacifier.com
To: Boris Kozintsev bak@math.umd.edu
[1] Re: How to use 35mm SLR metering for LF?

Boris,

I used my 35mm Cannon as a light meter for quite a while. The distance to the film plane does not make a difference. What matters is using equivalent lenses. In other words, if you are using a "normal" lens for 4X5 such as a 150 to 180 (162 is exactly normal for 4X5) then you must use a lens for your 35mm camera that is around 50mm. Most matrix meters are reallty quite good and I got excellent results this way. In fact my results suffered when I got a good spot meter until I learned the proper way to use it. I still do a sanity check when spot metering by using my 35 mm to make sure the "average" isn't to far off from where I am metering. I am still learning! Also, be sure the ASA is set correctly on your 35mm to match the sheet film you are using.

Here is a link about various metering methods....might be helpful:

http://www.bigbenpublishing.com.au/photography/metering.html

I have also begun using and old Weston Master selenium averaging meter and it seem to be a helpful tool for checking light values. I inherited mine from a relative, but they are not expensive (available used).

Best Wishes,

Dave
reply to:
dpayne at pacifier dot com

Boris Kozintsev wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I want to use my 35 mm Minolta as a spot meter for 4x5 photography.
> What is the correct way of doing that? A link would be nice, I
> think I've seen it somewhere but cannot locate it anymore
>
> Thanks
>
> Boris     


Date: Fri, 26 Jun 1998
From: Wilsonc@Hj.com (Wilson Craig)
Subject: Nikon Loupes

The AF Nikkor 50 1.8 used rear element-up can also be a very useful, and relatively inexpensive, loupe.

Wilson


Date: Sun, 09 Aug 1998
From: "Larry R. and Carol H. Kalajainen" LCKalajainen@compuserve.com
Subject: loupe for 6x7

The waist-level viewing hood from a Pentax 67 is not bad and costs about $100 new.

Larry Kalajainen


From: evphoto@insync.net
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.misc
Subject: Re: Info on hi-powered portable flash gear?
Date: Thu, 09 Jul 1998

Hi there Chuck, briefly: The highest battery powered flash generally availible will be the Balcar Concept units, sold through Calumet (1.800.CAL.UMET or www.calumetphoto.com) these are 1600 watt/second per head units and you can plug up to 4 (totalling 6400w/s) into one control unit. (oh, by the way all of this stuff is very pricy.) Next down the powerscale is the Hensel Porty (call Strobesmith in New York City 1.212.255.1118) and the Comet PMT, both of these are 1200w/s. For my money I would go with the Porty, as I have heard nothing but wonderful things about it: reliable, semi waterproofed, controllable in 1/10 of a stop steps, and 100 flashes at full power with a full charged battery (talk to Strobesmith about that) very controllable, and you can modify other strobe (like Profoto) heads to fit it. Why would you want to do that you wonder, and the answer is: long throw hi-intensity reflectors), and rugged. I have rented the Comet PMT on three occaisions. the first time the unit developed a short and I got nowhere near the number of flashes I was supposed to get per fully charged battery. The second time was fine. The third time i was on an industrial job and the capacitors blew so violently the case cracked.

The next step down that i know of are the Norman 400B and the 400 w/s version of the Lumadyne system. The Lumadyne is unique in that you can mix and match control, fast recycling and battery modules to get nearly any combination of power, recycling times, and capacity you might need. The problem is weight and size. By the time you built a 1200w/s set up you would have spent nearly as much as you will on the Hensel Porty, and probably not have near the capacity or recycling time. Having said that, my Lumadyne has been extremely reliable. Norman and Lumadyne both make a 200w/s unit as well. The final entry in the highpower batterypowered flash field is a very interesting unit made by Dynalite called the Jackrabbit Uni400. This unit is interesting because a. it runs off of both 110AC or a battery called the Jackrabbit (the best, IMHYLO) b. it takes standard Dynalite reflectors (like a sports reflector) and it is reasonably priced.

Given your application you should also seriously consider an LPA Pocket Wizard, a 16 channel digital remote radio trigger has method of fool proof triggering of your flash. And finally have you considered Flashbulbs? I bookmarked a site of the WWW last month that looks interesting: http://www.meggaflash.com/flash.htm

Better lighting next time,
Ellis Vener
Ellis Vener Photography
Houston, Texas


Date: Tue, 14 Jul 1998
From: Dan Post dwpost@email.msn.com
Reply to: rollei@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
To: rollei@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
Subject: Re: [Rollei] Rollei Strap solution....

Y'all,

I know that this might tweak the beaks of a few purists, but what the hey! I took a couple of those triangular split rings that are so common- they gave me a couple at the camera store free!

I slipped them onto the strap anchors on the camera by rotating them onto the post that the forked strap hardware would normally grasp. Once on they are almost invisible, and by pushing them up from the bottom, I slip the narrow nylon strap of a Tamrac strap through the ring. The buckle is plastic and does not appear to be in a position or of a material that would scratch the viewfinder, at least mine hasn't. In fact, other than the rings there is no metal on or near the camera!

The nice thing about the Tamrac strap is that it has quick release snaps, so I can take the strap off if I mount it on the tripod, and the strap, though narrow at the camera, has a wide padded non-slip leather portion that is quite comfortable.

If my description is too vague, let me know and I will take a couple of photos and post them to you individually or to a website

Dan'l
dwpost@msn.com


rec.photo.equipment.35mm
From: tnaser@my-dejanews.com
[1] Re: silica gel - how to dry
Date: Wed Jun 24 10:30:12 CDT 1998

Rainer Leuschke rainer@u.washington.edu wrote:

>
>
> howdy,
> I bought a can with about a pound of silica gel. I filled it into a
> ziploc bag that I poked holes into to keep my photo gear dry. Now it has
> turned from deep blue in color to pinkish I tryed to dry it in the oven
> and micro wave oven acording to instructions but it stays pinkish. What's
> the best process and setup to get the water back out of the gel? Oven
> temperature? How long? Put it back in zip loc while warm?
> Thanks,
> R!
>
> --
> Rainer Leuschke    phone: (w) 206-685-0900
>                           (h) 206-524-7887
>
>

Randy:

If you have an old fashioned gas oven, with a burner thats always on; not the modern type which doesn't, place the gel on a baking sheet in a thin layer and place near the top of the oven - nearest the burner. With the oven turned OFF the heat generated should dry out the silica overnight (8-12 hrs). However, if the humidity is Very high, this does not always work 100%. In that case, just leave it in longer.

IMPORTANT: Put a note on the front of the oven so that no one accidently turns it on!

- Tom


rec.photo.equipment.35mm
From: wes webmaster@memphiswest.net
[1] Re: Regenerating Silica Gel
Date: Mon Jul 20 09:56:14 CDT 1998

Hello

So: anyone successfully re-genned these babies? How?

put them a pan over a slow fire, swirl the content occasionally, wait till they turn blue and let it get cool.

works everytime,
wes
webmaster@memphiswest.com


From: jc@hh.ffei.co.uk (Jerry Cullingford)
Newsgroups: rec.photo.misc
Subject: Re: Crosshair lenses
Date: 10 Jul 1998

cbabing3@swbell.net wrote:

>I think the only way to get crosshairs on the film at the time of 
exposure is
>to have them on a glass plate in the film gate of the camera, and at the film
>plane. This way the crosshairs block exposure at the surface of the film as
>each shot is made.

Alternatively, you could look at using the same method used for some 1x telescope finders ("telrad") and (I believe) bombsights.

                       \
eye/lens----------------\----------------- target
                        |\
                        | \glass at 45 degrees
                        |
                      ----- diverging lens (increases apparent distance)   
                        |
                     ------- illuminated overlay (crosshair, dot)

Take a piece of glass at 45 degrees - look through it to the target. It also reflects light from an illuminated overlay (LED dot, crosshairs or whatever, superimposing it on the target. You can compensate for the focussing problems caused by the different distances by using the appropriate strength diverging lens to increase the apparent distance of the overlay.

or, as another alternative, tape a laser pointer to the lens barrel (or fix it to the flash shoe, or whatever) to put a red dot on the target.

--
_|_ Jerry Cullingford jerry.cullingford@ffei.co.uk (Work)
/ | Fujifilm Electronic Imaging jc@selune.demon.co.uk (Home)
\_|_ Hemel Hempstead, UK PGP key at www.selune.demon.co.uk
\__/ (Speaking only for myself and not the company unless otherwise stated)


> Date: Tue, 7 Jul 1998 10:12:23 +0100
> From: "John Partis"
> Subject: Re: Labelling Nikon slides
>
> .......
> First Avery produce A4 sheets of 35mm slide labels, the code is J8657.
> Microsoft Word 97 has a template for this.
>
> Secondly, if you want archival quality, then try University Products Inc -
> the catalogue is very interesting.
> Their web page is http://www.universityproducts.com.
>
> Hope this helps
> John Partis
> West Sussex, UK 


Date: Tue, 07 Jul 1998 10:39:43 -0400 From: Rus Hardy Subject: Re: Labeling Nikon Slides Hello Lionel et al, I have been using Boyd Norton's NSCS Pro Labeling and database software for a few months now and love it! It not only allows labeling and captioning slides, it has extensive databasing capabilities. You can find info about it at http://www.nscspro.com .

I use avery labels. They are available for both laser and inkjet and work quite well. I'm typing this from my field office and don't have the labels with me , but I think they are Avery 5267. I you'd like I can let you know for sure when I get back. Hope this helps.

Warm Regards,
Rus Hardy


rec.photo.equipment.misc
From: Allen Greenky esq###uire@rico###chet.net###
[1] Re: projecting backgroungs
Date: Wed Jul 22 03:17:52 CDT 1998

David Jaremy wrote:

> > Does anyone have any experience in projecting backgrounds for portraiture, 
> instead of the traditional paper or cloth backgrounds?  I am considering 
> attempting it, so ideas would be helpful.

David,

There several different concepts of projected backgrounds, you have your scene machine slide projectors, with special split image prism to project the slide im age directly on the plan of the camera view. This is a major set up requiring a very heavy tripod, the camera/projector set up must be perfectly aligned perpendicula r to hte background. The lights must be shielded to avoid spill on the background screen. The major drawback is that the set up never truely looks realistic for the reason that the lightingin the background image can never be the same as the stu dio lighting on the subject, no matter how much you try. This remains the same even if you resolve other problems like black edge around the subject, washout glare on the background, light spill, and throwing your back out moving the damn thing around . Oh yeah, the thing costs a fortune, unless you find one from someone who either went broke or gave it up in disgust. One more drawback, a large portion of your clients just don't get it and don't understand that the image can't be seen during the shoot, or they just can't into the mood of the tropical beach scene or whate ver you are projecting. There is something to be said for good realistic props, and the fact is, a good true prop works on the client better than a cheap fake prop that just might look better on film than the real thing.

The other concept of projection is casting shadows on a background with a light on the side with some kind of go-between. Popular things to use are plants or spec ial projector lights with metal disks inserted to project patterns or silloutted images. This adds depth to the image.

esq uire at rico chet . net


From: focusoninfinity@webtv.net
Newsgroups: rec.photo.film+labs
Subject: Re: Writing on the back of prints -- Best type of pen?
Date: Sat, 18 Jul 1998

Try the Pilot Photographic Marker, extra fine. Writes very smoothly and dries instantly. Definitely the best I've worked with.


From: antispam@here.not (john r pierce)
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.misc
Subject: Re: Eyepiece Adapter for Telephoto
Date: Fri, 31 Jul 1998

Cliff Kotnik cos.kotnik@mci2000.com wrote:

>Has anyone every seen an adapter for a telephoto lens
>which allows an eyepiece to be attached so it can be
>used as a monocular?
I have but only a long time ago, and it was for old pentax T-mount lenses.

Even a very 'long' telephoto lens doesn't make a terribly powerful telescope, certainly not by astronomy standards. Camera lenses are optimized for a relatively large image size so much of the aperture is wasted on a typical astronomy eyepiece. An 800mm lens with a typical 25mm 'plossl' eyepiece will be about 32X and will require a 220mm aperture (or f/3.5) to achieve maximal light gathering in nighttime conditions (i.e. a 7mm eye pupil diameter). A good telescope objective has a significantly smaller 'circle of confusion' then a typical camera lens but doesn't need to generate as large of a prime focus image (the 24x36mm image of 35mm film requires a 44mm diameter image to fully cover the film... a typical telescope eyepiece needs only a 20mm or so image)

-jrp


From: Ken Rice krice@admin.vhs.davis.k12.ut.us
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.large-format
Subject: Building a vacuum frame
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1998

Someone asked about plans for building a vacuum frame, since the cost of shipping a used one from almost anywhere to New Zealand would be high.

The most common type of frame has a metal frame (sorry for the repetition) containing a relatively thick sheet of glass. These would be tough to build.

But, there is another type that is easy to build. This can be used either as an easel for the enlarger or for making contact exposures.

The base is a box about one inch thick containing wooden baffles that allow air movement around them, but will hold the the top rigid and level. The sides are solid except for an entry tube, which will be adapted to the hose of a vacuum cleaner (or one could use a vacuum pump, if one is available, but a household vacuum cleaner works quite well. (if possible, place the cleaner in another room to contain the noise.)

The back of the box is solid (Masonite or another brand of composition hardboard is ideal -- use 1/4" thickness.

The top needs to have a lot of holes to allow air to move downward into the box, lowering atmospheric air pressure at the top surface. My first attempt used peg board. Bad idea. The holes were large enough to allow the material to dimple down into the holes, and my baffles were inadequate -- the top pulled down instead of being level.

In my opinion, the best material for the top is steel -- what is called perforated sheet metal. It's pre-painted black and the holes are very small -- around 1/32nd", and spaced very closely forming a sort of screen pattern. But it needs to be well supported by the baffles.

It's also quite expensive if you're forced to buy a full sheet. It's worth making some phone calls to sheet metal shops, etc. to see if you can find a remnant.

To use the vacuum box, one places the photosensitive substrate on the top, covering it with the negative (or whatever the original is); then cover the sandwich with a sheet of clear plastic. This flexible sheet can be clear drafting acetate, or polyester, and needs to be smaller than the top, so that enough air can go into the box to prevent the vacuum cleaner or pump from failing.

Then one turns on the vacuum, being careful to keep everyting aligned. The rapidly moving air creates a low pressure zone, allowing the atmospheric air pressure to press down the material and holding it in tight registration. It is considered good practice to wait for a minute or so to get all of the air to bleed out before turning on the exposure unit.

There is a variation on the design using a glass top. If interested, let me know and I'll try to explain it.

By the way; I've been having trouble with posting. If you see this post, I'd really appreciate a brief note saying that it showed up on rec.photo.equipment.large-format.

Cheers,


Date: Tue, 04 Aug 1998
From: bdasilva@idirect.com
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.large-format
Subject: Re: Building a vacuum frame

I used a new, old style 110 volt computer fan instead of a vacuume cleaner. It was $25 at the surplus store. It is completely quiet and will not burn out when you achieve a complete seal.


From: "K and J Darling" thedarlings@ix.netcom.com
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.35mm
Subject: Re: gray card
Date: 3 Aug 1998

The light meters in cameras and "reflected" hand held light meters, as well as the sensors in automatic flash units, are calibrated to produce an exposure than averages all the tones of an image into a theoretical gray tone of about 18% reflectance. That is, the meter presumes it's looking at a subject that's reflecting 18% of the light striking it, and the meter gives an exposure that renders the subject as that 18% gray.

The gray card is that theoretical 18% subject the meter "thinks" it's looking at.

All this means certain things:

If you fill your viewscreen (or the meter reading area) with a white object, the setting it gives you will render that white object as an 18% gray--obviously not an accurate exposure.

If you fill your viewscreen with a black object, the setting it gives you will render that black object as an 18% gray--and that's not accurate, either.

If your viewscreen contains a ligh source, the meter will try to average it out across the view to an 18% gray, which is likely to underexpose everything else in the scene and darken the light source. Not accurate, either.

If you fill your viewscreen with a gray card, your meter will give you a setting that renders the gray card as the same shade of gray (presuming your meter is working properly). That will be an accurate exposure FOR THE GRAY CARD. In most cases, this will be a good exposure. However, there are reasons why other things in your scene, things that are much darker or lighter than the gray card, will still be exposed improperly (and there are things you can do about that). You can compare a gray card reading with other common objects to learn how much to alter meter readings to expose them correctly.

For instance, a person's palm (any race if not very, very dark) reflects about one stop more than 18%. You can meter your palm (if it's in the same light as your subject) and open up one stop for a reading that should be about the same as with a gray card. Green grass is about the same reflectance as a gray card, as is wetted concrete. You should endevor to get a feel for those things that you want to reproduce at that tone.

If you're shooting color negative film, shooting one frame with the gray card also gives a custom printer a good reference for precise color-corrected printing.

There is a lot more to it...I'd strongly advise getting a book on the Zone System to learn what really happens when light strikes film through a lens.


From: aljnospam@alumni.caltech.edu (Allen L. Johnson)
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.misc
Subject: Re: Eyepiece Adapter for Telephoto
Date: Sun, 02 Aug 1998

The currently available adapters (I got mine a year ago from Adorama) have a 10mm eyepiece behind a roof prism image erector. The down side of this item is that you can't really use aperature above f2 due to the vignetting of the erector. Wonderfully sharp with good optics, however. Also, with a macro lens, you get a long working distance ~25 power magnifier, depending on the macro lens. Expect to pay somewhere from $50-$100US.

Allen


Date: Mon, 06 Jul 1998
From: Peter Klosky PKlosky@bdm.com
To: hasselblad@kelvin.net
Subject: Re: off topic - broken shutter release adapter -Reply

Yes, the "easy out" is a special tool that could help. However, I am not sure they come in a size this small.

There are other options. The simplest approach is to get the broken piece to come out by turning it in the normal direction. You could use some sort of probe, such as an X-acto knife or jeweler's screwdriver, to coax the piece to turn. You would press the tool against the piece you want to turn, at an angle that would cause it to turn in the desired direction. It might even be possible to use a fingernail or finger if enough is sticking out.

The "easy out" is is something like a screw with reverse threads. Another option is to find a small screw with reverse threads. With both, you screw them in in reverse, and, once tight, they cause the normal screw to reverse.

Other options for stuck screws which are not available to you are heating the outside piece with a torch or sawing off the outside piece of two jammed together pieces. I just mention these two techniques for your amusement. By the way, did it fail on the job?

Peter

Lionel F. Stevenson camera@mailer.isn.net
Take the camera to a hardware store. Buy an "Easy Out"of the proper size. This is an item like a little screw with a left hand thread. You thread it into the stuck piece, (turning it counterclockwise and it will unscrew the part.

>Recently, in the course of a lot of traveling, the "L" shaped adapter  that I
>used to attach my shutter release cable, broke off, leaving a piece of  itself
>stuck in the shutter release button.  It is nearly flush with the surface.
>The shutter release works, but I'd like to remove the broken piece.  Any
>suggestions?  Thanks.  -Ellen


From: jans@imagina.com (Jan Steinman)
Newsgroups: rec.photo.marketplace,rec.photo.misc
Subject: Re: Magnets
Date: Tue, 04 Aug 1998

mpb9954@rit.edu wrote:

> I'm looking for magnet strips that I can use to make my own magnets...
>
> I don't want the magnets that are just long thin-width strips...
>
> Someone suggested that there are magnets like this to put on the backs
> of business cards, but they are really expensive, and I need a LOT.  If
> it were to come in a roll of some kind that I had to cut pieces that
> size from, then that would be ok too.  Any ideas?  Please email me as
> well as posting.  Thanks!

Hi Molley! What'cha do is buy a set of magnetic air-vent covers and use a office-quality paper cutter on them. I bought a dozen from Damark for $29.95. (I think that's the correct quantity and price...) This ends up being over 6 square feet. Hope this is helpful!


From Nikon Digest:
Date: Wed, 5 Aug 1998
From: SKMACLEO@am.pnu.com
Subject: Re: trigger voltages

Yesterday I received my brand new N90s, 24-120D and SB-28 and have started reading the owners manuals.

Although I can't quote it exactly right now, there is a statement in the recent N90s manual about the potential for damage if the camera is connected to flashes employing over 250 volts. I suspect that this refers to trigger voltage. Although I haven't followed the evolution of flash unit circuitry, I'd also suspect that any system utilizing 250 volts in the external trigger circuit is a pretty old, but very powerful flash. Perhaps those of you who are closer to this could identify those units.

I've enjoyed reading this group and will have a few questions of my own shortly unless the SB-28 manual answers them first.

Steve MacLeod


From Nikon Digest:
Date: Thu, 6 Aug 1998
From: Anderson Neal F NSWC AndersonNF@ncsc.navy.mil
Subject: Re: trigger voltages

Can't assume it's only big powerful flashes; I have a tiny peanut flash that has over 250 volts trigger - I've put a label on it to be sure I only use it on old, tough Nikons. You have to measure to be sure.

Neal AndersonNF@ncsc.navy.mil Panama City, FL


Date: Tue, 04 Aug 98
From: Leonard Eselson eselson@ibm.net
To: Hasselblad Post hasselblad@kelvin.net
Subject: re: Monopods

A neat solution to the problem of mounting a camera to a monopod is to use the Bogan 3232 swivel. It rotates in one direction about a horizontal axis, but that is usually all you need from a monopod. I use it with a Really Right Stuff quick release plate which normally lives on on my Hassy and their B-2 Pro which lives on the Bogan 3232.

This set up is described in the Really Right Stuff Catalog (PO Box 6531, Los Osos, CA 93412/ Phone 1-805-528-6321). Highly recommended if you use Arca-Swiss Style ball heads.

Len Eselson


Date: Tue, 4 Aug 1998
From: Andy Peters apeters@noao.edu
Subject: re: Monopod

From: "Per Ofverbeck" elgenper@hotmail.com

Hi all, I use a Hasselblad with 80, 180 (and sometimes a Mutar 2x), and I have thought about a monopod at times, so I follow this thread with interest. However, I use and love the waist level finder, and have no plans to even own anything else. Will that be compatible with using a monopod?

Completely compatible. Actually, it's easier to use a waist-level finder with a monopod than it is to use an eye-level (typical 35mm) type. I don't need a six-foot tall monopod with the waist-level! (Tho I bought one anyway; that 80-200mm f/2.8 Tokina AT-X for my OM-1N is pretty damn heavy.)

How do you support the camera end of that combo while looking through the magnifier? Probably stupid questions, but any comments would be welcome to lessen my confusion.

When using most lenses, you just attach the 'pod to the camera body. If the lens is "heavy," chances are the manufacturer knows it and put a tripod mount on the lens. (That Tokina lens, BTW, is the only one I own that has a tripod mount.) This is done so that you can attach the tripod/monopod to the camera and not worry about wrecking the lensmount by hanging ten pounds of glass off of it as you hold the camera body.

Monopods have the following other useful feature. If someone's trying to steal your stuff, whack 'em over the head with a monopod five or six times. Make sure they're dead, because dead men can't sue. (Their heirs are another story.)

-andy

Andy Peters
Senior Electrical Engineer
National Optical Astronomy Observatories


From: baldycotton@mindspring.com (baldycotton@mindspring.com)
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.35mm
Subject: Re: cleaning the mirror
Date: Wed, 05 Aug 1998 22:38:56 GMT

>How can I clean dusty mirror in the SLR? I've heard that it cannot be
>touched under any circumstances - even with microfibre cloth. Any ideas?

It's not that it CANNOT be touched, but rather it shouldn't be touched. The glass is as thin as onion skin, and will break at the slightest pressure, altho I have cleaned mine with one of those terrific cosmetic brushes they sell at the pharmacy for a cupla bucks. If a little dust or stain is on it, ignore it. It's not part of the picture taking process anyway. If it's so bad that it actually interferes with you view, you can have it professionally cleaned or replaced for not a lot of money.

Dave


From: "Fred Whitlock" afc@cl-sys.com
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.35mm
Subject: Re: cleaning the mirror
Date: Wed, 5 Aug 1998

You need to be very, very careful if you touch it because the silvering is on the top of the mirror glass and not beneath it. I recommend you simply hit it with some compressed air. They sell cans of the stuff at your local camera store. Good shooting.

Fred
Maplewood Photography


From: rpn1@cornell.edu (Neuman-Ruether)
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.35mm
Subject: Re: cleaning the mirror
Date: Thu, 06 Aug 1998

>Kal wrote in message ...
>
>>How can I clean dusty mirror in the SLR? I've heard that it cannot be
>>touched under any circumstances - even with microfibre cloth. Any ideas?
>
>You need to be very, very careful if you touch it because the silvering is
>on the top of the mirror glass and not beneath it.  I recommend you simply
>hit it with some compressed air.  They sell cans of the stuff at your local
>camera store.   Good shooting.

Um..., generally your advice is SO good...! But with this one, I take exception...;-) Blowing into the VF system is the quick way to drive annoying dust onto the upper (inaccessible) surface of the viewing screen - and it is then removable only by a technician unless the viewing screen is user-interchangeable. And that "canned air" is still ozone-layer unfriendly, the can claims notwithstanding... (a brushless large bulb hand-blower [which *should* be available at your local camera store, but often isn't since it is so cheap and doesn't need replenishment...;-]), does the blowing jobs quite well, when appropriate...

Some (Nikon...) SLR mirrors can be cleaned (but at the risk of adding a couple of fine scratches) by breathing *up* onto the surface, then wiping off the mist with a VERY lightly applied fresh cotton swab, twirled slowly as it is moved on the surface.

David Ruether
ruether@fcinet.com
rpn1@cornell.edu
http://www.fcinet.com/ruether


From: bob@bobshell.com
Newsgroups: rec.photo.misc
Subject: Re: Spiratone - History
Date: Fri, 07 Aug 1998

Fred Spira is the founder of Spiratone. He was getting up in age and wanted to retire, so he shut down and sold off his inventory.

Since I have not heard otherwise, I assume that Fred is still alive and well.

Bob Shell

dugan@nixspam.com (Dugan) wrote:

> Have been out of "serious" photography for many years (other interests),
> and just got back in, started reading the usual mags, and drooling over
> all the things for sale in all the ads (B&H, etc.), and it brings back
> memories.


From: w.j.markerink@a1.nl (Willem-Jan Markerink)
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
Subject: Re: Mamiya mailing list
Date: Sat, 08 Aug 98

"don ferrario" don@ferrario.com wrote:

>Willem-Jan Markerink wrote in message <6qfog2$bac$2@news.a1.nl>...>>
>>>
>>
>>Other than the silly & inconvenient web-based 'forum' run by Mamiya USA,
>>there isn't any that I know of.
>>
>
>
>Does anyone know how to go about starting a mailing list?
>
>don
>

I launched one myself, and maintain a second, and if that didn't take so much time already, I would start a Mamiya list myself (as well as a Kowa list, and probably a dozen more....8-))

The best solution is to have a small, willing provider, (read: not likely to charge you for this service, as you must run the list software on their server). Be sure they will also exist in a few years from now....or else make sure you run the list on your own domain name....8-))

You then need to pick software, like ListProc, ListServ, Majordomo or Mailman. I personally prefer Majordomo, but Mailman has a slick web-based subscription interface (yes less easy to maintain).

Requirements: good (fast) helpdesk/sitemaster at your provider, lots of time, an indestructable sense of humor, and lots of patience.

--
Bye,

Willem-Jan Markerink


From Nikon Digest:
Date: Tue, 11 Aug 1998 10:15:51 -0700 From: "Alan K. Unangst" Subject: Cleaning Camera Bodies - An Answer Digest Members: Here is what I do, and have done for years. I use a product made in the U.S.A. by the Johnson Wax Co. Called: "Jubilee". Jubilee is a non abrasive kitchen and appliance cleaner and wax. I use only the cream, not the spray, since I can put a dab on the end of the cleaning rag and carefully clean only the areas of the camera that I feel need it. I then wipe the area with a clean soft rag and bingo the camera is beautifully cleaned and has a light coat of non sticky, or dirt collecting, wax on it.

I hope that this gives you at least one idea. I am finding that Jubilee is getting harder to find, so I order it, by the case, directly from Johnson Wax. (Which I have absolutely no connection with !)

73, & Happy Shooting.

Alan
Alan K. Unangst, WC7R
Phone: (520) 445-1465 / FAX (520) 445-5755
E-Mail: alanwc7r@primenet.com
Amateur Radio Packet: WC7R@KB7FRV.AZ.USA.NOAM


From Nikon Digest:
Date: Tue, 18 Aug 1998
From: Roger Eritja eritja@virtualbaix.com
Subject: Re: Dust mites

Ian,

I have used in the past an essence called Mirbane. It has been used for many years to protect entomological displays preventing the mites to eat our precious pinned insects.

FWIW after a superficial browse in the net I have only found one link to a supplier in Mexico:

http://www.cosmos.com.mx/pqs/____44cj.htm

but there must be anyone in your country. A local taxidermist or museum supplies dealer might be able to sell you a bottle.

Be careful as it's quite toxic (and smells like the hell). Just soak a piece of cotton wool, put it in an open glass vial and leave it in the bag to protect. I would strongly recommend don't leave your Nikon stuff in the presence of the product as I don't know if its vapour might affect some camera part.

BTW, the bad news are that I used this system in furniture pieces; but in my case (an old house) I quickly realized that the real problem was moisture. I got rid of the mites only for a time (mites do have long-lasting, resistance biological forms). So at last I got rid of that house :-(

May be some desiccant could be helpful, or as a worst case, discard the bag if the mites appear only there. Mites inside a camera are a serious problem; I heard several years ago that the only treatment is to leave the camera for days in absolute vacuum.

Sorry for the long post and the bad news... I hope that it will be helpful to protect your Nikons.

Roger

- --
Dr. Roger Eritja (eritja@virtualbaix.com)
Biologist
Mosquito Control Service - Consell Comarcal del Baix Llobregat
Ph. +34-936401399 FAX +34-936300142


rec.photo.equipment.35mm
From: "Fred Whitlock" afc@cl-sys.com
[1] Re: When to use lens hood?
Date: Sat Sep 05 14:25:22 CDT 1998

>laugh  Well....  if the NIKON school says so, it MUST be true...  ;-) 

I agree with the Nikon School Your lenses should wear a hood all the time. Mine do in the studio or outdoors-always. How can it possibly hurt anything? It can only help. Good protection for the front of lens, too-it's saved a few lenses for me over the years. I consider a lens hood one of the three most important accessories a new photographer can buy. The other two are a tripod and a TTL flash extension cord.

>            I find it hard to fit filters with my lens hoods permanently on,
>or do the Nikon school not advise filter use :-)

You need to remove the hood, affix a filter and then replace the hood or leave it off while you use the filter if that's appropriate. It's not difficult or particularly time consuming.

>After a while, you will just know when you need a lens hood, as you will
>learn to just "know" many things instinctively...  even things your
>instructor neglected to tell you ;-)

I'm still on the side of the instructor on this issue. I don't think instinct is a good guide in this situation because I don't think a viewfinder is as good a place to see flare as a finished photograph is. Good shooting.

Fred
Maplewood Photography
http://www.maplewoodphoto.com


From: art@WAstateResident.oz.net (Don Smith)
Newsgroups: rec.photo.marketplace
Subject: Re: Kodak publications
Date: Tue, 18 Aug 1998

> Does anyone know of a vendor that offers these at substantial discounts?
> Thanks

There's a few listed at:
http://www.oneworld-design.com/bstore.html

Mainly in the Darkroom area, what are you looking for? I'll add it.

Don


Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1998
From: Marc James Small msmall@roanoke.infi.net
To: rollei@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
Subject: Re: [Rollei] Re: Rollei 2.8F Shutter

With ALL Compur shutters, be they on Hasselblad, Contaflex, or Rolleiflex cameras, or even on Leica-Compurs, the factory answer is to store them cocked.

Marc

msmall@roanoke.infi.net FAX: +540/343-7315


Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1998
From: Richard Knoppow dickburk@ix.netcom.com
To: rollei@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
Subject: Re: [Rollei] Re: Rollei 2.8F Shutter

At 03:52 PM 8/26/98 -0500, you wrote:


>> >Richard Knoppow
>> >Los Angeles,Ca.
>> >dickburk@ix.netcom.com
>
>Richard - did I understand you correctly - It's best to leave the newer
>Rolleiflex shutter cocked - when not in use?
>
>Roger Wiser

I've posted a more complete answer to a later post. It makes very little difference in these shutters (late model Compur) since the motor spring is under considerable tension even when not cocked. Furthermore there is only the single spring and not much strain is put on anything when the shutter is cocked.

There are many spring applications where springs are under constant tension or compression. Auto suspension springs are an example. It is the bending of the spring which will eventually wear it out from metal fatigue.

Some types of spring metal are very resistant to fatigue.

----
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles,Ca.
dickburk@ix.netcom.com


Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1998
From: Richard Knoppow dickburk@ix.netcom.com
To: rollei@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
Subject: RE: [Rollei] Re: Rollei 2.8F Shutter

At 06:37 PM 8/26/98 -0700, you wrote:

>All Compur?  That means both Syncro and Rapid shutters? store cocked (with
>tension)?
>
>Bill

There is some controversey as to whether springs become damaged by being left under tension for long periods of time. Certainly, if a spring is tensioned beyond its elastic limit it will be damaged but for less than that perhaps not. The cycling of springs will eventually weaken them from metal fatigue but that comes from bending and unbending.

I think it is probably wise to leave old style shutters untensioned when they are to be unused for a long period of time.

There is the further consideration with older type shutters that they speed should not be changed while they are cocked (although it is really only the highest speed which is a problem).

Also, roll-film cameras tend to have better film flatness if film is wound not long before exposure. That way it tends to be under some tension. After a time it relaxes and may bow.

Since Marc has posted that Compur recommends leaving its later (?) shutters tensioned I will have to go along with it. The springs in these shutters are flat spiral springs, like a clock motor spring, and are partially wound up when they are installed. The difference in tension between the cocked and tripped state is less than wiht most other types of shutter springs.

----
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles,Ca.
dickburk@ix.netcom.com


Date: Thu, 27 Aug 1998
From: Marc James Small msmall@roanoke.infi.net
To: rollei@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
Subject: RE: [Rollei] Re: Rollei 2.8F Shutter

At 12:19 AM 1998-08-27 -0700, bills wrote:

>So when we speak of later shutter...what are we talking about?  The TLR, the
>66 or 6000 series?  I am confused now.  So what is new, right?  :-)

The "old shutter" is the rim-set and Rapid series used until 1950 or so; the "new shutter" is the Synchro-Compur and later which were first developed immediately prior to the Second World War but which did not enter mass production until around 1950.

Marc


Date: Thu, 27 Aug 1998
From: Richard Knoppow dickburk@ix.netcom.com
To: rollei@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
Subject: RE: [Rollei] Re: Rollei 2.8F Shutter

The easiest way to tell which kind of shutter you have is to see if there is some resistance when going from the next-to-highest speed to the highest speed. Older shutters have a booster spring and you can feel it being compressed when the speed dial is moved. The later shutter does not have this spring and the speed dial moves smoothly to the highest speed.

----
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles,Ca.
dickburk@ix.netcom.com


From Medium Format Digest:
From: rob black rbblk@erols.com
Subject: Response to Who makes the biggest ring flash?
Date: 1998-09-04

Sunpak makes a relatively cheap ringlight (around $200US)- the DK 12 that is specialized for MF. It has interchangable modules and works in TTL. One caveat, extra filter size adapter rings run about $30US. Ambico plastic filter rings work just as well with a little filing and cost $3 each.

Rob


Date: Fri, 21 Aug 1998
From: tired.of.spam@nospam.com (Rudy Garcia)
Newsgroups: rec.photo.technique.misc
Subject: Re: How to make a grey card

Why even bother?

Just use the plain white printer paper. Once, just once, compare a reflected meter reading between an 18% gray card and the plain white bond paper, which should come in at about 90% reflectance, or about 2.5 stops more exposure required than the meter will read. The difference in reflectances between the two will be maintained forever, as long as both the 18% gray card and the white paper are kept clean. If the white paper gets dirty or yellows, just get a new sheet.

Alternatively, the palm of your hand should read 1 stop higher than the gray card, so just use your palm and dial in one more stop than indicated by the meter.


From: kd9fb@xnet.com (Peter Mikalajunas)
Newsgroups: rec.photo.technique.misc
Subject: Re: Gray card useage?
Date: Wed, 09 Sep 1998

For a good page take at look at: http://idiom.com/~elight/earthlight/photo_tech_notes/zone_system_p1.html

For 35mm a gray card can be very useful in high contrast situations. For instance, shooting a tree in the snow. They aren't magic. You still need to carefully consider the subject.

When shooting B&W; a gray card can be indispensable. For color work outdoors, I have sometimes found it best to meter something green, such as a patch of grass. Then underexpose by 1 stop, but that is my preference when shooting chromes for saturation.


From: "John G. Walter" jgwalter@erols.com
Newsgroups: rec.photo.technique.misc
Subject: Re: Gray card useage?
Date: 9 Sep 1998

An 18% gray card is nothing more than a tool that will allow your light meter to make an accurate reading under any lighting situation. A light meter reads any subject as if it were an 18% gray. Therefore if you are reading, for example a bright sky, your meter will read an underexposure, and visa-versa for extremely dark objects. Knowing that this 18% gray is in the middle of a range of "zones", a photographer can then assess the values of other tones in a subject. Hence, the "Zone System".

I am not familiar with your N70, but I think that class of Nikon has a number of "Program" modes which really have nothing to do with the metering technique. It's possible that you are referring to measurement methods such as "spot", "center-weighted" or "matrix". These are merely areas of your viewing screen in which the metering takes place. With the exception of matrix metering, which I believe averages values from various areas of the screen into an approximated exposure, the other two read everything as if they were 18% gray, and are differ only in their degree of preciseness of area.

Another excellent use for a gray card is as a standardization tool for accurate color reproduction. I always insert a gray card into a scene to be used as a reference later for accurate color balance. Generally I include the gray card in one frame and then make an identical exposure on a second frame without the card. This way a printer, for example, can balance the gray card frame, and then work from the other one with the same information.


From: "K and J Darling" thedarlings@ix.netcom.com
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.35mm
Subject: Re: Gray card useage?
Date: 9 Sep 1998 22:51:36 GMT

Frank,

Sorry if it wasn't detailed enough. I hope the additional details below help.

----------

> From: Frank Visser 
> To: K and J Darling 
> Subject: Re: Gray card useage?
> Date: Wednesday, September 09, 1998 11:32 PM
>
> I have some questions about the explanation given about the use of 18%
> grey cards. I find it hard to see a connection between the suggested
> actions. By the way, I own a Canon AE-1/Program and an A-1 and they
> sometimes produce slightly different exposure settings (within 1 stop
> at most, mostly 0 - 1/2 stop).
>
> 1- Does it matter what sort of light falls on your 18% grey card. Do
> you need outdoor light, or will a bright halogen lamp do? I suppose
> not, but I assume it must be lit evenly.

Not really, but light differs in color content. Tungsten lights, including halogen, contain more yellow and red than sunlight. Florescents lack in specific spectral areas, notably red, compared to sunlight. Open shade is lit by the sky, which has absobed much of the red light, rendering it bluish. Sunlight between 10 am and 2pm is what daylight films and exposure meters are calibrated for, though, so it is better to use sunlight. Yes, the card and the test scene should be lit evenly. In the test scene, make sure you have the gray card (try to set it vertically parallel to the camera, but tilt it if necessary to avoid specular highlights), a card on which you mark your exposure settings, and perhaps something with various colors, like a color swatch chart or a bowl of fruit. If you can get a human to sit for the tests, that is ideal so that you can see the effect of exposure changes on skin tones.

> 2- stated is: 'Meter close up to the card'. Meter with the ISO-setting
> on the nominal film speed? And do I need to take a picture with that
> metering setting so I can compare it?

Set the camera on manual, of course. Start metering at the nominal setting (take the meter reading with the gray card filling the viewfinder, then move back to take in the entire test scene but use the close-up meter reading as your nominal reading), then vary it by half stop increments of over-exposure and under-exposure for each shot you take of the test scene. You can do that the way that is easiest for you: Vary the aperture, vary the shutter, vary the film speed setting, or a combination. But mark the changes on a card that is visible in your test scene, e.g., "meter reading", "+1", "-1/2", et cetera. Under- and over-expose as much as three stops in either direction from the meter reading.

> 3- When I move back and vary the film speed setting, the camera will
> do a different combination of shutter speed and aperture, also
> dependent on the other objects within the viewfinder. So then what is
> the use of the first closeby 18%grey metering. Do I need to point the
> middle of the viewfinder for the away shots at the 18%grey card?

If you vary the film speed setting, you will have to make another closeup reading at that setting. It's probably easier, then, just to vary the aperture and shutter speed. But remember that when you've changing the aperture and shutter speed, you're effectively changing the exposure index of the film, and you're going to integrate the results of the test into you're working methods by adjusting the film speed accordingly.

When you've completed the series of shots and have gotten the film processed, compare the shots on a lightbox to your gray card. The shot that is closest in tone to the gray card presents your "true" film speed. If the correctly matching image is, say, the shot that is 1 stop over the metered exposure, then cut the film ISO speed in half when you set it on your camera (yes, it may mean overriding the automatic DX indexing system on the camera). If it's, say, the shot that is 1/2 stop overexposed, then increase the ISO speed by 50% when you set it on your camera. This film speed adjusted according to testing is called the "exposure index," or EI, as opposed to the ISO film speed.

Hope this helps.

Regards,

Kirk


rec.photo.technique.misc
From: ibebrown@softcom.net
[1] Re: zone system tech for color slide??
Date: Fri Sep 18 11:06:52 CDT 1998

Yes you can,

Meter any part of the scene that is a middle tone of it's color (e.g. mid-tone grey = mid-tone blue = mid-tone brown = mid-tone green) and you have your zone IV value. Alternately you may meter other colors and assign them tonal values +1/2 stop for dark-light 'color'; +1 stop for light 'color'; +1 1/2 stops for light-light 'color'; -1/2 stop for light-dark 'color'; -1 stop for dark 'color'; -1 1/2 stops for dark-dark 'color'. Generally I meter a straight mid-tone, dark-light tone, or light tone, and shoot chrome film.

Here's how it might work for you:
Lets say you want to meter a scenic and you choose to meter the sky which is blue :) Use your camera's spot meter feature and select a portion of the sky to meter. If it is close to a medium tone then a straight reading will suffice -however most sky-blues are not that dark so assign a color tone value to it, say light blue -just open up one stop and you have your 'correct' reading.

Now lets use it on another common element in an image -grass: If the grass is a healthy lawn it is probably close to a mid-tone green, just meter it and go with that exposure. If it is a little lighter open up 1/2 stop, etc.

You can do the same thing for extreme situations -such as snow. Meter it and open up 2 stops (extremely-light 'color').

