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Thank you Kiwi, this is very helpful.
Much appreciated,
-Harlan

Is it still considered safe to mail film domestically by USPS, any concerns about x-ray damage?

I don't see recent threads on this and my internet searches don't reveal clear guidance. But I'm not...

Hello Bob,
I think the real solution to the problem is to use a lens board adapter with a stepped center hole that acts as an effective light dam.
My Toyo and Ritter, and Rittreck adapters are all...

The "Luland" logo is on the inside (bellows side) of the lens board adapter. Odd, yes, but there it is. Note the perimter recess for fitting on to the front standard on the Luland side. The opposite...

The lens board isn't backwards, see post #10.

Time to do it right:
I talked to SK Grimes on the phone.
Their adapter is designed with a step (like the Ritter board in my photo) to enhance the light dam and an index for the offending slot. That...

Thank you all for your thoughtful replies. This is really helpful.

It turns out that there is a gap in the flocking on my lens board adapter right at the light leak point. This can't help. I'll...

All my lenses are on Technica boards. They all fit just fine on my Ritter, Toyo, and Rittreck cameras and work very well.
Last fall I picked up a gorgeous 5x7 Sinar Norma from Will Whitaker (thank...

These LED strips perform brilliantly as a light source for a large format enlarger. Testing contrast filters from 00 through 5 printing a projection step wedge the gradation is nice through the...

Here are some answers from an unscientific field test now that the weather has improved and I drove to a favorable spot for the shoot.

First thank you all for your thoughtful replies.
Pere's...

I'm shooting a project where I often use a Nikkor SW 120 f8 on 5x7 film in portrait orientation at the limit of coverage for lens rise.
Unfortunately the compositions I need often include large...

Ditto Mark's comments.
Not experienced with lighting I'm curious:
Some of the portraits show what look like square highlights in the eyes, even outdoor shots. The 2008 image is lit by the sun off...

I'm using it for in-camera negatives.
It is my understanding that the unit uses the same bulb for both UV and visible measurement.
It does measure in UV. The resulting measurements approximate...

X-rite says "send it to us along with a check for $2000" and they'll refurbish it.
So I'm ready to buy another used one for a couple of hundred $ instead but want to make sure there isn't a quick...

I'm unable to calibrate my 361T in UV.
For visible (ortho) use it calibrates fine and give great results. In UV the calibration never matches the standard, also readings are inconsistent and...

Bill, I would consider this the shot of a lifetime.

Thank you all for your help. Simple operation if not elegant.
And yes, the self timer is nice.
-Harlan

Can't figure this one out. I've used several different kinds of old shutters and their sometimes tricky sequences to get the shutter to stay open for focusing but this one defeats me. Your...

I'm looking for suggestions on the best way to source a cheap, bare working shutter that I can mount on a lens board for my 5x7. Want to stuff an f45 zone plate into it (functionally it is a piece of...

How automatic is a CPP2/3?
Does it automatically fill and dump the chemicals from the drum?
Or is it primarily a temperature control and rotation unit where you must manually perform fill and dump...

Yes, this is on film. I should have been clearer about that.
Thank you for your thoughtful replies.

Just getting my feet wet with tray development and looking for advice on a couple of points:
-Fixer is reused so it sees a lot of in/out of open trays. This leads me to worry about solid debris...

I like these because they are accurate enough for darkroom work, light, cheap, and unbreakable. Just don't use them for organics or glacial acetic acid....

Take,

I like your proposal to use the little digicam as a light meter. Makes my head spin: To take out the highly capable little digicam, use it to meter, put it away, make the manual settings on...

Thank you all for your help.
Has anyone had experience with one of the spotmeter apps for the iPod/iPhone? If one was quick and accurate it would fit the bill nicely.
-Harlan

Have been using a manual 35mm camera some lately. The Pentax spotmeter I use for my LF work is almost as big as this camera and it feels silly to cart the Pentax around when trying to go simple and...

Great information in your replies, thank you all.
-Harlan

I've read of printers using enlargers to reduce negatives instead of enlarge. How is this done? The smallest image I can focus a 5x7" negative on printing paper with my 5x7 enlarger and Rodagon 210...

Thank you all for your help here.
In manufacturer's instructions on using developers I've read that higher dilution can effect a lower contrast print but without any more information than that....

Thank you all very much for your helpful replies.
-Harlan

Suggestions for vendors and specific materials to put under a sheet of glass to use for contact proofing would be welcome.

The Dektol package recommends a 1:2 dilution of stock to working strength. Bruce Barnbaum, in his book "The Art of Photography" suggests diluting Dektol 1:5. Aside from slowing down your print...

Thank you all for your responses. Gave me some good material to work with.
To make a long story short my contrast problem turned out to be mostly due to a lens difference (my mistake, I thought I'd...

Picked up a simple Solar 5x7 diffusion head enlarger that uses a 150 watt enlarger bulb (looks like a standard home light bulb). Get wonderful prints using it, they really pop. But the Solar...

I've been fussing with albumen printing for a couple of years. The double coated albumen print is compelling for its rich, deep glossy finish and dMax that rivals silver gelatin. But it comes at the...

Thank you for your helpful replies.
Looks like the type 1 isn't the proper tool for printing 5x7 negatives.
-Harlan

I've seen a number of threads on how the Zone VI type 1 "doesn't cover 5x7".
Having just completed a deal (yes, I should have done more homework first) to buy one of these units to print primarily...

The menu to order this film at Badger Graphic is still up. I wouldn't be surprised if Jeff ordered in some surplus over the minimum?
Could be worth placing an order even now. And you could always...

Thank you all for your thoughtful replies. And good to hear from you Jim!
Based on your feed back it sounds like this is worth experimenting with.
I have a good supply of rubylith and will try that...

Is anyone using something like a red LED headlight as a safelight?
If so, what?
I need safelights in my darkroom.
If the headlamp is a viable safelight that would certainly simplify things....