Where could I get some 5x7 ground glass online?

[GabrielSeri]

I just got a Kodak 2d 5x7 camera, which I love but I would like to replace the ground glass. I emailed canham regarding their gg but no response yet. Any other resources? Thanks

[Walter Calahan]

Right in California.

Steve Hopf's Ground Glass Store

found on eBay, and Facebook

http://cgi.ebay.com/5x7-ULTRA-FINE-w-Grid-Clipped-Corners-OK-/160529377999?pt=Film_Cameras&hash=item25604beacf#ht_886wt_1141

[GabrielSeri]

Thanks. I'll take a look right now.

[GabrielSeri]

Perfect I just emailed him, I will order this afternoon. Thanks again.

[Ken Lee]

I have his ground glass on both of my cameras.

[BrianShaw]

Make sure to measure EXACT size. I ordered some and found my GG frames was slightly smaller than the nominal dimensions. Steve makes nice glass!

[GabrielSeri]

Hi Ken! Did you use his gg for your 2d? That's what I want to do as well. Is there a special measurement I need to give him for the 2d 5x7? I find that is the only thing I need to fix on my camera.

Thanks again,

Gabriel

[GabrielSeri]

Thanks Brian, I will measure the exact size of the original gg and give it to Steve.

[GabrielSeri]

On a side note Ken, I finally got my camara and I wanted to thank you for your positive comments for the camera. Not only do I love it but my wife loves it as well. She thinks it's beautiful and said I should get a wooden tripod for it. I am now waiting for the lens boards and my next purchase will be the betterscanning custom frame for 4x5,5x7 for my Epson V700.

Thanks,

Gabriel

[Ken Lee]

- Excellent -

Show us a photo of the camera when you get a moment.

[GabrielSeri]

Here is the camera, tell me what you think. It looks pretty clean to me. I didn't photograph the extension rail or the extra back with the 3 1/4 x 4 1/4 format yet.


http://www.silverpiscis.com/Photography/5x7/IMG_8297.jpg
http://www.silverpiscis.com/Photography/5x7/IMG_8298.jpg
http://www.silverpiscis.com/Photography/5x7/IMG_8299.jpg
http://www.silverpiscis.com/Photography/5x7/IMG_8300.jpg

[GabrielSeri]

http://www.silverpiscis.com/Photography/5x7/IMG_8301.jpg
http://www.silverpiscis.com/Photography/5x7/IMG_8302.jpg
http://www.silverpiscis.com/Photography/5x7/IMG_8303.jpg
http://www.silverpiscis.com/Photography/5x7/IMG_8304.jpg

[GabrielSeri]

http://www.silverpiscis.com/Photography/5x7/IMG_8305.jpg
http://www.silverpiscis.com/Photography/5x7/IMG_8306.jpg
http://www.silverpiscis.com/Photography/5x7/IMG_8307.jpg
http://www.silverpiscis.com/Photography/5x7/IMG_8308.jpg

[BrianShaw]

Oooooooh. Nice camera. So where in The Valley are you?

[Ken Lee]

Correct my calculations if wrong:

Given a scanner capable of 2300 spi, we get 2300 x 2300 pixels per square inch. That is 5.29 million or 5.29 MP/square inch.

A 5x7 inch sheet of film at 4.75 x 6.75, has roughly 32 square inches of useable space, so that old-timer of yours will give you 32 x 5.29 MP or roughly 170 megapixels per shot.

[GabrielSeri]

Oooooooh. Nice camera. So where in The Valley are you?

Granada Hills and I work in Studio City for an art gallery. You can see the gallery in the background of these photos. Are you close? We should get together and do some photography some time. Grab a nice group and go out as a large format posse! ha

[GabrielSeri]

Correct my calculations if wrong:

Given a scanner capable of 2300 spi, we get 2300 x 2300 pixels per square inch. That is 5.29 million or 5.29 MP/square inch.

A 5x7 inch sheet of film at 4.75 x 6.75, has roughly 32 square inches of useable space, so that old-timer of yours will give you 32 x 5.29 MP or roughly 170 megapixels per shot.

Holy sh**! I need to show my wife those stats. Who need a digital camera with those results.

[GabrielSeri]

I went to Freestyle today and bought 2 boxes of Ilford FP4 (25 sheets).. something obvious but I haven't realized was how hard it is to load 5x7 in a 4x5 size changing bag! I need to get a bigger changing bag now. Now waiting for my lens boards and ground glass and I'm good to go.

[GabrielSeri]

I ordered my ground glass from Steve and I should have it by friday or saturday. I should have my new lens board tomorrow. Project is coming along nicely.

[GabrielSeri]

I got my first lens board today, I used it to mount a Caltar/Rodenstock 180mm lens. I can officially take pictures. I will do that tomorrow morning, I also should get the ground glass tomorrow or saturday. :)

http://www.silverpiscis.com/Photography/5x7/IMG_8349.jpg

[GabrielSeri]

http://www.silverpiscis.com/Photography/5x7/5x7Field.jpg

First day out on the field. I will scan the negative after work today. :)

[Ken Lee]

Smokin !

[GabrielSeri]

I just got my ground glass delivered to my work! I'll take a photo when I install it to my camera.

Thanks Ken!!

[GabrielSeri]

OK, just installed the ground glass and it's almost a full stop brighter. I used my spot meter and metered the shadow area at F.2 on the original ground glass and then metered the same shadow area on the new ground glass at F.2.0 7

http://www.silverpiscis.com/Photography/5x7/before_gg.jpg
http://www.silverpiscis.com/Photography/5x7/after_gg.jpg

So if anyone is reading this thread, I along with Ken, Walter and Brian recommend Steve Hopf's Ground Glass Store. These photos speak for themselves.

[GabrielSeri]

The great thing about this camera is that when you take it out people just want to talk to you. On the field I had a runner come and talk to me and today at the camera shop the owner talked to me for an hour about the camera. I developed the negative at Normal -1. I scanned the negative today and here is my first 5x7 negative ever! I made a contact print too and it's beautiful, I'm going to frame it tomorrow.

http://www.silverpiscis.com/Photography/5x7/porterranch_5x7onecopy.jpg

[GabrielSeri]

The contact print looks way better. I think I need the betterscanning mod for my scanner, it will be much sharper.

[Ken Lee]

Congratulations !

These cameras definitely attract people ! If I weren't already married, I'd go to the park with an old Wooden Camera and a puppy.

If the film is curled, you'll get disappointing results. You can use tape to hold the film to the glass. Blue painter's tape is nice.

N-1 or not, that scene is a challenge under such lighting. If you return when the light is softer, you'll get a much nicer image.

[GabrielSeri]

Hi Ken, You're right those conditions were pretty harsh. I thought I did pretty good with the N-1, even though I got details in the highlights and shadow, it's still too harsh. Truth is I was impatient and wanted to shoot something before I went to work haha. I'm going to try again this morning or on sunday when it's my day off. The contact print is impressive. I'm really excited to see where this takes me.
As far as the camera, it's true it's a babe magnet. haha Too bad I'm not single either but my wife the babe loves it so that's great.

[GabrielSeri]

I think the proof sheet looks much better.

http://www.silverpiscis.com/Photography/5x7/proofsheet1.jpeg