Use a spot meter or the spot meter feature in your camera to take readings. If you have neither, just walk up to the area you are metering or use your longest zoom lens to isolate the area you want to meter.

There is an excellent discussion of this proceedure in John Shaw's LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY book, Amphoto publishing.

Bruce Brown
Fine Light Photography
http://www.softcom.net/users/ibebrown/finelight


From: josh@WOLFENET.COM (Joshua_Putnam)
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.large-format
Subject: Re: IR exposure meter
Date: 9 Sep 1998 15:09:16 GMT

>I have been toying with the idea of making an ir exposure meter and in  theory
>it is quite simple.  ccd pickups are ir sensitive (as many new consumer  video
>cameras are quick to note their "new" night vision capabilities) and by
>attaching a small voltmeter to a ccd pick up you should be able to  measure the
>ir signal and then create meaningful exposure data.

Both my Weston Master II and my Director Products Corp. light meters will read IR if the daylight perforated cover is replaced with a no.87 gel, as will the internal meter of my Olympus OM-4. No need to reinvent the wheel, just put a gel over a standard light meter then find a film speed setting that makes the reading match a known-good exposure. That film speed setting will vary a lot depending on the response of the individual meter, and as I don't have any of mine handy, I can't tell you what I use :-(

Besides, individual preferences for the grain/contrast/halation of infrared make any authoratative number meaningless -- do you prefer the film exposed at 25, 50, or 200? I seem to recall some more extensive discussion of this off of W.J. Markerink's excellent IR web page, and I know it's been discussed on the IR mailing list. Anyway, the IR page is at http://www.a1.nl/phomepag/markerink/mainpage.htm

--

Josh@WolfeNet.com is Joshua Putnam / P.O. Box 13220 / Burton, WA 98013
"My other bike is a car."
http://www.wolfenet.com/~josh/


From Medium Format Digest:
From: michael.sandelid@speab.af.se
Subject: Response to Need tips on landscape shots in low-moderate light
Date: 1998-11-26

Here are some (technical) tips for landscapes:
- Use a tripod whenever possible.
- Use as big-heavy-sturdy tripod/head-combination as possible to
minimize the risk of vibrations and shutter-shake.
- Use Mirror Lock Up whenever possible.
- Use a cable release for long exposures, say 1/15 sec and longer. At
shorter exposures, handrelease while pushing down on the prism with
your other hand.
- Use as slow film as possible.
- Use filters: polarizing, warming, grey grad - only when they add
something positive to the final image.
- Use the hyperfocal guides on the lens when focusing, to maximize
depth of field - when you want maximum depth of field.
- Have Fun!

Keep Your Boots Muddy
Micke


Date: Sat, 21 Nov 1998
From: tired.of.spam@nospam.com (Rudy Garcia)
Newsgroups: rec.photo.misc
Subject: Re: Macro photography

> If I'm shooting a subject from 10 inches and I want to use my flash, I
> can use a shutter speed below my sync speed of 1/60, right? But how do I
> know if the flash will overexpose the subject? How do I know what f-stop
> to use to not get overexposure? I use extension tubes on my f/1.8 55mm
> lens instead of a true macro lens. I can use 10mm, 20mm, 30mm or any
> combination of my tubes. I know that I have about 3mm to 7mm (no joke)
> depth of field with all tubes attached, f-stop at f/16 on 55mm lens and
> subject is 3 to 5 inches away. My DOF is greatly improved by using only
> 10mm or 20mm tube.
>
>
>         Colin   

One thing at a time ( I am assuming you don't have a TTL setup. ie. manual all the way). You didn't mention what kind of flash you have, but most assuredly, you'll have to remove it from the hot shoe and trigger it with a PC chord. This is because you are so close to the subject that the lens' barrel will interfere with the flash. You'll either need to buy/make a bracket for the flash to hold it.

Next, you'll have to figure out the effective f-stop that you are using. When you put extension tubes (or bellows) behind the lens, the marked f-stop on the lens barrel is no good. First, figure the magnification.

Magnification = Extension / focal length

This is accurate when the lens is focused at infinity. When you turn the focusing helicoid to closest focus, it is not accurate, but for a non-macro lens (with a more limited helicoid) its close enough. Now that you know the magnification, figuring the effective f-stop is easy.

f-effective = marked f-stop * (Magnification + 1)

So, with the 10, 20 & 30 mm extensions all together, your 55mm lens has a magnification of 60/55 or close to 1X, so if you set the lens aperture to f/16, the effective aperture is really f/32. With me so far?

Next, you'll have to calibrate the flash output. Probably it's best to start with the Guide Number and run an exposure sequence on either side, with slide film. Look at the results and pick the best for you.

Start with the flash Guide Number (GN) for the film ISO.

The aperture you need to use (that is the effective f-stop) is given by:

f-effective = GN /flash to subject distance

If you have a flash with variable power settings, they come in real handy for this work, if not, work it in reverse. Compute how far the flash must be to let you work at the desired f-effective.

Hope this helped some.

--


Human Eye - in Photographic Terms - new page with notes previously here and others on how the human eye stacks up as a lens and f/stop terms etc....


From: lencook@my-dejanews.com
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
Subject: Re: Stupid Question: Leaf Shutters??
Date: Fri, 01 Jan 1999

> Hello all:
>
> I am baffled about the how leaf shutters expose film evenly.  I know that
> focal plan shutters (on 35mm) move across the film plane and evenly expose
> the film.  However, how do leaf shutters work?  Seems to me that the middle
> part of the film would be exposed more than the edges because the as the
> shutter opens, it opens from the middle.
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> - Tony 

The shutter is located near the diaphragm. As the shutter begins to open, the WHOLE film area is exposed all at once, NOT a dot in the center. As the shutter opens wider, the light on the film gets BRIGHTER not bigger. Again, the whole piece of film is being exposed all at once, not just the center. When a shutter is fully open, if the diaphragm is fully open as well there is no obstruction in the light path through the lens.

To the film, the shutter looks pretty much like the diaphragm. The light on the film is not formed into a shadow with a shape, it is brighter or darker, depending on the size of the opening(s)in either the shutter or diaphragm.

If, on the other hand, the lens is set at a very small aperture, say, f16, as soon as the shutter started to open, the light on the film got as bright as it is going to get. The relatively tiny hole in the center of the diaphragm is completely uncovered as soon as the shutter blades part even a tiny bit.

Transparency film, in fact, will show overexposure if conditions call for 1/500 @ f16 or 1/500 @ f22. The tiny aperture, as above, gets uncovered as soon as the shutter blades begin to open. The blades must then traverse the rest of the radius of the lens barrel, stop, and make the trip back to the closed position. All the while, the exceptionally bright light has been exposing the film through the tiny aperture. The result is overexposed film, because the shutter blades had to spend too much time traveling outside the aperture. Neg films don't usually show the overexposure as clearly.

Have I muddied the waters sufficiently?


From: kdb@total.net (K.D. Beausoleil)
Newsgroups: rec.photo.technique.nature
Subject: Re: Unsharp pictures with Nikon
Date: Fri, 01 Jan 1999

>OK, I'll add my 2 cents.
>
>1. Check the tripod; is it a heavy duty type or flimsy and cheap. Is the wind
>blowing to knock it around?
>2. shoot at F8 or F11
>3. use manual focus on infinity, no auto focus
>Erwin Arthur Siegel, Alexandria, Virginia USA   

Mine are 2 cents Canadian:

Check the screw (or the joint) between the camera body and the head on the tripod. I have Nikon equipment, a Manfrotto sturdy tripod and Manfrotto ball head. Always used shutter release, but had the fuzzies even so. Turned out that the camera was wobbling on the head, and a rubber washer solved the problem, and just in time -- I was about to give up photography.

Cheers,
Kay
kdb@total.net


From: ed romney romney@edromney.com
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.35mm
Subject: Re: Do the capacitors in old flash equipment degrade ?
Date: Fri, 15 Jan 1999

coolphotog@aol.comnospam (CoolPhotog) wrote:

> >>>As I recall, electrolytic capacitors degrade with lack
> >>>of use and can be reformed.
> >
> >Once the capacitor degrades like this it is best to replace them ...
> >
> >Ken Taschner (part time photog ... full time EE)
>
> Are there places that do this kind of repair, and does it make financial
> sense?          

Yes, they degrade but mainly from lack of use..I have a pocket strobe dating to the 1970's that is still fine, but I turn it on fairly often. Any electronics tech can replace the capacitors but they are very compact, and finding ones that will fit may be hard or impossible. Of course you can use bigger ones for studio use. I traded for a dead ringlite from a customer about 1980, gave him a book for it. I replaced the cap with a giant computer grade capacitor bought at a ham radio flea market and mounted it in a plastic box and it has been fine ever since. Saved me $150+ ! I do many of my camera illustrations with it. Mouser Electronics and other firms advertising in Nuts and Volts Magazine http://www.nutsvolts.com may be helpful for strobe parts. My repair manual explains how strobes work and has safety warnings and a schematic.

Best wishes... Ed Romney http://www.edromney.com Also ham radio N4DFX 75meters ssb


From: "Paul Skelcher" skelch@erols.com
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.35mm
Subject: Re: Do the capacitors in old flash equipment degrade ?
Date: Sat, 16 Jan 1999

I have a few 283s that are more than 15yr old. For close up- lifesize- photography where flash to subject distance is small, and output needs to be spot on for correct exposure on slide film, the flashes are becoming unpredictable. Even calibration with a flash meter produces inconsistent results. Time to dump them I guess.


Date: Wed, 17 Feb 1999
From: "Terry Price (Edgecombe-Coles House)" terry@free.midcoast.com
Subject: [Rollei] finding screws for new acquisition

I just got a beautiful black Rollei 35S that was mint except for a missing screw. Its the one on the end near the film advance lever That holds the top plate on. I've had 4 different Rollei 35s with this screw missing, is there a design flaw here?.

Having had the same problem before I knew how to solve it. I went to a thrift shop here and bought a couple of pairs of beat up reading glasses for 50 cents each. I dismantled them and saved all the screws. Sure enough, one of them was a perfect fit. You have to have one that is fairly short and is threaded full length. I saved the rest of the screws for future emergencies.

Another source of tiny screws for cameras is old calculators. I hope this helps someone else with similar problems.

Terry


Date: Wed, 17 Feb 99
From: Godfrey DiGiorgi ramarren@bayarea.net
Subject: Re: [Rollei] finding screws for new acquisition

>I've had 4 different Rollei 35s with this screw missing, is
>there a design flaw here?.

I've had screws vibrate loose on many older cameras from time to time. I doubt it's a design flaw, just mishandling or vibration damage. None of my Rollei 35s have ever been missing that screw.

Lock it in place with a dab of fingernail polish.

Godfrey


From: "Nicholas O. Lindan" nolindan@ix.netcom.com
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.misc
Subject: Re: Source of Itty Bitty screws used in lens assemblies
Date: Thu, 28 Jan 1999

Try "Small Parts Inc." in Florida. Working from memory here, but I am pretty sure that is the name.

Nick Lindan


From: Brett Palmer PalmerB2@ctrvax.Vanderbilt.edu
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.misc
Subject: Re: Source of Itty Bitty screws used in lens assemblies
Date: Thu, 28 Jan 1999

That is correct:

http://www.SmallParts.com

Another possibility is S. LaRose, Inc. This company sells clock repair parts, but regularly features "grab bags" of assorted tiny screws, and other sundries:

http://www.SLaRose.com

Brett Palmer
Brett.Palmer@mcmail.Vanderbilt.edu


From: "Alan Rosenberg" alleyro@earthlink.net
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.large-format
Subject: Re: another source for ground glass
Date: Mon, 18 Jan 1999

Most glass stores carry the acid etched.. Take a T-square and draw with a #2 pencil on the frosted side.. The lines you need for composition.. You can also order extra clear glass and have it cut for neg carriers.. you can you frosted on top for condenser enlargers.. They will grind edge so you will not get cut I use 1/4" on my Besseler 23C II Never have neg curl again.. Color edge with black marker to avoid light leaks. Use Gaffers tape to mask off glass.


From: Ray Harman ray@rharman.demon.co.uk
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.35mm
Subject: Re: 35mm slide labeling
Date: Tue, 9 Feb 1999

Avery now make specific 35mm slide labels.

Ref No: J8657 25

These are from their speciality Ink Jet range.

Size 11mm x 46mm 42 labels per sheet.

--
Ray Harman


Date: Tue, 09 Feb 1999
From: Mark Rabiner mrabiner@concentric.net
Subject: Re: [Rollei] Contax 645 Update

Jan Decher wrote:

> To: "Bob Shell" bob@bobshell.com
>
> Bob,
>
> have you seen a functioning Contax 645 by now?  When will they be widely
> available and can we expect a test comparison between Contax 645, Pentax
> 645 AF and/or Mamyia 645 in Shutterbug or Pop. Photogr.?
> Can't wait to see Zeiss lenses available for 6 x 4.5 format...
>
> Thanks,
> Jan

I played with a functioning Contax 645 at Camera World in Oregon this weekend. It is on tour. The camera is impressive. Extremely well dampened mirror action it seems to me. Auto focusing works great. But there is a huge problem; the lenses. They looked great in the pictures I've seen of them. I heard they were much cheaper than comparable Blad lens: They look like cheap Vivitar lenses made in the mid seventies(not series one). Sure this glass inside is possibly state of the art but all wrapped up in the most insulting package you could imagine. There is no comparison in the mf world that I can think of. Pentax or Kowa or any lenses looked better than these. And the prices the rep read off to me sounded just like blad prices, no cheaper.

In other words I am looking at $2000 glass that looks like $200 glass. You could say "It's not how the lens looks its how the picture looks that counts". and to that I would say "(&^%^**%$%& $%%# @*&%^&" no really. You shell out two grand for these mouseburgers.

Something with the words "Zeiss" on it deserves better.

I'll go for the Pentax.
Mark Rabiner


Date: Fri, 12 Feb 1999
From: Bob Erdman folkarts@erols.com
Subject: Re: [KOML] Tripods for Omegaflex?

Check around and see if you can find a Star-D Professional Tripod. It's a GREAT knock-off of the TILT-ALL, and is just terrific for the RO. You can find them for roughly $60-100 based on how flexible the seller might be! I've used them professionally for 25 years! SUPERB. Bob Erdman.


Date: Fri, 12 Feb 1999
From: "Kotsinadelis, Peter (Peter)" peterk@lucent.com
Subject: RE: [KOML] Tripods for Omegaflex?

Scott,

For a tripod at a reasonable price, I would recommend the Slik 300DX.

I also have a Bogen which is good and solid, but the Slik is the best deal for the money and very sturdy. Runs about $89 new in the stores. See it at http://www.tocad.com/12d.html

...


From: "Laird Allshouse" lairda@penn.com
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
Subject: Re: How to repair Yashica Mat Battery Terminal ? ?
Date: Tue, 16 Feb 1999

I stumbled upon just such an epoxy last night in an old Hosfelt Electronics catalog. The product is conductive silver epoxy, used to repair circuit boards.

Laird

>Keith Wiebe keithw@southwind.net >There was a company that made conducting epoxy to repair the rear >windshield defroster terminals. At one time it could be ordered through >Ford but that was about 6 yrs ago. You might try an independent parts store >or even a windshield shop for some of the epoxy. (It was silver in color). >Keith Wiebe > >Laird Allshouse lairda@penn.com wrote in article >> My Yashica Mat camera's meter no longer works. The problem is due to a >> broken battery terminal. >> >> For those not familiar with this camera, the battery sits in a small well >on >> a flexible metal terminal which is cast into the plastic of the camera. >The >> terminal snapped off flush with the entry into the plastic. >> >> I think that I can forget about any soldering or other mechanical >connection >> of the terminal, since soldering would melt the plastic and the space >seems >> too small to even get a tool in there to clear the plastic from the >> conductor remaining in the camera body. >> >> I have hopes that there is some sort of conducting liquid which I might >drip >> down into the cavity. This liquid would hopefully seep in around the >> conductor remaining in the body, thus creating a larger conducting area >in >> the bottom of the well. Then, perhaps, I could epoxy the battery >terminal >> down against the conducting liquid (now dried, of course) and bring this >> meter back to life. >> >> Can anyone tell me whether such a conducting liquid exists, or suggest a >> better approach. This camera is otherwise mint, and takes great photos. >> >> Laird


From: bg174@FreeNet.Carleton.CA (Michael Gudzinowicz)
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.misc
Subject: Re: Calculating magification on lenses
Date: 19 Feb 1999

Mike Johansen mschaal@san.rr.com wrote:

>What is the formula to calculate the magification if given the focal
>length of a lens?

                 Subject_size     Lens_to_subject_distance
Magnification =  ------------  =  ---------------------------
                  Image_size      Lens_to_film_plane_distance


The lens_to_film_plane_distance is the lens focal length plus the extension required for focusing closer than infinity. For subject distances further than 10X the focal length, one can substitute the focal length if the value need not be exact.

If you ignore the distance between the nodal point of thick lenses, one can use the following formula to calculate subject to film plane distance (D) for a particular magnification (M) and focal length (L).

D = M * (2 + 1/M + M)

To calculate the magnification(s), one just solves for M:


If the subject is further from the lens than the film plane:

                          2             2
       D - 2 L - Sqrt[-4 L  + (-D + 2 L) ]
M =    -----------------------------------
                       2 L

If the film plane is further from the lens than the subject:

                          2             2
       D - 2 L + Sqrt[-4 L  + (-D + 2 L) ]
M =    -----------------------------------            
                       2 L


From NikonMF list:
Date: Thu, 08 Apr 1999
From: "Paul Szego" paul@cls.uob.com.sg
Subject: Re: 'Brassing' on MD-14 handle

There is a product from Tetenal called "Kameralack", and comes in both a glossy and matt finish, 100ml per bottle. Don't know where to get it in the USA, but perhaps start from www.tetenal.com for a clue.

PaulS :)


[Ed. note: infinity related to focal length...]
Date: Fri, 30 Apr 1999
From: Randy Vaughn-Dotta randyd@csufresno.edu
Subject: Re: How to know focus free setting of large format lens?

Yadri,

Last I heard, infinity was considered to be 100x the focal length of the lens for large format. So for the 120mm thats 12,000mm, or 472.44" or 39.37 feet. For the 180mm its 59.05 feet. the 90mm should be 29.52 feet.

Randy


From: Todd & Sharon Peach tpeach@gte.net
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.35mm
Subject: Re: Need Rain Protection for 35mm
Date: Fri, 21 May 1999

tc@tccom.com wrote:

> I'm looking for some sort of bag or cover that will protect my 35mm
> from bad weather while I'm shooting? I'm not even sure what to call
> such a thing. Is there a camera store on-line that sells this?

I've lived in "rain country" all my life and never resorted to this. If it's raining, I keep the camera under my coat when I'm not shooting. I use an ordinary cotton hankerchief to wipe down the larger water drops after exposing the camera to the rain. Use a UV or other protective filter to keep water from spotting your front element.

I have seen others use trash bags or any other plastic bag that is handy. You either cut a hole on the bag or wrap the bag around your filter/lens hood. Secure with tape or rubber band. Some folks only make the bag big enough to cover the camera, others leave it large enough to cover their head, which addresses the problematic area of seeing through the viewfinder.

If you cover your head with a plastic bag, remember, "this is not a toy."

-Todd
--
Todd & Sharon Peach

Owner, Manual Focus Nikon Mailing List: NikonMF@onelist.com


From: Tammy Spratt trevor92@earthlink.net
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.35mm
Subject: Re: Need Rain Protection for 35mm
Date: Fri, 21 May 1999

Kirk has a couple of options for rain protectiion...I did not see the Tenba rain covers on their website but it is in the catalog if you ask for it or you could just call and ask...

http://www.kirkphoto.com/straps.html

No, don't work for them...just remembered seeing the raincovers in the catalog.

Tammy


From: Allen Brown browna@hevanet.com
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.35mm
Subject: Re: Need Rain Protection for 35mm
Date: Sat, 22 May 1999

I was looking for rain protection for my camera this winter, and found no camera shop in my area that carried any. Apparently, there is little demand for rain covers in my area, which is surprising considering I live in Portland, Oregon, where it has been known to rain from time to time.

In any case, I found that Ewa-Marine makes rain capes as well as soft, underwater housings or bags for cameras. Their rain capes, start for under $20 (if I remember right), with their "hurricane" cape going for under $100. Their underwater bags are more expensive, starting at $150-$200. As I wrote, no one in Portland, not even cameraworld.com, had the capes or bags, but stores could special ordered them. If you want to check out the Ewa-Marine Web page go to

http://www.ewamarine.com/home-II.htm .

Tenba also makes rain covers. B&H; Photo sells these on-line, with prices ranging from $30-$60. B&H;'s site is at

http://www.bhphotovideo.com .

Finally, in "Nature Photographer," I came across an ad for "Camera Slickers", which are rain covers. They ranged in price from $25-$30. I found no WWW site for this company, and when I called and asked for more information, they simply sent me a Xerox copy of their ad, so I still know little about them. Their phone number was 1-800-741-1449.

If you find out some more information about rain covers, I would appreciate you letting me know.

---------
Allen Brown
browna@hevanet.com


From Nikon Mailing List:
Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1999
From: Henry Posner/B&H; Photo-Video henryp@bhphotovideo.com
Subject: Re: [NIKON] Flash trigger voltages

To wit, Popular Photography (US camera magazine) measured the trigger voltage of a popular flash, the Vivitar 283. One made about ten years ago had a trigger voltage of about 211 volts. A new one only used about 10 volts as a trigger voltage.

For those interested, the article in question is in the 5/99 PopPhoto, on page 60.

regards,
Henry Posner/B&H; Photo-Video
http://www.bhphotovideo.com


Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1999
From: Tybee Evans tybee@mindspring.com
Subject: Re: [NIKON] Flash trigger voltages

After reading the article I measured the trigger voltage on my flash units.

SB-16 with AS-8 5.8V
SB-16 with AS-9 5.8V
SB-20                           5.1V
Vivitar 283             281V (ouch!)

I just picked up a Coolpix 950. It has a 3 prong connector like the one on my SB-16. The manual list several Nikon Speedlights that can be used with it but the SB-16 isn't on the list. Is there any reason I couldn't use it? If so, what cord would I need?

Thanks,
Tybee Evans


From: ted andresen sfk8suz@scfn.thpl.lib.fl.us
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.35mm
Subject: Why split-image focusing doesn't work.
Date: Sat, 3 Apr 1999

If you camera has a split image view-finder and you are not satisfied by the clarity of your pictures, this may help you.

In optics the split image is what is known as a virtual image. This is opposed to the image that you see on the matte surrounding the split-image circle. The image on the matte is a real image. That is, it is the same image that would be formed on the plane of the film when the reflex mirror is raised.

Unfortunately, the clarity and the apparent distance of the split image is effected by the accomodation of your eye. If you happen to wear classes, especially for distance, you may have a problem getting well focused images on the film if you use the split image view finder to attain optimal focus.

A good way to see this phenomenon is to focus on an object first with glasses and then without glasses. You will find the that split images are not aligned in both positions. The effect is due to the glasses.

All this seems to point to using the matte for focusing. However, you should test this carefully before you make a commitment to using the matte as your primary focus. In fact, it may not be a good indicator of optimal focus if the matte is not the same 'optical' path distance behind the lens as the film plate. To investigate this I suggest that you perform an experiment that will require that you take three photos of a set of vertical lines. In the first photo the top image should be slightly to the left of the lower image. They would be aligned in the second image, and the upper image would be to the right in the last photo. When you get the photos back, you'll be able to see which split image position gives to the optimal focus.

Ted Andresen
St. Petersburg, FL 33703-1721, USA

Floating habitat homepage: http://members.aol.com/Tjacmc/


Editor's Notes: Ball Head Lubrication Tips page now contains notes from thread on ball head lubrication...


Date: Mon, 12 Apr 1999
From: Peter Klosky PKlosky@grpwise-east.trw.com
Reply to: hasselblad@kelvin.net
To: phong@doan-ltd.com, hasselblad@kelvin.net
Subject: Re: Album for 5x5 proofs ?

I've been using Taprell Loomis albums, which hold 5x5, 10x10, etc. I get them mail order from Tyndell Photographic @ 800-82-smart. They have several different styles. If I recall, their album to hold 152 5x5 prints is about $21.

What do you recommend to store 5x5 proof prints ? Any mail-order source for such albums, and square frames (8x8, 10x10, 16x16, 20x20). Thanks much, in advance.


Date: Tue, 13 Apr 1999
From: Peter Klosky PKlosky@grpwise-east.trw.com
Reply to: hasselblad@kelvin.net
To: swalker@highground.com, hasselblad@kelvin.net
Subject: Re: Album for 5x5 proofs ?

Susan,

I stand corrected, as there IS a web site for Taprell Loomis albums.

www.tap-usa.com

It has a nice map of the US showing contact info for dealers in the different states.

Peter


From Nikon Mailing List:
Date: Thu, 15 Apr 1999
From: "F. Robert Ennis" mrbob@together.net
Subject: Flash sync voltage with AF cameras [v04.n351/14]

The May issue of Popular Photography has an article by James Bailey on possible damage to AF cameras when using electronic flash. "Nikon F4 and newer Nikon AF cameras have a sync voltage of 250 volts or less. Higher voltage could fry the camera's electronic circuitry". He also mentions that Wein makes a "safe sync" hot shoe with PC connector that transmits only 6 volts to the camera's sync contacts, model # 990-550, lists for $45.95 (acts as a buffer between the flash and camera). Not being an electrical engineer, I have a question about the power sources. I have used the Quantum Turbo high voltage power pack with SB-24 and SB-25 flash units on the F4. The Quantum Turbo specs indicate 8.6 V battery, but an article states that internal flash batteries (AA's) provide low voltage for the microchips in the flash and the Turbo supplies the heavy power for flash recycling. I think I read somewhere that the stepped up power for re- cycling is well over 250 volts. Could this recycle power damage the F4 or later Nikon AF cameras (F5 or F100)? I also have a Quantum 1 which I use with the SB-24 and SB-25 with the F4. Also have used the F4 with Sunpak Monolight MS-4000 studio flash units (specs show high voltage level 360 V DC). I have used the Metz 60 CT-1 flash with the Mecamat 60-30 in the F4 hot shoe, but I believe the Metz Dryfit battery is charged at 6V. I am concerned about possible damage to Nikon F4 or F5 cameras. Any information or advice will be appreciated.

Thanks, Bob Ennis


From: Mel Brown melbrown@eatel.net
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
Subject: Re: Light Loss at Nearest Focus
Date: Sun, 18 Apr 1999

Michael wrote:

> I use a handheld meter with my Mamiya M645 1000S. I know the meter
> should theoretically give me a correct exposure when the lens is set to
> infinity. How much light loss is there when a lens is close focussed?
> Say my 80mm is focussed at 2.2', will I need exposure compensation and
> how much? It's my completely uneducated guess that a 25% increase in
> length of the lens (for example) would cause a 1/2 stop light loss.
> Thanks for any help.

Michael, except for the most critical work, the light loss of a lens at its closest focusing distance is generally insignificant.

If you want to calculate it out, here is a formula:

eif = ((ed/fl) + 1)^2

There, eif = exposure increase factor, ed = extension distance (how far the lens is extended from its infinity focus position), and fl = lens focal length.

To convert eif to stops, use:

f = log(eif)/log(2)

By the way, your guess is fairly close; extending a 100mm lens by 25mm would require 0.64 stops more exposure.

Mel Brown


Date: Tue, 27 Apr 1999
From: "Colin Povey" cpovey@paradyne.com
Subject: [NIKON] Flash trigger voltages

The little posting I sent the other day generated lots of questions to me regarding possible damage to various AF cameras from high flash trigger voltages. So, I thought I would make one more posting on this subject.

Pre-AF cameras had no problems hundreds of volt to trigger a flash. However, the electronic filled AF cameras of today are more sensitive.

To wit, Popular Photography (US camera magazine) measured the trigger voltage of a popular flash, the Vivitar 283. One made about ten years ago had a trigger voltage of about 211 volts. A new one only used about 10 volts as a trigger voltage.

They also listed the maximum safe trigger voltage for some cameras. They implied these values came from the manufacturers.

Pentax:    600 Volts
Nikon:     250 Volts (F4 and later. They did not say about earlier AF
cameras, sorry)
Minolta:   225 Volts
Canon:    6 Volts (that's right, 6 volts).

So, even a brand new Vivitar 283 is not safe to use on an EOS! (small dig at Canon)

I measured three flash units I had available:

Nikon SB-28:      6 Volts
Metz 60CT-1      25 Volts (about 10-15 years old)
Sunpack 411       12 Volts
Readings made with a Fluke 83 Digital Volt Meter.

*********************************

To measure your own flash, do the following:

Use a volt meter with a rating of at least 20,000 Ohms per Volt.

Set to DC scale, starting at 1000 volts, to be safe. Turn to lower scale as required.

Turn flash on and let come up to ready.

*** Point unit away from you!***

Touch one probe to side contact (would normally be touching the side of the hot shoe).

Touch the other probe to the center contact of the hot shoe. Note reading.

If you have a PC cord unit, simply use the outside and center contact on the PC cord.

*******************************

I have been told by Speedotron (maker of studio strobes) that older studio strobes (with an H plug) use high trigger voltages. Newer ones, with a 1/4 inch phono plug, use low voltage triggers.

If your flash exceeds the Nikon recommended 250 volts, you can use a Wein Safe Sync to lower the voltage to 6 volts. This was tested by the magazine and worked as advertised.

Sorry about the slightly off topic post, but safety of our person and/or equipment takes priority, and I do use these flash units on my Nikon cameras (F through F5).

Colin


From: zeitgeist greenky.wa@mindspring.com
Newsgroups: rec.photo.misc
Subject: Re: Where to rent equipment ?
Date: Sat, 15 May 1999

PMaszak wrote:

> Any suggestions, and experiences renting pro equipment ?
> I am looking to rent medium format camera & lenses
>
> Thanks,
>
> Phil

It would help if you told the group where you were, then someone who lived there could give more precise info.

In most urban cities, there is a professional camera store/supplier with a rental department. Many photographers find that it doesn't pay to own $50K of gear if it is only used a couple days a week or per month. So a good rental place can usually supply you with a good range of stuff, though only two or three flavors, hasselblad and mamiya or bronica are typical.

I live in Tacoma and must drive up to Seattle to rent most things I need. There are some camera stores around here, but they either don't rent pro gear, or the items available are taken out of the used camera display and so it's availability is not a sure thing. Often times there are repair and used camera dealers (independents as opposed to a retail store,) around who can rent their stock


From: ac955@torfree.net (Tom Sapiano)
Subject: Re: 2.0x vs 1.4x TC
Date: Wed, 26 May 1999

When you apply a teleconverter to a lens, you are magnifying the centre of the image. The lens is designed with tollerances for 1X magnification. Even at 1X their are few lenses that can resolve the resolution of some of the slower films. When you apply a teleconverter, any flaws are magnified, resolving power is decreased (since you are only using the centre of the lens), etc. The more you magnify it, the more these problems come into play. A 1.4X telecoverter will almost always give you better images than a 2X teleconverter (as shooting without a teleconverter will provide better images than with a 1.4X).

With that said, some of the higher end lenses are designed with this in mind and are produced to higher tollerances, this decreases the degredation of the image, but it is still there.

Also, even with the fastest lenses, two stops light loss is a big pentalty (f2.8 becomes f5.6). This degrades your ability to see through the viewfinder (much darker) and slows down autofocus (if the lens/teleconverter combo allow it) quite a bit. This is why most people stick with 1.4X converters.

Christopher J. Christian (cjc2@bellatlantic.net) wrote:

: Roman Prokhorov wrote:
: >
: >   Hi,
: >
: >   A question: does 2x teleconvertor causes more or the same image
: > degradation as 1.4x? Is there any reason to buy 1.4x converter rather  than
: > 2x, except it eats less f-stops?
: >
: > thanks in advance
: >
: > --
: >
: >   Roma


Date: Fri, 28 May 1999
From: Bob Shell bob@bobshell.com
To: rollei@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
Subject: Re: [Rollei] WTB bright screen for Rolleicord

Not necessarily easy to find, but might be cheap if you did find, is a screen from a late model Yashica TLR. Maybe you could find a junker with a good screen. Also, the screens in the Chinese Seagull TLRs are pretty good, and most of the shutters die in a year or so, so these should turn up at photo swap meets cheap.

Bronica screens for their SQ cameras can be adapted to fit Rollei with a little trimming with a jeweler's saw.

Good luck.

Bob


>From: Phil Stiles pjs@worldpath.net
>To: rollei@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
>Subject: [Rollei] WTB bright screen for Rolleicord
>Date: Fri, May 28, 1999, 11:50 AM
>

>I have a Rolleicord V which is my knock around, take anywhere camera.  I
>love the results, but that old viewing screen is dim.  I'm not sure the
>camera is worth investing in a brand new bright screen for over $100.
>Would any group members have a cheaper suggestion for sale?  Thanks,
>Phil Stiles, NH USA.


From: dickburk@ix.netcom.com (Richard Knoppow)
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.large-format
Subject: Re: Testing Accuracy of Light Meters
Date: Sat, 29 May 1999

"Chris Newman" chrisn01@sprynet.com wrote:

>How does one test the accuracy of a hand held light meter. I know how to
>check for correct film exposure but that takes into account any
>peculiarities in lens aperture and shutter speed. Is there any way to know
>how accurate just the meter is.
>
>Chris Newman

About the only practical way is to compare it to a known good meter. Selenium cell meters should be checked at both ends of the scale since they tend to become non-linear with age and will often read right for low ligh but low for stronger light. A reflected light meter can be checked against an incident meter by using an 18% gray card although there are some errors that can creep in. A good deal of care is required in comparing meters with different shapes of light diffusers or reflected light meters with different acceptance angles.

I am able to get agreement among several meters of various ages, among them a Luna-Pro (my standard), a Sekonik L-28c, a General Electric PR-1, the TTL meter in my Nikon F-1 and the meter on a Rolleiflex 2.8E. I have a couple of other old Selenium meters which have the common non-linearity reading low for bright sunlight (by a stop or more) but right in low level light.

---
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles, Ca.
dickburk@ix.netcom.com


From Nikon Mailing List:
Date: Thu, 10 Jun 1999
From: Andy Shaw andy.shaw@jhuapl.edu
Subject: Re: [NIKON] Trigger voltage limits: PC socket

> I believe that must be a typo as the figure I'ne always heard is
> the max safe trigger voltage for the N90s/F110/F5 is 25volts.

No the maximum trigger voltage to not cause damage is 250V.

> I dont want to hold anything in my hands or near my face is not
> grounded and  has 250 volts surging through it.

NO.... this is wrong.

If you only touch one terminal of a device that is not grounded, then you only define the ground (this is the basis for isolating transformers used for safety), current does not flow. If the device is grounded, then you take what ever potential is relative to your ground (not necessarily the same).

The actual voltages within flash units can be much higher, but the sync pin voltage (relative to the sync return) can be a few hundred volts or just a few volts. With an ISO shoe the return path is protected by the shoe so that unless you try you *should* not get a shock. PC cords on the other hand are a great source for shocks (and I can personally assure you that they do hurt - and should be handled with care even if the flash is turned off - especially if you have a weak heart).

NB As with all "electrical advice" on the internet -- it is important that you note that the above is NOT SAFETY ADVICE.

> The safety limit on Canon cameras is 6 volts, BTW.

Be careful about the use of the term "safety" here - the 6V limit is for camera protection not for your safety - plenty of people get serious burnt every year from 6V and 12V lead acid batteries (as used in cars etc.) due to high current (not high voltage).

Andy Shaw


From Nikon Mailing List:
Date: Thu, 10 Jun 1999
From: John Albino jalbino@jwalbino.com
Subject: [NIKON] Trigger voltage limits: PC socket

AD noted:

>Why do you need 250
>volts flowing between the flash and your camera (about an inch away from
>your face might i add) just to fire the strobe? What would happen on a rainy
>day??

Speaking from experience, you get zapped. I used to get the tinglies regularly using Vivitar 283s with high-voltage batteries on my F3s back when nobody worried about trigger voltage.

- --
John Albino
mailto:jalbino@jwalbino.com


From Nikon Mailing List:
Date: Thu, 10 Jun 1999
From: Ellis Vener evphoto@insync.net
Subject: Re: [NIKON] Trigger voltage limits: PC socket

Andy,

Thanks for clarifying some things for me, espicially my comment about defining safe for the camera and safe for the user. But speaking as someone who was knocked out and still bears a scar on my right eyebrow from a shock delivered through the sync cord to ay Nikon F (camera survived with no problems) from a Speedotron 800 w/s pack directly connected via PC cord to the camera, I am a bit wary so whenever possible I use an LPA Pocket Wizard to isolate myself from that potential hazard. Before anybody asks, I was in my studio, not standing in water and the pack semed to be grounded through the mains.

I also just got off the line with Nikon USA and the confirmed that you are right that the maximum camera-safe trigger voltage for cameras at least as far back as the F4 is 250 Volts. I apologize for spreading a false rumor about the limit of camera safe trigger voltage being 25 volts.

I want to make completely clear that the above is NOT SAFETY ADVICE. SAFE FOR THE EQUIPMENT DOES NOT MEAN SAFE FOR THE USER.

Yours respectfully,

Ellis Vener


From Nikon Mailing List:
Date: Thu, 10 Jun 1999
From: Ellis Vener evphoto@insync.net
Subject: [NIKON] Re: Vivitar 283 trigger voltage.

Myron at Nikon USA mentioned that "older 283 units had trigger voltages as high as 600 volts..." Please be clear about this, he said older, not recent or current Vivitar 283 units. I am hazarding a conservative guess that "older" refers to units made more than five years ago.

John Albino wrote:

...


From: "Michael S. Briggs" MS.Briggs@cwix.com
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.large-format
Subject: Re: Testing Accuracy of Light Meters
Date: Wed, 02 Jun 1999

Chris Newman wrote:

> How does one test the accuracy of a hand held light meter. I know how to
> check for correct film exposure but that takes into account any
> peculiarities in lens aperture and shutter speed. Is there any way to know
> how accurate just the meter is.

As others have said, the absolute calibration of a meter is somewhat unimportant, since any change in the zero-point can be compensated for by determining an effective film speed in testing the combination of meter/camera/film/development. That said, an absolute test can be useful, e.g., to check that a meter hasn't changed.

Richard J. Henry gives such a test in his book "Controls in Black-and-White Photography", pp. 176--179. Briefly, one needs a GE White 100 W bulb rated at 1585 lumens. Mounted in a horizontal position and viewed from 29 feet 2 inches, a tripod-mounted meter should read EV 15. The wall voltage must be 118 volts. The book has an extensive discussion of light meters and their calibration.

--Michael


Date: Mon, 21 Jun 1999
From: Peter Klosky Peter.Klosky@trw.com
To: hasselblad@kelvin.net
Subject: flash duration / metering

Hello Hasselblad List Members,

Flash duration is an issue. The new "Photovision" training tapes give some bad advice on this topic, and I wanted to give details. From a high level, if you set your Gossen Luna Star F flash meter at 1/1000 and measure a lengthy flash, such as a Manual full power flash from a Sunpak 522 or Metz 60 CT1, your reading will be low. Thanks to Joe McCary on this list for publishing his results on this same topic, in which he showed that a Hasselblad shutter at 1/500th will not get as much exposure with studio strobes as it will at 1/125th. Joe used slide film for his test.

The advice on the Photovision tapes was to set your meter for 1/1000 when reading for the flash exposure. The meter in the fellow's hand looked to be a Gossen Luna Star F, the same meter I use. Having used this meter myself, I know that it has a nasty habit of giving the ambient reading as the flash reading, which was probably the reason for this advice. The situation that confuses it is "mottled shade" where the tree is thin and there are some areas of full light and some shadows. When you set to read flash, then move the meter quickly from shade to sun to shade, it reads the brief sunlight as a flash, even if the flash has not been fired. In some situations, where a short flash duration is used, setting the shutter speed to 1/1000 will make sure that the ambient is not confused with the flash. The problem is that the meter is smart enough to detect the flash duration relative to 1/1000, and only reveal the exposure you would get within the 1/1000 period.

To repeat my results, fire a flash like the ones above or a studio strobe at full power at a Gossen Luna Star F set for flash reading at 1/1000, indoors in a dimly lit room. Then repeat this with the flash meter set for 1/500, 1/250, 1/125, 1/60 and 1/30. You should note that the flash power is under-reported at 1/1000, but reports the same with the shutter speed (capture time) set to any duration which is longer than the flash duration. With the shorter duration of 1/8th power, 1/1000 is fine.

The topic of flash duration is one of those that flash makers tend to obscure, because it is both difficult to report and something they do not want the customer to assess negatively relative to their product. Both Sunpak and Canon have provided some data on this topic. The manual that came with my Sunpak indicates that the max duration on full power is 1/400. The manual with my Canon T-90 suggests that 1/125 may be required by some studio strobes, even though 1/250 is offered by the camera. While I like my Novatron 600VR power pack, only a vague hint is given as to the flash duration in the user manual, and no particular shutter speed is advised.

Having watched the Photovision tapes a few weeks ago, I used this bogus "fool the meter" technique on two recent jobs. In both, my meter was reading 2.8 with 100 Fuji Reala when the flash was probably f5.6 or f8. The Sunpak 522 flash is small enough that, at worst, I was r stop over the ambient when I was hoping for 1 to 2 stops under, so the results are printable. However, I think that the "fool the meter" technique with the 1/1000 setting is more likely to "fool the photographer" with a false reading. The technique I suggest is to use the meter at either the actual shutter speed or at least a speed no shorter than the flash duration. Once you understand the capability of the meter to measure flash relative to duration, it can be a way to roughly gauge flash duration.

It would be good if the flash durations were available. As some of Harold Edgerton's (sp) work with high speed flash showed, they can be valuable for stopping motion, and less so at long duration. I have a call into Novatron in Dallas, to try to get their engineer to report some duration fugures.

In defense of the "Photovision" tapes, they are very nicely made and full of valuable information. It is not unusual for advice that works for one photographer to be less applicable to another's technique.

I would be interested to see if others reproduce the same results using other flashes/meters, etc.

Peter

p.s. I will refrain from discussion of flash trigger voltage, also under-reported and even more widely variable among flash makers.

p.p.s This is a resend. My return address was changed by our admin folks, once again.


rec.photo.equipment.35mm
From: mceowen@aol.com (McEowen)
[1] Re: Are Minoltas lousy cameras?
Date: Mon Aug 16 17:38:50 CDT 1999

So, a related Minolta question . . .

