Messing About With Large Format Cameras

[clovehitched]

Taken on an MPP 4x5 view camera using a Schneider-Kreuznach Symmar 150mm f/5.6 lens with the back half removed to turn it into a 265mm f/12 lens, shot on Polaroid 400 ISO B&W film, which is a couple of years out of date, at f/22 and 1/5 of a second exposure.

Looks like I got a light leak as well. It was nice to have a bit of impromptu fun under the dark-cloth though (oo-er!)

I do enjoy playing with those old, almost steampunk cameras and their clockwork lenses, doing lots of licking my finger, sticking it in the air and saying, "that looks about right", and eventually getting a reasonable photo out of it. Seems so much more ... civilised than modern stuff.

Comments

Re: Lovely photograph

[auntysarah.livejournal.com]

Well, this is Polaroid (not much left), so developing is not a problem.

And thank you :-)

[klonecaid.livejournal.com]

I really need to play with mine (fnaar).

Where'd you get an MPP from? I have the Mark 8

[auntysarah.livejournal.com]

Got if off eBay years ago. It's a 6, upgraded to a 7 AIUI.

[klonecaid.livejournal.com]

I got a light leak in a very similar place on one I did, might be a seating issue with the dark slides?

[auntysarah.livejournal.com]

I'm sure it is (well, the Polaroid holder, which also takes Fuki Quickload - I hate and detest double darkslides). Doesn't seem to happen on my other view camera. I think the MPP back is prone to seating problems.

[klonecaid.livejournal.com]

I only have double darkslides...bit fiddly to load but I manage. Trouble with mine is the shutter runs slow. Know anyone who services them for reasonable money?

[auntysarah.livejournal.com]

That I don't, but you might be able to pick up some knackered old POS lens in a compatible Synchro Compur on eBay and scrounge the shutter...

[parmonster.livejournal.com]

I confess to knowing nothing about camerawork beyond basic (D)SLR tweaking, but your subject is quite photogenic...

[auntysarah.livejournal.com]

She is, isn't she? :-)

[mark-jones-jnr.livejournal.com]

Ooo, excellent work.

How did you develop it? Did you use vinegar as a fixer? =D

[auntysarah.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

Did you use vinegar as a fixer? =D

> shot on Polaroid 400 ISO B&W film

[mark-jones-jnr.livejournal.com]

(Doh - blind!)


Ooooo!
Cutting edge tec!

[moonspark.livejournal.com]

Nice photo!


My girlfriend loves old cameras. Collects them and uses them to take photos. She has a brownie, a baby brownie, a brick, an instamatic...

[auntysarah.livejournal.com]

Thank you! My oldest, and pride and joy, is a 1938 vintage Zeiss Ikoflex II, which is still in perfect working order and took this picture (http://narcissus.dyndns.org/oldstuff/ElyCannon.jpg).

(Warning for anyone clicking on that link - it's a 9 megapixel JPEG)

[auntysarah.livejournal.com]

Here's a very old one of me fiddling with the camera that took the shot in this post:

[becky44.livejournal.com]

Shame....... a nice old camera like that sort of needs a wooden tripod!

The oldest camera I've still got is my old Yashicamat TLR! It's slightly older than me - was made in the mid 50's - and I'm looking for something to make it practical to shoot with! Maybe if I get some studio time?

[earwigmc.livejournal.com]

=smile=