The Leica R4, as I recall, was based on the Minolta XD-11's electronics (and maybe the R3 was based on the XE-7 or some such -- my memory is foggier there -- and Leica used a few Minolta lens designs in the past (not to mention the CL/CLE collaboration). So the question is this: Is Leica still working closely with Minolta on SLR designs? I haven't kept up -- the R8 (I missed the R5, 6 and 7 -- if there were such things -- completely) an original design or is it borrowed technology as well.


rec.photo.technique.misc
From: zeitgeist [1] Re: Reflective material for product photography
Date: Tue Aug 24 23:58:43 CDT 1999

black glass, paint the backside and clean the top surface and it will reflect the shape of the object, place a very large softbox above, or aim a soft spotlight at a white ceiling and move it around till you get the effect that works. works in color or b&w;

NikonNurse wrote:

> I'm looking for a surface(I/e Plexiglas) that will reflect my  subject(pic in
> black and white)......not mirrors either...any suggestions???
>
> Thanks, Courtney  


From: maimthemime@once.com (Maim the Mime)
Newsgroups: rec.photo.technique.art
Subject: Re: homemade photo paper??
Date: Sun, 01 Aug 1999

Mftrd by Rockland Colloidal as I recall (I bought it freq from Freestyle in Calif) it is great fun.

Not always easy to use because it is an emulsion which is solid at room temperature (or it would run off of the paper!) but liquid at much higher temp. Consequently, its container must be heated in a double-boiler until it becomes liquid, then the emulsion is painted onto the receiving surface in darkness or very dim safelight, then must "set" till hardened again. This is not always as easy as expected because it must setup in darkness of course but it needs an airflow for evaporation, but a filtered airflow to reduce dust. also, the light-sensitive silver in the emulsion will begin to fog if too much heat is applied or for too long.

I developed (sorry) a respect for paper and film manufacturers after coating my own for a few years. It's not easy at all to keep it consistent, so the "hand-crafted look" helps to hide the imperfections. I found my photos were best printed onto coated chunks of coal. ;^)


rec.photo.equipment.35mm
From: mddeskey@aol.com (MDDESKEY)
[1] Re: Konica SLRs/which was the "best"?
Date: Thu Oct 07 15:04:17 CDT 1999

>I'm looking at the FT-1, FS-1, T-4 and the TC.
>
>Which camera was the "best"?
>
>Most reliable?
>Doesn't have a battery issue?

I own the T-3, TC and FS-1. The last does not require mercury meter batteries.

Of the three, I think the T-3 [and probably the T-4] to be the most rugged. It is built like a battleship. Three new FS-1 that I bought in 1963 jammed in motorized film transport. The one I have now did then, but seems to have "cured" itself. The TC is rugged, compact and a gem, but doesn't have quite the versatility of the T-3.


rec.photo.equipment.35mm
From: "Chris Ward" ccw@idt.net
[1] Re: Konica SLRs/which was the "best"?
Date: Thu Oct 07 16:11:24 CDT 1999

....

I would go with the FT-1. I think that parts and service are still available from Konica (along with, of all things, the TC-X). The FS-1 apparently had some reliability problems. The TC was the same as the T4, except that it has fewer features, which led to it being more reliable. And the T3 was a real workhorse. The T3, T2, T and the A, A2, A1000 and A3 all used PX-675 mercury batteries, and the T4 and TC used 625 mercuries for which there are the CR-9 adapters, but I have not had a chance to try them out.


From Leica Mailing List:
Date: Wed, 18 Aug 1999
From: "elisardo louzan" louzan@worldnet.att.net
Subject: [Leica] Home Brew

Roy Feldman wrote:

>Does anyone have a home brew for cleaning plastic developing trays?

Silver cleaner.

Robert


From: "Tony and Arlene Sanchez" tonyarl@ix.netcom.com
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.35mm
Subject: Re: Nikkor Series E 75-150mm f3.5 Zoom Creep
Date: Fri, 7 Jan 2000

Hello:

The 75-150 and 70-210 Series E (I have or had both) use felt (as in the cloth) instead of grease to provide friction. I have no idea why Nikon did this. Even cheap after-market lenses use grease. Good optics, though.

- Tony


rec.photo.misc
From: Bilwright@webtv.net (William Wright)
[1] Re: Scanner as Densitometer
Date: Fri Jan 21 18:56:23 CST 2000

The Phil Davis book has complete instructions for using your spotmeter as a densitometer -- Beyond The Zone System.


rec.photo.equipment.35mm
From: ejkowalski@aol.com (Ejkowalski)
[1] Re: Another use for empty film cannisters...
Date: Wed Feb 02 2000

I cut the bottom off one of the black ones, it makes a great eyepiece shield to keep light from getting into the viewer to mess up my meter readings when shooting macro shots of jewelry.

EJKowalski


Date: Fri, 14 Jan 2000
From: "West Mass Guy" wm_guy@hotmail.com
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.35mm
Subject: Re: need a chart for testing lenses

Check Edmund Scientific www.edsci.com. They sell the U.S.A.F. Optical Test Pattern Resolving Power Chart for $18.95.

Jim


Date: Sun, 23 Jan 2000
From: Andy Watts aawattsjr@hotmail.com
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
Subject: Re: 6x7 field camera

I recently did some weight calculations that may be useful. Camera body+TTL prism+three lenses+120 back if applicable: very wide angle, normal and portrait telephoto lenses:

Mamiya 7II - 5.2 lbs. -43,80,150
Mamiya RZ -10.7 lbs -50,110,180
Pentax 67II - 7.75 lbs, - 45,105,200
Hasselblad 501CM - 7.3 lbs. - 40,80,150
Pentax 645 - 5.35 lbs. - 35,75,150
Contax 645 - approx 5.6 lbs. - 35,80,140

I once carried an RZ with prism, three backs, three lenses, etc. It will put color in your cheeks on uphill climbs. Makes you look for good pictures near the car. Makes beautiful images! I now used a light 4X5 with four lenses and it's much lighter. When time permits nothing beats large format for quality at 16X20 and up. But you miss some pictures. In general I find that moving up in format always means giving up some images for better quality. It like trading content for image quality. Not always a good trade.

andy

.....


Date: Sat, 11 Mar 2000
From: Peter Caplow pcaplow@prodigy.net
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
Subject: Re: Left handedness

I'm not sure that cameras really have an inherent bias towards left or right handiness. The classic 35 mm Exaktas (produced from 1936 through 1970) are not generally thought of as left-handed cameras, yet the shutter release and film advance were both on the left, the opposite of virtually every other 35 mm SLR. 2 1/4 square TLR's follow no pattern at all. Here are some examples (focus hand shown first, followed by shutter release hand): Koni-Omegaflex and Kalloflex-right, left; Yashica D-right, right; Ansco Automatic Reflex and Rolleiflex-left, right. The Mamiya C330 is completely ambidextrous with dual focus knobs and dual shutter releases..

Peter Caplow

Sweetpea wrote:

> I'm definitely a lefty. Does anyone else out there find some of the
> equipment we use a bit awkward? Wouldn't it be nice if camera controls could
> be a little more generic?  


From Rollei Mailing List;
Date: Thu, 23 Mar 2000
From: Guido Cova gcova@leosh.com
Subject: [Rollei] Rolleimetric (was: 3003 Battery issues)

>So, is it safe to assume that these cameras cost many times more than their
>regular cousins? This grid, is it permanent or can it be removed at will
>like the flat glass can be removed in the TLR?

Not at all, the grid is fixed and can - well, MUST - not be removed. This is, in fact, one of the very basical points in photogrammetry.

In photogrammetry you can use three different kinds of cameras:

- metric (one of the most famous was the Carl Zeiss Jena UMK, many kilograms of top quality steel and glass in 13x18cm). These cameras were built expressly for this job, and were top quality and top^2 price. As far as I know, no firm still makes metric cameras (only possible exception: Wild, but I am not sure, maybe they sell cameras assembled from spare parts).

- semi-metric (normal cameras modified like the Rolleimetric, with a r,seau plate - the glass full with crosses). Very few companies in the world perform the transformation - at least reliably.

- and - wait for it! - non metric (normal cameras, of the highest quality, of course).

To be transformed and used for photogrammetry, a normal camera must be fitted with the r,seau plate and calibrated , i.e.: - the focal length (Ck) must be measured up to the 3rd decimal figure (e.g. 75.068); this also means that you can no more focus (while focusing, the lens-to-film distance varies, and together varies the focal length). Usually the lens is fixed at the hyperfocal distance for f/5.6. Some cameras are allowed focusing in steps (i.e. the Rolleimatric 6xxx)

- the position of the intersection between the axis of the lens and the film plane, also called principal point (PP), must also be known within an accuracy of few (very few indeed..) microns

- the position of the small crosses in relation to the principal point (PP) must be measured (within microns again)

- the radial distortion curve must be known

Now I think it's clear why the transformation of a normal camera in a semi-metric camera is a very expensive job. Rolleimetric cameras are top quality and over_the_top price. That's why softwares for photogrammetry have been developed which can use a normal camera, performing a sort of "self calibration". In fact I currently use my unmodified Rolleis ('flex 3.5B and 'cord V) with my software, for my job, and I am very satisfied both for the quality of the pictures and for the accuracy of the measures.

Ciao
Guido


From Rollei Mailing List;
Date: Mon, 25 Oct 1999
From: Sanjay Mehta msanjay@lucent.com
To: Robert Monaghan rmonagha@post.cis.smu.edu
Subject: Re: foreign camera terms listings? Re: [Rollei] OT

Have you tried http://babelfish.altavista.com?

I've used this in the past to help translate a german user manual to english and it worked well enough for me to figure out the rest on my own.

Sanjay


Date: Wed, 23 Jun 1999
From: Ron Ginsberg ginsb001@minn.net
Newsgroups: rec.photo.misc
Subject: Re: Slipping zoom lens

This is quite common on many lenses and I have heard it referred to as zoom creep. I have seen it posted that it is worse with push/pull zoom control as opposed to rotary control rings.

What I do is have a wide rubber band near the edge of the ring. When I want to increase the friction of zooming, I nudge it over so it covers the ring and the fixed part of the barrel. I have three zooms with different positions of the rings relative to the focus ring. The rubber band also quickly identifies the zoom control relative to the focus control.

> I have a 70-200 mm Takumar zoom lense which
> I like.  But the zoom control is too loose;  if I shift
> the position of the camera the zoom changes.
>
> Is there any way to firm things up?


Date: Thu, 31 Dec 1998
From: "Chris Ward" ccw@idt.net
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
Subject: Re: Stupid Question: Leaf Shutters??

The effect you describe is not seen because a leaf shutter is located near the center of the lens front to back, in addition to being in the center. So if there is any extra exposure, it works like a smaller F-stop exposure. You will not get any more uneven exposure than would occur at a small F-stop. And most lenses get more uneven as they use larger apertures, if at all.

The effect is logorithmic, and when the aperture is open (say 2.8), 1/4 of the light comes from the area smaller than F5.6, and 3/4 from the "annular ring" around it. Or 1/16 from the F11, and 15/16 from the area around that. Or 1/64 from the area inside of F22, and 63/64 around it, where you might get an effect. It all gets "drowned out".

There is sometimes a little extra exposure (this I learned from the little paper sheets that used to come in the rolls of Kodak film). If you set the lens to a small F-Stop (say 22) and set the lens to a fast shutter speed, say 1/500. And I begin to realize that I could measure it by using a phototransistor and and the $100 digital scope that connects to my computer that I bought from Radio Schack.... But I digress. But the point is, that a leaf shutter will take some time to move the distance, and at a high speed and a closed down F-Stop, there will be a little extra exposure. (To be masked by the reciprocity effect? The mind boggles!). I used to calculate these things when I used a Braun Paxette....

It is not a stupid question though.

Enter your name here wrote in message

>Hello all:
>
>I am baffled about the how leaf shutters expose film evenly.  I know that
>focal plan shutters (on 35mm) move across the film plane and evenly expose
>the film.  However, how do leaf shutters work?  Seems to me that the middle
>part of the film would be exposed more than the edges because the as the
>shutter opens, it opens from the middle.
>
>Thanks in advance.
>
>- Tony


From Rollei Mailing List;
Date: Wed, 14 Jul 1999
From: sherfied sherfied@ms8.hinet.net
Subject: Re: [Rollei] observation on camera et al purchases from dealers

Hi, Andre,

Yes, those self adhesive labels are really nightmare to our Rollei-babies.

I use hair dryer, not too close to the label itself in order not to damage the camera, to blow the self adhesive. When the label is warm, the adhesive will be soft and easy to be took off.

Best Regards,

Ming-Sung Lin

.....


From Rollei Mailing List:
Date: Wed, 14 Jul 1999
From: "G. Lehrer" jerryleh@pacbell.net
Subject: Re: [Rollei] observation on camera et al purchases from dealers

......

Ferdi

For shame! As a pharmacist, YOU of all people should know of the best product of all for safely removing adhesives from sensitive surfaces:

PDI Adhesive Tape Remover Pads which are available from surgical pharmacies (pharmacys?)

They are safe and will remove the most aggresive adhesives.

My daughter tells me that they are best gotten from hospital pharmacies.

Jerry


Date: 10 Aug 1999
From: "Michael K. Davis" zilch0@primenet.com
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.large-format
Subject: Re: (fwd) Re: A survey of photographic aids

Hi!

Bob Wheeler bwheeler@echip.com wrote:

: > On 1999/07/26, Bob Wheeler bwheeler@echip.com wrote:
: >
: > > I've written a survey of photographic aids,
: > > programs, spreadsheets, calculators, tables, etc.
: > > Because of the many screen captures, the pdf file
: > > is fat, some 800K.
: > >
: > > It includes:
: > > Rodenstock calculator
: > > Focus+ for 3Com
: > > Photographe for 3Com
: > > pCam for 3Com
: > > Sushkin's online DOF calculator
: > > Gilbert's online DOF plotter
: > > Walton's online DOF calculator
: > > Depth of Field 1.0, a DOS and windows program
: > > Schneider Optics tables
: > > Davis's Not just another depth of field calculator
: > > Loyd's C code for DOF
: > > Merklinger' tables
: > > Vade Mecum for HP48Gx, TI89, 3Com, Windows CE
: > >
: > > The survey is directed toward illuminating the
: > > methodologies, since few authors document what
: > > they actually do. I am sure there are others,
: > > which I will include when I learn about them.
: > >
: > > It may be found at
: > > ftp://208.219.63.253/public/photo.
: > >
: > > --
: > > Bob Wheeler --- (Reply to: bwheeler@echip.com)
: > > ECHIP, Inc.
: >
: > Bob,
: >
: > I went to the ftp address above and downloaded survey.zip to view its
: > contents, survey.pdf.
: >
: > You review several tools, some of which I have never come across before.
: > I appreciate your having taken the time to pull together such a list.
: > I must, however, object to your interpretation of my depth of field
: > spreadsheet, available at http://home.sol.no/~gjon/mdofcal2.xls.  (The
: > address given in your review results in File Not Found, because a blank
: > is substituted for the tilde character.)

: Thanks for the correction, Mike. The tilde is a
: reserved TEX character and I didn't notice the
: substitution when I pasted in your address. My
: apologies, it is now fixed.

: Bob Wheeler --- (Reply to: bwheeler@echip.com)
:         ECHIP, Inc.

Bob,

You're so gracious. What about the rest of my post? Since you've started a new thread, I'll just reproduce it here, for your perusal. Surely, someone genteel enough to apologize for a typo would have the DECENCY to explain his incessant criticism of another's work.

> You review several tools, some of which I have never come across before.
> I appreciate your having taken the time to pull together such a list.
> I must, however, object to your interpretation of my depth of field
> spreadsheet, available at http://home.sol.no/~gjon/mdofcal2.xls.  (The
> address given in your review results in File Not Found, because a blank
> is substituted for the tilde character.)
>
> In your review, you wrote that I chose to define the circle of confusion
> with respect to resolution on a print, instead of on the film, and then
> used precise calculations involving the ratio of print to film diagonals.
> This is correct, but I can not take credit for this approach.  Quoting pp.
> 151-152 of "Basic Photographic Materiels and Processes" by Stroebel,
> Compton, Current, and Zakia (c1990 Focal Press):
>
> "The size of the largest circle that appears as a point depends upon the
> viewing distance.  For this reason permissible circles of confusion are
> generally specified for a viewing distance of 10 inches, and 1/100 inch is
> commonly cited as an appropriate value for the diameter.  [snip]  A study
> involving a small sample of cameras designed for advanced amateurs and
> professional photographers revealed that values ranging from 1/70 to 1/200
> inch were used -- approximately a 3:1 ratio. [snip]  To judge the results,
> [of depth of field testing], 6x8 or larger prints should be made without
> cropping [or at least with identical cropping] and viewed from a distance
> equal to the diagonal of the prints.  The diagonal of a 6x8-inch print is
> 10 inches, which is considered to be the closest distance at which most
> people can comfortably view photographs or read."
>
> So, where you later describe this approach as a "nuisance," Stroebel, et
> al describe it as a common way to specify circle of confusion diameters.
> Indeed, it facilitates comparisons between formats and even between
> different aspect-ratio crops made from a single format.
>
> You write that satisfactory results can be had by calculating depth of
> field using fixed values for each format:
>
> "...peg everything to a c of 0.03[mm] for 35mm and scale to other formats
> by the ratio of sides instead of diagonals."
>
> This is followed with,
>
> "In my opinion, his [Mike's] calculations are precise mathematical results
> based on fuzzy input  - garbage in, garbage out, so to speak."
> I can not deny you your preference for calculating all your depth of field
> tables by treating the diameter of circles of confusion as a constant for
> each format.  (You are ignoring the possibility of tuning depth of field
> tables to suit personal requirements, but it's your choice to forfeit that
> control.)  I can't deny you your apparent resignation to the possibility
> of producing different depth of field tables for different anticipated
> viewing distances.  (Your depth of field tables are not likely to be any
> more useful than the fixed scales engraved on your lenses, but again, I
> readily endorse your freedom of choice.)  I can't deny you your decision
> to ignore the needs of medium and large-format photographers who might
> want tables calculated with disproportionately smaller CoC's, rather than
> exactly proportional to a favored 35mm constant, yours being 0.03mm. (By
> treating CoC's as a constant instead of as a variable, you allow no
> mechanism to accommodate the fact that we make larger prints with larger
> negatives, prints which must survive scrutiny at viewing distances much
> closer, relative to print size, than the viewing distances suffered by
> prints from smaller formats.  You are welcome to calculate DoF tables for
> your 8x10 camera as if it was a scaled up 35.  I'm not going to stop you.)
> I prefer to believe that your fixed constants can not serve the needs and
> tastes of all users all the time, but will not deny you your preferences.
>
> I can, however, deny some of your comments regarding the underlying
> philosophy of my spreadsheet.  You wrote:
>
> "He [Mike] winds up with the rule that the on-film resolution should be
> equal to 1/1750 the of the print diagonal. For 4x5, this is about 0.087
> mm, which is reasonably close to the usual 0.1 mm."
>
> You reference this "rule" more than once in your review, but the "rule"
> only exists in your mind.  I have never spoken nor written that, nor do my
> spreadsheet calculations embody such a limitation.  This thinking
> parallels your own philosophy, not mine.
>
> That which distinguishes my calculator from the vast majority of other
> depth of field calculators is the very ability to do that which you
> consider unnecessary - allowing specification of CoC diameter as a
> variable.  I have always promoted this vehemently.  Most calculators
> severely limit their usefulness by forcing a constant value (as you
> prefer) for each format, just like an engraved depth of field scale.
> The third input field on my spreadsheet is labeled:
>
> "Specify the Permissible Diameter (1/nth inch) of Circles of Confusion:"
>
> And the instructions immediately below this input field read:
>
> "Specify the denominator for a fraction of an inch.  For example, a value
> of 175 would specify a diameter of 1/175 of an inch.  (See Note 2,
> below.)"
>
> The example given, 1/175 inch, is just an example.  Yes, it translates to
> 1/1750 of the print diagonal for a 10-inch diagonal print, but nowhere do
> I promote a "rule" which states "that the on-film resolution should be
> equal to 1/1750 of the print diagonal" - this would only be true when a
> user personally chooses a value of 1/175 inch as the maximum permissible
> diameter on the 10-inch diagonal print.  I can unequivocally state that
> your review is in error on this point and I encourage third parties to
> examine the spreadsheet for themselves.
>
> I am compelled to ask how, on the one hand, you can argue for the use of a
> constant value for c (circle of confusion diameter) and on the other hand
> assume (and pronounce invalid) that I, like you, promote the use of a
> fixed diameter for c?  Equally curious is your failure to make your first
> argument, against the treatment of CoC diameter as a variable, in your
> reviews of other depth of field aids which permit such specification.
>
> Revisiting my decision to specify CoC diameter after magnification or
> reduction to a standard print size, I again declare that this is not
> original thinking.  Stroebel, et al describes the use of a standard print
> for comparison of CoC diameters.   When a 35mm photographer says he
> prefers a maximum CoC diameter of 0.01236 mm on film, we can not
> intuitively compare his preference to that of a 5x7 user who declares his
> requirement that CoC's be no larger than 0.06243mm on film.  These two
> photographers would find that, after magnification to a 10-inch diagonal
> print, their negatives both produce CoC diameters less than or equal to
> 1/350 inch.
>
> Why not communicate on common ground?  If I say I permit 1/200-inch CoC's
> on the standard 10-inch diagonal print, without even asking what format I
> use, you will immediately comprehend that I am less aggressive in my quest
> for tiny CoC's than these other two photographers.  I permit CoC's that
> are nearly twice as large as the 1/350-inch diameters they require.  A
> sensible question, you might then ask, would be, "Do you normally examine
> your prints at viewing distances equal to or greater than the print
> diagonal?"   I might answer, "Yes, I prefer the greater depth of field had
> by not accommodating sub-diagonal viewing distances."  This discussion
> would be prohibited in the absence of a standard for comparison.  A more
> practical exploitation of the common ground, would be a single individual
> using it to compare depth of field between formats or accross various
> aspect ratio crops from one format.
>
> Let's ignore, for the moment, that you prefer to treat CoC diameters as a
> constant when calculating depth of field for a given format.  Depth of
> field formulae commonly expect you to express the circle of confusion
> variable as a diameter at the film plane.  This does not in any way negate
> the validity of using a formula which expects the provision of the CoC
> diameter after magnification or reduction to a 10-inch diagonal print, or
> any other size print chosen as a standard for making comparisons.
>
> My calculator goes a step further by encouraging the calculation of depth
> of field tables based on the post-crop image diagonal, where every other
> depth of field calculator I have seen assumes that we print all our images
> full frame.  Is it any wonder so many people distrust depth of field
> tables and lens barrel scales?  They don't get reproducible results
> because too many variables are being treated as constants.
> Using my (Stroebel's) method, once a photographer has selected a standard
> print CoC diameter that suits his needs for one format, he can be
> confident that the same diameter will yield identical results when
> calculating tables for other formats and even for various amounts of
> cropping, as long as all prints are viewed at distances proportional to
> the print diagonals (a limitation of any single depth of field table or
> engraved scale).  Once a base diameter has been established for viewing
> distances equal to print diagonals (this is wonderfully independent of
> format size, various aspect ratio crops and print sizes), tables can be
> printed for every format/lens combination owned.  Then, if desired,
> another set of tables can be printed for each format/lens combination,
> where viewing distances are expected to be some fraction of print diagonal
> or, even some multiple of print diagonal. These would be calculated by
> scaling the preferred base diameter down or up, by the same fraction or
> multiple.  I find this to be a practical way to achieve real control of
> depth of field.
>
> You profess a preference for fixed diameter CoC's for each format and you
> offer no condemnation of calculators that assume we print everything full
> frame. I must say your "garbage in, garbage out" assertion is 180-degrees
> off course.  Surely, anyone can see that treating useful variables as
> constants is the kind of garbage input we are better off without.
>
> It gets worse, unfortunately.  Several weeks ago, on 1999/07/01, also in
> rec.photo.equipment.large-format, you wrote:
>
> > This calculator seems to produce correct values.
> > I would not, however, rely very much on the diffraction calculations.
> The remainder of the thread, titled "DOF - last gasp!" exhibits your
> inability (and/or unwillingness) to explain how you have reached this
> conclusion.   I am going to ask you again to offer evidence of the
> validity of your contention.  I predict you will ultimately either decline
> the challenge - as you did in the thread I've mentioned, or you will
> smother me with evasive, inconclusive comments that will clearly not
> support your argument - as you've done in the offline dialog we recently
> conducted via e-mail.
>
> You asked that I consider the e-mail dialog to be a "private
> communication."  To date, I have honored your request.  On principal, I
> have resisted the tremendous urge to post our dialog for others to
> examine.  Frankly, I won that round, Bob.  You gave it everything you had
> and lost, but still don't admit it.  If you really believe you have proven
> anything in that dialog, please join me in my desire to post it for peer
> review.  If not, ask yourself what conclusion others must reach and stand
> ready to have the whole discussion all over again, here in this forum.
> Perhaps you'll find something more substantial than the tactics you
> employed in our "private communication."
>
> You have twice publicly denounced the validity of my diffraction
> calculations.  Can you allow third parties to continue wondering why you
> offer no solid explanation?  I would encourage them to impeach your
> unsubstantiated allegations and I encourage you to defend them with
> everything you've got.  I've said this before - I rely on these
> calculations for my own work and, for this alone, I am desperate to make
> corrections, if necessary.  Worse, I feel a sincere responsibility to the
> other photographers who use this tool.  I eagerly await a rational proof
> of any errors in my spreadsheet and promise to post corrections
> immediately upon concurrence.

Bob, don't you see that your stubborn unwillingness to openly debate the mathematics of my diffraction calculations not only makes it plainly obvious to third party observers that your criticisms are unfounded, but worse, shows them what you're made of?

I would consider myself privileged to know you if you could just bring yourself to admit that we discussed this offline, in great detail, that we discovered why you thought I was off by a factor of 2 and that it was a simple mistake on your part (not realizing that I was comparing spread function diameters instead of radius) and that you would now like to retract your denouncements of my work. Please consider just how marvelous such an act of honesty would be seen in the eyes of others.

I will not publish our "private communication" without your permission, so this last appeal is my only hope of defending my work. If it was just any knucklehead finding fault with my math, I wouldn't care so much, but it's Bob Wheeler. Please act in accordance with your reputation.

Mike Davis


Date: 13 Aug 1999
From: flexaret2@aol.com (FLEXARET2)
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.35mm
Subject: Re: Minolta SRT Lenses

from: flexaret@sprynet.com (Sam Sherman) 8-12-99

All Minolta manual focus SLR lenses should fit all such cameras - BUT-

Some early ones will not work with the stop down mechanism on later cameras. The preset lenses will work on all Minolta manual focus SLRs. MC and MD lenses will work on all later Minolta manual focus SLRs. MD lenses will work fine on the earlier models. MD lenses work on XD11, XD5, for shutter priority and X-700 for program. That's probably it for what is special about the MD group. The lenses have an added finger on the aperture ring, which when the lens is set at its smallest aperture, activates an external lever on MD cameras to key in the graduated stop down mechanism for Shutter Priority. This will allow the camera to stop down anywhere from full open to the smallest aperture and those in between as governed by the exposure mechanism.

Minolta's brochures of the day explained how the MD lenses had special parts and superior design to allow for this shutter priority, giving the impression to all Minolta users that the MD lenses were somehow better than the MC lenses and imply everyone should upgrade to this new design even if they did not own an XD11 etc. --- Sheer Nonsense!

I crafted a small part to fit in the XD5 external lever and fool the camera into thinking that it had an MD lens set to its smallest aperture. I then tried a series of MC lenses on this camera, setting them to the smallest aperture, and they behaved fine in "Shutter Priority" just like MD lenses - no special construction etc. All it took was fooling the camera into thinking it had an MD lens. Just like buyers were fooled into thinking that they needed MD lenses for MC cameras.

Be careful when you buy. A good tale was the Exakta VX1000TL - the same exact camera as the Exakta VX1000 only a small TL was engraved on the front plate, implying that this camera somehow worked better with the then new TTL meter prisms. VX1000 owners were encouraged to trade up to the new, improved TL model - which only differed in the engraving of two letters. I wonder how much more they could have charged if they engraved an extra 12 letters??

- Sam Sherman


From Rollei Mailing List:
Date: Thu, 02 Sep 1999
From: Bob Shell bob@bobshell.com
Subject: Re: [Rollei] Rollei Users list digest V5 #16

> Um, I don't get it.  I take it you're talking about the standard issue
> TLR:  does this really sync at 1/2000 second, the way my OM4t does? I'd
> be suprised.  (Not that I've ever used a strobe with my Rolleis.)

Actually no camera with a focal plane shutter can possibly synch at 1/2000 second. Olympus, Nikon, Canon and maybe others play some slight of hand to make it appear that they do. When using the high speed synch on these systems the flash fires in stroboscopic mode producing a sequence of flashes very fast with a duration as long as the shutter's curtain travel time.

This gives exposure over the whole frame, but at much reduced power output, and due to the long duration of the flash it does not have the action stopping capability it would have if it really did synch at 1/2000 second.

It is essentially the same effect press photographers used to get with the old long-burn flashbulbs, but those had a lot more real power.

The fastest true flash synch on a consumer camera is the 1/1000 second you can get on the Rollei 6000 series cameras with the PQ-S lenses.

Bob


Date: Wed, 08 Sep 1999
From: zeitgeist greenky.wa@mindspring.com
Newsgroups: rec.photo.technique.people
Subject: Re: Budget diffuser for on-camera flash?

Go to a camera store, anyone even Kits Konsumer Kameras in the mall, and look at their expensive diffusers and bounce deflectors, then go cut some thing simular out of a white plastic milk jug. If you think about it, or try a dozen different ways of cutting up the jugs, you can use the bends, angles and corners of the jug the way is is and just tape in place.

I've been telling people over and over to bounce the flash off the side walls, Spectrum just dropped a cool idea, place a reflector card near you, on a stand or prop it on something nearby and bounce your flash off it. That would be more appropriately directional and the foamboard would be more efficient.

However, the concept of much too bright is different than what a bounce card or diffuser is intended. The flash seeming too bright is most often the result of cheap labs printing for an averaged exposure. Most often the neg is fine, or at least printable with much better results if someone was actually paying attention in the lab.

Cheap flashes are not the most reliable in their exposure and your could be over exposing which could be correctable with adjusting the ISO or stopping down from the flash's recommended f/stop.

The effect to to much brightness is often a result of a brightly lit subject, but no light on the background, giving you the "bride in the coal mine" effect. A background that is double the distance from the flash as the subject will loose two stops which is closee to black. TTripod and a slow shutter speed can help, especially if your subjects co-operate. a second flash slaved and used either as a feathered key.

what journalists do alot is bounce the flash off the ceiling, but put a small white card at an angle so it throws a portion of the light at the subject, but most heads to the ceiling and bounces both at the subject and the background, since only a smaller part of the light is aimed at the subject, it doesn't get that much more light than the background (within reason)

adyhawke1969@my-deja.com wrote:

> What is the best diffuser for a mounted on-camera flash?  I have a
> flash that is always much too bright when used directly and like most
> young artists, I'm broke.  What is cheap (and/or homemade) that looks
> somewhat professional?
> Offhand, I don't remember the brand name of the flash, but it was very
> cheap ($45 US) and it works... much too well...
>
> Does anyone think that the Canon EOS Rebel 2000's in-camera flash would
> be adequate enough for shooting a wedding and reception, or should I
> use the mounted flash instead?

hehehehe, well, ok, for close ups it would put enough light (1/2 lengths etc) but for groups? and do you know what red eye is? but the main problem is that kind of light basically sucks. It could work as a fill with a slaved flash as a key.

> Thanks, as always, for any suggestions...
> Sincerely,
>
> Robin
> http://fly.to/ladyhawkes_nest


Date: Tue, 11 Apr 2000
Newsgroups: rec.photo.misc
From: cheungmo@mlink.net (Pierre Renault)
Subject: Re: Lighe entering through SLR viewfinder affecting metering?

>Camera    :    Olympus OM2

This is important.

> The sunlight was strong
>and was almost behind me.  I noticed that If I placed
>my eye very close to the viewfinder, the meter reading
>decreased.

...

The Olympus was designed to be as small as possible and the prism housing was made quite small so the photodiodes are physically closer to the prism.

I'm not quite familiar with the guts of the OM-2 but, if I remember properly, some of the diodes sit on either side of the eyepiece.

>Although this is not difficult to understand, it seems to
>me that it is an inherent fault with the camera design as there

A result of making the camera as small as possible...

>In normal light can I expect some light to enter into the camera
>this way?

Yes, but not enough to seriously affect the readings.

> Is the metering calibrated to accommodate some
>of this leakage?

Yes, partly.

> Should I use some 'eye cup' device?

Yes, if you like, but it won't help when you pull your eye away from the eyepiece.

Get some black masking tape, a professional photolab or art store might have some, or some electrical tape. Fold over a short bit (so you have something to grab it with), cut off a couple of inches of it and put it on the bottom plate of your camera. When you intend to shoot something and it looks like stray light might affect your readings, take the tape and cover the eyepiece.

Pierre


Date: Fri, 28 May 1999
From: Anders Svensson Anders.-.Eivor.Svensson@swipnet.se
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.35mm
Subject: Re: Cost and propertys of metal chassies - was: canon/minolta/nikon???

....

> >  Buy a camera
> > with metal in the body  ie NIKON
>
> If only Nikon used something other than aluminum and magnesium in most of
> their cameras.  Then maybe the metal would be adding something more than
> extra weight.

I wonder where you have got this idea from. I saw it in your Nikon F60 post before, but honestly, I thought it was a mix up or a large typo typo. I strongly suggest you are a victim of a misunderstanding.

Magnesium (wich, incidentally, cannot be used on its own, but only in alloys) and aluminium, wich also usually is alloyed to achive specific propertys like surface hardness and tensile strength are the two most used "semi-exotic" alloys for all kind of machine parts and construction elements where strength/weight ratio is important. Titanium may be "better" in many respects, but then, we would use good money unwisely, especially in budget cameras.

I won't pretend that aluminium and magnesium castings are cost effective vs polycarb castings (hint, they are not, as the necessary the machining is costly) but the precision and trueness achievable with these materials is most likely superior to cast polycarbonate. Weight is also not far from really exotic composite materials involving carbon fibre and/or aluminium/magnesium honeycomb reinforced structures, so it could be said that these (traditional) materials are still a good compromise between really advanced composites and "cheap" precision cast polycarbonate.

If plastic is good enough is another matter completely. A camera designed for a precision cast plastic main body may still be completely adequate - the gain in using that material is that machining is not needed in the same way.

My guess is simply that the production people at Nikon have investigated that property and found that they need metal castings to achieve the precision and strength they want their cameras to have.

--
Anders Svensson
Anders.-.Eivor.Svensson@swipnet.se


Date: Mon, 31 May 1999
From: Dave Barstow davedoes@ioa.com
Newsgroups: rec.photo.technique.nature
Subject: Re: Lightning photography

fstop@ispchannel.com wrote:

> Anybody with some advice on which speed film, lens, f-stop, focusing to
> use, and tips on taking pictures when it is still somewhat light
> outside.
> Thanks

There is what looks to be a very useful device for day or night lightening photography called The Lightening Trigger. You should take a look at their website at:

http://www.lightningtrigger.com/

I am planning on getting one soon.

Hope this will help with your questions,

Dave
Dave Barstow's Home Page (http://www.magicnet.net/~davedoes/)


From: "Mac Breck" macbreck@timesnet.net
Newsgroups: rec.photo.technique.art
Subject: Re: low light photography
Date: Thu, 20 Apr 2000

.....

> i'm hoping someone here could possibly provide me with some tips on how
> to achieve decent photographs in these conditions....is there anything i
> can use as a substitute for a tripod?  what kind of film should i be
> working with?  any other considerations i'm missing?  any way of doing
> this without losing my depth of field?
>
> thanks in advance to anyone who can help me....

How about a bean bag? You could make one yourself. Buy a small nylon bag (about 15" by 9" if laid out flat with nothing in it). Fill it about 3/4 full with Navy Beans and tie it off. Put it on any support, and put your camera and lens on it. It'll conform to any surface. Secondly, I'd suggest buying a used spotmeter. With a spotmeter, you can see exactly what area you're reading. Lastly, I'd pick up a book on Zone System (e.g. The Practical Zone System - Second Edition - A Simple Guide to Photographic Control, by Chris Johnson. ISBN 0-240-80178-4; Focal Press). That will teach you to put your subjects in the correct zone, so they'll come out properly exposed, and within the latitude of the film. For your "drastic" lighting effects, this is important.

Mac


From Pentax Mailing List:
From: UDPug@aol.com
Date: Thu, 25 May 2000
Subject: Re: Making a Bean Bag to Reduce Vibration

Bob@Blakely.com writes: Price #7.5 or #8 lead shot.

10 to 12 pounds of any hard surface weight can do a lot of *bounce* damage to surfaces you want to protect. May I suggest having someone who sews make a bag of quilted fabric lined with either a quilt bat or fleece? The best configuration for weight balance would seem to be a longish cylinder. Close the bag with a thick, durable drawstring cord, and you can add or remove a portion of the contents as you work out the *best* weight. To attach to the tripod without damaging the working mechanisms, the cord may be looped around the legs at the uppermost portion. The weight of the bag should prevent it from sliding up as well as provide stability.

Another possibility for weight without bulk is heavy short bolts. Beans and rice, even when kept in their original plastic wrap, will likely leak over time and be subject to moisture damage and spoilage.

Phyllis... who knows a lot more about cooking, sewing and physics then she does about photography. Hope this helps.


From Pentax Mailing List:
From: "Phil" pjh@bellsouth.net
Subject: Re: Making a Bean Bag to Reduce Vibration
Date: Thu, 25 May 2000

Hi Nikon Discuss Group,

I've done a little bit of research about bean bags and discovered this company, which I think has some very good ideas in this area... I thought you might like to look at these....

http://www.kinesisgear.com/r.html

Hope this helps.........

Have Fun, Phil
North Palm Beach, FL


From Pentax Mailing List:
Date: Thu, 25 May 2000
From: "Bill D. Casselberry" bcasselb@orednet.org
Subject: Re: Making a Bean Bag to Reduce Vibration

Shel,

just head on out to the 2nd hand stores! They're full of used excercise ankle weights of various constuction & weights. Just pick up the ones that will work best for a few bucks and save your time & energy for shooting ;^)

Stuff a 10lb bag of rice into a zippered throw pillow case for the bottom support. Badda Bing, Badda Boom ... you're done!

Oregon -(why re-invent the wheel?)- Bill
Bill D. Casselberry ; Photography on the Oregon Coast

http://www.orednet.org/~bcasselb
bcasselb@orednet.org



From Rollei Mailing List:
Date: Mon, 19 Jun 2000
From: Bob Shell bob@bobshell.com
Subject: Re: [Rollei] Hyper-sensitizing

Edmund Scientific and others sold "cold cameras" which used a block of dry ice to chill the film and increase sensitivity. There was also a system of exposing the film to vapors from hydrogen peroxide to increase the sensitivity.

Bob


From Minolta Mailing List:
Date: Tue, 06 Jun 2000
From: Frode Nilsen nilsen.frode@c2i.net
Subject: Fixed lenses

I have tried to get an overwiev of the Minolta lenses. Any comment on this lineup is welcome. I have only tried the 28mm f2.0, 50mm f1.4 and the 100mm f2.8 soft myself. They were all great, yet the 50 was the definete sharpest.

20mm f2.8 Haven`t heard so much about this one. Someone on the list mentioned distortion, but it is an wide angle.

24mm f2.8 Said to be a fine lense. The Sigma tend to get better reviews though.

28mm f2.8 One of the better 28mm out there. Great sharpness, color, and flare control.

28mm f2.0 A great lense. A little soft at 2.0, but very good from 2.8 and onwards. Really great sharpness. Some say that that flare control is great, I am one of them, others say its not so great. I haven`t ried the 35 f2.0 nor the 35 f1.4. But the tests I have seen, puts this lense as the sharpest wideangle lense obtainable for Minolta.

35mm f2.0 Great lense, great value.

35mm f1.4G Never heard any user report on this lense. The MTF tests I have seen do not impress. Any comments out there.

50mm f1.7 One of the better lenses in the Minolta lineup. Extreem value for the money.

50mm f1.4 One of the best lenses in the lineup. Great value for the money. You will pay dearly for this kind of quality at anny other angle. Buy it if you can.

85mm f1.4 A beloved lense. Not as sharp as the 100mm f2.8 macro, but most users pic this lense for portraiture if they got both. One users said that the pictures pops at you, in a way he couldn`t explain.

100mm f2.8 makro Considered to be one of the sharpest Minolta lenses. Also popular as a portrait lense. Might be to sharp for some subjects.

100mm f2.8 soft focus. This is a great lense. Not as sharp as the macro. This one has no vignetting, distortion and a great color balance. The soft focus effect is great. Yet the 85mm f1.4 is more usefull for portraits.

100 f2.0 A forgotten marvel. Relatively cheap. Sharp. But still most users prefere the 85mm f1.4 if they can choose.

Frode


[Ed. note: warning re: rotting plastic screens....]
From Rollei Mailing List:
Date: Sun, 18 Jun 2000
From: Jon Hart jonhart51@yahoo.com
Subject: Re: [Rollei] Focusing screens / unwanted advice

Carter,

The plasticizers that are the source of Jan's problems are common to the soft polyethelene slip-in envelopes used in commercial items. The hard surface Styrene used in jewel-box containers use a different process that don't leach the plasticizers onto the product inside.

Jon
from Deepinaharta, Georgia

--- carter rollei@mpdevinc.com wrote:

> Jan,
>
> Which Rollei are you seing this problem with? The
> screens for my 3003 come in a plastic 'jewel' box
> and are mounted in a black plastic frame.
>
> Carter
>
> >Hi everybody,
> >probably I'm the last one to figure this:
> >If you leave your bright (plastic) Rollei focusing
> screens in their "protective" soft
> >plastic sleeves (often blue, PVC?) they rott.
> >Seems the softener of the sleeves/pouches
> evaporates and creeps into the screen.
> >Softens it and the sleeve's wafer like surface gets
> moulded into the screen's surface.
> >The paper around the screen apparently doesn't help
> much.
> >
> >Any similar experiences?
> >Jan


From: z cypresscy@gbso.net
Date: Thu, 29 Jun 2000
Newsgroups: rec.photo.misc,rec.photo.equipment.35mm,rec.photo.technique.misc,z-prophoto@egro ups.com
Subject: Re: duct tape and Duct Tape Re: Changing the focus plane on 35mm

I get gaffers tape from a theatrical lighting supply place for eleven bucks. Big roll. Gray or black. Same stuff as in the camera store.


From Pentax Mailing List:
From: John Mustarde texlinn@airmail.net
Date: Sun, 25 Jun 2000
Subject: Stacked Teleconverter Fun Test page

I became curious to see how well the FA* 600/f4 would perform with stacked teleconverters. The initial test results are at:

http://members.fortunecity.com/texdance/test/test.html

My first tests used the Pentax 1.4 XL, 2.0 XL, and Vivitar 2x Macro Focusing Teleconverter. The Pentax TC's were separated by a thin Pentax extension tube (it's the only way these teleconverters will physically connect together.)

Focal lengths tested were 600mm, 840mm, 1200mm, 1680mm, and 3360mm. The subject distance was short - about 35 feet, or 11.668 meters for those who have to make do without feet.

The results were generally very good. I was pleasantly surprised at the fine performance of the Vivitar 2x Macro Focusing TC. If I still had my spare Vivitar 2x, I would have made test shots at 6720mm!!

There was some unexpected color shifts using the 2.0 XL--extension--1.4 XL combination. It would be helpful if someone could replicate this portion of the test and see if they get a color shift also.

Be sure to click on the second page and see the birdy photos at

http://members.fortunecity.com/texdance/test/test2.html

--
Happy Trails,
Texdance
http://members.fortunecity.com/texdance


From Nikon Mailing LIst:
Date: Tue, 4 Jul 2000
From: Derek Klein lycius@operamail.com
Subject: [NIKON] Flash Basics - Long

Flash questions crop up rather frequently here on the list as well as among my friends who are also photographers because it can be somewhat confusing. Its hard to master flash photography because essentially you arent able to see exactly what the flash did until you get the images back (unlike available light). When I got my first AF Nikon I asked a lot of questions and read a lot of books and shot a lot of film. I recently wrote the following summary for a friend of mine who was just getting into photography and I hope it answers some questions people may have. It might be a little basic for a lot of you on the list and if there are any errors, Im sure youll let me know. :)

There are several things to keep in mind regarding exposure when using a flash on your camera:

1) Flash exposure is only determined by a) flash to subject distance b) the chosen size of your aperture (given a constant film speed).

2) Ambient light exposure is controlled by the shutter speed. (If your exposure meter is indicating over/under exposure than this is only for the ambient light. The meter does not indicate flash exposure.)

3) Because of the maximum flash sync shutter speed (usually 125/sec or 250/sec on modern Nikons) you have a somewhat limited choice of shutter speeds when you're shooting with flash. Indoors this is less of a problem because you rarely need a shutter speed faster than that, but outdoors using fill flash in bright conditions, it may be more difficult to achieve a shallow depth of field without the use of a neutral density filter or switching to slower film.

In the old days, before TTL metering, if you made a last minute adjustment to your aperture (for instance if you wanted to stop down the lens to get more depth of field in a group shot) then you would have to change (in this case reduce) your flash to subject distance. In modern SLR cameras there is a sensor which reads the amount of light being reflected off of the actual film, so it can turn off the flash automatically when enough light has reached the film, regardless of the aperture chosen or the flash to subject distance or any filters that may be in use. It's actually a bit more complicated than that in practice as there are actually multiple flash sensors and your camera can also use pre-flashes and distance information gained from the lens to more accurately determine exposure. But this is all done automatically for you and requires you to do very little.

In practice what this means is that you can worry about the composition etc. and let your camera handle the complicated parts. Personally, I usually shoot flash pictures in manual or aperture priority exposure modes. Choosing the apertures and/or the shutter speeds myself gives me the most control over my images. I can choose whatever aperture I want (large for shallow depth of field, small for greater depth of field) and choose slow or fast (up to maximum sync speed) shutter speeds to freeze action or allow for creative blur to show motion. I can also use the shutter speed to include or exclude background information. By watching the ambient light meter indication in the viewfinder, you can see if your background will be properly exposed. In an environmental portrait for instance, the subject's surroundings may be extremely important. In that case you might have to choose a fairly slow shutter speed to properly expose the subject's environment, so a tripod may be necessary.

At other times, you can use a fast shutter speed to eliminate an unwanted, or cluttered background. The flash will expose the subject correctly, but the fast shutter speed will darken the background (sometimes going to black if it is dark enough).

In any case, what the technology allows is for you to choose the aperture and shutter speed you want for your creative purposes during flash exposures without having to physically move light stands or manually calculate exposures. As long as your subject falls within the acceptable range (indicated by the bar graph in the LCD panel on external flashes) then all of this complicated flash stuff will take care of itself. If you're too close then the flash can't quench itself fast enough resulting in overexposure. If your subject is too far away then the flash doesn't have enough power to deliver enough light and the result is underexposure.

If you shoot with the flash in the P (program) mode, Ive noticed that my camera sometimes simply tries to give me the fastest shutter speed it can, which means the largest aperture it can. That sometimes results in over exposed (washed out) flash images if you are shooting close to your subject. The camera will also refuse to choose shutter speeds slower than 1/60th of sec unless you over-ride this feature with a custom setting.

In the balanced fill flash mode the flash tries to achieve a 1:1 exposure ratio with the ambient light. Some find this is too much for their liking so they dial in a negative flash exposure compensation (typically -.7 or more) to achieve a less obvious flash look. Compensation is a personal matter, so you'll have to experiment to see what works for you.

I hope this helps some people. I think it addresses some of the questions that appear in the early stages.

I'm off on a camping trip for two weeks, so Ill be away from the list for awhile shooting lots and lots of film. ;)

I hope everyones having a good summer.

Derek


From: "Russell Smithers" russell@smithers-nasa.freeserve.co.uk
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.35mm
Date: Sat, 1 Jul 2000
Subject: Re: Changing lenses FAST....any tips???

Thats what I do to.... And I have 3 bodies occasionaly hung around me, 1 of them with a 400mm lense.

Ive never had bodies/lenes crashing into each other.

Regards.
----
Russell Smithers
Photography www.smithers-nasa.freeserve.co.uk

> iamforgotten@hotmail.com
>says...
>>
>>
>>
>> beenee wrote:
>>
>> > the fastest way is to carry more than one camera body with different
>> > lenses on each.  then all you have to do is switch cameras.  some people
>> > walk around with three bodies hanging around their neck.
>>
>> It's also a good way to have one camera body come crashing down into the
>> front lens element of a second body when turning around really quick.
>>
>> am
>
>That's never happened to me in over 27 years. Make sure they're slung
>from the straps at different heights (about an inch between them
>should do), and always have the longer lens on the lower camera.
>
>--
>Kirk


Date: Fri, 30 Jun 2000
From: "Jim Williams" jlw@nospam.never.net
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.35mm
Subject: Re: Changing lenses FAST....any tips???

>I'm curious if any of you have any tips regarding
>how you change lenses quickly....where do you carry the lenses....etc?

Yes, two bodies are very convenient, as several other people have posted. But you STILL may need to change lenses on them occasionally. And not everyone has two camera bodies, or wants to carry them around.

I find the biggest speed-improver is in the way you carry the lenses. I still use the system I evolved when I was in the newspaper business: I've got my camera bag set up so each lens sits vertically in its own compartment, front end down, one compartment per lens (including an empty compartment for the one on the camera.) I keep the lenses lined up in the bag in order from wide-angle to tele, so I always know which is which, and I've got foam blocks in the compartments for the shorter ones so that the back ends of the lenses sit at about the same height.

When I get into a picture-taking situation, the first thing I do is remove and stow the rear caps of all the lenses (easily accessible since they're sitting back-end-up.) When it's time for a change, the lens on the camera comes off and goes into the empty compartment reserved for it; then I can quickly find the lens I want by feel (since they're lined up in order), grab it by the rear barrel, turn it in my hand, and stick it right onto the camera.

You have to carry a somewhat bigger bag with this system, since you can't stack lenses on top of each other and have to leave one empty compartment at all times, but it really makes it easier to change lenses quickly and confidently.


From: mceowen@aol.com (McEowen)
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.35mm
Date: 30 Jun 2000
Subject: Re: Changing lenses FAST....any tips???

>I'm curious if any of you have any tips regarding
>how you change lenses quickly....where do you carry the lenses....etc?

Man, judging by the number of responses to this I'm guessing this thread has already digressed into a silly argument but I'll make a stab at it, just the same . . .

1.) Think ahead -- anticipate what lens you will need so you don't have to change in a hurry

2.) Use an intelligently designed bag -- something like a Domke or one of the better Tenbas in which you just reach straight in to individual lens compartments.

3.) Glue two rear lens caps back to back so that you don't have to remove the cap from one lens before attaching to the other. It's wasteful but devote one of these double caps to each lens rather than using them to stack lenses in your bag (though you have the option of doing that in a pinch).

4.) The multiple bodies idea is good to a point. I almost always carry two -- one for b&w; and one for color generally -- while you may not just switch cameras when you change lenses having two lenses hanging off your shoulders does make switching those two lenses pretty fast.


Date: Sat, 01 Jul 2000
From: "Jim Williams" jlw@nospam.never.net
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.35mm
Subject: Re: Changing lenses FAST....any tips???

>>> Good tip!  If the lens goes into a protected area (pouch?) in a good bag,
>>> is putting the caps on absolutely necessary?
>
>>Yes, unless you don't mind clueing dust, grit, dirt, smoke, ect off the lens
>>every time you use it.
>
>I normally store lenses with the rear caps on, front caps off,
>and hoods in place, with the hood end down.  That technique
>makes them much faster to change, and doesn't seem to accumulate
>grunk on the front elements.

I store, transport and carry them with front and rear caps in place. But as soon as I open my bag to start taking pictures, the second thing I do (taking out the camera is the first thing) is remove ALL the caps and stow them in a pocket in the bag. This keeps the lenses protected in transit but keeps them totally ready when in active use.

The above post mentions lens hoods, but I'll expand a bit by saying they're another secret to working fast. If you keep the correct hood mounted on the lens, you get some protection against knocks and fingerprints without having to keep the lens capped. Another time-saver, if it works with your equipment, is to get lens caps that fit *over* the mounted hoods... this lets you get into action faster when you're ready to start photographing, because all you have to do is pull the cap rather than uncap the lens, unstow the hood, and mount it.


From: Kirk kirkdarlingnotathome@mindspring.com
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.35mm
Date: Sat, 1 Jul 2000
Subject: Re: Changing lenses FAST....any tips???


jlw@nospam.never.net says...

> I store, transport and carry them with front and rear caps in place. But as
> soon as I open my bag to start taking pictures, the second thing I do
> (taking out the camera is the first thing) is remove ALL the caps and stow
> them in a pocket in the bag. This keeps the lenses protected in transit but
> keeps them totally ready when in active use.

Same with me.

Unless the environment is really nasty (lots of flying grit, rain, that sort of thing), I've not had any problems with dirt with this technique. Of course, I close my bag over the lenses while I'm shooting, and that's been good enough. Maybe by the end of the day, there will be a light dust on the lens, but that's easily cleaned off and hasn't caused me a problem in 3 decades of shooting.

If it's a really bad environment, I'll use UV filters and such, but I won't use front caps because they get in the way of using hoods (I'd have to remove the hood to replace the cap). I don't bother with rear caps *while actively shooting* because the lenses are butt-down in the pockets.

> The above post mentions lens hoods, but I'll expand a bit by saying they're
> another secret to working fast. If you keep the correct hood mounted on the
> lens, you get some protection against knocks and fingerprints without
> having to keep the lens capped. Another time-saver, if it works with your
> equipment, is to get lens caps that fit *over* the mounted hoods... this
> lets you get into action faster when you're ready to start photographing,
> because all you have to do is pull the cap rather than uncap the lens,
> unstow the hood, and mount it.

Yep. You might be able to find something in good kitcheware stores that fits over the hoods. About 15 years ago, I found some round vinyl covers with elastic edges (kind of like waterproof baby overpants) that snapped over the front of the lens, hood and all, instantly. I think they were designed for fruit jars or something. But I've never found them again.

--
Kirk


From: "David S. Berger" dberger@medicine.bsd.uchicago.edu
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.35mm
Date: Fri, 07 Jul 2000
Subject: Re: Sweetheart Minolta lenses?

McEowen wrote:

> Noah wrote:

> A couple of personal favorites with more ineffable "sweetheart" qualities
> -- not as technically unusual as the above, maybe, but lenses I've felt
> especially good about using:
>
> -- 58mm f/1.2 (reasonably sharp, usefully fast, handy almost-tele focal
> length, stunningly beautiful "bokeh.")
>
> -- 135mm f/2 (simply a nice-handling, fine-performing, very useful
> super-speed tele.
>

> That's more like it . . . In a short telephoto which is considered Minolta's
> strong suit: the 85mm or the 100mm? In a general purpose wideangle: 24mm or
> 28mm? I know Leica used to use Minolta's 24mm. Is that a goodun? Several people
> have suggested that  f1.2 normal. I had a chance to pick one  up recently for
> like $100. At the time I wasn't considering getting a Minolta body. I should
> have gotten it anyway . . .

I must support the 58/1.2 recommendation. It's truly a stunning lens _especially_ wide open. It's my favorite for low light. I've taken some of my very best candid portraits with this lens. Get one and try it with TMZ at 1600. It is a heavy beast, though, and only was made in MC mount. The only super speed lens I've seen/used that's better wide open is the Noctilux (1.0 version, not the 1.2).

For a simple normal lens, try the 45/2. It's a great overall performer (sharpness, contrast, color, bokeh, etc.) and is certainly the most undervalued lens on the planet. It's very small, practically a pancake lens. It's images sort of remind me of a Tessar.

Minolta made 4 short teles that you are likely to encounter. The two 85s (1.7 and 2.0) have excellent reputations and I can vouch for the 85/1.7 as I've seen many portraits from this lens. Again, beautiful overall 3-D look and bokeh (and plenty sharp). It's very expensive in both MC and MD mounts, if you can find one. I think the 85/2 is even harder to find and probably costly. As far as 100s, I've never even seen the 2.0, just read about it. Likely, the only thing harder than finding it will be paying for it. That brings us to the 100/2.5. This was made in both MC and MD mounts and can be had used for ~150.00. For portrait-style pictures, the Nikkor 105/2.8 has nothing over this lens (I've had them both for years). The Nikkor is sharper edge-to-edge at f2.8-4.0 but I prefer the overall image from the Rokkor. I do like the Nikkor for non-portrait b&w; work though; I think it's the contrast. Come to think of it, the Rokkor 100/2.5 and the Nikkor 105/2.8 make an excellent team. Anyway, get the 100/2.5. You won't be disappointed.

I have two 135s, an MD 2.8 and MC 3.5. They are both very good lenses, but the 135/2.8 has better flare control. I can shoot toward the sun without trouble. The 135/3.5 will flare up. Perhaps a 135/3.5 in MD mount would have better flare control because of newer coatings. If I could only have one, I'd keep the 135/2.8 since it's more pleasing from 4.0 down. The 135/2.0 to which Noah referred is as great as it is hard to find. I've seen one at a show and it is huge in size and massive in price.

For wides, the 24/2.8 is a very nice lens. Nice and flat with great color rendition and overall 3-D look. Of course it's sharp (aren't all lenses sharp? wasn't that problem solved 60 years ago? don't get me started:). The 24 mm is a bit pricey, probably ~200 used, maybe more. Try to find an ugly one with good glass and mechanics. Wider Rokkor lenses, like the 21 mm and 17 mm, are very expensive.

If you want a 28 mm, go for the 3.5. That might seem like an odd recommendation, but the 28/3.5 is one of the finest lenses Minolta ever made. I have the version with the very wide front element (67 mm filter ring), for which Minolta made this big-ass square hood (now kind of hard to find). This lens is also difficult to focus. It's an ergonomic thing; the focus ring is very narrow. However, it makes great pictures. At middle apertures, I think it's better than the 28/2.8. Minolta also made a more "normal" one with a 55 mm filter ring. They must have different optics, at least to some extent, but I don't now how images are affected. The best thing is that the 28/3.5 can be had for a song.

So, in summary:

24/2.8 Leitz didn't take this lens for nothin'. Not cheap, but price is right.

28/3.5 One of the best in its class. They're giving them away.

45/2.0 A real keeper. Very undervalued.

58/1.2 Simply great, especially opened up. Pricey but surely worth it if you shoot low light.

100/2.5 World class portrait-style lens. Not that easy to find but not overpriced either.

135/2.8 Excellent performer, great bokeh. Plenty of them so price is right.

Also, you can't go wrong with a 35/2.8.

> BTW, I use Nikon SLRs and Leica rangefinders but I've always had sort of a
> closet thing for Minolta. I've all but decided it time to feed it (just a
> little . . . )

If you like Leitz lenses, you'll like the Rokkors. To me, their image characteristics resemble German lenses more than any other Japanese lenses. If you get any other Minolta urges, pick up an Autocord. The Autocord Rokkors are every bit as good as Rolleiflex Xenars and Tessars.

Good luck,

David

David S. Berger, Ph.D.
Department of Medicine/Cardiology Section


From: John Sparks sparks@sparks.cos.agilent.com
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.35mm
Date: 7 Jul 2000
Subject: Re: Sweetheart Minolta lenses?

....

>-- 58mm f/1.2 (reasonably sharp, usefully fast, handy almost-tele focal
>length, stunningly beautiful "bokeh.")

I'll also vote for this lens. My favorite lens by far is a fast normal lens (preferably slightly long), but until I tried this one, I never really found one that I liked. Most of them make photographs that look very much alike (I've tried 50/1.4, 1.7, 2.0, etc. lenses from Nikon, Minolta AF, Pentax, Canon and probably a few others I can't remember). All of these are fine at f/2.8 or smaller, but wide open they all look very similar and have similar bad bokeh. Since almost everything I do with 35mm is in low light, I rarely stop them down to even f/2.8 so how they work wide open is very important to me.

The Rokkor 58/1.2 looks different from the others I've tried and is very usable wide open. Sharp enough and very smooth out of focus areas. Well worth having a Minolta just for this lens if you like fast normal lenses.

Mine is a MC Rokkor-X meaning it's multicoated, it was also made as a MC Rokkor-PF (PF may not be quite right, this was a code indicating the number of elements and groups like the markings on older Nikkor lenses and predated "multicoated" but I believe it used a 2 layer coating before Pentax coined the term multicoating). When the MD lenses were introduced, this lens was changed to a 50/1.2 which doesn't have the same reputation (I've never tried one).

I also have an 85/1.7 MC Rokkor-X which produces a very similar look to the 58/1.2. It's certainly better mechanically than the 85/2 which was of the later, lighter weight and cost reduced series. Don't know how these would compare optically, but I know the 85/1.7 is nice.

The 135/2.8 lenses are very cheap and also very good. I hadn't intended to buy one, but found one at a good price and tried it. Mine is a MD (last series, no Rokkor). It's not as sturdy mechanically as the other lenses above, but still looks good. I have an 11x14 print from this lens wide open on display in a gallery right now.

Based on my experience with the 70-210/4 AF zoom, I'd expect the 70-210/4 MF lense to be an extremely nice zoom (I think they are the same optically). I've also heard really good things about the 50-135/3.5 zoom except for it's fairly long minimum focusing distance.

I'm not much of a user of wide angle lenses, so I haven't tried any.

I've had horrible flare problems with a 135 Celtic lens I got new in the 70's, I wouldn't recommend any of the Celtic lenses (low cost lenses made by Minolta to compete with the the 3rd party lenses that were starting to be available then). A 58/1.4 MC Rokkor-PF lens I tried also had major flare problems although mechanically was the nicest Minolta lens I've used (all metal barrels). I think the MC Rokkor-X and MD Rokkor-X lenses are the best series of lenses. They are multicoated and made before the lastest mechanically inferior MD (no Rokkor) lenses. I think they were also made when Minolta was still trying to make the best lenses they could instead of the later lenses where lighter weight and lower cost were becoming more important.

John Sparks


From: bombard12@aol.com (Justin Naranjo)
Date: 12 Jul 2000
Newsgroups: rec.photo.technique.people
Subject: 'Time-slice' Photography?
Hello,

Last night I saw a show on TLC about the human senses, there was a good portion of it devoted to telling how photography is altered sight. Among all of the techniques shown they highlighted something called 'time-slice photography'. There is a contraption that looks like a ring with 35mm movie film threaded through, and a shutter on each frame (yes its pretty large). All the shutters go off at once. Run the film through a projector and there is a very very (for the lack of a better word) awesome. Time is frozen while you circle the object in question (in this case a fire breather). The movie 'The Matrix' had something like this, but was many digital cameras encircling the actors.

Now for my question, how could I effectively do this?

Thanks for any help,
Justin


From: Pat Jerina pat@patjerina.com
Newsgroups: rec.photo.technique.people
Date: Wed, 12 Jul 2000
Subject: Re: 'Time-slice' Photography?

Ahh you must be talking about the "bullet time" on The Matrix. Quite a cool effect is it not. Before The Matrix came out, I worked as a production assistant on for a week on a series of commercial for the Anderson Cancer Research Center of Houston that used the 2nd Generation of this idea.

The first gen. would do a line of cameras only firing off at the same time. The 2nd gen. (the big freeze they called it) was 359 still cameras and one motion camera on a 62ft diameter ring that were controlled by a central computer making sure that the camera would fire at the exact same time ( a camera for each degree of a circle). The camera were running off of 6 boat batteries and a special chip was installed in each camera to make sure that they would fire at the EXACT same time. They had to do this because on the first run, there was a slight variation of shutters in the cameras and the image would be very jumpy when they ran it through post production. The Matrix is the 3rd Generation where they can move the cameras in any sort of shape and move forward in time, backward, shoot in waves, or cycle on itself. It is best explained in the behind the scenes feature on the DVD.

Now, why did I go through all of this? To illustrate that it can be done but it will cost a boatload of money to get a good result. The cost of the chips to put in the cameras for the big freeze cost the guy about $40,000. I think to set it up yourself would require a vast amount of time (it took 6 hours just to set up the ring on the first day of shooting) and money. I agree the effects are spectacular,even on the 2nd generation it was really cool to see but the cost for an individual would be staggering.

pat jerina photography
http://www.patjerina.com


From Contax Mailing List:
Date: Fri, 07 Jul 2000
From: "Bob Shell" bob@bobshell.com
Subject: Re: [CONTAX] OT -- Zeiss Binoculars

I have here on my desk a pair of 8X30 armored Leica binoculars which were designed for the Swiss Army. Really nice optics and even have anti-laser protection for military use and a reticle for estimating distance.

They're available for under $ 600 . The same source has Carl Zeiss 7 X 40 binoculars from East German military use, and all sorts of interesting optics.

www.deutscheoptik.com

Bob


From: "Fred Whitlock" afc@skyenet.net
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.35mm
Date: Tue, 18 Jul 2000
Subject: Re: fast lenses vs. slow lenses

We're getting somewhere now. Actually, the faster lens needs more correction to deal with the larger front element so it really can't be sharper in the corners. If it is stopped down enough it may equal the slower lens in corner sharpness but it would surpass it only if the slower lens were of a very poor design. It would certainly have less contrast due to the introduction of some small amount of flare due to having to have more elements in the design.

You are right about the advantages of fast lenses and I agree with you there completely. It's false to call them better optically. It's correct to call them more versatile, more useful and more desireable.

I generally prefer fast lenses myself and usually buy the fastest lens I can find for any given focal length. I do this for more dof control, brighter viewfinder, better low light performance, etc. I don't do it because I think it's a sharper lens because it isn't.

Good shooting.

Fred
Maplewood Photography

...


From: speedo greg@on.aibn.com
Date: Mon, 17 Jul 2000
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.35mm
Subject: Re: A GEAR COMPARISON, elite vs. low end gear

Paul F wrote:

> Sure those $800+ lenses and $80+ filters are sexy, but what are the
> real--tangible--differences?

Read my previous post about the article in this month's Popular Photography where they compared 2.8 zooms to the cheaper slow ones and found very little difference in image quality. What we pay big bucks for is the speed and sturdier construction, things that many working pros can justify. Drop off slides to any magazine editor and he/she won't be albe to tell whether the photographer used an expensive fast zoom or a cheapie slower one.


From: "Fred Whitlock" afc@skyenet.net
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.35mm
Date: Wed, 19 Jul 2000
Subject: Re: fast lenses vs. slow lenses

It may make you feel good to think that and say that but, actually, it isn't true. I've run way too many tests not to know what I'm talking about. No kidding folks, faster lenses have inferior (often just slightly) corner sharpness that slower lenses at comparable apertures. It's just that way despite what you think or wish. Good shooting.

Fred
Maplewood Photography


Date: Wed, 19 Jul 2000
From: JFranz2777@aol.com
To: minolta-l@osfmail.isc.rit.edu
Subject: Re: Minolta MD 135 2.8

I think it's because the Celtic line was supposed to be the "low cost" alternative to the Rokkor/Rokkor-X line - as such it had a few plastic components and was theoretically designed by computer - it wasn't so much as a step down, it was really a step forward - since nowadays almost ALL lenses have some plastic somewhere and most are computer designed. Again, Minolta was way ahead of competition. BTW, almost all the Celtics are very good - so, enjoy the "bargains" when you find them. HTH

Jim (JFranz2777@aol.com)


From: "Fred Whitlock" afc@skyenet.net
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.35mm
Date: Thu, 20 Jul 2000
Subject: Re: fast lenses vs. slow lenses

Yes, it's much easier to produce a flat field with a smaller front element. The real important point that Robert makes here is that resolution is only one issue involved in lens performance and selection. There are all kinds of other parameters as well. I personally buy fast lenses with the full knowledge that I can get a slightly sharper image with a slower lens. Fast lenses provide a brighter viewfinder, more options for dof control, the ability to use slower film. Go make some images with an ISO 50 or 100 transparency film and then do the same images with an ISO 200 or 400 film. The comparison will be an eye opener. The choice of film will make more difference to your image quality than the lens. A lot more. So the ability to use slower film is very big factor in image quality.

I'm not denigrating fast lenses. On the contrary, I recommend them over slow lenses almost every time. I just don't want people to think they'll get better images with them with all other things being equal. They won't. They'll spend more money and they'll get value for the money. The value will be in other things than wide aperture corner resolution, though.

As an example, despite my collection of relatively new AF Nikkors, I continue to hang on to my old 200mm f4 AI Nikkor (and some other oldies.) It's small, light, amazingly contrasty and sharp as a tack, even at f4. I have the very high performance AF 180mm f2.8 Nikkor but I actually use the 200 more often because I prefer it's diminutive size and weight. I only lug the 180 when I intend to use it at full aperture. There are all kinds of reasons to choose a lens. Corner resolution at large apertures is only one of them. Good shooting.

Fred
Maplewood Photography

...


From: heavysteam@aol.comzapcrap (Heavysteam)
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
Date: 22 Jul 2000
Subject: Re: first med format mamiya 645 pro-tl or 67rz?

The 645 makes a great replacement for a 35mm system-- it is light, relatively compact, and easy to handle. If you must hand-hold your camera outdoors (which is never a good idea unless you absolutely have no other choice) then the 645 is probably a better choice. Of course, both systems have changable backs which let you easily shoot B&W; and color, or Velvia and color negative, etc.-- a major benefit of MF cameras with magazines.

However, if you are going to do tripod shots, the RZ will excel both indoors and outdoors. The rotating back will let you change orientation without moving the camera, and the built-in bellows are a real help when shooting closer to the camera. In addition, when you use the metering prism with the RZ (one of the most accurate meters I've ever used!!) it will automatically compensate for bellows extension and even extension tubes. The RZ also has features like mirror lockup and multiple exposure. Last, but not at all least, there is an outstanding feature if you are going to shoot slide film-- With the waist-level finder, the RZ II can set the shutter in 1/2 stop increments, and with the metering prism, the shutter speed is stopless (continuous.) Perhaps this has a lot to do with why I've had such outstanding exposure accuracy when shooting chromes with the RZ II, where 1/2 stop overexposure can hurt. Finally, in the studio, this is a magnificent camera. I use mine for mainly two purposes-- table top and portraits. The 180mm soft focus is the best portrait lens I've ever used, and runs circles around diffusers and softars. (The ladies call it the time machine, because it shaves years off their faces.)

For table top with or without extension tubes, and with the 140mm macro lens (which I also find to be one of the best lenses in the business) I get excellent results. I used to use a 4X5 with a 6X7 back for tabletop, but I've found that I can shoot twice the volume in the same time with equal quality. Occasionally I must trot out the 4X5 for a tough shot that requires lens moves, but very rarely. Summary: A lot to lug but it is a superb studio camera and very usable outdoors too. Probably the best and most accurate metering prism in the business and much finer control over shutter speed is a big boon to chrome shooters.


Date: Sun, 06 Aug 2000
From: ajacobs2 ajacobs2@tampabay.rr.com
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.35mm
Subject: Tips from the workbech...

I am a strong advocate of tripods and use many quick releases by Bogen and others. Tripod heads and quick releases tend to come with their pads made of cork, hard rubber, plastic, and a few things I have not determined the composition of (like a rubberized plastic).

Many of the newer plastic bodied film cameras and digitals have plastic threaded replaceble tripod ferrules or simply injection molded threads. Combining the two creates a problem.

The problem is to keep the camera from turning and slipping, the novice "cranks down on the tripod screw" usually stripping it. Since my latest bracket uses stroboframe, Bogen components, the hard rubber Bogen was slipping. see the site for pictures.

Simple solution: Get a bicycle inner tube repair kit. the patch has a soft no skid surface and some have adhesive on the back. Cut to size and punch a hole in it for the screw to go through. Paste down on the existing pad. No more twisting.....purists can cut up a bicycle inner tube and a drop of rubber cement to keep in place. True believers can cut up one of those gizmos you unscrew lids of jars with.

If you use bicycle inner tubes, (I have three bikes and always have tubes around) I cut them up after they served their purpose amd make super wide heavy duty rubber bands and shields for the battery packs I build, see the site below..

For more ideas go to: http://web.tampabay.rr.com/ajacobs2


From Sell-ed Mailing List:
Date: Tue, 22 Aug 2000
From: Michael Watters michael.watters@valpo.edu
Subject: Beam Splitter macro rigs

>    From: "Dr. George A. Themelis" drt-3d@att.net
>
> This might as well be the answer to all prayers in
> macro stereo photography.  This unique rig was
> built in France for Dr. Paul Milligan.  Only a
> few rigs of this type are known to exist in the
> world.
>
> It consists of two Minolta X-700 cameras, fitted
> with 100mm MACRO lenses.  The cameras are aligned
> one at the top of the other and through two mirrors
> (one regular and one semi-permeable) they result
> in a system that shows the following characteristics:

Just a couple of minor points:

(http://www.sciplus.com/index.cfm) carries small ones for $10 and under.

The main thing to guard against with this sort of rig is stray reflections (after all, you have a HUGE hunk of flat glass in front of your lenses!!!). Fairly easy to eliminate them though.

It's another of the projects discussed in the camera hacking book I put together. This one isn't a step-by-step project but is explained on its general principals.

Mike

Dr. Michael Watters
Email: Michael.Watters@valpo.edu
Valparaiso University


From Leica Mailing List:
Date: Wed, 23 Aug 2000
From: "Erwin Puts" imxputs@knoware.nl
Subject: [Leica] Grey card

The grey card reflects 18% and indeed, most natural scenes reflect 13%, which should be common knowledge as the relevant study dates from 15 years ago. I noted this a long time ago, when I discussed the relative merits of a grey card. If you read the instruction leaflet of the Kodak greycard they will tell you that the grey card is designed and optimised for studio lighting and contrast and there the 18% reflection is experimentally the best compromise. Kodak incidentally notes that when using the grey card outdoors to increase exposure by a half stop to compensate for the 13%!!!

Erwin


From Leica Mailing List:
Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2000
From: "Erwin Puts" imxputs@knoware.nl
Subject: [Leica] Zone V and greycard

Some basics first: objects do reflect different amounts of light energy. Assume we use the 18% value as a starting point. Twice as much light energy (the equivalent of one aperture stop) is 36%, the next step is 72% and the next would be 144%, but that is impossible as the maximum reflectance obviously is close to 100%. The range on the other side is:9%, 4.5%, 2.25%, 1.12%. The full range is 1.12-2.25-4.5-9-18-36-72-99 or in stops: 7. As the average scene is assumed to have a 18% reflectance, the whitest highlight then is 2.5 stops away from the middle value and the deepest black is 4.5 stops away. The logic behind the old rule: measure the hadows and nderexpose by 3 stops, or mesure the highlights and overexpose 2 stops, finds its logic here. The true middle value would be around 9%. Why then is 18% called the midgrey value. Because the eye is no densitometer or exposure meter and reacts logarithmally to changing levels of reflectance.

The grey value, associated with 18% reflectance is by many people identified as a medium grey (it originates in the printing industry), even if it in relaity represensts a darker grey. Now zones: Adams used the Zone system as a way to find corectly exposed negatives as the density range goes. So he used another approach. As all film/exposure systems are adjusted to the 18% yardstick, it mens that a correct exposure will place the greycard value in the middle of the straight portion of the characteritsic curve. The density value there on a well exposed/develped negative is D=0.75. Density alues are logarithmically scaled and so one stop more or less has a value of D=0.3. So now for density values: Grey card is 0.75, one stop more is 1.05, the next 1.35. Etc. You can make this rnage for yourself. Film densities can rnage from 0.1 to 3.0 and higher. So a range from 0.0-0.3-0.6-0.9-1.2-1.5-1.8-2.1-2.4 is no problem for a film to record. As films often use a Gamma of 0.7 the aperture steps are not 0.3 but 0.7x0.3=0.21. Now starting from 0.75 as the base point, we have a range 0.0-0.12-0.33-0.54-0.75-0.96-1.17-1.38-1.59.

Adams simply used the grey value as his middle Zone V and added equally spaced steps on either side, which is almost permissable as film densitomerty goes. His shortcoming is that he assumed the density range of the film to match the range of reflectance values in nauture. That is not true and therefore Adams had to torture the chararteristic curve into shape wth his N-x and N+x development scheme to stretch the density range in the highlights. If you take a picture of a greycard, expose as is and then make the famous +/- 5 stops to get the stepped strip of grey values, you will see that density measurements will give you blocked highlights above two or three stops. The rest is wasted. The classical Adams trick is to overexpose and underdevelop to stretch the range of the highlight denstities on the film.

I use the Zone system myself, so I am not in disagreement with Adams approach. But you need to understand that his method is an exposure/development technique to fit the variable density range into the variable reflectance range as it suits him.

Erwin


From Leica Mailing List:
Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2000
From: "Dan Post" dpost@triad.rr.com
Subject: Re: [Leica] Zone V and greycard

I understood that! You're doing better, Erwin! The Gray card measured reflective density is about R=.80 G=.80 and B=.80, and when I worked in a photolab, that was the gray we attempted to match on the morning test print.... but when all corrections were figured in, the gray card in the test scene usually measure about .72 reflective density! When it matched that- everything else fell into place!

Even in a one hour lab- I was able to 'match' print and reprints ( for really picky customers! and pretty girls!) by measureing the original- usually a white area of clothing or a flesh tone- the making a test print and measuring the same areas of the test print- by comparing the relative densities, it was easy to calculate the necessary corrections, and I became quite good at it! Not bad for a one hour lab !

The arrangement and target tones can be targeted the same way in B&W; and using a densitomet- or even an enlarging meter to read the realtive density of the negative! I photograph a test target that has a plain white matte board, a black matte board, and a grey card- all 8x10 and mounted on a 16x20 matte board.

Measuring the negatives, taken at different EI, I find the one that has about a .70 transmission density- above base fog, and it gives me a good indicator of what I need to shoot the film at. When I want to find out if my development is too vigorous or not, I use the indicated EI and shoot a roll of film, divide it into several small pieces and develop at different times- I then measure the density difference between the white card image and the black card image, which gives me a density range- I pick the time that gives me the best range printable on 2 1/2 grade paper. The gray card is very useful for all sorts of things!

Dan


Date: Fri, 08 Sep 2000
From: desmobob desmobob@my-deja.com
Newsgroups: rec.photo.marketplace.35mm,rec.photo.technique.nature
Subject: Re: John Shaw's "Butterfly bracket"

ed@l-a-net.net wrote:

> First thing...deja.com is going down tomorrow for several days to switch
> their email server, thus please reply to me via email at:
>
> ed@l-a-net.net
>
> Thanks!
>
> My message regards building a macro flash bracket.  I want to build one     
> of the flash brackets that John Shaw illustrates in his book, "Closeups
> In Nature".  The problem I have is that I live in a rural area without
> any camera shops close by, thus I can't go in and browse around for the
> small ball heads that I need.  When searching online mostly what I find
> are no pictures with only a brief description similar to "small ball
> head"....really brief and non-descriptive.
>
> Does someone know a model number or type of ball head I could look for
> that would work in building one of these macro flash brackets?
>
> Thanks a million!  ...and remember, please email me at ed@l-a-net.net

The PERFECT little ballhead for this application is the Stroboframe shoe-mount flash ballhead. It has a 1/4x20 drilled/tapped base that will also mount in a flash shoe. It is a nice little ballhead with a flash shoe on top. And the flash shoe unscrews, leaving you with a normal 1/4x20 stud! A very versatile little gadget for do-it-yourself projects, and for serving multiple duty in the camera kit. It's 2" tall and weighs 1 ounce. $19.95 from B&H.; You'll love it.

Have fun,
Bob Scott


Date: Tue, 05 Sep 2000
From: zeitgeist blkhatwhtdog@yahoo.com
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.misc
Subject: Re: Flashcube to Electronic Flash Adapter?

> > Is there a flashcube to electronic flash adapter?
> >
> > I have an old Rollei E110 I use for snapshots, but in dark room, I have a
problem.  Flashcubes aren't readily available any longer.  If there were a
flashcube to PC connector adapter, I could make some kind of rig to hold a
small electronic flash.
> >

the major problem is that the shutter/flash sync would be totally off.

cameras that took flash cubes probably did not have an "X" sync, which the the sync setting for electronic flash, which is instaneous when the flash gets the pulse. flash bulbs needed some time to start burning bright enough so it got the pulse before the shutter was even starting to open. also the camera had to send a much higher voltage pulse to set that flame going, it wasn't just a signal, it was a spark.

most old cameras offered x and an m or f flash sync. the m was for leaf shutter cameras and the f was for focal plane shutters which required special bulbs for optimum exposure, the bulb needed to burn at a slower and longer rate instead of giving all it got at once as the shutter curtain moved across the frame, an F bulb needed to give an equal amount of light from when the shutter opened till it closed, it could peak, but the beginning of the flash and the ending had to have equal balance or the whole frame might not be exposed.

however, those flash bulbs pack a powerful punch. even those little flash cubes could give you a good exposure in a large room compared to a shoe flash and can compete with a pro handle flash. I can't imagine what it was like to get hit by one of those #5 press bulbs that the 4x5 speed graphics used. No wonder a wedding package in the 30's and 40's consisted of 12 8x10's period.

z-prophoto@egroups.com


From Nikon MF Mailing List:
Date: Tue, 24 Oct 2000
From: "Hansen, Lars Holst" LHHansen at zi dot ku dot dk
Subject: RE: DIY "ringlight" (was: More Fill-Flash)

Hi,

I have recently experimented with making "ringlight" for close-up work. I even bought a white funnel (for a few $ to be used in DIY wine making), but I found that my prototype worked far better. It consisted of 1 sheet of white paper, an SB-15 and an extension ring ! The paper is cut approx. circular with a slit to the center and a hole in center with a diameter lightly larger than 52mm. The paper is held on a reversed lens by a narrow extension ring. The SB-15 is flipped over to the winding side with the reflector turned further down a bit. The light goes trough the paper and gets nicely difused. I habve not yet tested what this costs in GN. The rig does not give a totally even lighting but I like a slight asymetrical one better anyway (brings out texture the better). I shall try and put together a little page on it with sample shots.

Gordon ended:

>     -Gord (should I just buy a ringlight?)

Best regards,

--
Lars Holst Hansen - LHHansen at zi dot ku dot dk
http://www.zi.ku.dk/personal/lhhansen
http://www.egroups.com/subscribe/NikonRepair


Date: Sun, 24 Sep 2000
From: Richard Cochran rcochran@lanset.com
Newsgroups: sci.electronics.components,alt.electronics,sci.electronics.misc,rec.photo.misc,r ec.photo.equipment.misc
Subject: Re: How do I locate this connector?

PC stands for Prontor/Compur, two shutter manufacturers who standardized on that stupid connector design long, long ago.

www.paramountcords.com will make high quality custom cables using that connector. You might choose to put a more conventional jack on your custom equipment, like a 1/8th inch headphone jack, and then buy a cable from paramount with a 1/8th inch plug on one end and a female PC socket on the other. Or call them and/or look at their catalog and see what else you can work out.

--Rich

Peter Nelson wrote:

> I like to design circuits for use in photography and
> I have a bit of a speciality making circuits which
> control electronic flash units.
>
> (Here's an example using one such circuit - it can fire
> a flash from a sound and is shown here photographing
> a balloon in mid-pop   http://people.ne.mediaone.net/plnelson/flash.htm
)
>
> Anyway, all serious cameras (i.e., high-end amateur and
> pro cameras), and virtually all high end flash units and
> studio flash meters use the same stardard connector.
> It's usually called a PC-sync cable connector (I don't
> know what "PC" stands for but it has nothing to do
> with personal computer).
>
> For my projects I go to camera stores and buy spare
> cables and cut the ends off to use for connectors, but
> this looks lame.  I'd like to buy the connectors themselves
> from an electronics or industrial supply company.  But
> I can't find them from any of my usual suppliers,
> e,g, Digi-key.     Any suggestions?   Thanks in
> advance!!
>
> ---peter


Date: Sat, 28 Oct 2000
From: "PSsquare" pschmitt@stny.rr.com
Newsgroups: rec.photo.technique.nature
Subject: Make your own blind!

With no offense, none of the current replies would suit me for a variety of reasons. My experience has been that leaving a blind in spot for a few days desensitizes animals to a change in their habitat. Some (most) blinds are too expensive to leave out in marsh unattended. Some are poor adaptations to photography. Old pop-up tents seem to big to get into some of my spots. My inclination is to never buy a blind at anything about rummage sale prices. I will present what has worked very well for me.

John Shaw described a nice portable blind in this book "The Nature Photographer's Complete Guide to Professional Field Techniques", AMPHOTO 1984. On page 128 he describes a simple portable blind made from a projection stand. The rectangular "table top" on the projector stand serves as the roof of the blind. You find some fabric to sew up a covering and ... Voila! you have a blind. Stop by a book store or library and look up the reference. It is a great book for other reasons. I have been perennially looking for projector stands in rummage sales with no luck to date. So, I built my own. Read on.

Being fundamentally frugal and reasonably handy in the workshop, I made a reasonable facsimile of John Shaw's blind with common materials. The roof was made from a 12 inch by 16 inch piece of 1/2" exterior grade plywood. I build up the perimeter with some pine 1"x3" wood glued around the edge. Use exterior glue. (This gave me greater thickness where I was going to drill holes for holding the legs.) The legs are four of the extendable aluminum tent poles you can buy from CAMPMORE for a few dollars a piece. The four legs were set into the roof at the four corners using holes set at a diagonal angle. I painted the roof with earth tone, low gloss paint (duck boat paint) and used desert camo fabric for the walls. I sewed pockets in the lower edge of the walls so I could weight it down with rocks. It has served me well for about 6 years. It looks so ugly that no one would think to steal it. Generally it is indistinguishable from any distance. One time a crew came upon it while trimming brush and they carefully took it down and set it to the side. Evidently it is easy to use since they figured it out. Because it was so cheap to make, I think nothing of having it blown down by a storm and don't worry if it is left in place for a few weeks.

If anyone is really interested in building one of these, they can reply back to me with any questions to clarify how this is done.

Regards,

PSsquare


From Nikon MF Mailing List:
Date: Mon, 23 Oct 2000
From: Nikon Cameras NikonCameras@asean-mail.com
Subject: Eyeglass scratches

Just came home after about 2 months and found about 6MB of email. Started reading through it and would like to add my two-cents worth about eyepieces scratching eyeglasses.

I also had the problem. When I could not obtain a rubber coated eyepiece, I improvised. I bought some plastic key identification guides which are a soft plastic. I put them around the edge of the eyepieces. When I had one that did not fit, I took out an electric glue gun and fastened it in place. Instant protection in case you can not obtain a rubber-coated one and with different colors to choose from, you can always identify that you have it in place before letting someone else try to focus through the camera.


From Rangefinder List
Date: Mon, 23 Oct 2000
From: JIB jbuf@ix.netcom.com
Subject: Re: [RF List] recommendations for rangefinder neck strap

What i do with my cameras is to get some self adhesive cork. Cut an oblong piece of it , color it black with black with a sharpie. Then apply the cork just above where the lugs are. I have used this method for years, and it the cork wears or cracks it is easily peeled off and replaced.

HTH
John

Dave Saalsaa wrote:

> Hi ,
>      Having seen many Leicas and other similar type cameras on ebay with the infamous
> semi-circle marks above the strap lugs, I got to thinking about the offending neck straps
> and their mounting hardware that caused the damage.  What do you guys recommend for a good
> strap for use in the field that won't scratch the hell out of my cameras. Thanks,   Dave
> Saalsaa 


From Rollei Mailing List;
Date: Sun, 19 Nov 2000
From: Bob Shell bob@bobshell.com
Subject: Re: [Rollei] rollei tripod socket insert

What city? Not only do none of the camera shops around here stock them, the people working in the shops don't even know what they are!!!

The highest quality ones I know of come from Bromwell Marketing in Pittsburgh. Ted Bromwell got tired of cheap ones made of soft brass and contracted a machine shop to make them for him from stainless steel. His cost a bit more, but will last forever.

Bob

...


From Contax Mailing List:
Date: Tue, 14 Nov 2000
From: Bob Shell bob@bobshell.com
Subject: Re: AW: [CONTAX] [OT] Leaf shutter

Kowa, Topcon and Mamiya made 35mm SLR cameras with leaf shutters in Japan. Voigtlander, Zeiss-Ikon and Agfa made them in Germany. The German ones used Compur shutters and were pretty reliable. The Japanese ones used shutters from Seiko and were disasters.

Today the technology exists to use electrically driven leaf shutters in 35mm SLR cameras, but the advent of fast metal bladed focal plane shutters has eliminated the need for them.

Bob


From Contax Mailing List:
Date: Tue, 14 Nov 2000
From: Bob Shell bob@bobshell.com
Subject: Re: [CONTAX] [OT] Leaf shutter

You got it. Only there isn't a focal plane shutter on most cameras using leaf shutters in the lenses. Either the mirror or a secondary flap behind the mirror blocks light from the film while viewing.

Here is the sequence for most of them.

a/Press shutter release button

b/Leaf shutter closes

c/Mirror goes up

d/Leaf shutter fires to make the exposure and closes at the end of the exposure

e/Mirror come back down

f/Shutter reopens for viewing again

Now on Hasselblad 500 series the mirror does not come back down and the shutter does not reopen until you wind the film. On Mamiya RB and RZ this is also true. On Mamiya 645 Pro used with the N/O leaf shutter lenses a power cable connects the lens to the motor winder and the mirror comes back down and the shutter reopens automatically.

Bob

...


From Contax Mailing List:
Date: Tue, 14 Nov 2000
From: Bob Shell bob@bobshell.com
Subject: Re: [CONTAX] IS (was Suggestions welcomed)

As I understand it, the Zeiss system is similar to the one Vivitar was going to offer. Instead of using gyroscopes linked to an optical element which compensates for movement, this system uses a lead weight which acts as an inertial damper and is connected mechanically to the optical element. It worked well in the prototypes we built, but not quite as well as a system using biaxial gyros.

Bob

...


From Contax Mailing List;
Date: Tue, 14 Nov 2000
From: "Cousineau , Bernard" bcousineau@tmisolutions.com
Subject: RE: AW: [CONTAX] [OT] Leaf shutter

> > Well, I never noticed it myself, but it is in the tech info
> Hasselblad
> > used to supply.  There is a compensation factor for smaller f-stops
> > and fast shutter speeds.
>
> By smaller f-stops: do you mean smaller in diameter or number?

Smaller diameter.

Here is the deal: a leaf shutter takes a certain amount of time to open and close. The marked shutter speed takes that time into account. For instance, let's take a 1/500 sec exposure (2 milliseconds). A given shutter may take 1 millisecond to fully open and 1 millisecond to fully close. If this shutter only gave 2 milliseconds of total exposure for 1/500 marked time, the whole exposure would happen while the shutter is not fully open. This means that your film would get less exposure than if you shot at 1/250 and stopped-down your lens one stop, which would get confusing.

What actually happens (in our example) is that the shutter will open for 3 milliseconds total to give a 1/500 exposure: 2 milliseconds to open and close, and one millisecond fully open. During the 2 milliseconds that it is opening and closing, we can assume that the shutter is on average 1/2 open, which gives an effective exposure of 1 millisecond ( + 1 more that it is fully open = 2 milliseconds total effective time). This works fine at wide-open apertures, but when you stop down the lens, the time that the shutter takes to open-up wider than the aperture is irrelevant. This means that the effective exposure time will get closer to 3 milliseconds as the aperture gets smaller.

In practice, this doesn't matter much because photographers rarely use their smallest apertures and fastest shutter speeds at the same time. In order to shoot at 1/500 and f:22, you would need to be using at least ISO 1000 film (using the "sunny 16" rule) in full daylight, and even then, your exposure would only be off by about half a stop, which you would only really notice with slide film.

Bernard


From Contax Mailing List;
Date: Tue, 28 Nov 2000
From: Bob Shell bob@bobshell.com
Subject: Re: [CONTAX] Photo Myths

> From: "Jason Cheng" jasoncheng@home.com
> Reply-To: contax@photo.cis.to
> Date: Tue, 28 Nov 2000
> Subject: Re: [CONTAX] Photo Myths
>
> Hi Bob,
>
> I'm sorry if you've answered this question before but please refresh my
> memory, when you take a reading off a grey card, do you need to increase or
> decrease the exposure obtained by 1/2 f stop? Thanks!

OK, here is the reasoning. The gray card reflects 1/2 stop more than a photographic midtone. So if you take a *proper* Gray Card reading ( with the card angled 1/3 of the angle between lens axis and light source) you will then have to compensate by stopping down by 1/2 stop to bring the midtones down to the 12% range.

> It seems strange that Kodak wouldn't make their grey cards 12/5-13%
> reflective to correspond to meter calibrations. It seems like that should be
> easy enough to do and would eliminate one more potential pitfall!

During my work on the Gray Card update project last year I asked this question to the folks at Kodak. There was only one man still at Kodak old enough to remember the origin of the Gray Card and his answer when asked why 18% was "Ansel Adams". According to him AA had reasons to want the Gray Card to be 18%, reasons no one can remember, and came to Rochester and spent a whole day and most of a night arguing about this. Finally they agreed to make the card 18% just to get him to go away!

It really does not matter if the card is 18%, 12%, 5%, 96%, whatever, so long as you know its reflectance and the proper compensation to get correct exposure on your film. You find that compensation by testing.

Bob


Date: Sun, 26 Nov 2000
From: "Norm" normsmith@worldnet.att.net
Newsgroups: rec.photo.technique.nature
Subject: Urban wildlife photography

There has been a bit of discussion about urban wildlife photography. I put a few photos on a webpage http://arizonawild.home.att.net/

The first three shots show a bit of what my front driveway looked like a few years ago and some construction I had done to make a mini-oasis for photography. The rest of the images were taken in the yard, either from a front window or from a blind I set in various places in the yard.

I'd be glad to discuss the topic if anyone is interested.

--
Norm Smith


From Contax Mailing List;
Date: Mon, 27 Nov 2000
From: Bob Shell bob@bobshell.com
Subject: Re: [CONTAX] Meaning of Contax designation

> From: Roger contaxaholic@yahoo.com
> Reply-To: contax@photo.cis.to
> Date: Mon, 27 Nov 2000 13:13:58 -0800 (PST)
> To: contax@photo.cis.to
> Subject: Re: [CONTAX] Meaning of Contax designation
>
> But, I think I know the 'real time' question: Back
> when the RTS came out, 'real time' connotated
> 'state-of-the-art' with respect to computer systems.
> Contax probably borrowed that term to get
> identification in the minds of customers about how
> advanced Contax was. My guess, anyway.

Nope. When the first RTS came out it used a unique electromagnetic shutter release designed by the famed Dr. Sugaya ( who later invented the vacuum back used on RTS III and 645). This system had the shortest time delay between pressing the shutter release and the actual firing of the shutter. RTS stands for "Real Time System" to denote this lack of shutter delay. Those used to mechanically tripped cameras found the RTS a delight in catching the "decisive moment".

Bob


From Leica Topica Mailing List:
Date: Sun, 10 Dec 2000
Cc: leica@topica.com
From: "Erwin Puts" imxputs@knoware.nl
Subject: Auction results

After discussing WWII and the bombing of Dresden, (neo)nazis, pornography and a slew of other topics, that are intimately related to the use of Leica cameras, maybe this list is really off-topic. Below is a list of the top ten current photographers, as ranked by their combined auction sales.

Cindy Sherman, USA, 1954
Thomas Struth. Germany, 1954
Andreas Gursky, Germany, 1955
Gibert & George, UK, 1943/1942
Charles Ray, USA, 1953
Nan Goldin, USA, 1953
Richard Prince, USA, 1949
Andres Serrano, USA, 1950
Bruce Nauman, USA, 1941
Thomas Ruff, Germany, 1958.

The ranking of old masters is:
Gustave Le Gray, France, 1820
Edward Weston, USA, 1886
Man Ray, USA/Fr, 1890
Paul Strand, USA, 1890
Laszlo Moholy-Nagy, Hungary, 1895
Edward Steichen, USA, 1897
Hippolyte Bayard, Fr, 1801
Alfred Stieglitz, USA, 1864
Ansel Adams, USA, 1902
Andre Kertesz, Hungary/USA, 1894

With the possible exception of some work by Kertesz, no Leica photographers among these top twenty.

And note the very fertile years from 1950 to 1955 and the period 1885 to 1895. According to this very crude statistic, the next generation of famous photographers will be born around 2010 and use a digital camera?

Erwin


From Rollei Mailing List:
Date: Fri, 15 Dec 2000
From: Bob Shell 76750.2717@compuserve.com
Subject: [CONTAX] Infrared controller

The receiver may not have been butchered. Some were sold with two bare leads as you describe. You have to buy a remote cable for the camera brand you want to use it with. You need not lose the use of that remote cable, since you can just cut it in the middle and add a male and female microphone plug/jack so you can put it together again. Then you need another plug to put on the IR release. Contax is easy since their remote release only uses two wires. Other brands use more and require a more complex IR device with more than one internal switch.

Of course it would be good to know if the gadget works at all prior to purchase. A quick response digital volt/ohm meter would work. Set to measure resistance and see if it drops off quickly when you trigger the IR receiver. Meters which use moving needles don't respond quickly enough for this purpose.

I built an infrared remote release system for my Rollei cameras from an old infrared controlled slide projector. Works like a charm, but I had to build in two switches and a delay between them for Rollei since they use a two-stage shutter release.

Bob


[Ed. note: looking for a cheapy electronic cable release?...]
rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
From: mddeskey@aol.com (MDDESKEY)
Date: Mon Dec 18 18:47:16 CST 2000
[1] Re: Cable Release - Solenoid activated

Find an old Kalart press flash with solenoid at a flea market


From Nikon MF Mailing List:
Date: Thu, 04 Jan 2001
From: f8bthere@4cameras.com
Subject: Re: Making Negatives from Slides, info required

--- In NikonMF@egroups.com, "Anil Advani" advani@b... wrote:

> Would appreciate any info on equipment required, tips and techniques to make
> quality negatives from slides. I have a Nikon F3, Nikkor lenses: 50mm f/1.2,
> 85mm f/1.8, 35-70mm f2.8 and 105mm f/2.8 macro.
> Anil.

Anil,

I currently use a bellows and slide copy attachment to make internegs. A 55mm Micro is good for this purpose or a reversed 50mm f2.0 works very well also. For light control, you can use a flash and the ttl control of your F3. Existing light using, your meter works well too. (In nice weather I take my projection screen out doors and aim rig at it.)

Biggest problem is increased contrast. First step is film. Unfortuneately, interneg film is only available in long rolls, not canisters. Although I've used many different types of film, I've obtained as good a result with slightly over exposed Fuji ASA 200, as any. The "professional wedding film, NPS etc." work very well with lots of overexposure.

Pre flashing helps. To pre flash, set up and determine exposure, with either flash or existing light. Expose film at five or more stops less than calculated exposure, on blank surface, (projection screen as mentioned above, or flash with no slide in place). This pre flashing lowers the contrast. Some commercial setups do exactly the same thing, but POST flash.

When first starting this I purchased a "Rokunar Zoom Slide Copier". Cheap! < $100! Truth: While I have improved on the quality of internegs this little piece can produce, it has taken a lot of work and money, and I can't always do it the first time. This little piece of junk producers sharp images and very reasonable results. I think that it reduces the contrast with lens quality. Whatever, you'll have to do something more than just snap the shot to improve upon the results this thing will put out virtually effortlessly.

I rationalize all this by saying that I like to fool around with my camera and accessories. As I tell my wife, "It keeps me out of the bars, away from fast horses, faster women and old whiskey".

You'll have to make up your own excuses.

Best regards,

f8


From Nikon MF Mailing List:
Date: Fri, 05 Jan 2001
From: f8bthere@4cameras.com
Subject: Re: Making Negatives from Slides, info required

--- In NikonMF@egroups.com, "Alterego" alterego@f... wrote:

> F8,
> Hi, I am new to list & have read your post with interest.  You wrote:
>
> >>A 55mm Micro is good for this purpose or a reversed 50mm f2.0 works very
> well also.
>
> Maybe this is a stupid question but then you guys make me feel like a total
> newcomer to photography anyway:)
> I have tried many times without success to copy slides with my FM.  Even a
> borrowed slide copier came up with really flat but contrasty results.  I
> have also tried from the screen, but not outdoors - that will have to wait
> til spring! However I can reverse my 50 f2.  The stupid question is:
> How do I suspend the slide between the flash and the lens?  Also how far
> away should the flash be from the slide?
> Keith

Keith,

When I mentioned the 55mm Micro and/or reversed 50mm f2, I meant for use with a bellows and slide copier attachment.

If you don't have a bellows there are two choices. One make some type of extension tube devise to give you a dark tunnel from lens to slide. Length will be decided by focusing distance. It doesn't matter what this is made of, as long as the slide is held steady and the unit is light tight. A friend of mine made one of these that works quite well, but he's better at this type of stuff than I. He also works in a machine shop and has access to tools and equipment that most of us don't. Or secondly, buy one of these inexpensive units I mentioned. Adorama sells them, and I'm sure other places do as well.

As for the flash, it is placed in front of the slide so that it shines thru the slide to the camera. In other words the slide is back lit. Now the distance is quite another matter! That involves calculations based on the length of your bellows/extension tube devise, the guide number of the flash and the aperture used. You're also going to have to use a pretty heavy diffuser on your flash to get even light and this will lower the guide number. This is one of the few really good uses for ttl flash, in my opinion.

I can tell you from my experience that if you start with the flash 12" from the slide, with a guide numbe of 80, you can add a diffuser that eats up one - two stops and have enough light at f8 and probably enough light at f16. A 12 exposure roll of film wasted on experimentation, should get you home from there.

The "little slide copier devise", has a built in diffuser, lenses and is the proper length for focusing. It comes with directions including a simple formula for calculating distance to place the flash. All you have to know is the guide number of your flash. The guide number is simply the distance your flash will cover at a given aperture at ASA 100. ie. if your flash says your can shoot 20' at f4 while set at ASA 100, you have a guide number of 20' x 4 or 80'. Keep in mind that flash manufactures tend to be optimistic and you want to lean toward over exposure if anything.

Best of luck,

f8


From Nikon MF Mailing List;
Date: Thu, 4 Jan 2001
From: Nikon Cameras NikonCameras@asean-mail.com
Subject: Re: Re: Making Negatives from Slides, info required

Something also to consider. Bowen made a device called a Illumitron III slide copier. This has an adapter to allow many brands of cameras and lenses to be used with it. I personally use it to duplicate slides. Bowen specifies a 60mm lens on their magnification scale, but I have been using my 55mm Micro Nikkor. As you know, a straight copy gives you excessive contrast. This device adds an additional electronic flash burst to flash the film and reduce contrast and a flash for exposure. It also has a viewing light. Honeywell made something not quite as good called a Repronar (or something like that). Perhaps you can find someone who has one of these that you could use or perhaps some camera store can rent you one on a daily basis.


From Sell-3D Photo Mailing List:
Date: Wed, 10 Jan 2001
From: Ralph Johnston/Linda Sherman copley@ma.ultranet.com
Subject: Tubular level vials

I bought a level at Home Depot for about $3 and cut out the vial. It is 3/8D x 1.5"L and has yellow fluid. I velcro it to the top of my beloved Ricoh GR-1 so that hyper stereo shots have no rotational errors. It is stored in the belt loop of the case.

Regards -Ralph


Date: Wed, 10 Jan 2001
From: Tony Polson tony.polson@btinternet.com
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.35mm
Subject: Re: Manual versus Auto-Focus

Lisa Horton geek@gatorgames.com wrote:

> But the modern cameras offer other benefits besides automation.  I
> personally find modern electronic cameras easier to operate in manual
> mode than manual cameras.  I like that the primary controls are
> clustered and laid out based on human interface rather than where they
> work best for the mechanics of the machine.  Having all pertinent
> information available *in* the viewfinder can be very nice too.

Hi Lisa,

I thought this was a very carefully considered posting, one which summed up the differences between manual and autofocus cameras very well. But I must disagree with the above paragraph.

It is a very long time since the primary controls of cameras were laid out primarily for the mechanics of the machine (or the convenience of the manufacturer). Since WW2 there has been a strong trend towards a standard control layout for manual focus SLRs and this has dictated control positions that suited the photographer, *not* the manufacturer.

In particular, the position of the shutter release, wind-on lever and shutter speed control generally moved to within reach of the fingers of the right hand (which was given responsibility for initiating the taking of the picture) and the position of the lens' focusing and aperture rings (and some secondary controls) were within easy reach of the left hand when supporting the camera body and lens.

You are probably far too young to remember this, but the availability of Pentax, Nikon, Canon and Minolta cameras with this optimum layout did much to popularise the 35mm SLR in the 1970s. Those brands that used different control layouts tended to lose out to the larger brands.

It is clearly possible to produce alternative layouts of the major controls. For example Olympus puts the shutter speeds on a ring around the lens mount, and Contax tends to put shutter speeds on a dial on the *left* side of the top plate rather than the normal right side of the pentaprism.

I think this proves that the controls could be positioned almost anywhere. It might appear that the popularity of the "optimum layout" was because it suited the manufacturers, but I firmly believe that it developed as a result of customer demand.

In the early to mid-1970s the Pentax Spotmatic was considered the best handling SLR by far. It sold well despite the significant operating disadvantage of its M42 screw mount lenses. It's interesting to note that the control layout of the Pentax Spotmatic forms the basis of the classic layout that has been followed ever since by most manufacturers of manual focus SLRs.

I really don't think that oldies like me prefer the classic control layout purely out of habit, either. It really is the best and easiest layout for controlling a camera without having to think about each and every operation. I've used MF SLR cameras with other control layouts and would always choose the classic layout over any of them.

I can still remember the sheer joy of handling my new Nikon FE2 in the mid 1980s. After 10 years of using Olympus OM cameras (an OM-1 and two OM-2s which I really liked) the FE2 was a revelation. Nearly as small, nearly as light as the OM-2 it competed with, the control layout of the FE2 with a Nikkor lens was effectively *perfect*.

In comparison, the Olympus had the speeds on a ring around the lens mount and the aperture ring at the front of the lens, rather than at the back. This meant that the left had was over-employed with focusing, setting the aperture and setting the shutter speed (if in manual mode). All the under-employed right hand did was press the shutter release or apply exposure compensation to the light meter.

I've always wondered whether the slightly unconventional layout of the OM system's controls was at the root of its ultimate failure to compete with Nikon. Today I am in no doubt that the unconventional control layout of the Contax MF SLRs, and their resultant quirky handling, have prevented them mounting a stronger challenge to the "big two" brands, but I have high hopes that they learnt this lesson when designing the new N1.

I'm not sure whether being old enough to remember the early to mid-1970s is a good or a bad thing!

{g}

--
Tony Polson, North Yorkshire, UK


From Rollei Mailing List;
Date: Wed, 10 Jan 2001
From: Richard Knoppow dickburk@ix.netcom.com
Subject: Re: [Rollei] OT Ross Xpres lens

>  I don't know if British patents are on line anywhere.

In answer to myself. British patents are available for a fee from the British Library at:

http://www.bl.uk/services/bsds/pxp/

They can be ordered by FAX or as hard copy. The normal fee for 24 hour delivery service of FAX is $8 US per document.

The USPTO on-line service is free, but of course covers only US patents.

----
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles,Ca.
dickburk@ix.netcom.com


From Rollei Mailing List:
Date: Thu, 25 Jan 2001
From: Mark Rabiner mark@rabiner.cncoffice.com
Subject: Re: [Rollei] gettn kinda Leica-OT What is it with the 25mm Focal length

Edward Meyers wrote:

> How does the TTL work with the mirror in the way. And if you take it
> out of the way how do you know what the camera is pointing at?
> Years ago I had the mirror of my viso II removed and replaced with
> the Canon pellicle. It worked well as long as I kept my eye close to
> the viso finder to prevent stray light coming in while exposing the
> picture. Ed

I remember you told us this a few years back and it knocked my socks off!!!!!

mark rabiner


From Russian Camera List:
Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2001
From: "Per Backman" pbackman@algonet.se
Subject: Polish cameras (re: "START" VINTAGE AD)

jay javier wrote:

>Per,
>found an ad with picture of the Polish "START" camera.  Got it from the
>11/1959 issue of "US Camera Magazine".See attachment

It is a Start I, I think.

Start I, Euktar 75mm/4, (Viewfinder 75mm/3,5) no counter, filmadvance by knob, 1/10-1/200sec+B, closest range 1m (came out 1954)

Start II, Euktar 75mm/3,5, (Viewfinder 75mm/3,5) counter, filmadvance fast lever, Valor-shutter with sync 1/10-1/250sec+B, closest range 80 cm

Start B, Euktar 75mm/3,5, (Viewfinder 75mm/3,5) no counter, filmadvance by knob, Valor-shutter with sync 1/10-1/250sec+B, closest range 80 cm

Start 66, Emitar 75mm/3,5, (Viewfinder 75mm/3,5) no counter, filmadvance by knob, Valor-shutter with sync 1/10-1/250sec+B, closest range 80 cm

Start 66S, Emitar 75mm/3,5, (Viewfinder 75mm/3,5) counter, filmadvance by knob, Shutter with sync 1/10-1/250sec+B, closest range 1 m (last one, production ended 1980)

The other cameras mentioned are;

Druh, Boxcamera 6X6 with a mask for 4,5X6, Fixfocuslens Bilar 65mm/8, apertures 8 and 16, Shutter c:a 1/50 sec+B

Druh-Synchro, Boxcamera 6X6 with a mask for 4,5X6, Fixfocuslens Bilar 65mm/8, apertures 8 and 16, Shutter c:a 1/50 sec+B, flash-sync

Fenix-I 24X36 mm (not Finex, not 25X36mm), Euktar 45mm/2,8, Shutter 1/10-1/250 sec+B, flash-sync, fast advancelever

Fenix-II 24X36 mm, Euktar 45mm/2,8, Shutter 1/10-1/250 sec+B, flash-sync, fast advancelever, Rangefinder

There were prototypes of a Fenix-III, but it was not allowed to be produced as it would have competed too much with German cameras (and Soviet).

Other Polish cameras;

Ami, Boxcamera 6X6, lens (meniscus) 75mm/8, apertures 8, 16, shutter 1/50 sec+B, flash-sync

Ami2, Boxcamera 6X6, lens (achromat) 75mm/8, apertures 8, 16, shutter 1/50 sec+B, flash-sync

Ami, Boxcamera 6X6, lens (meniscus) 75mm/8, apertures 8, 16, shutter 1/30-1/125 sec+B, flash-sync, blocking against doubleexposure

All of the above were produced by Warszawskie Zaklady Foto-Optyczne (WZFO), later Polskie Zaklady Optyczne (PZO).

These are probably all cameras produced in the "Peoples" Republic of Poland. Two of them has the same name as Russian cameras, Start and Druh (Drug is transliterated Druh to Polish), but I think neither of the Russian cameras were ever sold in Poland.

Per B.
************************************************************
The PHOTO page;
Images (nude), B/W Formulae (lots of them);
In English, auf deutsch, po polsku;
http://hem.fyristorg.com/pbackman/


From Rollei Mailing List:
Date: Thu, 21 Dec 2000
From: Bob Shell bob@bobshell.com
Subject: Re: [Rollei] OT Bean bags

I've actually got a beanbag with a tripod socket on it. The inventor sent it to me a couple years ago to try out. The idea was that you mounted it on your tripod and used it to rest long lenses so you had the support and steadiness, but could quickly point the lens anywhere without fooling with a tripod head. It works pretty well but I don't think it was a marketing success.

Bob

> From: "Roland Smith" roland@dnai.com
> Reply-To: rollei@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
> Date: Wed, 20 Dec 2000 
> Subject: Re: [Rollei] OT Bean bags
>
> Additional comment on bean bags;
>
> They are especially good for a medium format camera with a waist level
> finder since you are looking down into the finder and a lower surface such
> as a table top, railing, chair or other furniture is usually available for
> an indoor rest.  Outdoors, there are many fixtures for a waist level rest.
>
> Roland Smith


From Minolta Mailing List;
Date: Mon, 19 Feb 2001
From: Samuel Tang samueltang@eisa.net.au
Subject: Re: Shutters

Hi Peter,

The key requirement is that it is a focal plane shutter: if you use a pair of solid metal plates to serve as the shutter blinds, the physical dimensions of the shutter would be unbearably large, and the efficiency would be very low: as the shutter slit has to cross the film gate at as great a speed as possible, accelerating and decelerating a pair of metal plates would be difficult indeed. Since the earliest days, focal plane shutters were made out of flexible materials wound across the film gate by the use of rollers (with few exceptions such as Guido Sigriste's design and the earliest form of Anschutz shutter), even the Contax shutter whuch employed a metal tambour worked in much the same way. Much later on, CRF cameras which do not have the benefit of a reflex mirror, employed metal foil curtains instead of cloth ones, but still used the same principle. In real terms, a metal foil shutter curtain offers no advantage balistically to a cloth one, but is more prone to damage. The modern multi-bladed metal focal plane shutter made it possible to have the whole assembly reasonably compact and self-contained, and the appearance of propriety shutters such as the Copal Square made it convenient for manufacturers to incorporate them into their cameras.

Best,

Sam.

Peter tremewen wrote:

> Hi all,
>
>         Just a quick Email, I've allways wondered about the use of cloth 
> for the manufacture of shutters on most modern SLRs. Tried to look in
> books as to why they would use cloth in stead of say a thin metal plate,
> but this is it seems allways forgotten. Is anyone aware of why they use
> cloth??? Several reasons come to mind, such as space, but with careful
> planing, I dont see this as legitamate. Comments would be apreciated
> Also I am trying to learn about camera repair, any good site or book
> recomendations would be apreciated....... 


[Ed. note: an earthquake resistant camera mounting tip?...]
rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
From: ajacobs2 ajacobs2@tampabay.rr.com
[1] Re: B&H; Seagull MF
Date: Sun Mar 04 04:53:11 CST 2001

M P Brennan wrote:

> "ajacobs2" ajacobs2@tampabay.rr.com wrote in message
> > Alternative Uses - Get two, mount on wood plaques and make Bookends,
> > looks great in my study...
>
> I can honestly say that I learn something new in this news group EVERY
> DAY...
>
> -Mike

The funny part Mike is that the photo books, a couple are signed, many are reference, are worth more than the cameras, including an older Seagull (which never worked) and the new Kodak Duraflex II which never was used, (probably worth more). I just L shape some nice pine or other clean wood, either paint or stain and varnish, drill and countersink a 1/4 by 20 thread machine screw or license plate bolt and they go in the bookcase. Goes with the office..

We made old tripods, cut down and painted into lamps...Next month maybe an article on my website.


From Contax Mailing List:
Date: Wed, 02 May 2001
From: Bob Shell bob@bobshell.com
Subject: Re: [CONTAX] OT Photoshop Elements (question for Bob)

Photoshop Elements is Photoshop for photographers rather than prepress people. It works with GF. What it does not have is the elaborate controls for CMYK conversion and the high price! I'm using it, and actually prefer it to Photoshop 5 and 6, which I also have. At under $ 100 it is amazing!!

I am putting together a review in more depth for BestStuff which will go up some time this summer.

Bob


From Rollei Mailing List;
Date: Sat, 5 May 2001
From: Guido Cova guido.cova@tin.it
Subject: [Rollei] Leather shouldr strap: safety belt

I recently read on this list of a poor guy dropping his beloved Rollei because of a broken neck strap. I too experienced that (fortunately not with my 3.5F), and since then I use a "safety belt", an idea I borrowed from a friend in my photocircle.

Just get about 20 cm (8") of leather strap (or nylon, or what you like, it's a matter of taste) and attach it to the shoulder strap, at about 20cm (always 8") from the alligator clips, one end to the left and the other end to the right, thus transforming the shape of the strap from an upside-down "U" to an "A".

Since the strap usually breaks near the alligators, the camera is safe, because it's retained by the remaining alligator and the loop that the strap forms.

It works well, costs nothing, and it is not too unconfortable (at least not as losing your Rollei... :-)

Ciao
Guido


From Rangefinder mailing list:
Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2001
From: "Dante A. Stella" dante@umich.edu
Subject: Re: [RF List] 6x9 suggestions please

Paul:

If you are in the used market, I can comment on the following, each of which I have owned and used at various times:

Century Graphic. Neat idea in theory, really hard to get used to in practice.
---------------------

Advantages: front movements, interchangeable backs, great close-focus capabilities with long bellows draw and groundglass.

Caveats: separate VF/RF makes closeups hard; backs are inconvenient to use; camera requires initial alignment; the knob-wind backs that do 55x85 cannot keep film as flat as the lever-wind ones that do 55x75 and have pinch rollers (still labeled RH-8, or "6x9"). Lever backs can be unreliable. Ken Ruth told me that if you leave them in a hot car, they can soften.

Get it with: 100/3.5 Carl Zeiss Tessar (late) in modern Synchro-Compur 500 (XL Style); anatomic grip; RH-8 back. This is usually seen with a grey body covering and black bellows. The other common configuration is with the late 80/2.8 Xenotar, same Synchro-Compur, but with an RH-10 back (6x7). This is a grey body with red bellows.

Super Ikonta C (prewar, uncoated Tessar in Rapid-Compur)
Super Ikonta C (postwar, coated Tessar in synched Rapid-Compur)
Moskva-5 (postwar, coated Industar in synched Moment-24)
-------------------------

These are all essentially the same thing at different quality levels. The prewar with the Tessar (or sometimes Novar) is pretty good stopped down, but has monumental flare wide open. It often comes with a 6x4.5 mask that fits inside the film gate. The postwar Ikonta has a coated Tessar, is synched, and priced out of sight. Leave it to the collectors. The Moskva is the most practical user. It looks like the Ikonta, except it is streamlined and has a smooth cast-alloy top and a top shutter speed of 1/350.

Advantages: compact, relatively inexpensive (except the postwar Super Ikonta)

Caveats: you need to check front-standard alignment; RFs not really that accurate close-up; shutters can really drag; no filter or shade attachment points, lenses only really come into their own at about f/8. Back-window frame counting is a little inconvenient.

Fuji G690BL
-----------------

This is my current 6x9 and by far my favorite. This was the first of Fuji's 6x9 RFs. It has a black-lacquered brass body and all-metal construction. It has a viewfinder with 100 and 150mm framelines (projected) with integrated rangefinder. Lenses available were the 65/8, 100/3.5, 150/5.6 and 180/5.6 (the first and the last have separate viewfinders).

Advantages: metaphor is that of a 35mm rangefinder, just bigger; built-in interlocked darkslide for changing lenses; lenses are basically view camera lenses mounted in Copal #1 shutters with a focusing action identical to any 35mm RF. And the B setting is not problematic. I have the 100 and 180, and they are world-beaters.

Disadvantages: weight, size, lack of parts and people who know how to fix them. 65mm lens often costs as much as the camera with the 100/3.5, and at the prices you see it, if you need wideangle, buy the wide new Fuji 690 with the 65/5.6.

Paul Jas wrote:

>  I am looking for recommendations and suggestions from this group on
> what would be a good option for me to move into the 6x9 format. My
> primary uses would be for landscapes and the occasional portrait.
> While considering my options, two that I find intriguing are the
> century graphic and the Fuji 690. The Fuji 690 appears faster/easier
> to use, while the century graphic offers various roll film formats,
> the ability to focus on ground glass (with the graphloc back) a
> smaller price tag and some perspective control. I read the recent
> posts about medium format folders and have also considered the Bessa I
> &II as well as Super Ikonta C. I am concerned that their prices are
> inflated due to collectors snapping them up to sit on the shelf, yet I
> like their size when folded. Please, tell me what you think. Am I
> missing any better options?


From Rangefinder mailing list;
Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2001
From: DFStein@aol.com
Subject: Re: [RF List] 6x9 suggestions please

Budget approach:

6x9 Images


From rangefinder mailing list;
Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2001
From: rurmonas@senet.com.au
Subject: Re: [RF List] 6x9 suggestions please

Some others:

Mamiya have a good range, but they are BIG and HEAVY. Lenses are good.

Graflex XL. Interesting shape, excellent lenses, can't remember if this was 67 or 69.

Linhof. They made 2 types of interest. They have the baby Technica family which is a similar concept to the small Century Graphic. They also had a camera rather like the Graflex XL (can't rememebr the model name). Down side is the price on this stuff, but beautifully made.

My favorite, the Plaubel Makinas (German ones). These are 6x9 folders, interchangable lens (73/6,8 100/2,8 190/4,8). With the normal lens and a cut sheet back folds small enough to fit into a coat pocket. More ways to ruin a picture than you would beleive possible. Lenses to die for.

Also a possibility are any of the smaller view cameras. Most can have a roll film back fitted. You get all the movements. Slow to use, and not very portable.

Richard


From rangefinder mailing list:
Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2001
From: Benno Jones bennoj@qwest.net
Subject: Mamiya Press/Super 23/Universal family

While far from "pocketable" or even "easy to use", when I want good 6x9 negatives or slides, my first choice among my cameras is my Mamiya Super 23. Especially for macro shots using extension tubes and the bellows back fully extended. In this configuration, however, the rangefinder is useless and I use a right-angle viewing back. IMHO, the Super 23 is one of the most versatile systems out there. I can shoot 6x4.5, 6x6, 6x7 or 6x9 with lenses ranging from 50mm to 250mm. OK, I can't shoot Polaroids with the Super 23, you need the Universal body for that, but I haven't found that to be much of a drawback in the way I shoot.

The completely manual nature of the camera forces me into a slow, contemplative style of shooting that greatly increases my concentration on composition. Yes, I've wasted a half roll of film here and there when I forgot to remove the dark slide from the film holder (as far as I can tell, the No. 1 reason people get rid of their Mamiya Press), but when use it regularly I just get into a rhythm when shooting and the problems go away.

Any other fans of this system on the list?

Benno Jones


From Rollei Mailing List;
Date: Mon, 14 May 2001
From: Bob Shell bob@bobshell.com
Subject: Re: [Rollei] GEPE 45 x 60 Slide Frames with Rollei 16 on mask

> From: bigler@ens2m.fr
> Reply-To: rollei@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
> Date: Mon, 14 May 2001
> Subject: Re: [Rollei] GEPE 45 x 60 Slide Frames with Rollei 16 on mask
>
> I guess the 15 frame is just a Japanese-ish feature. The A-16
> Hasselblad back has always delivered 16 evenly-spaced frames for
> decades. Same of course for vintage foldings since the red-window
> system reads 16 frames printed on paper, not 15. Do I dream, or didn't
> I read somewhere that "16" was a bad number in Japanese traditional
> beliefs, thus explaining the 15-frame only on Japanese cameras?

You read it here. I said that a Japanese technician had told me that 16 was an unlucky number, thus the 15 frame preference in Japanese cameras. However, they must have decided to forget the superstition since all newer Japanese cameras now give 16 frames.

Bob


From Rollei Mailing List;
Date: Mon, 14 May 2001
From: shino@ubspainewebber.com
Subject: [Rollei] japanese and 16

it might be an extension of the japanese dislike of the number "4". my mom, who was japanese-born and educated, told me about this. perhaps 16 being 4 sets of 4 is also problematic.

i found an interesting list of other japanese superstitions:

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2209.html

"The strange thing is they [the Japanese] make such bloody good cameras." -- Peter Sellers as Group Captain Lionel Mandrake, *Dr Strangelove* (1964)

-rei


Date: Sun, 29 Apr 2001
From: "Randy Frankel" Hangar52@nospam.home.com
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.35mm
Subject: Re: Opening a CPU

I have opened several integrated circuits in the past to photograph the chip inside. Depending on the package, it can be very easy, or nearly impossible. If the part in question is a ceramic package with a metal cover over the actual chip, you are home free. Just take a single edge razor blade and place the edge of the blade right between the ceramic package and the metal cover. Give it a couple of gentle taps (screwdriver handle works well) and the cover will pop right off. If there is no metal cover, you will have to split the ceramic package in two. I would guess on something as large as a P75 it would be difficult to accomplish this without doing at least some damage to the inside. The chip itself will probably survive, but you will likely damage the wires connecting the chip to the rest of the world.

If you need to split the ceramic, use a similar procedure as described above. Use a knife instead of a razor blade, and drive it between the two halves if the ceramic package where the seam is. If you are really lucky and hold your tongue just right, (and of course have the right brand of camera equipment) the package will pop apart. If not you will be chipping away (no pun intended) little pieces of ceramic until the chip is visible. Good luck. If you need any further help or suggestions, drop me an email and I will try to help, just loose the nospam from the address.

Randy

Collin Brendemuehl dpcwilbur@my-deja.com wrote

> I'd like to do macro work of a CPU -- an old Pentium 75.
> But I need to take the lid off the bottom of the chip.


From: "Nicholas O. Lindan" nolindan@ix.netcom.com
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.35mm,rec.photo.misc,rec.photo.equipment.large-format
Date: Sun, 29 Apr 2001
Subject: Re: Opening a CPU

Collin Brendemuehl wrote:

> I'd like to do macro work of a CPU -- an old Pentium 75.
> But I need to take the lid off the bottom of the chip.
> Does anyone know how to safely and cleanly remove it?
> (shooting it with 35mm & perhaps 4x5 macro -- a personal,
> for-fun project)

Mount chip carrier securely.

Heat a corner with a soldering iron.

Lift the corner with a knife.

Grab the corner with a pair of pliers

Apply heat from the iron as needed as you peel the lid away.

--
Nicholas O. Lindan, Cleveland, Ohio nolindan@ix.netcom.com
Software, System and Circuit Design. Oh, & Photography


Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2001
From: Mark marks6@earthlink.net
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.35mm,rec.photo.misc,rec.photo.equipment.large-format
Subject: Re: Opening a CPU

Colin

I am in the semiconductor industry, and have taken several photos of dice - mostly for fun, but my employer has used a few of them in promotional pieces. I think that most pentiums are in ceramic packages, with metal lids. To remove the lid, you take something sharp - a chisel or X-acto knife, and dig it under the corner of the lid, with a bit of upward pressure, the lid will pop off. Fairly easy. If the chip is in a plastic package, forget it, the techniques for exposing the die are more complex than what an amateur could do at home. The top surface of the die is glass, with a pattern etched on it, and on the metallic surfaces below the glass, this means that light hitting it will diffract, giving a pretty rainbow effect. As a result, experiment with lighting from different angles, including some large oblique angles. Often I find that I have to move my camera to a position where the lens axis is not perpindicular to the die, in which case you need to watch your depth of field, and the perspective distortion that comes in. The strange perspective can be corrected in photoshop if you want.

Strangely enough, for photographic purposes, older chips may be better - they have larger geometries and provide more visually interesting subjects - try going to a junk yard or surplus place and finding old boards with ceramic packages on them.

Enjoy.

Mark

...


[Ed. note: a good tip on U.S. Patent searches... - Thanks Richard!]
d From Rollei Mailing List:
Date: Fri, 18 May 2001
From: Richard Knoppow dickburk@ix.netcom.com
Subject: Re: [Rollei] Zoomar

you wrote:

> Richard Knoppow wrote:
>>  I checked the two patents given by Kingslake. Both are issued to Frank
>>Back and not assigned to anyone else. I suspect the first (1948) had
>>nothing to do with Voigtlander. The second is for a lens built by
>>Voigtlander so they may well have contracted for the design although its
>>surprizing its not assigned to them.
>
>As the Bessamatic emerged in the late 1950's, the first lens -- which
>Kingslake identifies as a 16mm cine lens -- obviously has nothing to do
>with Voigtl,nder, and as the second lens is called by Kingslake the
>"Voigtl,nder-Zoomar" in figure 11.19, I suspect the connection between  this
>design and the German company is made most certain!
>
>Marc

Yes in that Voigtlander built the lenses. However, was this a project originating with Voigtlander, or with Zoomar with Voigtlander simply contracted to manufacture the lens, or some sort of joint venture? Evidently you have some definite history about this.

I will put in a plug at this point for the US Patent Office web site: http://www.uspto.gov This now has all US patents ever issued on it although older ones can be searched only by patent number at this point. Its slow as molassas and uses FAX tiff's but sure is handier than running down to the main branch library when I want to look something up.

The best plug-in for viewing the Class-4 TIFF files is Alternatiff, a Google search will find it. Freeware. Most editions of Windows have Wang Imaging built in (now owned by Kodak and no longer a freebee). This works for viewing off line and printing. Patents need to be printed on legal size paper to print full size. A curiousity of unknown origin (at least to me) is why the US Government has its own size paper, envelopes, etc. Too well established to change probably, like the standard guage for railroads, its too narrow but will never be changed.

----
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles,Ca.
dickburk@ix.netcom.com


From Rollei Mailing List;
Date: Tue, 22 May 2001
From: Richard Knoppow dickburk@ix.netcom.com
Subject: Re: [Rollei] OT: Question about developing 120 film

you wrote:

>Date sent:             Tue, 22 May 2001 
>From:                  Bob Shell bob@bobshell.com
>Subject:               Re: [Rollei] OT: Question about developing 120  film
>.
>On another note I've noticed a very faint light as I tear away the
>tape from the film.  Has anyone else noticed this or ever heard of it
>causing problems?
>All the best
>LArry Cuffe

Triboelectric discharge. Its electricity generated by the disruption of crystaline interfaces in the adhesive when its torn apart. Many adhesives show it. You can see someting similar by crushing sugar crystals in the dark.

There are a couple of web sites featuring the effect, a google search for Triboelectricity should find them. Not bright enough to cause any trouble.

----
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles,Ca.
dickburk@ix.netcom.com


From Hasselblad Mailing List:
Date: Sun, 27 May 2001
From: "Eugene A. Pallat" eapallat@apk.net
Subject: Re: 35mm backs

Joe Codispoti wrote:

> There you go again Jim, trying to be logical.
>
> Probably for the same reason that people spend thousands of dollars to
> customize their car, others try hard to modify the standard formats in
> photography. Years ago Nikon made an adapter called Speed Magny which  turned
> a 35 body into a 4x5.

That used 4x5 Polaroid. A Nikon 50mm f/2.8 EL Nikkor enlarging lens was used as a field lens with 2 front surface mirrors to enlarge the image.

Gene Pallat


From Rollei Mailing List;
Date: Wed, 16 May 2001
From: Mikhail Konovalov m_konovalov@mail.ru
Subject: Re: [Rollei] OT: - introduction to 'Zone' system

From: mark.blackman1@btinternet.com:

> Can anyone recommend a good beginners guide to the zone system for b&w
> photos?
> I don't want anything that requires a Phd in optics or chemistry, just a
> down-to-earth introduction.

http://www.photodo.com/nav/artindex.html

This 5-part article on photodo site (scroll down to "The Zone System) I found to be the best introduction. Reads easily, and you can start using the technique rightaway.

Best regards,
Misha
(Russian amateur, delurking for the first time)


From Hasselblad Mailing List:
Date: Fri, 8 Jun 2001
From: Peter Klosky peter.klosky@marcgs.com
Subject: Re: custom screens

Fine line 1/64" black newspaper/ad layout tape for drafting is good for marking a screen, and can be removed/repositioned as needed. A classic with a 6 x 6 rig is to put 8 x 10 and 5 x 7 marks on the screen.

Peter


From Rollei Mailing List:
Date: Sun, 20 May 2001
From: Marc James Small msmall@roanoke.infi.net
Subject: Re: [Rollei] OT classic binoculars

curtiscr@pe.net wrote:

>Most binoculars do not focus close enough, IMHO, for birding.
>OTOH, the roof-prism types sold by Celestron, Orion, etc., focus
>down to 2 meters or so, which is much closer than most
>porroprism models.  Are you going to have to give up close focus
>for Leitz or Zeiss cachet?

Several points.

First, roof-prism binoculars do not provide as satisfactory an image as do Porro prism models. Having said that, most binoculars in use today are roof-prism designs.

Second, to make maximum use of their optical characteristics, roof-prism designs need phase coatings. These are a Zeiss patent, shared thus far only with Leica, Docter, and Rollei. Nikon, Pentax, and Swift have developed something they claim is functionally equivalent, though I've not done a really critical test to confirm this.

Third, you get what you pay for. The binoculars marketed by Celestron and Orion are, to be polite, boring. They are marginally capable, but not much more. But, then, you don't pay much for them, either, so maybe it all balances out in the end. There really are four price-points with new binoculars: horribly cheap (under $100), cheap ($100 to $300), reasonably good ($300 to $1,000) and adequate (above $1,000). The top makers of new binoculars today are Zeiss, Docter, Leica, and Pentax, with a few of the Nikon glasses beginning to show some really solid abilities and Luitpold making some pretty good stuff, as well. (It is VERY illustrative to realize that Pentax does NOT market their high-end gear in the US or Europe actively, as they have surrendered these markets to Zeiss et al, on the grounds that it would cost THEM as much to make and market a top-notch pair of glasses as it does the western firms.) A really good compromise house, incidentally, is Swift: they sell the better mid-grade Japanese glasses, and are quite a reputable and honest firm.

As to the minimum focusing distances, I have access neither to 90% of my literature nor to 50% of my binoculars, but here is a rough scan of what I could find on short notice:

Zeiss Jena/Docter 8x30 Deltrintem       2m
Zeiss 8x32                              2m
Zeiss 10x40 BGA                         2m
Docter 10x40 ASPH BGA                   3.2m
Zeiss 8x30 monocular                    1m
Zeiss Jena/Docter 7x40 EDF              5m

I STILL wonder how often a casual bird-watcher will be within 2m of a bird, but have it your way!

Finally, the original question was about USED classic binoculars, not new glasses. In this regard, a solid pair of Zeiss Jena 8x30 Deltrintem glasses can generally be had on e-Bay or from Deutsche Optik for around $100.

In terms of optical quality, I rate the Zeiss Jena/Docter 7x40 DF's first, then the Docter 10x40 Asph BGA's, then the Zeiss 10x40 BGA's. But all are fun glasses.

Best,

Marc

msmall@roanoke.infi.net

Postscript: Binocular list:
To subscribe, contact: Peter Abrahams telscope@europa.com


From Nikon Mailing List:
Date: Thu, 7 Jun 2001
From: MrKlark@aol.com
Subject: Re: [NIKON] microscope / microphoto advice

Hi Kyle (and anyone else interested in photomicrography),

I have been a microscopist for a number of years, and have been able to record some of the most amazing images using relatively low power light optical microscopes as you suggest. In an earlier reply, Jon mentioned 'Wild' as a supplier of stereo or macroscopes and if you can find one used, you will be in great shape, they are probably the best tools ever designed for low power image recording. Wild was merged into the Leica line of microscopes a number of years back and they are no longer manufactured under that name, but Leica does carry a very good line of low power scopes. The big caveat here is that a good low power scope is very expensive, way more than even the best of Nikkor lenses. I'm using a Wild model M7S which was purchased in the late '80s - at that time, it cost over $10,000US with the accessories needed for photos - a dedicated photo tube, a transmited light base, and 2 accessory incident light illuminators. The Tascos are OK for visual or video recording but are lousy for micrographs.

Unless you get a microscope with a swing out or moveable objective, you will not get optimum images. The most important thing to remember about the way most stereomicroscopes generate a 'pseudo 3D' image is that a single large objective is used to collect the image from a single point on the sample, it is then transmitted up through 2 separate optical systems (one for each eye) which gives the apparent effect of 3D. See this site for a cutaway image of how the image is generated:

http://www.microscopyu.com/tutorials/flash/smzpaths/index.html

(The rest of the Nikon microscopy site is very good, BTW)

The problem with using a single objective to capture both images is that the images are collected from a point slightly (or even significantly, depending upon working distance) away from the optical center axis of the lens. As we all know, this causes abberations.

To keep this Nikon related, the other significant difficulty you will encounter is trying to find a way to mount you 990 onto the phototube of the microscope.

I know all this sounds somewhat discouraging, but you may want to try ebay for a microscope, there are many available there, and if I can be of any help at all, please contact me.

Regards,

Rich


From Leica Topica Mailing List;
Date: Sun, 10 Jun 2001
From: Saggers@aol.com
Subject: Re: I'm Ruining My Glasses

How about one of those water faucet "o" ring rubber washers? I found one that fit my 35mm aux. finder, it slipped over the metal and was just thick enough to stick out and protect my glasses. Take your M cameras to the hardware store, I think you'll find something that works in the plumbing department. Contact lenses????

Shel Belinkoff wrote:

> I've been using an M3 and an M2, and the metal viewfinder has been
> scratching my glasses.  Stephen Gandy can no longer supply the
> rubber eyeglass protector donuts.  Does anyone have any suggestions
> to eliminate this problem?


From Leica Mailing LIst;
Date: Thu, 31 May 2001
From: Jim Brick jim_brick@agilent.com
Subject: [Leica] RE: film tape glue flash

In order for the flash from the tape to in any way fog your film, you would have to have film with a 10,000,000 ISO.

And it is "not" static electricity. It is atoms giving off light energy (electron valence jump) when the glue molecules are ripped apart. This is "electroluminescence" and is caused by the movement of electrons within a substance from more energetic states to less energetic states, giving off cold light as the energy medium. It is a minuscule amount.

Jim

...


Date: Sat, 30 Jun 2001
From: "John Stewart see REAL email address in message."
Newsgroups: rec.photo.misc,rec.photo.marketplace.large-format
Subject: Google image bot ripping your images?

Google is sending out a robot to grab the images from your site and place them on theirs, so customers can see them by browsing Google and NOT having to go to your site!

See my article on this and the info on how to block the Google bot from entering your site at www.acpress.com in the "@acpress" news/commentary page.

You feedback always appreciated.

John


Date: 27 Jun 2001
From: robert.swift@dwl-online.co.uk (Robert Swift)
Newsgroups: uk.rec.photo.misc
Subject: Re: Need a photography tool?

Ben Blaukopf ben@arachsys.com wrote

> robert.swift@dwl-online.co.uk (Robert Swift) writes:
>
> > Hi there,
> >
> > I am interested to know if there are any photography related tools
> > that people would find useful.  There are many DoF calculators around
> > but is there anything else people would like to see?
>
> An exposure/movement rate calculator might be useful.
>
> Ben Blaukopf

Ben,

I have created a camera shake page, is that what you meant? Have a look, follow the Viewfinder->Photography Tools->Camera Shake Calculator from http://www.dwl-online.co.uk/

Cheers - Robert.
http://www.dwl-online.co.uk/


From Minolta Mailing List;
Date: Mon, 9 Jul 2001
From: xkaes@aol.com
Subject: Re: storing old minoltas

samueltang@eisa.net.au writes:

> I would not recommend storing cameras in their leather cases at all;  during
> manufacture a lot of chemicals have to be added to it and it increases  its
> acidity which might be of detriment to the
>  camera in the long run.

And don't forget to remove the battery.


Date: Mon, 18 Jun 2001
From: Billy Somewhere.else@not.here.com
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
Subject: Re: protecting photos from being copied from web sites

"r.m.pruitt" wrote:

> I have occasionally come across photo sites or web pages
> (usually large retail dealers) that have a block not only
> on the photos but also on the camera information. If you right
> click and attempt to copy the info or address of the photo a
> message appears that states it is off limits to unauthorized
> users and is not to be copied.
> What's the secret here and has anyone run across this and know anything
> about it and how it is done ? Thanks for any help on this,   Richard

There are several ways to do this. This simplest is to use a java script that disables the right click function.

Instructions:
http://web-wise-wizard.com/javascript-tutorials/disable-right-click.html

This can be gotten around, but it takes a bit of know-how.

Another way is to watermark the images, but this can be a problem since the watermark may distract from images that you're trying to share, not sell.

The third way (and best, most expensive, way) is to use a commercial package, such as the one used on Terraserver.com, but these typically require a separate application for viewing the files.

--
-Billy
e-mail - billy_rpd at yahoo dot com checked weekly


From Leica Mailing List;
Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2001
From: "Howard Sanner" flagstad@mindspring.com
Subject: [Leica] OT: Eliminating cookies

If you want to browse sites that use cookies but don't want them to persist, write a little batch file that loads your browser and then deletes the cookies (and anything else you don't want sticking around) at the end of each session. I wrote a little REXX program to do just that (and to wipe out the cache and history), but it could be handled in an MS-DOS batch file, too. Something like

if exist f:\netscape\cookies del f:\netscape\cookies > nul
f:\netscape\netscape.exe
if exist f:\netscape\cookies del f:\netscape\cookies > nul

would do the trick. The first and last lines are a belt-and-suspenders approach to ensuring that cookies are wiped out in case Netscape is started by some means other than clicking on the icon.

Howard Sanner
flagstad@mindspring.com


From Rollei Mailing List;
Date: Thu, 12 Jul 2001
From: Philippe Tempel ptempel@home.com
Subject: Re: [Rollei] APX 100 in D 23 1:1

I don't know if I brought this up before, but I was reading about some dude claiming to be able to mix his (or her?) own D-76 for as low as 10 cents. That caught my attention. It's on the sub club webpage:

http://www.subclub.org/darkroom/develop2.htm

and it looks super easy to make. I have a hard time believing that it can be done for that little. Maybe he got the metol and hydorquinone developers cheaper than usual (used or someone's darkroom sale?). They also have a link to another page that describes which stuff you can get at the grocery store. I didn't know you can buy the borax there as "Twenty Mule Team Borax" in the supermarket. Very cool. All I would need is to find the developers and a decent scale for a good price... :-)

While I'm on the topic, has anyone tried the D-76 alternatives like Chris Patton's E-76? He subs Phenidone for metol/hydroquinone and adds ascorbic acid. Is this as good as D-76? Cheaper to make?

...


From Bronica Mailing List:
Date: Fri, 20 Apr 2001
From: "Kelvin" kelvinlee@pacific.net.sg
Subject: Re: Dark Slide Holder

We discussed this some time back on the Kiev88 list.

For that camera, we can go to a stationary shop and buy those plastic binder spines which are sold seperately from the file. Cut it to appropriate size, and stick it with double-sided tape to the back of the filmback.


From Contax Mailing List;
Date: Mon, 22 Jan 2001
From: Bob Shell bob@bobshell.com
Subject: Re: [CONTAX] WLF for 645

The reason that this camera and the Mamiya AF are both 645 is simple. The Copal-built shutter module they both use only comes in 645 size.

Nothing to do with anything else. Copal found that they could not make such a shutter in 6 X 6 and get the same top speed and fast flash synch, so they opted to make it in 645. You will see some other cameras built around this shutter in the future I think. Also, the design of the shutter is why both cameras using it have permanently attached handgrips, since a big part of the shutter mechanics is in there.

I took one of the early Contax 645 cameras apart to see just what made it tick, so I speak from experience and not just from reading about it.

Bob


From Contax Mailing List;
Date: Mon, 22 Jan 2001
From: Bob Shell bob@bobshell.com
Subject: Re: [CONTAX] WLF for 645

If you are awaiting such a shutter in 6 X 6, I think you have a long wait. There is no market demand for 6 X 6 any more. If they go bigger than 645 I'd guess that 6 X 7 would be their target. That's going to be a lot of mass to accelerate and stop!

Bob


From Rollei Mailing List;
Date: Thu, 12 Jul 2001
From: Richard Knoppow dickburk@ix.netcom.com
Subject: Re: [Rollei] APX 100 in D 23 1:1

you wrote:

>I don't know if I brought this up before, but I was reading about some
>dude claiming to be able to mix his (or her?) own D-76 for as low as
>10 cents.  That caught my attention.  It's on the sub club webpage:
>
>http://www.subclub.org/darkroom/develop2.htm
>
>and it looks super easy to make.  I have a hard time believing that it
>can be done for that little.  Maybe he got the metol and hydorquinone
>developers cheaper than usual (used or someone's darkroom sale?).
>They also have a link to another page that describes which stuff you
>can get at the grocery store.  I didn't know you can buy the borax
>there as "Twenty Mule Team Borax" in the supermarket.  Very cool.
>All I would need is to find the developers and a decent scale for a
>good price... :-)
>
>While I'm on the topic, has anyone tried the D-76 alternatives like
>Chris Patton's E-76?  He subs Phenidone for metol/hydroquinone
>and adds ascorbic acid.  Is this as good as D-76?  Cheaper to
>make?

D-76 and indeed most other developers are easy to mix. Cost can be low but, of course, it depends on how much you must pay for chemicals.

Twenty Mule Team borax is suitable for photographic purposes. Commercial grade sodium carbonate is cheap at swimming pool supply places, and some other common chemicals which are put up for other purposes can be bought cheap.

Current packaged D-76 is a buffered formula, sometimes called D-76d. It differs from the standard formula in containing 8 grams of Borax and 8 grams of boric acid (crystals) per liter. This makes the developer pretty much immune from the slow rise in activity due to a slow reaction between the hydroquinone and sulfite, which is a problem with the standard formula.

Ilford Microphen is a buffered D-76 type developer using Phenidone instead of Metol. The published formula Ilford ID-68 is about the same stuff. Ilford Bromophen is a Phenidone version of Dektol, its published formula is ID-62. If anyone wants these I will post them.

I have no idea about the D-76E formula you mention except that lots of people like to reinvent the wheel. Perhaps this fellow was unaware of the Ilford formula, though its been around for decades.

----
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles,Ca.
dickburk@ix.netcom.com


From Leica Topica Mailing List;
Date: Wed, 25 Jul 2001
From: "Sal DiMarco,Jr." sdmp007@pressroom.com
Subject: Saving 1/2000

Leggers,

Many years ago, Marty Forscher, the founder of Professional Camera Repair Service told me and a group of other photographers, the simplest way to keep your high shutter speed working was to use them.

Sounds simple doesn't it.

Marty recommended, when you finish an assignment and have a partially exposed roll still in your camera, to fire it off at the highest shutter speed to finish the roll before rewinding.

This little bit of exercise should keep your shutters accurate.

Happy Snaps,
Sal DiMarco, Jr.
Philadelphia, PA


Date: Sat, 30 Jun 2001
From: "Terry Dawson" terry.dawson@att.net
Newsgroups: alt.photography,rec.photo.digital,rec.photo.misc,rec.photo.technique.art,rec.pho to.technique.misc
Subject: Top 10 Things Your Automatic Camera Does Not Know

1. Why You Should Shoot
2. What You Should Shoot
3. Where You Should Shoot
4. When You Should Shoot
5. Where to Position the Camera
6. When to Zoom
7. Which Way is Up
8. When Auto Exposure Will Fail
9. When Auto Focus Will Fail
10. When to Quit

I tried to explain these a little better at:

http://digital.photography.home.att.net/writings/notauto.html

--
My Digital Photography Pages
http://digital.photography.home.att.net/


Date: Sun, 01 Jul 2001
From: toomuchdamnedjunkmail@myaddress.not (no real name here)
Newsgroups: alt.photography,rec.photo.digital,rec.photo.misc,rec.photo.technique.art,rec.pho to.technique.misc
Subject: Re: Top 10 Things Your Automatic Camera Does Not Know

...

I offer the following items as things your camera can't tell you.

1.) Who will hit you when they see you taking their photograph.
2.) What the environment from where the image was taken smells like.
3.) When it (camera) will suffer a malfunction (other than an impending battery discharge of full memory stick).
4.) The temperature.
5.) That the display on a Sony Clie handheld sucks compared to the display on a Sony DSC-Sxx.
6.) Funny jokes to make your subjects smile.
7.) Kayaking with a D30 can be very expensive (not me, thank God :)
8.) Where it is hiding in your oversized gear bag on that dark night when the raccoons were fooling around in your kids tent.
9.) Which little kid is most likely to shoot the finger at you on little league night.
10.) To get off the net when you are too tired to be replying to posts. :)

Thanks for reading this, it was fun to write. :)


From Nikon MF Mailing List;
Date: Thu, 26 Jul 2001
From: Henry Posner/B&H; Photo-Video henryp@bhphotovideo.com
Subject: Re: Black or Chrome?

you wrote:

>I think it's Henry that has three different 'colors' of FM2 so he can
>tell which one's loaded with what at a glance!

Whoo -- good memory. I have one each black chrome & titanium. When I started shooting I owned one black and one chrome Photomic FTn and found it great for me. Same controls in the same place, but I could tell which was color & which b&w; at a glance. When I switched to the FM2n, I just carried the idea forward.

--
regards,
Henry Posner
Director of Sales and Training
B&H Photo-Video, and Pro-Audio Inc.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com


From Rangefinder Mailing List;
Date: Sat, 4 Aug 2001
From: "John Pendley" jpendley@tds.net
Subject: AA

....

Hello everyone. This just came in on the Olympus list. I thought some of you might want to avail yourselves of a great opportunity.

Howdy Folks,

Saw this mentioned on one of the local PBS stations. The San Francisco Museum of Modern Arts is having an Ansel Admans exhibit in commiseration of his 100th birthday from Aug. 4 till Jan. 13, 2002. There are few locals that might be interested and because of the length there may be some who are traveling this way. What I thought was particularly interesting was their exhibiting the same photographic scene from early, and from late in his career to show the changes in his photography work. For more information follow the URL below.

http://www.sfmoma.org/


From Nikon MF Mailing List;
Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2001
From: "Thom Hogan" thom_hogan@msn.com
Subject: re: 18% gray

> Instructions with Kodak gray cards say (in a roundabout way) work to 
> 12%, not 18%.

That's correct. Kodak apparently rounded. I've seen 12%, 12.5%, and 13%. I believe 12.5% is most accurate. Curiously, when you ask Kodak why they continue to make 18% gray cards, they don't have an answer. The product manager in charge of that line of products was apparently asked recently by someone where 18% came from, and he couldn't answer the question (I have that second-hand, though, so discount it, if you wish).

> However as less than 1% of users take the trouble to follow the
>instructions and 99% work to the 18% "myth" Nikon have decided to side
>with the 99%. 

Upon what do you base the Nikon claim? Their literature? Read on (next response).

If you're shooting print film, you're well within the latitude of the film, and probably would never notice. If you shoot with slide film, try taking pictures of a gray card and running them through a densitometer, you may be surprised at the result. I wonder, by the way, if film manufacturers may have slowly snuck in a slight ISO "adjustment" without telling us. With most slide films up through Velvia, it was pretty common for most pros to rate them at 1/3 stop less ISO, about the difference between a 12.5% and 18% gray card. With the current batch of films (Provia F, Ektachrome VS, etc.), I haven't seen any pro downrating them.

> Nikon say (F5 brochure) Nikon's (modern one's at least) are calibrated 
>to 18% - which in my experience is right.

Nikon's brochures say many things. The F5 brochure specifically states yellow as a color that the color LCD matrix meter does particularly well on. Virtually every photographer I know thinks yellow is a color the F5 has a strong tendency to overexpose (it does a wonderful job with reds, however).

By the time statements get put in English brochures, they've been filtered through two or three levels beyond the engineering/manufacturing department in Japan. Most US brochures and documentation are finished before production models are produced. Note that I asked the engineers at Nikon headquarters about exposure setting and got a different answer. And, as I note on my site, this is something that is so firmly ingrained into photographer's minds that most have trouble letting go of it and actually running a controlled test of their exposure methods. I notice that Bob Shell at Shutterbug has recently written about the same thing.

The F5, F100, and F80 definitely see 18% gray.

First, do you use matrix metering? If so, all bets are off. The page on my site is the result of something virtually every savvy digital camera user is discovering: if you put a Nikon Coolpix or D1 into centerweighted or spot metering and fill the frame with a gray card, the resulting exposure histogram shows that you didn't hit middle gray, as expected. In matrix metering, it seems that even minute differences in the evenness of the lighting produce results that are a bit different, and you may actually hit middle gray more often. (By the way, Nikon touts the D1's meter as being the SAME as the F5's, so what's that say about Nikon literature claims?)

A few years back, I was dissatisfied with my exposure setting. I had just returned from Africa, and despite some careful metering, I was mostly displeased with my exposures. I set to doing a series of tests, and in so doing, discovered that I needed to bias my exposures about a third of stop off my center-weighted readings. I used to put that off to a miscalibrated meter. Then a couple of years ago while in Japan, I had the opportunity to talk to Nikon engineers, and happened to mention that my two camera bodies seemed to be off by the same amount in calibration. They immediately asked me if I was using a gray card, and when I told that I sometimes did, they started discussing how the ANSI metering standards worked. Voila!

By all means, use whatever works for you to set consistent exposure, and if you're happy with the results, that's all that counts. As I noted, the Web page was a result of trying to answer a consistent question I kept getting from Coolpix and D1 users, all of whom thought there was something wrong with their camera (curiously, many who thought there was something wrong with their camera were happy with the exposures it took!).

Thom Hogan, writer/photographer
author, Nikon Field Guide, Nikon Flash Guide, Nikon Coolpix Guide www.bythom.com


Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2001 
From: Cam Banks <cam@cambanks.com>
Techdiver Mailing List <techdiver@aquanaut.com>
Subject: Technology clues from starfish

Hey, they said "tech"...
*******************************

Rows of tiny crystals that armor the skeleton of a certain kind of starfish
act as an array of microscopic lenses that would be difficult for even the
best engineer to duplicate, researchers say.

The high optical quality of the microlenses in the brittlestar could help
scientists design better computers or better telecommunications networks,
according to scientists at Lucent Technologies' Bell Labs in Murray Hill,
N.J.

They identified the lenses after marine biologists noted the brittlestar
appeared to be using the wrong kind of camouflage.

The creature would turn dark during the day, making it more visible to
predators, and would turn whitish gray at night, again making it more
noticeable.

``So it's just the opposite of what you expect to hide from predators,''
said Joanna Aizenberg, who led the study at Bell Labs. 

Instead of trying to camouflage themselves, the brittlestars were using
their microlenses as a sophisticated system to sense light in order to
navigate and avoid predators.

The lens system turned the brittlestars lighter at night to increase their
sensitivity. During the day, they turned darker to cope with the brighter
light.

The shape of the crystals helped focus the light extremely precisely,
Aizenberg said.

``We were quite surprised to observe that not only do they focus light, but
the characteristics of these tiny lenses are far beyond anything we can
imagine currently manufacturing,'' she said.

The unique spherical shape of the microscopic lenses may have applications
for electronic and computer design, or it may help produce superior optics
that can adapt to changing conditions, she said.

Her study, which appears today in the journal Nature, noted the calcium
carbonate crystals -- or calcite -- also provide structural support for the
brittlestar skeleton.

The lens design could prove especially useful for optical computers --
machines that use changes in light to store data instead of movement of
electrons across a silicon wafer or circuit, according to another
researcher. Light comes in packets of energy called photons.

``At some point we'd like to have optical computers, but to get to that
point we have to move photons with the sophistication we now move electrons,
and we aren't able to do it yet,'' said Sonke Johnsen, a biologist at the
Woods Hole (Mass.) Oceanographic Institution.

Johnsen said the latest research on the brittlestar's light-sensing ability
helps explain why the creature can move so quickly to evade a threat, unlike
other forms of starfish.

``They are really active, clever and fast animals,'' Johnsen said. ``You'd
have to work hard underwater to catch one

Cam 

Published Thursday, Aug. 23, 2001, in the San Jose Mercury News


Technology clues from starfish
Unique lenses may help in computers, telecom

BY WILLIAM MCCALL
Associated Press


From: artkramr@aol.com (ArtKramr)
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.35mm
Date: 01 May 2002 
Subject: Re: the other 50% ;-) Re: Leica...Is It Worth It?


>uprisingly, I saw a Harry Callahan
>landscape exhibit this past year, all contact printed from 4x5. Do you
>know how small a 4x5 is when viewed on a museum wall? What's it

Harry Callahan was once asked why he would would never talk about photography.
He answered" Photography is so simple there is nothing to talk about".

Arthur Kramer
Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer

From hasselblad mailing list: Date: Wed, 3 Jul 2002 From: Peter Rosenthal petroffski@mac.com Subject: Re: [HUG] Service issues with Gateway...digital darkroom update On June 3 Anthony Atkielski flagrantly exposed his close-minded ignorance thusly: > There are more disadvantages than advantages to Macs today, even for > graphic > artists. > > True, but Macs provide lower price/performance than PCs. Crrrrraaaaaappppp!!! You must have read that somewhere and it sounded good to you and adopted it as a mantra. For the life of me I can't think of one disadvantage to me or the rest of the members of the "Downtown Flagstaff Mac users group". 14 or so photographers and graphic artists with 27 Macs to show for their troubles. Perhaps you should ask them (us) about those disadvantages. A few: http://www.johnrunning.com Everyone listed here comes to John for advice http://www.suebennett.com Stunning work! http://www.daveedwards.com National Geographic Photog http://www.dugaldstudio.com Unfortunately died in a kayaking accident http://www.tombean.com A gorgeous stock portfolio that goes on forever http://www.angelfire.com/az/rmrunningfoto/ The most talented person I know http://www.shontobegay.com $10,000 for a painting??!! Several use a certain familiar square format (on topic!!) and occasionally they drop their cameras. They all use Macs. Nothing but Macs. All day. Virtually NO downtime. I'd know because I do what little maintenance is needed for several of these very successful artists. Some of these Macs are very old. Work perfectly well. Still. No mechanical failures except for a snapped-off USB port. My 450 G4 still works so well for everything I ask it to do it makes me laugh sometimes. It's crashed ONCE in 8 months. No rebooting. No viruses in 5 years on my Macs with no antivirus software and I download a LOT of nonsense. Just ask my wife. No fussy-file naming. No bloat-coding. There ain't a Gatesbox made that can claim that. This kind of enthusiastic brand loyalty from very talented, smart people comes from somewhere. My wife makes 1GB planetary geology maps for the feds all day long on her 733 G4 in Illustrator while listening to iTunes while printing to a 54" plotter. It never chokes or slows-down on this amount of data. So now we have it. Higher price/performance and NO relative disadvantages to using Apple computers. Perhaps you should get some first-hand knowledge of a subject before subjecting everyone to such blather. Please feel free to respond to this off-topic tirade to me personally if you must. I just couldn't let this go by. I'm sure you'll all be glad to know I feel better now. Peter Peter Rosenthal PR Camera Repair 111 E. Aspen #1 Flagstaff, AZ 86001 (928) 779-5263



From: artkramr@aol.com (ArtKramr) Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format Date: 14 Jul 2002 Subject: Re: What makes a winning photograph... ... The great art critic, Dave Hickey, winner of the McArthur award, stated in his graduate seminar on art theory and ciritcism..."Art must be different just to be noticed". And wiser words were never spoken. Arthur Kramer Visit my WW II B-26 website at: http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer


Date: Sat, 22 Jun 2002 From: "Mxsmanic" mxsmanic@hotmail.com Newsgroups: rec.photo.digital,rec.photo.misc Subject: Re: which HTML editor for building a photo website "Lisa Horton" Lisa@lisahorton.net a M-icrit > Sounds like a desirable feature. Unfortunately > I have no clue how to implement it:) Include a line like this in the HTML of each page that displays a picture: IMG SRC="nextpic.jpg" STYLE="display: none" HEIGHT=1 WIDTH=1 BORDER=0 ... where "nextpic.jpg" is the next picture to be displayed (if the user is stepping through images sequentially). This code will load nextpic.jpg, placing it in the browser cache, but will not display it (thanks to the STYLE attribute), or, in older browsers that don't support the STYLE attribute, it will appear as only a single pixel on the screen, and won't be very obvious. When the user clicks to another page that actually displays this image, it will already be in the cache, and so will display instantly. This arrangement takes advantage of the time the user spends viewing the current picture to download the next picture in the background. It usually works extremely well. Of course, if he visits photos in an order you have not anticipated, there's no guarantee that the image you preloaded will be the next one required, but since most people step through images with a NEXT button or whatever equivalent you provide, preloading the next image in a series will speed things up 99% of the time. Users will be convinced that your site is "really fast," when in fact you are just using the "think time" they spend viewing your images to download the following images in the series.


From: "Grant Dixon" grant.dixon@cogeco.ca Newsgroups: rec.photo.digital,rec.photo.misc Subject: Re: which HTML editor for building a photo website Date: Mon, 24 Jun 2002 "Whiz" hlbmab@yahoo.com wrote... > snip > > > > > {IMG SRC="nextpic.jpg" STYLE="display: none" HEIGHT=1 WIDTH=1 BORDER=0} > > > > Is that inside the {BODY} or {HEAD} tag? Place it within the {BODY} {//BODY}. But remember it only works if the browser has a cache that is enabled An alternative is to include a link in you {HEAD}{/HEAD} This will allow the whole page to be preloaded. if the client's browser supports this. {LINK rel="Next" href="Next_page.html"} {LINK rel="Prev" href="Previous_page.html"} -- Grant Recent Work http://home.cogeco.ca/~gardens/ Home Pages http://home.cogeco.ca/~grant.dixon/index.htm


From: "That Annoying Twit..."YesYouTooAreATwit@TheSocietyForThePublicCastrationOfSpammers.com Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.35mm Subject: Re: yashica FX-2 Date: Thu, 5 Sep 2002 As Yashica Nut myself I would suggest skipping them both and go for either a Yashica FX-3 or ideally and FX-D with optional Aperture Priority. In the case of the FX-2 getting them repaired and finding one in decent condition is a chore. As for the FX-70 you only have Aperture Priority... Below I have included a link that many be of help... http://www.cdegroot.com/photo/yashica/yashica-slr-faq-3.html#ss3.2 Hope this helps, Andrew


Date: Fri, 27 Sep 2002 From: Theo Borm theo@flex087.wuipo.wau.nl Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.large-format Subject: Re: NBC invents new view camera Robert Feinman wrote: > There was a promo for "West Wing" on NBC TV last night which showed the > cast lined up for a photo. In the foreground was a view camera on a > tripod with the image visible on the groundglass. > The image was right-side-up. Where can I get one of these cameras? > make it yourself ;-) Take a lens board with an off-axis hole, two prisms as normally found in a pair of binoculars (the larger the better), mount the prisms to the back (if there is room enough) of the board so that they invert the image (two 90 degree top prisms mounted at 90 degrees to each other) (alternatively you can mount them in front of the lens, but then the gadget can be seen from the outside and that spoils the fun ;-) ) Works best if you use large prisms (larger than the ones normally found in binoculars) in combination with long lenses; has the added advantage of making the light path longer, which means that you can use longer lenses with short bellow extensions. Has the disadvantage that short lenses become (more or less) useless. If the prisms are too heavy, then you can also use 4 surface mirrors mounted at 45 degree angles in a special frame. Be sure to use metalized surface mirrors as the normal glass ones will ruin your image (double reflections). Construction of the frame needs to be quite accurate because otherwise your images will not be level, or will have some apparent lens shift/tilt included while the lens board is in the neutral position. Using the movements of your camera with such a device fitted is akward at first, but you get used to it pretty quickly. I would not recommend the binocular prisms for photographic use, but the mirrors work fine, provided they are of good quality and dust-free. For televized view-cams anything goes; quality of the image is not important; (relative) brightness is. There may be some tricks involved in getting that bit right. A variant of this technology is used in most 35mm camera where an appropriate optical element is mounted on the viewer-side of the ground glass screen. ;-) AFAIK such a system is not commercially available. (and perhaps for good reasons) regards, Theo.


from kiev88 mailing list: Date: Tue, 01 Oct 2002 From: Stephen Castello scastello@cfl.rr.com Subject: Re: half format ... "olivier" firefly@uio.satnet.net wrote: >hi, some idea to can transform a NT 6x6 back 12 exp >in a nice 24 half format 3x6 panoramic using the same 120 roll ??? >i am interested in this possibility . You could try what is done with 4x5, get an extra dark slide and cut it to make the format. Take one picture on the top half, flip it and take the second one on the other half. Stephen


From: fvt2112@hotmail.com (Valder) Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.35mm Subject: Re: budget photography Date: 9 Oct 2002 I have both set ups and use them at different times. A Minolta X700 and a Maxxum 7. When I need speed I use the Maxxum 7, when I got the time I use the X700. You can get TTL with the Minolta X700. I use a Sunpak 433D flash with great results. There are also some good Minolta MD Zooms out there as well as primes that can be had cheaply. The X700 also has a motor drive MD-1 that will handle your film advance and give you ~threee frames/sec if you need it. The MD-1 put a breath of fresh air in my X700 use. But there are good AF lenses for Minolta that are cheaper also. Minolta 70-210/4, 35-70/4, to name a couple and can be had for around $100 or less. If you are going to be shooting moving targets mostly (like me with my 4 yr old) then go AF if not then either is really fine. Valder


From: "Jeremy" jeremy@no-spam-thanks.com Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.35mm Subject: Re: Man.. old mechanical SLRs feel so nice. Date: Wed, 30 Oct 2002 > One thing I am finding hard to get used to though is the focussing prism > the pentax uses, I prefer the split image in the chinon, especially in low > light, but I guess I'll get used to it. > > cheers! You can get a split-image focusing screen installed into a Spotmatic at Pittsburgh Camera Repair for under $60.00. I just picked up a Spotmatic F body and SMC Takumar 50mm lens and soft leather case on eBay for $99.00! It is my 2nd Spotmatic F and my 5th Asahi Pentax body. That "Pentax Feel" was/is indeed very nice! The optical quality of those wonderful SMC Takumars remains superb. The prices are dirt cheap! What are you waiting for . . . ?


From: flexaret2@aol.com (FLEXARET2) Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format Date: 02 Nov 2002 Subject: Photo Plus Expo - short show review from: flexaret2@aol.com (Sam Sherman) - Friday 11-1-02 PHOTO PLUS EXPO - New York - A Quick Review I attended the Photo PLus Expo in New York today and here are some of my comments about the Medium Format world- I saw the New Hasselblad H1 camera and while it looks nice on the surface there is a great delay between the time you push the release button, the auto focus is done and the photo taken. Enough time passes to loose that fleeting moment of a kid's pose or a bird flying away. I then checked the Contax 645 and in my opinion the shutter releases faster the camera is more comfortable to hold and easier to use. I think Hassy loses to Contax on this go round and Contax also Has Zeiss lenses which the new Hassy does not. At the Hasselblad booth they had several cameras on mounts you could use/examine/look through. I examined the Hasselblad 203FE with an incredible 300MM Zeiss (I think f2.8) lens mounted on it. The lens is uncommon low production and the cost of lens and camera together is about $25,000 and I would love to have a superb outfit like this. I saw several medium format digital backs and some require being connected to a computer or battery pack during use - okay in the studio but inconvenient in the field. The new Kodak medium format digital back looks like the best yet, seems the smallest and does not have to be connected to a computer, but might need an external battery back. The Kodak man was not too savy. More info on this on the Kodak website - still a pricey item. I met Bob Shell of Shutterbug Magazine who told me he is having great use from a purely mechanical camera The Kiev 88CM. He also mentioned that his friend Zork is coming out with a spectacular lens - 1000MM - f7 - Zeiss - image stabilized MIlitary lens - adapted by him to take medium format and other camera mounts. This is not a mirror lens but a compact folded optical path more normal design. Cost will be about $2000 and I am saving up starting now for this beauty. Bob Shell will be reviewing it shortly. Agfa told me that are not going out of the film business, contrary to all of the internet gossip I have heard. Digital was everywhere - mainly small cameras competing with 35MM. The show was packed and attendees and camera company reps were generally friendly and having a good time.


From: flexaret2@aol.com (FLEXARET2) Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format Date: 03 Nov 2002 Subject: Re: Photo Plus Expo - short show review The 1000MM f7 Zeiss lens which Bob Shell told me about has a folded optical path with mirrors, but is not a "Mirror lens" as we know. The typical mirror lens has curved mirrors and/or a mirror or two with holes in them causing the doughnut highlight effects. As I understand this new lens - The light enters a front element or two and goes to the back of the lens barrel where it hits a flat mirror and is bounced forward to another flat mirror and then to the rear elements. This halves the length of the lens but does not have the curved mirrors with central holes. - Sam Sherman


From: "David J. Littleboy" davidjl@gol.com Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format Subject: Re: Plant and garden photography Date: Sun, 3 Nov 2002 "Geoff Bryant" geoffbryant@xtra.co.nz wrote: > Last week I posted a response to a thread in rec.photo.digital about flower > photography. I had a few replies and some requests for tips, so if anyone's > interested please feel free to visit my website, which I've updated this > week, adding more photographs and around 100 of the many garden articles > I've published over the years and a few photo articles too, including one on > flower photography. The photographs may be quite nice, but the site design has a major design infelicity: I can't sequence through the images without going back to the thumbnail view. The desing at the following site is major improvement: http://dmanthree.ne.client2.attbi.com/400uc/ Here's a variation on that theme: http://marklauter.dyndns.org/photos/ If you want people to look at your images, you should make it easier for them to do so. David J. Littleboy Tokyo, Japan


From: "R.W. Behan" rwbehan@rockisland.com Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format Subject: Re: Alternative Lens Caps for Mamiya TLR C330 Lens? Date: Tue, 26 Nov 2002 Kevin; There's chap in Florida who has lens caps by the trainload, at competitive prices. Try the email address below. His name is Bruce. americaneagle@htn.net Good luck, R.W. Behan Lopez Island, Washington


From: Andrew Yee ayee@nova.astro.utoronto.ca Newsgroups: sci.space.news Subject: Space camera blazes new terahertz trails (Forwarded) Date: Wed, 26 Feb 2003 ESA News 11 February 2003 Space camera blazes new terahertz trails New imaging technology came to life when ESA's StarTiger team captured the world's first terahertz picture of a human hand. "When we started last June we set an ambitious goal: to build in four months the first compact submillimetre-wave imager with near real time image capturing using state-of-the-art micro-machining technology," said Peter de Maagt, ESA's StarTiger Project Manager, "we reached this goal when the first terahertz images were taken in September." This breakthrough in terahertz imaging opens up the possibility for a new generation of applications, not only related to space but also in many non-space fields, including medicine, pharmaceuticals, security and aeronautics. StarTiger is a new approach for conducting research and development (R&D;) launched last year by ESA. The concept is to bring together a small group of highly motivated researchers, grant them full access to laboratory and production facilities, remove all administrative distractions, and let them work for an intense period of four to six months. The goal is to achieve a quantum increase in a promising and important technology within a short period of time. The first project was started at CCLRC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) in June 2002 and was scheduled for four months. RAL was chosen as the best location for this particular pilot project with its advanced laboratories and all support technology required, and its specific expertise in relevant fields. What is Terahertz? Terahertz waves occupy a portion of the spectrum between infrared and microwaves, from 10**11 to 10**13 Hertz. Until now, this has been an unexplored part of the electromagnetic spectrum. However, terahertz waves are very interesting as they possess characteristics of both their neighbours: terahertz waves can pass easily through some solid materials, like walls and clothes, yet can be focused as light to create images of objects. The imager built by the StarTiger team takes pictures at two frequencies, 0.25 and 0.3 THz, to create a two-colour picture to create a contrast between materials with different transmission and reflection properties. The main advantage of a terahertz imager is that it does not emit any radiation; it is a passive camera capturing pictures of the natural terahertz rays emitted by almost everything, including people, rocks, water, trees and stars. Space Applications The imager could be applied in several areas of space science, including astronomy, atmospheric physics, and Earth and environmental monitoring by satellites. In the field of planetary, cometary and atmospheric sensing, it could have a major impact on instrumentation for monitoring issues. In space astronomy, observing terahertz frequencies could provide answers to some key questions on how galaxies were formed in the early universe, and how stars form, and have been forming, throughout the history of the universe. For environmental monitoring, a terahertz imager could be used to obtain data for studies on ozone depletion mechanisms. The frequencies can be selected to focus on exchanges between the troposphere and the stratosphere, adding information useful for studies on global climate changes. "Observations from space may be on the verge of a revolution with the possibility of looking into the terahertz frequency range," said de Maagt. He emphasized that the wide array of potential applications for such an imager must not be underestimated. "Apart from its use on space missions, our everyday lives could soon be reaping the benefits of this innovative technology," he added. Non-space applications If possible space applications are numerous, many more have been identified in non-space fields for use on Earth. A terahertz imager could open up a whole new range of systems in a variety of fields on Earth. For instance, the imager could have various uses in the medical, dermatology and cosmetic sectors. Terahertz imaging is rapidly becoming recognised as a totally new diagnostic technique. By observing these types of waves, it is possible to see through many optically opaque materials. Terahertz waves could provide an image that has X-ray-like properties without the use of potentially harmful radiation. A terahertz imager is a passive instrument and, since the source of the signals for such an imager occurs naturally, is completely safe. X-rays are important tools for dentists to evaluate patients' teeth and to pinpoint cavities and other signs of disease that might not be detected through only a visual examination. The terahertz imager could complement X-ray examinations without adding further health risks. No single type of sensor can provide all the information required for most tasks and combining the use of different sensors could become a valuable tool in many other medical fields. Terahertz waves are also able to penetrate the uppermost layers of skin, making the early detection of skin cancers an interesting possibility. Skin cancer is usually curable if detected quickly enough. Looking into terahertz waves could provide earlier detection than is possible today. And what about looking behind a dressing to see if a wound is healing correctly? This again should be possible using terahertz instrument. An application of a different nature could be the detection of chemical and biological threats. As all materials emit terahertz waves, each having it own frequency pattern as a kind of 'fingerprint'. It could be possible to identify not only the existence of powder in envelopes and postal parcels, but also which kind of material is enclosed. In airports, it could be possible to see through clothes and identify weapons, but not based upon the metal-detection techniques used today. Even non-metal explosives could be possible to spot since they may have their own terahertz 'fingerprint'. "By exploiting operations at two frequencies 250 and 300 GHz, it should be possible to discriminate between materials of different types based on their optical properties e.g. reflectivity," said Roger Appleby, Technical Leader for the Passive Millimetre Wave Imaging Group at QinetiQ, a UK company. "When imaging the body, reflectivity falls and emissivity increases as the frequency is increased. These properties could be used to reduce false alarms in images of people collected for security scanning." In aviation, terahertz frequencies could penetrate fog. When the technology is more developed, it is conceivable to build a monitor that would give a pilot a clear view ahead. A higher resolution imager than currently developed would be needed. Another potential application came to light when a zoo asked the StarTiger team if a terahertz imager could look behind fur from a distance to diagnose an animal's health. Examining certain animals with thick fur, such as lions and bears, is not always easy. The team thought this was possible in future versions of an imager. "We have recognised the huge potential in non-space applications, and in parallel to exploiting the use of terahertz waves and the StarTiger technology in space, we have kicked-off a commercialisation study to identify the best way of transferring it into terrestrial systems," said Pierre Brisson, Head of ESA's Technology Transfer and Promotion Office. StarTiger team reaching the Terahertz Imager The significant milestone of developing a working prototype was reached last September by the 11-member StarTiger team. "At the end of July we had a prototype to test the various elements," explained Chris Mann, StarTiger Project Manager at RAL. "We had the scanning mechanism in place and we managed to demonstrate the first passive terahertz image in September at one frequency." However, the resolution was low, 8-by-8 pixels, and the time needed to acquire the image was too long. The team then took the techniques further and pushed the development of a lithographically and micro-machined detector array. "The final version was an enhanced imaging system incorporating a two-colour 16-pixel detector array of the size of a postage stamp. This advanced system incorporated revolutionary silicon micro-electrical- mechanical systems (MEMs) technology," continued Chris Mann. "The enhanced system delivered images that confirmed the mysterious nature of terahertz waves. An imager can show details of features under the skin, confirming the potential of this technique." The team also tried to scan through a book, and the terahertz imager acquired pictures through different materials. Knives and even non-metallic items hidden in pockets or newspapers were clearly seen. To reach the results in so short time was a tribute to the StarTiger R&D; approach. In addition, several recent technology developments made it possible to build the StarTiger terahertz imager in its relatively small size. Attempts to construct a camera operating in the submillimetre wave range have so far resulted in very bulky solutions. Such cameras have primarily been based on waveguide-based technology and usually assembled from discrete elements. The recent advances in lithographically and micro- machining offered the potential for the realisation of the same performance with much smaller physical dimensions. "The StarTiger imager fits within a briefcase, is easy transportable. The core of the instruments is the size of a cigarette package," said Peter de Maagt. "Next generation instruments will go for another magnitude smaller size, by using electronic scanning." What's next? "With StarTiger we want to dramatically reduce the turnaround time for state-of-the art technology developments. This we have demonstrated as possible with this first StarTiger project," said Niels Jensen, ESA's Head of Technology Programmes Department. Niels Jensen continued, "Putting together a highly motivated team in the same laboratory for an intense period with everything they can possibly require, we can create a synergy not attainable to the same extent in conventional R&D.; This provides a real chance to advance a well-defined key technology and reach a scientific breakthrough within a relative short period." "We intend to use this approach for selected key technologies in the future. The location for projects will of course change from project to project. The objective is to select the best European laboratory for the each specific technology, to provide the best support for the teams," concluded Niels Jensen. Note for editors: StarTiger is an acronym for 'Space Technology Advancements by Resourceful, Targeted and Innovative Groups of Experts and Researchers'. It is a pioneering ESA initiative designed to facilitate innovative research, launched last year under its Basic Technology Research Programme (TRP). The aim is to reach a quantum increase in a promising technology within a short period of time. More information * Star Tiger to unveil submillimetre wave secrets http://www.esa.int/export/esaCP/ESA9UWG18ZC_Benefits_0.html * Wanted: innovative minds for Star Tiger http://www.esa.int/export/esaCP/ESACMGF18ZC_Benefits_0.html * ESA Industry Web Site: Innovative brain synergy in Star Tiger http://www.esa.int/export/esaCP/ESAGNGF18ZC_Benefits_0.html * Star Tiger advertisement http://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/industry/StarTiger_ad_v3.pdf * UK science minister inaugurates Star Tiger project http://www.esa.int/export/esaCP/ESAWSXJE43D_Benefits_0.html Related links * CLRC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory http://www.clrc.ac.uk/ * ESA Technology Activities in ESTEC http://www.estec.esa.nl/pr/activities/technology.php3 * ESA Industry Portal http://industry.esa.int/ * ESA Technology http://www.esa.int/tech/ IMAGE CAPTIONS: [Image 1: http://www.esa.int/export/esaCP/SEMZ1R1A6BD_Improving_1.html] The StarTiger imager operates at two frequencies: 0.25 THz and 0.3 THz. It captures natural submillimetre waves and having responses at two frequencies provides a means for contrasting between materials with different transmission and reflection properties, effectively creating two colours. A hand is here seen captured by the StarTiger imager and the four images illustrated processing steps to extract the information. >From left to right: 1. raw data shows pixillation and lines 2. bi-linear resampling reduces line structure 3. information is improved by change of dynamic range 4. using false colours based upon the image taken in two frequencies, brings out more subtle features By change of image processing focus can be selected according to interest, e.g. the skin, the hand itself or maybe objects behind, i.e. hidden by the hand. It has been verified that objects can be captured through clothes and more solid objects like books. Credits: ESA [Image 2: http://www.esa.int/export/esaCP/SEMZ1R1A6BD_Improving_1.html#subhead1 Star Tiger is a pioneering activity under the European Space Agency's Basic Technology Research Programme (TRP) to facilitate innovative and breakthrough research. The main aim is to reduce dramatically the development time for a critical space technology programme. The first project in partnership with CLRC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, England, is to realise the world's first compact submillimetre wave imager using state-of-the-art micro-electro-mechanical technology. Star Tiger is short for "Space Technology Advancements by Resourceful, Targeted and Innovative Groups of Experts and Researchers". Credits: ESA / Rutherford Appleton Laboratory [Image 3: http://www.esa.int/export/esaCP/SEMZ1R1A6BD_Improving_1.html#subhead2 Terahertz waves occupy a portion of the spectrum between infrared and microwaves, from 10**11 to 10**13 Hertz. Until now, this has been an unexplored part of the electromagnetic spectrum. Credits: ESA [Image 4: http://www.esa.int/export/esaCP/SEMZ1R1A6BD_Improving_1.html#subhead3 The overall success of the StarTiger project was that the team managed in a very short time, only four months, to research, develop and combine a series of state-of-art technologies, and to produce a working imager able to capture pictures in the terahertz frequency range, 0.25 and 0.3 THz. This result confirmed the potential of the StarTiger innovative R&D; methodology. The StarTiger 'colour' terahertz imager is here seen under test at ESTEC, The Netherlands, by Peter de Maagt, ESA's StarTiger Project Manager. Credits: ESA [Image 5: http://www.esa.int/export/esaCP/SEMZ1R1A6BD_Improving_1.html#subhead4 Star Tiger imaging could improve diagnostic techniques. [Image 6: http://www.esa.int/export/esaCP/SEMZ1R1A6BD_Improving_1.html#subhead5 The StarTiger project researched and developed state-of-the-art technologies. The successes include: * micro machined room temperature detector was developed * two colour micro machined waveguide array developed * photonic band gap mixer developed * technology route identified for a 2D image array * potential key technology demonstrated for a electronically scanning-array The micro-machined image detector is here seen under development. Credits: Rutherford Appleton Laboratory [Image 7: http://www.esa.int/export/esaCP/SEMZ1R1A6BD_Improving_1.html#subhead6 Chris Mann,RAL Project Manager, presents Star Tiger project to Lord Sainbury, UK Minister for Science and Innovation, at the inauguration at Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Oxfordshire, 24 June 2002 Credits: CCLRC / Rutherford Appleton Laboratory [Image 8: http://www.esa.int/export/esaCP/SEMZ1R1A6BD_Improving_1.html#subhead7 The Star Tiger team is here seen together with Lord Sainsbury, Minister for Science and Innovation for the UK, and VIP from RAL and ESA. Standing at back, left to right, is seen Peter de Maagt (ESA Project Manager), Dario Castiglioni (team member), Alfred Zinn (team member), Chris Mann (RAL Project Manager), Frank van de Water (team member), Luisa Deias (team member), Geoff McBride (Deputy RAL Project Manager), Alec McCalden (team member), Alexander Laisne (team member), Ruben Edesen (RAL support), Derek Jenkins (team member), Marc Ferlet (RAL support), Jorge Teniente (team member), Inigo Ederra (team member), Antione Roederer (ESA) and Eike Kircher (ESA). Seated at front, left to right, Niels Jensen (ESA's Head of Technology Programmes Department), James O'Neill (team member), Lord Sainsbury (Minister for Science and Innovation for the UK) and David Haskett (team member). Credits: CCLRC / Rutherford Appleton Laboratory [Image 9: http://www.esa.int/export/esaCP/SEMZ1R1A6BD_Improving_1.html#subhead8 The development of the StarTiger 'colour' terahertz imager, integrates such innovative technology areas as planar antenna technology, planar detector technology, micro-machining technology, photonic band gap materials and miniaturised back-end electronics. One of the team members is here seen while aligning the scanning mechanism of the first prototype. Credits: Rutherford Appleton Laboratory [Image 10: http://www.esa.int/export/esaCP/SEMZ1R1A6BD_Improving_1.html#subhead9 ] Startiger is a new approach to conducting research and development (R&D;) which aims to reach a quantum increase in a promising technology within a short period of time. The fundamental concept is, bring together a small group of highly motivated researchers, grant them full access to laboratory and production facilities, remove all administrative distractions and let them work for an intense period of four to six months. The first Startiger project demonstrates that the turnaround time can be dramatically reduced in state-of-the-art technology research and development in certain areas. -- Andrew Yee ayee@nova.astro.utoronto.ca


From: hemi4268@aol.com (Hemi4268) Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format Date: 26 Feb 2003 Subject: Re: Calling Hemi's Bluff (Viewing Distance) Hi In the book Modern Optics, Cat Number 65-27054 page 245 it goes into the 10 inch view distance. It says something I even didn't realize. The 10 inch view distance was picked as a standard because at that distance, it gives a visual perception of an 1 to 1 image. Its called the standard reference distance for the determination of magnification. So at 5 inches view distance, the magnification is 2 times and at 2.5 inches it's 4 times. A 5 times magnification would be a view distance of 2 inches which is about the distance the eyeball has from the focus screen in a 35mm camera through a prism. A .90 screen would then correct it to 4.5 times magnification at the eyeball. A 55mm lens would give stereo vision through the viewfinder with the .90 screen. Larry


From: hemi4268@aol.com (Hemi4268) Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format Date: 25 Feb 2003 Subject: Re: Calling Hemi's Bluff (Viewing Distance) >the distance >at which the prints looks like what you would see with the naked eye >looking at the scene". An enlargement from my 600mm lens would have to be >waay far away to look the same size >as the scene ;-) Yes if you take View Distance = Focal Length times Magnification that would be for a 5X7 print a view distance of over 3000mm or 120 inches or 10 ft. The only way to reduce this somewhat is to make a contact print from a 11x14 negative. Then the View Distance is shorten to 600mm or 24 inches. Again to view as the naked eye views. I am sure you have seen trick pictures of people holding a picture of the same scene in front of them only only to have their head and feet show with no body in the middle. You use these calculations to figure out how big a picture should be made and how far away the subject should stand holding the picture. Larry


From: Jeff tokom@sympatico.ca Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format Subject: Re: Homebrew 120 film cans Date: Mon, 24 Mar 2003 Go to your friendly Pharmacist, and con him to give you a few empty 16DR plastic prescription containers. Unexposed film, in it's wrapper, fits snugly. Exposed film has a bit of play. This is the best way to tell them apart inside a bag or pocket. It works for me. Jeff. Stewart C. Russell wrote: > I got sick of my 120 rolls lurking in my camera bag unprotected. Since > I'm also a 35mm photographer who shoots on Ilford and Fuji films, I've > got a lot of these empty cans lying about. With a sharp knife, 30 > seconds work, and zero expenditure, you've got a > worth-more-than-you-paid-for-it 120 roll film can. > > Details here: > http://www3.sympatico.ca/scruss/pentacon_six.html#filmcan > Stewart


From: "Steve Midgley" smidgley@attbi.com Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format Subject: Re: Homebrew 120 film cans Date: Mon, 24 Mar 2003 "Jon" vze249jf@verizon.net wrote > I don't know where he gets them, but David Romano packs his cut down (to > 120) 70mm Kodak HIE into great plastic film cans: > > http://www.DavidRomano.com/Film.html > > Jon These containers are available from Porter's Camera online at http://porterscamerastore.com/. They can be found under "Film and Batteries/Film Storage". The price is $3.50 for 3. They are well made - I have several dozen that I bought probably fifteen years ago that are still working fine. Steve Midgley


From: "Al Denelsbeck" AL@wading-in.net Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.35mm Subject: Re: making your own remote switch Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2003 Ujjwal Sarin ujjwal_sarin@hotmail.com wrote > Hey, > > I have a Canon Rebel Ti, I wanted to make my own remote switch. The > idea seems very simple, just don't feel like spending around $25 for > it. I was wondering if any one of you have made it before and have > experience with it. I know it has a 2.5mm standard audio jack. I've done it, not hard at all. There's a rough schematic on my site at http://wading-in.net/page104-remote.html. A more elaborate page will be produced eventually, showing photos and assembly. - Al.


From: "Hank Scorpio" insertmyname@sympatico.ca Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.35mm Subject: Re: making your own remote switch Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2003 Look around in here: http://camerahacker.tripod.com/index.html "Ujjwal Sarin" ujjwal_sarin@hotmail.com wrote > Hey, > > I have a Canon Rebel Ti, I wanted to make my own remote switch. The > idea seems very simple, just don't feel like spending around $25 for > it. I was wondering if any one of you have made it before and have > experience with it. I know it has a 2.5mm standard audio jack. > > Thanks, > ujjwal


From: artkramr@aol.com (ArtKramr) Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.large-format Date: 29 Apr 2003 Subject: Re: GG cut corners? >Subject: Re: GG cut corners? >From: gzzzzzzzblank@bellatlantic.net (Gregory Blank) >Date: 4/28/03 >Its probably both, but the Kodak Master view does not have cut corner GG >but does have an intricate system to vent the air from or to the camera as >the bellows >is contracted and expanded. Then it is not both. If the corners are not cut off then you can't look at the lens. But if the corners are cut off you have the frustration of not seeing the image out to the extreme edges of the field. Having a full groundglass and a vent system to allow the air to escape solves the cutoff problem, and peeking through the groundglass corners to the lens has nothing to do with anything. If it did no one would make full groundglasses and add vent systems to the camera. Arthur Kramer Visit my WW II B-26 website at: http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer


From: "Richard Knoppow" dickburk@ix.netcom.com Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.large-format Subject: Re: GG cut corners? Date: Sun, 27 Apr 2003 ... > If you can't see the entire aperture it is a problem, vignetting will occur. > If you can see the entire opening at whatever aperture you are using it > shouldn't vignette. > > Sherman > http://www.dunnamphoto.com You will find that at full aperture the corners show partial obsuring of the aperture. This results in more fall off than is predicted by the simple fall off formula. Unless you _must_ work at full aperture you should stop down until the entire iris is visible from the corners. Obviously, the wider angle the lens, or the greater the lens movement, the smaller this aperture will be. For a "normal" focal length lens, and no movements, the maximum aperture that will not be vignetted by the lens mount is about two stops down from the maximum the lens is capable of. For many lenses this is also the maximum aperture where the spherical aberration and coma are reasonably well controlled. --- Richard Knoppow Los Angeles, CA, USA dickburk@ix.netcom.com


From: artkramr@aol.com (ArtKramr) Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.large-format Date: 29 Apr 2003 Subject: Re: GG cut corners? >Subject: Re: GG cut corners? >From: Dean Van Praotl no.spam@my.email.adr >Date: 4/28/03 >Adams said the corners of the ground glass were cut off >"to permit the movement of air when the bellows is >expanded or collapsed." (The Camera, ch.4) The cut off corners to allow air to escape has been common wisdom for as long as anyone can remember and has been stated in the literature going back to American Photographer circa 1902. Peeking in the holes to detect cut off is just techy revisionism. Arthur Kramer Visit my WW II B-26 website at: http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer


From: Wolodymyr Bazhan bazhanv@ifpan.edu.pl Newsgroups: sci.optics Subject: ScatLab program Date: Mon, 12 May 2003 New program light scattering software developed to perform electromagnetic scattering simulations mainly based on classical Mie theory solution: http://www.scatlab.com Best regards W. Bazhan


From minolta manual mailing list: Date: Sat, 10 May 2003 From: "xs_650se" christer@pcr.se Subject: Cheap radio remote release solution I have a found a reasonably cheap solution for those wanting a radio remote trigger. I have tried it on MF Minoltas, and my Dimage 7i, but i think it should be easy to modify for Maxxums to. Look here: http://www.photozone.nu/article/articleview/15/1/2/ /Christer


From camera makers mailing list: From: "Howard Wells" sandwell@earthlink.net To: "cameramakers" cameramakers@rosebud.opusis.com Subject: RE: [Cameramakers] Source for accessory shoe/cold shoe? Date: Mon, 19 May 2003 Item 45-0103 at http://porters.com/ Crude but will do the job. I've seen machined aluminum shoes as well but can't find a source for them at the moment. Howard Wells


From: Wolodymyr Bazhan bazhanv@ifpan.edu.pl Newsgroups: sci.optics Subject: ScatLab 1.2 is free Date: Thu, 29 May 2003 light scattering freeware developed to perform electromagnetic scattering simulations mainly based on classical Mie theory solution, T-matrix support, cross section graphs, near field imaging and more... http://www.scatlab.com


From: "Al Denelsbeck" AL@wading-in.net Newsgroups: rec.photo.digital,rec.photo.misc Subject: Re: "generic" software to download from camera to PC Date: Tue, 24 Jun 2003 L Mehl mehl@cyvest.com wrote > Hello -- > > I am a newbie re: digital photography, using Win2000. > > I have an old,cheapie camera by Xirlink/DSC Pro; the software it came with > no longer runs, and it won't install. > > Is there some freeware/shareware available with which I can download images > from the camera to my PC, and erase the photos from the camera? Did you try downloading a new driver from their website? A search under "Xirlink DSC Pro" netted this: http://www.cameratechsupport.com/EARTHLINK/digicamsdrivers_pc.htm - Al.


From: "Bob" bobpatterson@adelphia.net Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format Subject: Re: Add-on Film Box-end Holders Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2003 On my Bronica I put a square piece of Velcro (the hook part) on the back and on the box ends of the various films I use I put the loop part. Carry them in a small plastic bag & change as needed. I don't use that many different films so it's not hard to keep track. Bob "Bandicoot" "insert_handle_here"@techemail.com wrote > I remember that before every 35mm camera had a film box-end holder on its > back (now they all have those little windows) you could get after market > ones that you stuck on the back. I also _think_ I remember that at that > time you could also get these reminder thingys in a size for a 120 (or 220) > box-end. > > Anyone know if such a thing still exists, and where I might be able to get > some? A UK source would be best, but I'll order them from anywhere if > necessary. > > Thanks, > Peter > http://www.bard-hill.co.uk


From: "Bandicoot" "insert_handle_here"@techemail.com Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format Subject: Re: Add-on Film Box-end Holders Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2003 "Bob Monaghan" rmonagha@engr.smu.edu wrote > Hi Peter, > Try http://www.porters.com/ porters camera store and similar outlets; > they've had them in the past etc. should ship overseas?... Will try them and find out. > another option is colored tape; radio shack sells a series of colored > plastic tape which can be handy to identify items. I used to tape my > bags for trips so it was obvious that all the bags with blue tape on them > were mine, cuts down on getting wrong ones or somebody mistaking your bag > for theirs (easy to do with scuba bags, all look alike ;-). You could use > green for velvia, yellow for kodak gold and so on ;-) > grins bobm Yes, I've done this with suitcases too. I used to have numbers painted on all my 35mm camera bodies, but somehow always prefered reminders with MF. Your colour suggestion is what I now do for 35mm - except that I use Op-Tech Pro-Straps. I have a green one for Velvia, red for E100VS, black and grey ones for B&W; films, plus a burgundy and two shades of blue for other stocks. Works really well. I just don't always use straps on MF or I'd do the same there. Thanks, Peter


From rangefinder mailing list: Date: Sat, 28 Jun 2003 From: Rolohar@aol.com Subject: Re: [RF List] Electroluminescent light table For a really in-depth dissertation on electroluninescent panels: http://www.planar.com/technology/el.asp Roland F. Harriston


From: Phil Stripling phil_stripling@cieux.zzn.com Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.35mm Subject: Re: Filter tutorial? Date: 17 Jul 2003 "Nobody" nobody@nowhere.not writes: > I haven't gotten Google to show me the way to the comparisons. Maybe someone > here can. I'm willing to toss and replace, but I'd like to have confidence > about why I'm doing it. Google is, indeed, your friend. Go to http://groups.google.com/ select Advanced Search, and type in filter UV lens in the box for "Find messages with all the word," then drop down to the box at "Newsgroup Return only messages from the newsgroup" and type in rec.photo.equipment.35mm then click on Google Search, and you'll have about 5,000 messages right on point. Some of them are even current in this newsgroup even as we, uh, type. -- Philip Stripling


From: sluster@lw4u.com (Spencer) Newsgroups: sci.optics Subject: Re: Anyone ever build a telecenric light source? Date: 20 Aug 2003 frankhaussmann@web.de wrote > Dear optic guys, > > I try to build a somehow cheap (around 100 Euro) telecentric light > source on my own. Unfortunatelly I did not find much about the comon > designs beyond people often use 3 lenses. > I'd like to illuminate an area of 30 mm diameter, red light will be > needed. > > My questions are: > * any hints about the way of the rays? > * what lenses are needed? > * any other special optic items (apertures, ..) > * any good ideas about the light source (polished LED?) > > Thanks for your ideas. > > > Regards, > > > Frank Hi Frank, I've built many collimators (telecentric light source) in my time. Depending on what you need the collimator for, there are a variety of approaches. For the moment, I'll assume you just need a marginally well behaved light source for some imaging application in which you don't care about the quality of the wavefront of the collimated beam, etc. Simple collimator: Light source at the back focus of a simple plano-convex lens. If you start with an LED, you *might* get away with just using a small diameter, diffuse end LED all by itself. My experience has been that this rarely provides sufficient illumination uniformity across the field. Most of my work is in machine vision. In order to increase uniformity, you can try different diffusers in front of the LED, then place a small circular aperture directly over the diffuser. The aperture, not the LED, will be at the back focus of your lens. For quick, cheap and dirty, textured drafting mylar can work well. For more uniformity, you can go to lossier diffusers such as milk white plastic, etc. "Fly's Eye" type sheet -- from Fresnel Technologies -- can be pretty efficient and a good homogenizer, though you still might want a layer of drafting mylar over this. Don't use a clear-ended LED by itself unless you don't care at all about uniformity. You'll see the structure of the junction in the output beam. If you need better collimation quality, perhaps you could be more specific about what you are trying to achieve. The next step up would be to use an achromatic doublet lens instead of a simple plano-convex lens. If you need good wavefront quality, you'll probably want to be in the world of multi-element beam expanders and laser sources. Definitely not in the 100 euro range! Good luck. Spencer Spencer D. Luster, Owner LIGHT WORKS, LLC -- Creative Optical Devices http://www.LW4U.com


From: contaxman@aol.comnospam (Lewis Lang) Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.35mm Date: 14 Aug 2003 Subject: Re: which is the best portrait lens? >Anything but Pentax would be better. It all depends on your cash >supply. Contax, Leica, Nikon, Canon all would be superior. Wrong, Mike. This is sort of a sweeping generalization that doesn't take into account alot of important factors in a desirable portrait lens. It all depends upon your definition of the term "better" and who's defining that term (their tastes/preferences). A sharper lens is not always the best lens for portraiture and the older lenses had both bokeh and color rendition that might be more pleasing to a portrait user (depending on user preference/taste). Pentax lenses are renowned for their excellent bokeh and their fine color rendition and overall high quality for low prices. While I can't comment on the 105/2.8, the 85/1.4 FA (autofocus) lenses is supposed to be superb for portrait work (though on the expensive side). The Pentax 100/2.8 FA (unfortunately a K mount lens and not a screw mounbt lens) macro lens is also supposed to be one of the sharpest lenses in its range on the planet - in an old PP? test I believe it tied or beat out (probably tied) the then non-USM Canon 100 f/2.8 which is also one of te best macro lenses on the planet. The 77/1.8 Ltd. is also supposed to be an excellent portrait lens (but expensive and only in KA-type mount). The only screw mount Pentax that I saw results from was the 135/2.5 (either in K or screw mount plus adapter, I believe it was the same lens regardless of mount though) and if my faint memory serves, it was a fine lens (sharp/colorful) though a little on the long side for you. Why not go to either www.photographyreview.com and look at the comments for this older lens (if there are any on the "old lenses" Pentax page - I think you have to click a link on the regular Pentax lens page to get there), or photo.net or do a search on Yahoo! for Bob DImitri's/Dimitrov's? (I forget the spelling) and/or some other Pentax lens test/user comment sites to get a handle on the performance of the 105/2.8. But here are some links to get you started anyways... :-): http://www.phred.org/pentax/lensgal/k105_28/k105_28.html (I am not sure if the above link is for a K mount lens and whether/if there was an optical design change between the screw mount (Super Takumar) version and the K mount version or not, the below link is for comments on the K mount version of the lens) http://www.concentric.net/~smhalpin/BriefComments.html#105%20mm%20f/2.8 Sharpness isn't everything in a portrait lens as not everybody wants to see inside someone else's crow's feet or wrinkles, though it certainly doesn't hurt to have a sharp lens for other subject matter. For women, especially, a slight softening filter and/or shoting at or near wide open aperture cuts just enough edge off of the sharpness to be very useful. I have used the 90/2.8 Leica R lens for fashion but it is brutally sharp and requires either flat light and/or a softening filter and/or someone with perfect/unblemished skin. Rather than have the OP of this thread listen to any of us, why don't you try out the 105/2.8 Pentax lens at a store/swap meet/etc. with some film and a subject (see if they'll let you shoot either outside or in a well lit area with windows and/or some kind of sky light that's not too overhead/more coming from the side) and judge for yourself how you like its lens signature (sharpness, bokeh (rendition of out of focus areas), color rendition, contrast, etc.)? Hope this helps. Regards, Lewis Check out my photos at "LEWISVISION": http://members.aol.com/Lewisvisn/home.htm


Subject: Re: Cellophane as quarter wave plate? From: Repeating Decimal salmonfry@sbcglobal.net Newsgroups: sci.optics Date: Thu, 14 Aug 2003 Edgar A Pearlstein at epearlst@unlserve.unl.edu wrote > Michael (mmehrle@yahoo.com) wrote: > : Also, since we're on the subject - what is the cheapest sources for a > : quarter wave plate out there? Can this be purchased for less than a buck per > : square foot in volume? > > Maybe cellophane from different sources is different, but back about > 50 years ago, cellophane from cigarette packs was a good quarter-wave > plate. Now that IS being CHEAP. There was no specification given for the desired waveplate. This absolutely necessary if you want to discuss price. Polaroid used to make wave plate material. You should contact them. But at $1 or less per square foot, do not hold your breath. Bill


From: epearlst@unlserve.unl.edu (Edgar A Pearlstein) Newsgroups: sci.optics Subject: Re: Cellophane as quarter wave plate? Date: 14 Aug 2003 Michael (mmehrle@yahoo.com) wrote: : Also, since we're on the subject - what is the cheapest sources for a : quarter wave plate out there? Can this be purchased for less than a buck per : square foot in volume? Maybe cellophane from different sources is different, but back about 50 years ago, cellophane from cigarette packs was a good quarter-wave plate.


From: "Michael" mmehrle@yahoo.com Newsgroups: sci.optics Subject: Cellophane as quarter wave plate? Date: Wed, 13 Aug 2003 I recently read that normal household cellophane wrap can be used as a cheap half wave plate (http://individual.utoronto.ca/iizuka/research/cellophane.htm) - it's usually not at a perfect 180 degrees, but somewhere around that. Now, my question is: Can the cellophane's thickness be modified so that it can function as a 90 degrees quarter wave plate? My thought is that it might just be a matter of adjusting the thickness or stretching force during the manufacturing process... Also, since we're on the subject - what is the cheapest sources for a quarter wave plate out there? Can this be purchased for less than a buck per square foot in volume? Any input would be welcome... Cheers, Michael


From: alindsey [alindsey@cableone.net] Sent: Thu 8/14/2003 To: panorama-l@sci.monash.edu.au Subject: Pole Photography To all pole-a-files, I got my basic pole info from: http://www.bird-shots.com/ He has changed his site's access and converted from a truck pole to a trailer pole - a great idea. I may change my pole mounting later on. There are several PAP sites. Search on "Pole Aerial Photography" It's not an easy project but a 50 ft (or less) pole is doable. The cradle carries: 1. A roundshot 35, mounted upside down due to its Swiss alps lookup character. I get more ground upside down. 2. The Roundshot controller 3. My Minolta D7 with or with out the fisheye adapter. 4. A video transmitter from X10.com for the Minolta or XCam2 video signal. 5. A 6V NiMh battery pack for servos rotating: Hor, Vert, Shutter and Pwr. 6. A 12V NiMh battery pack for the Video xmiter 7. A 7.2 V battery pack for the Minolta Or, I can mount only the RS and use a small Video camera from X10 (XCam2) to see the camera's view from the air. Leveling is done buy doing a 360 and adjusting the pole so that the horizon is in the middle of the TV screen all around. The D7 when mounted, either landscape or portrait wise, can be rotated 360 degrees in both axis. Sphericals are easy. Only the Nadir patch is tough. When mounted alone I can put the D7's Nodal point right on the centers of rotation. On the ground, I have a video receiver from X10, a small battery powered TV (with a video input) and a R/C box for activating the cradle stuff. I use a 4 channel Futaba R/C kit. It came with the servos, receiver, transmitter (controller), batteries and charger. I replaced the NiCad batteries with NiMh. I first used a 4:1 gear reduction but It seemed too fast so I changed to a worm gear for the two rotation directions. Also, the H & V servos were modified to provide 360 degrees of rotation. Plenty of sites tell how to modify these. I had some welding done on the pole side of the project but everything else was made in my garage. I have hand tools, a grinder, a drill and a vise. The cradle was made in my garage using local materials from Radio Shack, Lowes and Home Depot (except the two worms and spurs and the small ball bearings which I had to order because I live in a small town. The R/C unit came from a Hobby Outlet store. Teflon bearings can replace the ball bearings. If the cradle is made correctly one can balance the load so the servos are not stressed. I considered hi-torque servos but worm gears were a bit cheaper and I wanted to slow things down anyway. I priced a commercial pole. Bare bones it was $8300. Home brew is much cheaper. The owner of the bird-shots site told me that he has used his pole for 2 years and has taken over 10,000 pics. If you're serious, I'll be happy to provide some construction tips that I learned (the hard way). Regards, Austin Lindsey


From: "Marlo Andersen" mander@xmission.com To: cameramakers@rosebud.opusis.com Subject: Re: [Cameramakers] Was: 3/8in German t0 1/4 20 tpi tripod adapter in: Cameramakers digest, Vol 1 #836 Date: Mon, 17 Nov 2003 The European tripod thread is a U. S. Unified Standard machine screw thread, 3/8-16UNC; the "16" is the thread pitch and the UNC indicating it is a "Unified National Coarse" thread form. Its origin, I believe, is similar to the fact that almost all bicycle pedals have a U. S. Standard thread (1/2" or 9/16" diameter) regrdless of where the bicycle is manufactured. For bicycle pedals, the only good, reliable ones in the early days were made in the U.S., so bicycle manufacturers had to accomodate to use good ones that were a purchased item rather than design their own from scratch. I don't know the history on tripods, but I suspect that in the early days the best ones were made in the U.S. and the U.S. thread became a defacto standard for the world, but the U.S. industry changed their standard for smaller portable cameras. I have seen very old (and large) U.S. made cameras that used the 3/8" thread, which supports this theory. If my memory serves me correctly, the 3/8" thread is also used on professional movie cameras and industrial high speed movie cameras where rigid mounting is a necessity. My own large, studio tripod has screws with each thread, to accomdate either. ----- Original Message ----- From: graphic99@mindspring.com To: cameramakers@rosebud.opusis.com Sent: Sunday, November 16, 2003 Subject: [Cameramakers] Was: 3/8in German t0 1/4 20 tpi tripod adapter in: Cameramakers digest, Vol 1 #836 > This 3/8 to 1/4tpi raises a question that I have been puzzling on lately: > > How did the Europeans settle on a tripod stud size that is an exact match > for the U.S. stanard 3/8 inch pipe thread (exact pitch unknown to me but > there is only one for this size in the U.S.)? > > My math makes an exact 3/8 inch to metric conversion work out to > 9.54mm...hardly a nice uniform metric tooling size. Or is it just a good > sloppy fit? > > Wayne > graphic99@mindspring.com


Date: Mon, 17 Nov 2003 Subject: Re: [Cameramakers] Was: 3/8in German t0 1/4 20 tpi tripod adapter in: Cameramakers digest, Vol 1 #836 To: cameramakers@rosebud.opusis.com From: Philippe Debeerst philippe.debeerst@photoeil.be WAYNE, Tripod stud size has to do whit tradition in the U.K. industry, who was the standard at the end of the 19th century. For instance , the 50 mm (= 2x 1 inch) focal length of the "normal" lens for 35 mm is 2x the "standard" occulair (= 1 inch) for the microscopes used that time in the U.K. industry and adopted bij the industry on the continent! E. Leitz and O. Barnack just toke what they had by the hand (and in production) and 50 mm was the diameter of the 35 mm frame. But do not forget the the basic idea of the Leica was to make an test camera for the motion picture industry. the Leica was developed to be used to make test exposures on kinofilm to determinate the right E.I. and E.V.! Thus not plain photography. And the 1 inch focal length was enough for te 35 mm kinofilm format with was 24 mm large (not 36 mm). The same happens for the stud, U.K. standard was 3/8" Withwoth thread, the camera industry toke it. 3/8" pipe thread was strong and good enough. But for cost cutting reasons the stud got smaller and became 1/4", almost all the Japanese camera's are using this as an standard, the rest of the world toke it over. Philippe P.S. Excuse me for the bad English, this is only my third language. ...


From: Sam Goldwasser sam@saul.cis.upenn.edu Newsgroups: sci.optics Subject: Re: Light projection on air -- Anyone remember the details? Date: 27 Dec 2003 Here's the thread: http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr;=&ie;=UTF-8&th;=68a26128d3f3d21d&rnum;=4 --- sam | Sci.Electronics.Repair FAQ Home Page: http://www.repairfaq.org/ Repair | Main Table of Contents: http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/ +Lasers | Sam's Laser FAQ: http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/lasersam.htm | Mirror Site Info: http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/F_mirror.html Important: The email address in this message header may no longer work. To contact me, please use the feedback form on the S.E.R FAQ Web sites. ajw27703@wmconnect.comremoove (tony) writes: > >Hi all. New poster to this forum. About 3 months ago, I happened to > >come across an article on CNN's website in the technology section. I > >even remember reading a post or two on Usenet (can't remember the > >specific forum now). > > > >The article was about a grad student from MIT who had purpotedly > >invented a very interesting, and potentially highly lucrative device. > > > >It apparently allowed him to suspend 2d images in mid-air, with no > >screen, mirror, or any other solid refelective surface. The article > >was very sketchy on the details, suggesting that the inventor wanted > >to keep things as vague as possible to prevent anyone from copying his > >idea until he had patented/finalized it. However, IIRC, he did give a > >small hint, that it had something to do with altering the properties > >of the air above the projector, which somehow allowed him to > >manipulate light waves in the above-mentioned manner. He described > >some interesting phenomena that he had (or could) achieve with this > >technology, including images that were different on two sides of the > >air-curtain, and even where from one side it would be transparent, but > >on the other it would apear solid. > > > >They also had a few pictures posted with the article, and admittedly > >they were distorted and fuzzy. The inventor said he had a lot of work > >left to do, but felt confident that he could improve the resolution > >and distortion. > > > >If I haven't done a good job of describing this, recall the holograms > >they had in starwars. This is pretty close to that (but not 2d, not > >3d). > > > >Anyways, I've since gone back to CNN's archives, and can't find any > >article like this. I've done key word searches for anything that I > >recall form the article, and I come up with nothing. Doing google > >searches results in the same. > > > >My conclusion is that either it turned out to be a hoax and CNN > >scrapped it out of embarassment, or (this one if from watching too > >many movies) it got bought up by the military and is now top secret, > >hence the mysterious lack of any info regarding this. > > > >Anyways, was hoping one of you fine folks might either recall the > >article, or some mention of this device. Thanks in advance for any > >info. > > > Firstly, I'll confess I don't know anything about the technology you're > describing. If you do a search in this newsgroup, though, you'll find a thread > describing how three D images are made in glass. The technology involves > localized heating, using a laser, so that the glass fractures, the fractures > are sub mm in size. > > I wonder if a large na laser could do enough localized heating of an air > volume to distort its optical characteristics enough to cause a psudo image. > > Think of it, no billboards along highways, instead there'd be images floating > in space. Scary, huh?


From: iturnblackkeys@hotmail.com (iturnblackkeys) Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.35mm Subject: Re: Streak Photography Date: 6 Sep 2003 Check these out as examples.... http://www.underview.com/2001/how/slitscan.html http://www.discover.com/jan_01/bogglers.html http://www.discover.com/jan_01/solutions.html


From: "zeitgeist" blkhatwhtdog@yahoo.com Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format Subject: Re: "To cut or not to Cut", that is my question Date: Mon, 20 Oct 2003 labs return the film uncut because it is common to have the entire roll reprinted, hopefully cause the client orders several sets, IE: duplicate sets for the parents, though occasionally the photo doesn't like the color rendition and needs a reprint. if the roll is uncut you can have it reprinted at proof rates, if cut, then you pay re-print rates. at my old lab it was 65 cents vs 2 bucks for 4x5. however tightly wound in a small tube is not good, you should have them in a long sleeve. you can loop them in half in a big envelope and store them in racks like milk crates, or if you shoot lots and lots you can bundle them together and hang them on dowels like coats on a rack. but film stored for awhile in a tight roll will get a permanent curl, this makes sorting and pulling a particular neg difficult, and makes printing very difficult as it will bulge in the frame, remember most of the time you tape the negs to cards, even for custom printing, and a curled neg is a nightmare. btw, even if you use contact sheets for proofing you still don't have to cut, you just lay three rolls down and do them in three sections 1 2 3 4 | 5 6 7 8 | 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 | 5 6 7 8 | 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 | 5 6 7 8 | 9 10 11 12 > As a newbee of medium format photography, I am unfamiliar with the > advantages/disadvantages of cutting the 120 negatives I receive from > the lab. > For each roll, I receive a short tube that contains the uncut film. > > What are the advantages/disadvantages of keeping the film in a roll > versus cutting. Storage certainly seems easier if cut.


From: John Popelish jpopelish@rica.net Newsgroups: sci.optics Subject: Re: Found Cheap Blue LEDs! Date: Tue, 09 Dec 2003 "Carl G." wrote: > > C wrote: > > Hey everyone! I wanted to use a few blue LEDs on a home project, but > > was discouraged by the high prices everywhere. But finally I found > > some cheap blue LEDs online! If anyone is interested, try > > www.etronicstuff.com at 40cents/ea.! Later...C > > If you think 40 cents each is a good deal, you will be glad to know that > people are selling blue LEDs on eBay for around 34 cents each (less if > you bid successfully). > > C. G. I bought 100 for $20, shipping from Hong Kong, included. -- John Popelish


From: john@xyzzy.stafford.net (jjs) Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.large-format Subject: Re: lens caps ? Date: Wed, 04 Feb 2004 James Dunn jdunn@augustmail.com wrote: > Most of the used LF lenses listed on ebay don't seem to have lens caps. > Do most LF photographers not use them ? What to use instead? Use the Real Thing! Here's where to get them. http://www.2filter.com/prices/products/schcaps.html Say Thank You. :)


[Ed. note: warning re: plasticizers and homebrew or commercial lens accessories...] From: Bob Salomon bob_salomon@mindspring.com Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.large-format Subject: Re: lens caps ? Date: Sun, 08 Feb 2004 "BCampbell" chickenlittle@theskyisfalling.net wrote: > I'm not familiar with the Coast version of this product but I've been using > filter wallets made by LowePro I believe it is for many years. They come in > various capacities ranging from maybe four filters to twelve filters. The > filters slip into little "pouches" the fronts of which are some sort of > clear plastic material. I haven't had any problems with the filters. > > "Bob Salomon" bob_salomon@mindspring.com wrote > > john@xyzzy.stafford.net (jjs) wrote: > > > > > Bob Salomon bob_salomon@mindspring.com wrote: > > > > aldenphoto@aol.com (Ken Smith) wrote: > > > > > I have a red peanut butter cap on my Fuji 6x9. Very hard plastic perfect > > > > > fit. The grocery store is loaded with caps. Be sure to take your lens with > > > > > you, and for some reason they don't like you taking pictures there, so be > > > > > sneaky if you are doing a Winogrand on the side. > > > > > > > > > > Ken Smith > > > > > > > > And should there be plasticisers in that cap that migrate to the glass > > > > on your lens be prepared to throw the lens away. But you did save 7.00 > > > > to $13.00 ($13.00 is list price for a 120mm lens cap). > > > > > > Got any authoritative sources concerning this issue? What are these > > > plasticisers and how long can a lens survive them. Are they anything like > > > the plastic storage/contact sheet holders that were used for film in the > > > sixties? > > > > Yes, the most authoritive kind. I had a set of Rollei Bay VI filters - > > including 2 Softars in a Coast Filter Wallet. This item gave off > > plasticisers which migrated to all of the filters in the wallet (9). All > > of the filters had to be thrown away. The owner of Coast would not > > accept any resposibility for putting out such an item in the photo > > market. > > > > A word of advice, make sure your lenses are properrly protected. the > > cost is very low. And I bought what had been marketed as a photo item - > > even though it was a budget version. > > > > -- I have not heard of any problem with the LowePro cases. My experience was limited to the Coast which ruined filters and the original Domke (before Jim Domke sold his business to Saunders and with a later one made by Saunders before they sold out to Tiffen). The advantage to the Coast was price and size and availability. It was inexpensive and large enough to hold Bay VI filters and in stock at the store I was in. --


From: aldenphoto@aol.com (Ken Smith) Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.large-format Subject: Re: lens caps ? Date: 8 Feb 2004 john@xyzzy.stafford.net (jjs) wrote > Bob Salomon bob_salomon@mindspring.com wrote: > > john@xyzzy.stafford.net (jjs) wrote: > > > > > And should there be plasticisers in that cap that migrate to the glass > > > > on your lens be prepared to throw the lens away. But you did save $7.00 > > > > to $13.00 ($13.00 is list price for a 120mm lens cap). > > > > > > Got any authoritative sources concerning this issue? What are these > > > plasticisers and how long can a lens survive them. Are they anything like > > > the plastic storage/contact sheet holders that were used for film in the > > > sixties? > > > > Yes, the most authoritive kind. I had a set of Rollei Bay VI filters - > > including 2 Softars in a Coast Filter Wallet. This item gave off > > plasticisers which migrated to all of the filters in the wallet (9). All > > of the filters had to be thrown away. The owner of Coast would not > > accept any resposibility for putting out such an item in the photo > > market. > > What a nightmare! Thanks for the good warning. Oh sure, another thing to worry over based on "it happened to me" as an substitute for an actual scientific analysis of one plastics migration potential vs. another. A good hard commercial grade plastic food item cap is about as likely to effect your lens, as leaving it by the TV. But I don't know such things for sure. If anyone does have verifiable information, I would sure appreciate it more than the isolated incident mentioned. And please, if you're going to point something out to someone, try to refrain from the smug sarcasm. This usenet thing often makes your average decent guy speak to strangers with the most odd mix of familiarity and dismisal as I've ever seen. Ready, set,... attack!!!


From: Bob Salomon bob_salomon@mindspring.com Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.large-format Subject: Re: lens caps ? Date: Sun, 08 Feb 2004 john@xyzzy.stafford.net (jjs) wrote: > Bob Salomon bob_salomon@mindspring.com wrote: > > aldenphoto@aol.com (Ken Smith) wrote: > > > > I have a red peanut butter cap on my Fuji 6x9. Very hard plastic, perfect > > > fit. The grocery store is loaded with caps. Be sure to take your lens with > > > you, and for some reason they don't like you taking pictures there, so be > > > sneaky if you are doing a Winogrand on the side. > > > > > > Ken Smith > > > > And should there be plasticisers in that cap that migrate to the glass > > on your lens be prepared to throw the lens away. But you did save $7.00 > > to $13.00 ($13.00 is list price for a 120mm lens cap). > > Got any authoritative sources concerning this issue? What are these > plasticisers and how long can a lens survive them. Are they anything like > the plastic storage/contact sheet holders that were used for film in the > sixties? Yes, the most authoritive kind. I had a set of Rollei Bay VI filters - including 2 Softars in a Coast Filter Wallet. This item gave off plasticisers which migrated to all of the filters in the wallet (9). All of the filters had to be thrown away. The owner of Coast would not accept any resposibility for putting out such an item in the photo market. A word of advice, make sure your lenses are properrly protected. the cost is very low. And I bought what had been marketed as a photo item - even though it was a budget version. --


Subject: Re: A question, why can't X-rays be focused and visible light can? From: Repeating Rifle SalmonEgg@sbcglobal.net Newsgroups: alt.sci.physics,sci.med.physics,sci.astro,sci.optics,sci.research Date: Thu, 05 Feb 2004 Helpful person at rrllff@yahoo.com wrote: > I don't understand how the refractive index can be less than unity as > it is the ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum compared to the > speed of light in the material. As EM radiation cannot exceed c, how > is this possible? Here we are talking phase velocity. Phase is what determines focusing. Anything material, including energy, cannot go faster than the speed of light. The phase velocity is often greater than the speed of light in vacuum. The signal velocity, corresponding to a band of frequencies will travel slower than the speed of light. In particular, ordinary rectangular wave guides have phase velocities > c. Microwave lenses have been made using slat waveguides with such phase velocities. A converging lens made this way actually looks concave! It takes time for the transient to die down in such a wave. Bill


From: "Freemale" mail@spamresidence65.fsnet.co.uk Newsgroups: alt.photography,rec.photo.help,rec.photo.technique,rec.photo.technique.people Subject: Re: Right-Angle Adapter Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2004 When I was a younger man. (No not that many years ago) I made myself one from a toilet roll, glue, black paint and a make up mirror. It was very good and simple to do. I finished mine off with a close up lens attached to the front so that it looked like a normal lens. It was great for taking real candid photos. "Paul" spam-trapper@blueyonder.co.uk wrote > "Rebecca" rebecca@starthinker.com wrote > > Does anyone know where I can get a 52mm right-angle adapter? The type that > > looks like a lense but will allow you to shoot a picture in one direction > > while it looks like you are pointing your lense in another. I've been > > watching eBay and searching the web but no luck. Is there another name for it? > > Thanks. ...


From: "nathantw" nathantwnospam@removesbcglobal.net Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format Subject: Re: Hasselblad A12 to Telescope Adaption Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2004 Here's a site from one guy who uses medium format film. It's not a 'blad A12, but it'll give you an idea of what you may need to do. http://www.galaxyphoto.com/ I actually vaguely remember seeing an article on just what you're talking about. I think it was in Sky and Telescope, but I could be wrong and it may have been Astronomy magazine. Your best bet might be to do searches at the library. Good luck. "reconair" reconair@staffnet.com wrote... > I remember seeing in an Astronomy mag several years ago, where an amateur > astronomer adapted a Hasselblad A12 film magazine for use in > astrophotography. As I remember the A12 was the only Blad piece used and it > was attached at the telescope prime focus. Can anyone shed some light (no > pun intended) on this adaptation? > > Scott


From: Uncle Al UncleAl0@hate.spam.net Newsgroups: sci.image.processing,sci.materials,sci.optics,alt.misc,alt.misc.friends Subject: Re: PRINTING PICTURES ONTO METAL... Date: Sat, 06 Mar 2004 EP wrote: > > I've found this website that can print pictures onto metal. You just > send them the picture and they will print it onto a metal pendant of > your choice. This is so cool! Everybody should check it out! > www.icherishyou.com It's cute item. When you finally find the prices vs. area you see why they are so well hidden. 1) Flat slab of metal. 2) Heat transfer print or just a Xerox. 3) Heat transfer onto metal. 4) Acid dip or metal plate or gun darken or photo tone, etc. 5) Acetone wash to remove organics. 6) 8.5 x 11 portrait etched in metal You can also buy liquid photo emulsion, print directly to metal, and burn the reduced silver into the base metal. Then play. Nice high school science project. Nice spam list. -- Uncle Al http://www.mazepath.com/uncleal/qz.pdf http://www.mazepath.com/uncleal/eotvos.htm (Do something naughty to physics)


From: KBob KBob@nothere.net Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.35mm Subject: Re: IR strobe triggers.... Date: Thu, 19 Feb 2004 JR jrhone@mac.com.invalid wrote: >Anyone use those hotshoe i/r strobe triggers? I am thinking of getting >one for my F100 and Hensel monolights. This will be an easy way to get >a wireless setup, as well as be able to use my N70 which doesnt have a >pc sync terminal. Just wanna know how well they work... > >JR Save your money. Simply apply a layer or two of red cellophane tape over your on-camera flash. This will reduce its visible output sufficiently so it won't have an effect on the exposure, but it will easily trigger the slaves. Or fashion a handy slip-over thingee you can fold and keep in the kit--I know you can do it.


From: "Nicholas O. Lindan" nolindan@ix.netcom.com Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format,rec.photo.equipment.large-format Subject: Re: shutter release cables? Differences in connections? Date: Sun, 11 Jan 2004 "Richard Knoppow" dickburk@ix.netcom.com wrote > AFAIK, there are only two patterns of cables: Deckel or > Compur cables, and Kodak cables. And there are Nikon cables, used in early Nikons and some other Japanese cameras; these screw into a large collar surrounding the shutter button. -- Nicholas O. Lindan, Cleveland, Ohio nolindan@ix.netcom.com


From: "Richard Knoppow" dickburk@ix.netcom.com Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format,rec.photo.equipment.large-format Subject: Re: shutter release cables? Differences in connections? Date: Sat, 10 Jan 2004 "Nick Zentena" zentena@hophead.dyndns.org wrote > I'm wondering if common cables are different then older ones. I > need some new cables for a Kiev 60 and a Synchro-Compur #1 shutter. Both > seem to need smaller then normal cables. I've only found one that fits and > the shop doesn't stock them anymore. > > Thanks > Nick AFAIK, there are only two patterns of cables: Deckel or Compur cables, and Kodak cables. Deckel type cables have tapered threaded ends, Kodak cables have parallel threaded ends. Actually, Deckel type cables fit Kodak sockets pretty well. The only new cables I have are some very cheap ones I got at a local camera sale a few months ago. These seem to fit all the shutters I have. Are these off-size cables a well known brand? --- Richard Knoppow Los Angeles, CA, USA dickburk@ix.netcom.com


From camera makers mailing list: Date: Tue, 23 Mar 2004 From: "Marlo Andersen" mander@xmission.com Subject: [Cameramakers] RE: material for top of tripod head To: cameramakers@rosebud.opusis.com I need a non-slip surface for the top of an aluminum tripod head that I'm building. I've considered a layer of cork gasket material, neoprene from a rubber glove, leather and Naugahyde. Another possible design is to mill a grove into the top of the head and inset a neoprene O-ring but I'm concerned about it staying in place. Any other suggestions or preferences? What adhesive should I use to attach the non-slip material to the aluminum? There is an automotive gasket material that is neoprene bonded ground cork that I find is the best of both worlds for a resilient, non-slip suface for the camera mounting surface of a tripod head. This material is available in several thickensses at auto parts suppliers, or industrial gasket suppliers.


From: "zeitgeist" blkhatwhtdog@yahoo.com Newsgroups: alt.photography,rec.photo.misc,rec.photo.equipment.35mm Subject: Re: Homebrew Front Projection Info? Date: Mon, 22 Mar 2004 > Is anyone aware of a good source of information for building a front > projection system similar to the Scene Machine? Drawings, diagrams, and/or > pictures, would be very useful. In fact, just an ongoing discussion with > someone who has done it would be useful. And, of course, sources for a > reasonably priced mirror-type beam-splitter and reasonably priced high-gain > retro-reflective screen material would be helpful also. Thanks for any > assistance offered. why bother, there are probably a lot available, photographers bought them up in the 80's but quickly learned that the imagery sucked. yeah sure you could drop in any of a billion slides, stock images or you own. but no matter what you do, the results will always look like a cut a paste job for a couple reasons. The human eye will accept but will still register the fact that the background is lit from this direction from a linear light source, the sun, whereas the subject is lit from two directions with 'spreading' light sources' (IE: they typically required small light boxes, certainly smaller than the subject and definitely different from the background) the camera lens and background image were created from slighting different points of view and lenses, they do a lot of compositing in movies but carefully match lighting, and lenses used (one of Lucas big innovations besides the computer controlled movements of the camera) to keep light off the background you were required to use lighting that is the definition of sucky, cross light to the extreme. so anyway, if you ask around some professional associations I am sure that you will find some photog that still has one in the basement they will be glad to get rid of. you can find an old kodak prism preview system, it used the same beam splitter to get the duplicate image split to the video capture the same time as the film was exposed, they used the same set up, only replaced the slide projector with a video camera. this reply is echoed to the z-prophoto mailing list at yahoogroups.com


From: m II ohmworkLEOPARD@spots.ca Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.35mm Subject: Re: Is this going to be the lens of the future? Date: Thu, 04 Mar 2004 William Graham wrote: > Well, it would have to be perfectly horizontal to keep gravity from > distorting the parabola. And, the spinning mechanism might put some, > "rumble" (to use an old record player term) into the mercury causing minute > ripples to progress across the surface...... He and his students figured out how to use air bearings to support the vessel holding the mirror. To get sharp images, they also cast a layer of epoxy resin atop the mercury and used a crystal-controlled motor to keep the rotational speed constant. http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/astronomy/liquid_mirror_000924.html There's more of this going on than I would have thought. One site says they get better than 20nanometer accuracy http://www.google.ca/search?q=spinning+mercury+telescope&ie;=UTF-8&oe;=UTF-8&hl;=en&btnG;=Google+Search&meta;= I wonder if some material freezable at a reasonable temperature could be, or has been, used. Spin it up and freeze it while it's turning. The motor can now be stopped until the next thaw. Mercury freezes around -40 degrees. That adds to the cost of equipment. Neat stuff..


Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.35mm Subject: Re: Is this going to be the lens of the future? From: Al Denelsbeck news@wadingin.net Date: Thu, 04 Mar 2004 "Tony Spadaro" tspadaro@ncmaps.rr.com wrote : > http://www.dpreview.com/news/0403/04030302philipsfluidlens.asp A few years back in Popular Science, there was an article on a similar kind of fluid lens, but with a lot less dicking around. A clear oil was contained between two flexible clear membranes, and the strength of the 'lens' was altered by increasing or decreasing the volume of oil, to bow the membranes out more or less. It was being used for eyeglasses in third-world countries. Simply put a pair on and dial the little knobs on the side until your vision was the clearest, then break off the knobs (to keep it from resetting). At a cost of about a buck apiece, they were a simple, albeit imperfect, solution to areas that had no opthamological resources. But at the time, I was thinking about what a kickass telephoto it could make. Getting rid of the internal helicoids could make lens a lot faster and lighter (and cheaper). And I have to wonder if it isn't far easier to correct chromatic aberrations through a liquid suspension than a glass one. The lens you point to looks pretty slick, but I suspect it is extremely limited in size and works best vertically, as shown - otherwise gravity has a distinct chance of distorting the surface tension it relies on. At least, if the two fluids have different specific gravities. So who's making the 3mm 10 megapixel sensor to go with it? ;-) - Al.


From: Detector195@yahoo.com (Detector195) Newsgroups: sci.optics Subject: Re: POEMS: Programmable Optimizing Electromagnetic Simulator Date: 16 Jan 2004 Phil Hobbs pcdhSpamMeSenseless@us.ibm.com wrote > Dear All: > > Over the last year, I've been working on a fancy 3-D FDTD (finite > difference time domain) electromagnetic simulator system that's just > about ready for prime time. I need to finish re-coding the basic FDTD > engine, to replace the graduate-student code I'm currently using, and > then I'm hoping to release it as open source. (The FDTD engine is about > 1/8 of the total code). Before I do that, I'd love some feedback from > the assembled optical multitude on what you might want to use it for, > and whether it might fill a significant need for you. Suggestions for > things to put in would also be welcome. > > This is helpful in motivating both me and my management, if you get my > drift. > > I've put the manual, which has detailed explanations, worked examples in > gory detail and a bunch of pictures, on my web page, > http://www.pergamos.net. > > Thanks, > > Phil Hobbs I am eagerly looking forward to Monday morning when I can use my high speed internet connection to download the manual. It will be interesting to see if I can use the program to simulate diffraction grating performance. I know there are commercial programs for this, but I would be more confident using a program with a documented "chain of evidence" back to the basic physics. Looking at potential shake-outs in optics design software industry, I am wondering if open source is the future.


From: "Malcolm Stewart" malcolm_stewart@megalith.freeserve.co.uk Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.35mm,alt.movies Subject: Re: A space Lens oddity? Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2004 "Alan Browne" alan.browne@FreeLunchVideotron.ca wrote > I bought the DVD of 2001: A Space Odyssey. True to form Kubrik bites in > to the wide angle lenses for a lot of shots. > During the W-A scenes on the space station where everything is > antisceptic white, the left side of the screen had a bluish coloration > to it, and the right side of the screen a yellowish coloration to it. > Would this have been recorded on film from the lens, or is this an > artifact of digitalization, or something else? > Cheers, > Alan Have just checked my DVD copy (R2, "Digitally Restored and Remastered" edition), and can't see any of the effects you're referring to. Pity Pan American is no longer with us! Sign of the times... (I'm viewing on a 28" Panasonic Tau TV.) Watching the space scenes again, I'm reminded that I think they were reported at the time as having been shot using Micro-Nikkor lenses - these being the best, at the time, for retaining very high contrast. -- M Stewart Milton Keynes, UK


From: john@xyzzy.stafford.net (jjs) Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format Subject: Re: Joe Pro - Photographer Date: Thu, 01 Jan 2004 "Dennis O'Connor" doconnor@chartermi.net wrote: > The one that got me was the comment about the architect who insisted on a > certain light for a picture of his building... That exact angle of light > only occurs for a 6 minute period, twice a year... I think I'd demand a > retainer for that job... That was me. Believe me, the architect is paying.


From: brianc1959@aol.com (brian) Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format Subject: Re: Joe Pro - Photographer Date: 1 Jan 2004 Mxsmanic mxsmanic@hotmail.com wrote > jjs writes: > > > That was me. Believe me, the architect is paying. > > Sometimes a precise angle for incident light makes a huge difference. > And, unfortunately, if the light source is the sun, you just have to > wait until it moves to the right spot. If the right spot coincides with > the equinoxes, you might have two chances a year. If it requires a > solstice, you'll have only one chance per year. The smaller the > tolerance you allow for your ideal angle, the less time you have to > shoot. Some very precise configurations are reached only once every x > years, where x could be anywhere from 10 to 10,000. The position of the sun at a given time of day over the course of a year traces a figure-8 shaped thing called an analemma. Its due to the combined effects of the earth's tilt and elliptical orbit. The crossing point of the "8" occurs not at the equinoxes but rather in mid-April and late-August, and I think these are the only two times of the year when the sun will be in a "duplicated" position. You can probably get a near duplication on non-crossing days by timing things right, but I'm not sure how precisely you can do this. Precession of the earth's axis, which has a 26,000 year period, may also play into this. The fact that the moon is slowly escaping its orbit probably introduces a tiny non-periodic effect, but I'm just guessing. Brian www.caldwellphotographic.com


From: Bob Salomon bob_salomon@mindspring.com Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.35mm,rec.photo.digital,rec.photo.equipment.medium-format Subject: Re: Ultimate digital vs film: 1gp digital vs SR71 reconnaissance cameras Date: Sun, 07 Dec 2003 "William Graham" weg9@comcast.net wrote: > He mentioned a 4,000 frame per second > > > > Hi-Cam,...whatever that is. That is quite slow for high speed photography. EG&G; and others get up to 1,000,000 frames +.


From: Phil Hobbs pcdhSpamMeSenseless@us.ibm.com Newsgroups: sci.optics Subject: Re: How to make IR visible? Date: Wed, 31 Mar 2004 Andrew Resnick wrote: > Gjergj Kastrioti wrote: >>hi, >> >>what kind of dye, if there is any, can i add to liquids, i.e. water, >>to make the infrared light visible in liquid. i'm not interested to >>see the light outside of the liquid, just inside it. >> >>thanks in advance... > > http://www.kentek-laser.com/accessor/viewit.htm > > I think it may have some powdered KTP on it, but I don't know. Crush it > up and float in in your fluid. There's a good two-photon material, 5-nitro-2-furaldehyde semicarbazone (Aldrich 284874) that produces second harmonic over the 980 nm -- 1400 nm band at least, if you have high enough peak power. I mix it with ordinary white paint to make viewers for use with my 20-picosecond pulsed OPG source. My Lithuanian laser engineer says that this stuff is sold as topical antiseptic in Lithuania--like using Bactine for SHG. The laser company actually makes their viewer cards by dipping filter paper in the antiseptic! Cheers, Phil Hobbs


[Ed. Note: website backup software..] From: "ian green" weird_mailKILL2REPLY@pisem.net Newsgroups: rec.photo.technique.misc Subject: Re: Books on Composition, developing an "Eye"? Date: Wed, 7 Apr 2004 ..."William J. Slater" airgunr@genevaonline.com : > > me myself downloaded the whole site with webzip to read it slowly at > > evenings with tea & cigarettes > > I've not heard of "Webzip", what is that? Is it a download I can use > and if so do you have a URL to find it at? Some of the articles are > cut off on the right hand side of the page when I try to print them > out. yes WebZip is site download utility from SpiderSoft mine is version 4.1.0.680 from 2001 year their site is www.spidersoft.com i use it sometimes for off-line reading good for me there's more new versions but i like the one i have ...


From: "Sorby" Sorby@hotmail.com Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.misc,rec.photo.misc,rec.photo.technique.misc,uk.rec.photo.misc Subject: Re: Name of photographer who used slow slit shutter? Date: Mon, 5 Apr 2004 "Daniel Kelly (AKA Jack)" d.kelly@ucl.ac.uk wrote > Hi, > I'm searching for the name of a famous photographer. I think he was active > during the 1st half of the 20th Century. His camera's shutter consisted of > a slit which moved relatively slowly across the negative. The result was > that any movement of the subject produced a slanted image because the top of > the frame was exposed before the bottom. I think a couple of his famous > photos were of a racing car and a horse. > > I'll be most indepted if you can help me find this guy's name! > Many thanks, > Jack Sounds like you are talking about a Focal-Plane Shutter or 'Slit-Scan' photography. Could the guy be called Henri Lartigue? He (and others) are mentioned here... http://www.rit.edu/~andpph/text-slit-scan.html Hope that helps -- Sorby


From camera makers mailing list: From: Kamil khorak@gmx.net To: cameramakers@rosebud.opusis.com Subject: Re: [Cameramakers] Was: 3/8in German t0 1/4 20 tpi tripod adapter... Date: Mon, 17 Nov 2003 > How did the Europeans settle on a tripod stud size that is an exact match > for the U.S. stanard 3/8 inch pipe thread (exact pitch unknown to me but > there is only one for this size in the U.S.)? > > My math makes an exact 3/8 inch to metric conversion work out to > 9.54mm...hardly a nice uniform metric tooling size. Or is it just a good > sloppy fit? The 3/8" "German" tripod socket as used in older cameras is true 3/8" Whitworth, nothing metric. There are many things having imperial measures here until now: gas and water pipes including their threads are good example, 1/2", 5/4" etc. pipes are used regularly. Non-metric tools are also available, not perhaps in every hardware but special tools and machinery shops have them. As far I remember something similar you thought about the tripod threads occured in the Eastern Europe in the 70's and 80's with integrated circuits: instead of 1/10" (2,54mm) pin distance they had 2,5mm. Acceptable with small IC cases but for 20 pins in line (CPUs etc.) it made the circiuts mechanically incompatible with US ones as it was impossible to insert Russian IC into US socket and vice versa. Kamil (CZ, Europe)


From camera makers mailing list: Date: Thu, 15 Nov 2001 From: Gerald Newlands gnewland@ucalgary.ca To: cameramakers@rosebud.opusis.com Subject: Re: [Cameramakers] Was: 3/8in German t0 1/4 20 tpi tripodadapter Franz, As far as I know, the standard for camera tripod threads has always been the Whitworth Imperial thread, viz 1/4Whit, 3/8 Whit and 5/8ths Whitworth. The difference between the Whitworth and American threads is very small and they can generally be interchanged. The pitch is the same but the profile is slightly different. Likewise, most microscope objective threads are British Imperial sizes dating back to Victorian times when Britain was called Great Britain. Gerald franz wrote: > Grandpa says: > > A metric screw whith the same size has more revolutions and needs > more precision, 2 reasons to settle for the inch size in the metric world. > > cheers, > Franz > > you wrote: > >This 3/8 to 1/4tpi raises a question that I have been puzzling on lately: > > > >How did the Europeans settle on a tripod stud size that is an exact match > >for the U.S. stanard 3/8 inch pipe thread (exact pitch unknown to me but > >there is only one for this size in the U.S.)? > > > >My math makes an exact 3/8 inch to metric conversion work out to > >9.54mm...hardly a nice uniform metric tooling size. Or is it just a good > >sloppy fit? > > > >Wayne > >graphic99@mindspring.com


Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2003 From: "M.C. Steele" zenitguy@yahoo.com Subject: Re: [Russiancamera] Do-It-Yourself FED-1 Strap...Great idea! To: russiancamera-user@beststuff.com Comrade Jacques, This is an excellent idea! Most (if not all) of the Russian M-42 lenses come in a plastic dome case, with threaded bottom, which could be used for Russian SLR cameras.....I think I will try this with one of my "beater" Zenit TTL cameras! Thanks for the idea! Best Regards, Mike Steele "Jacques O. Emanuel" jacemanuel@hotmail.com wrote: Hi, http://www.konermann.net/sling.more.html" That idea NOT the sling, but that attachment underneath the camera why you can mount a spare lens, that's an old one of mine's. Way back int the early 70's I used a camera with M42 mount with a 35mm and a 105mm, and it irritated me that I had to keep the spare lens in the pocket or in an extra bag or something. So I invented a similar device. I took a heavy gauge plstic lens cap that screwed on - drilled a hole in the middle - foun a bolt with of the right kind - cut the length of it - put a disc between the bolt and the lens cap - tighten it with a big screwdriver so it was really locked to the camera bottom - screwed in a 7mm extension ring into the lens cap after putting some kind of glue on the threads - tighten it really hard. Bingo! There it was - an easily reach place to keep the spare lens! The extension ring was to give room enough between the bolt and the rear element of the 35mm. The only thing to remember is that the strap lugs carry more weight and tear quicker - best is lugs with steel insertions. It works - I used it for more than 6 months. In theory it should be usable on a Fed or Zorki if you can find the right lens cap. Jacques.


Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2003 From: "M.C. Steele" zenitguy@yahoo.com Subject: Re: [Russiancamera] Do-It-Yourself FED-1 Strap...I'm coming to dinner! To: Russian Camera Users russiancamera-user@beststuff.com Comrade Leopoldo, I am getting hungry...I haven't had lunch today and it is 3:30 p.m. (15:30). I'll be right over! :) Regards, Mike Steele Leopoldo ARAUJO laraujo@wanadoo.fr wrote: I report: It works! I took the tab from a big can of tuna that we brought from C"te d'Ivoire -how do you translate that?- which says it is reciclable steel(?! hope the can not the tuna) It looks great in my Z-1. -BTW, I still keep some tripod bolts and adaptors that change the tread from 1/4 to hmmm... 'the other'. Ah, and if someone want to have dinner today, he/she and his/her partner/family are welcome. There will be a lot of tuna dishes - veracruzana style, valenciana style, mediterranean salad, and plain tuna... Cheers Leopoldo Jay Javier a ,crit : > Comrades! > > Don't watch Martha Graham too much....this inspires crazy ideas like this > DIY camera strap. > > In response to Comrade Leopoldo's query about straps. Or at least how to > have one when the real ones can't be found. The only real wrist strap I > have came from a Canon Demi camera. Otherwise, I use straps made from black > ID strap material, a ringtab from a soda can, and a tripod bolt. > > Pictures and instructions are at > http://www.beststuff.com/forum/read.php?f=26&i;=1441&t;=1441 > > Jay


Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2003 From: Paul Shinkawa pshinkaw@yahoo.com Subject: Re: [Russiancamera] Do-It-Yourself FED-1 Strap To: russiancamera-user@beststuff.com Jay: Have seen these RF accessories? They seem to be perfect for your DIY improvisational skills. "http://www.konermann.net/sling.more.html" -Paul


Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2003 From: "Jacques O. Emanuel" jacemanuel@hotmail.com Subject: Re: [Russiancamera] Do-It-Yourself FED-1 Strap To: Russiancamera-user russiancamera-user@mail.beststuff.com Hi, http://www.konermann.net/sling.more.html" That idea NOT the sling, but that attachment underneath the camera why you can mount a spare lens, that's an old one of mine's. Way back int the early 70's I used a camera with M42 mount with a 35mm and a 105mm, and it irritated me that I had to keep the spare lens in the pocket or in an extra bag or something. So I invented a similar device. I took a heavy gauge plstic lens cap that screwed on - drilled a hole in the middle - foun a bolt with of the right kind - cut the length of it - put a disc between the bolt and the lens cap - tighten it with a big screwdriver so it was really locked to the camera bottom - screwed in a 7mm extension ring into the lens cap after putting some kind of glue on the threads - tighten it really hard. Bingo! There it was - an easily reach place to keep the spare lens! The extension ring was to give room enough between the bolt and the rear element of the 35mm. The only thing to remember is that the strap lugs carry more weight and tear quicker - best is lugs with steel insertions. It works - I used it for more than 6 months. In theory it should be usable on a Fed or Zorki if you can find the right lens cap. Jacques.


From: Brian Sweeney [brianvsweeney@comcast.net] Sent: Fri 10/24/2003 To: Lenses@topica.com Subject: [LENSES] Canon Lens 50mm F0.95 Comrades! Don't watch Martha Graham too much....this inspires crazy ideas like this DIY camera strap. In response to Comrade Leopoldo's query about straps. Or at least how to have one when the real ones can't be found. The only real wrist strap I have came from a Canon Demi camera. Otherwise, I use straps made from black ID strap material, a ringtab from a soda can, and a tripod bolt. Pictures and instructions are at http://www.beststuff.com/forum/read.php?f=26&i;=1441&t;=1441 Jay


Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2003 From: Jay Javier nikitakat@edsamail.com.ph Subject: [Russiancamera] Re: Do-It-Yourself FED-1 Strap To: Russiancamera-user russiancamera-user@mail.beststuff.com > Don't watch Martha Graham too much....this inspires crazy BUMMER! I meant "Martha STEWART"! Picture link for the soda can ring tab strap is http://www.beststuff.com/forum/download.php?f=26&id;=1441&fileid;=922&file;=sodatabstrap.jpg


Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2003 From: "Steven Ceuppens" stevence@yucom.be Subject: Re: [Russiancamera] Seflmade Hoods and lens covers To: "Russian Camera Users" russiancamera-user@beststuff.com This one isn't that expensive either. Pretty useful acc's for russian cameras http://www.konermann.net/sling.more.html Leopoldo ARAUJO wrote: > spasiba tovarich >M.C. Steele a ,crit : > > Comrade Leopoldo, > > I know that the Chayka 1/2 frame cameras come with them....I borrow the Chayka strap >>to use on FED1/Zorki 1 occassionally! > > > > Best Regards, > > > > Mike Steele > > Leopoldo ARAUJO laraujo@wanadoo.fr wrote: > > Jay, > > > > where do we get a scew-on wrist-starp? > > Cheers > > Leopoldo


Date: 23 Oct 2003 From: Leopoldo ARAUJO laraujo@wanadoo.fr Subject: Re: [Russiancamera] Seflmade Hoods and lens covers To: Russian Camera Users russiancamera-user@beststuff.com spasiba tovarich M.C. Steele a ,crit : > Comrade Leopoldo, > I know that the Chayka 1/2 frame cameras come with them....I borrow the Chayka strap to use on FED1/Zorki 1 occassionally! > > Best Regards, > > Mike Steele > > Leopoldo ARAUJO laraujo@wanadoo.fr wrote: > Jay, > where do we get a scew-on wrist-starp? > > Cheers > Leopoldo >Jay Y Javier a ,crit : > > Comrade Roman > > > > > > I have made such lens caps and hoods from paper and cardboard. The main material is thin cardboard. This is made stiff by gluing about 3 or 4 layers of paper ("papier-mach," style), or else by using gummed paper tape, similar to what you described. Ordinary adhesive tape isn't recommended since the adhesive they use tend to soften and run in time. > > Painting over the layers of paper makes the hood even more stable. The inner surfaces can be painted with flat black paint or else lined with fine black velvet or felt paper. > > > > For the Jupiter 9 (and maybe even the Jupiter 11), a straight tube whose diameter is enough to span the lens' front part, with the length of around 4 to 5 cms works well. For the 5cm Industar 22 or 50, a slightly flared one, about 3 cm long, works. It is possible to use a straight tube as well. The flare can be made by making several short cardboard tubes (3 or 4), with each one slightly larger than other, then stuck to each other. When assembled, the rear tube will be smaller, with a diameter which can fit over the Industar's front ring; the other end will be much larger. > > > > I have pictures of this at the "FED Zorkij Survival" site: > > > > http://www.fedka.com/~jay/page4.html > > > > There are three "hood-related" pictures on this page. One (second row of pictures from the bottom, rightmost frame) shows the Do-It-Yourself paper hoods attached to an Industar and on another Industar mounted on a Zorki. The second and third pictures, the ones found on the bottom of the page, compare two situations - one shot with the home-made hood, and one without. This proves the effectivity of hood. > > > > http://www.fedka.com/~jay/page9.html > > > > This is the second page of the "make your own lenscaps" section. The previous page describes the method of working with paper, as well as gluing layers. On the second page is a picture of several paper lens-hoods, attached on different lenses, including a J-9. The hoods are black, laminated by painting them with black spray paint or a combination of paint and lacquer. > > > > Jay > > > > russiancamera-user@beststuff.com wrote: > > >Comrades, > > > > > >in the recent days I am tweaking with tape and carton paper to build some > > >lens hoods and covers (oddly, european vitamine pill boxes and film cans > > >don't fit my SovKams. #-). > > > > > >I developed a method by using carton and covering it with either self > > >adhesive tape (Tesa Krepp.. http://www.tesa.de/images/DEU/sol/7172.jpg > > > I can build submarines and spacecrafts from it. ;-) or wet adhesive paper > > >tape (Nassklebeband), fitting a black paper on the inner surface. I prefer > > >the latter one, for the more classic and rough look. Pics to follow. > > > > > >One question - how do I determine the optimum length of a lens hood? > > >Checking it with ground glass for vignetting seems a bit rough, I prefer to > > >use my pencil and rules.. ;-) > > > > > >I guess I need the image angle of the given focal length - but from which > > >point do I set it? > > > > > >Gruss, Roman


Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2003 From: Peter Schauss schauss@worldnet.att.net Subject: Re: [Russiancamera] Wrist straps - Seflmade Hoods and lens covers To: Russiancamera-user russiancamera-user@mail.beststuff.com In the US, both B&H; and Adorama carry wrist straps which screw into the tripod socket. You will also need a 3/8" to 1/4" bushing which they also carry.


Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2003 From: Paul Shinkawa pshinkaw@yahoo.com Subject: Re: [Russiancamera] Wrist straps - Seflmade Hoods and lens covers To: russiancamera-user@beststuff.com Wriststraps were standard equipment with 8mm and Super 8mm motion picture cameras, not to mention many compact RF 35's such as Vivitars and Konicas. Photo shop odds and end bins are usually full of them, some still in original wrappers at 1 to 2 dollars each. If you want a more robust one to attach to the neckstrap lugs they can be made easily out of nylon web straps found at outdoor supply stores like REI and even some fabric stores like JoAnn. Webbing is typically around 15 to 25 cents a foot. -Paul ...


Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2003 From: Ian Gillis ip_gillis@yahoo.com Subject: Re: [Russiancamera] Wrist straps - Seflmade Hoods and lens covers To: Russiancamera-user russiancamera-user@mail.beststuff.com Hi Super8 movie cameras often had a wrist strap with swivel and tripod screw. Better head to the flea market or search in the "odds & sods" box at a used-camera dealer. Cheers! Ian G.


From: jscheuch@labsphere.com (Jonathan Scheuch) Newsgroups: sci.optics Subject: Re: Coated Mirrors Date: 5 May 2004 "Rick Davis" wizard00@bellsouth.net wrote > I am trying to find some optics for a class demonstration in undergrad > physics. I am hoping someone can point me to what I need. > > I am looking for Front Surface Mirrors, between 25mm sqaure and 50mm sqaure > (square or rectangle is fine). However I am looking for various coatings on > the mirrors. They do not have to be specific for any wavelength or use they > are just for a general demonstration. My problem is cost, I cant afford to > spend $100 per mirror. > > If anyone can recommend any companies that sell coated mirrors as a stock > item I would appreciate it. > Thanks for your time and help. > Rick D. For inexpensive surplus optics it is hard to beat Anchor Optical Surplus, www.anchoroptical.com . They have really inexpensive mirrors, although they probably don't have a large selection of coatings. Jonathan Scheuch


From: West Coast Engineering westcoastengineering@westcoastengineering.com Newsgroups: sci.optics Subject: ODP Only Free to Schools in the US Date: Fri, 21 May 2004 Hello, A correction has been made to our web site. ODP, Optical Design Program is only free to schools inside the United States of America. This was not clearly stated on our web site before and the oversight has been corrected. OPD is only foresale to customers in the United States of America. We no longer sell ODP outside the U.S. Sincerely, West Coast Engineering


From: "Bristo" me@here.I.com Newsgroups: free.uk.photographic.equipment.digital, Subject: Re: Buying CMOS board cameras? Date: Wed, 19 May 2004 "Daniel Kelly (AKA Jack)" d.kellyNOSPAM@ucl.ac.uk wrote > Hi, > > Can anyone recommend a good supplier for CMOS board cameras? I've found a > few good suppliers but I want to ensure that I've done an exhaustive search. > > And does anyone know of a wearable AV hard disk recorder that will take a > digital video input? What I really want is the camera and MPEG-4 encoder > from a video mobile phone with a 40GB HDD. > > My requirements for the camera are: > * Low power consumption (<50mA) > * Good sensitivity (min illumination <4 lux) > * Low weight (< 30g) > * Small size (< 40 x 40 x 40mm) > * Colour > * Auto gain control, auto white balance, auto iris, auto exposure, auto back > light compensation > > And ideally the camera will also have: > * Changeable lens > * Audio > > Suppliers I've already looked at include: > * Maplin > * Farnel > * Quasar Electronics > * Rapid > * RS Electronics > > I really like the OV7910 CMOS colour image sensor. > > Many thanks for your help, > Jack another one for your list: http://www.rfconcepts.co.uk/cameras.htm B


From: Jean-David Beyer jdbeyer@exit109.com Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.large-format Subject: Re: Silver Recovery... Date: Fri, 30 Jul 2004 Sly D. Skeez wrote: > Jean-David Beyer jdbeyer@exit109.com wrote > >>Nick Zentena wrote: > >>> Would it be possible to plate it out? Run a current into a tank of fixer? >> >>Yes. I have posted several times in the past how it is done. Electrolytic >>recovery of silver from a solution of argentothiosulphate complexes is not >>quite as simple as normal electroplating. So it is not sufficient to place >>a couple of carbon or stainless steel electrodes in the solution and >>running an appropriate current. > > I"ve heard (in my schooling) that you can make a silver recovery unit > using using a car type battery charger, but I think the problem is > getting the Ag off the electrode, and that material has to be > purified. The problem is that the argentothiosulphate ions have the wrong charge and are repelled from the desired electrode. In normal electroplating, the metal ion (in this case silver) is positively charged and is attracted to the cathode. The other ion is negatively charged and migrates to the anode where it is liberated as oxygen by reacting with the water, or attacks the anode. But with used fixer, the silver is in the form of negatively charged argentithiosulphate complexes. Here, sodium ions go to the cathode where they would be plated on, were they not so reactive, so they react with the other ions around the cathode, including the negatively charged argentothiosulphate complexes. If there are enough argentothiosulphate ions nearby, the sodium atoms react with them to liberate silver. Otherwise, they react with the thiosulphate ions, producing (undesireable) sulphide ions that react with the argentithiosulpphate to form silver sulphide. As L.P.Clerc states, "Thus it will be seen that the metallic silver is produced by a _secondary reaction_ on ions which are tending to move away from the electrode on which the metal is deposited. In order to ensure a sufficient concentration of argentothiosulphate ions at the cathode it is necessary either to stir the solution very vigorously so that high current densities may be used, or to limit the current density to a few milliamperes per square decimetre." According to my understanding, most electrolytic recovery systems use pumps to ensure sufficient stirring. > It's certainly worth recovering silver from fixer since silver is > heavy metal I have yet to find a satisfactory definition of a heavy metal. Are all metals over a specific atomic number or atomic weight heavy metals? If so, what is that number? > and heavy metals tend to cause mutations and, in > pariticular, divalent metals inhibit many DNA binding proteins. I > don't think it's worth messing with silver recovery because of the > hassle. I've hauled my fixer off to various minilabs or others with > silver recovery units. The minilab operators are usually receptive to > my silver rich fixer because I'm giving them money. I'm more than > happy to hand them the headache. > > Jay Wenner -- .~. Jean-David Beyer


From camera fix mailing list: Date: Tue, 20 Apr 2004 From: rolohar@comcast.net Subject: Re: Topcon Auto 100 Talk to Tsuneo. He has a lot of parts for Topcon cameras. He worked for Topcon for many years at the factory in Japan and was a technician at the official Topcon repair facility in the States. He has been running a Topcon service for many years at the location below. Topcon Camera Repair Service 8073 Garden Grove Avenue Reseda, California 91335-1435 Att. Mr. Tsuneo Tokutake (Official Topcon technician) HTH Roland F. Harriston


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