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If it were mine and the shutter works, I'd use it like it is and try to remember that the actual aperture is one stop wider than indicated on that scale. For practical photography, that's within the...

A basic rule of thumb when using a lens with normal coverage for the format; stop down so the entrance pupil is about 5 or 6mm in diameter for a good compromise between DOF and diffraction limiting. ...

If the spacing between the lens cells is correct and if the diaphragm is correctly positioned between the cells, it might work well enough. You can either add a correct scale (they aren't difficult...

A patient buyer might do better. My Ikeda Imba in fine condition with a mediocre lens was under $500 a few years ago. The completed sales for similar cameras are a good guide to current prices.

I learned from experience to avoid stopping 35mm camera lenses smaller than f/8 for critical sharpness. Once I tried stopping a process lens down to f/128 on 5x7 film for maximum DOF. The resultant...

For inelegant but functional use, a scale can be improvised. I usually inscribe it on white tape with a fine tip pen. The apparent diameter of each f/stop as seen from the front of the lens can be...

Perhaps in the near future a mosaic of LEDs near the printing frame and controlled by a computer will permit the dodging and burning to be preset for finer control and repeatability.

I've used film cameras at -60 degrees Fahrenheit with no problems except batteries losing power. Also, static electricity can mark film unless it is advanced and rewound slowly. As Otto says, it's...

Thanks, Dan, much useful information for some of my rainy day projects.

More information on making cameras: http://http://home.online.no/~gjon/jgcam.htm.

The smaller unsigned sizes seem to be common and not very valuable.

Problems can arise when using real names. Both the famous author and the infamous cult leader who shared my name are gone, but others abound on other forums.

There is no evidence of the back rotation lock pin on my RB Graphic ever having a head. There were some minor changes in these cameras over the 15 production years.
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Jim C. is right. Slide the pin forward to release the back, and backward to lock the back. It's a bit stiff on mine. Also, the back has to be carefully aligned with the body before the pin can...

Martin, impressive beginning with the 8x10. Fine as pure technique, fine as a portrait.

Some red bulbs not intended for darkrooms leak white light. This can usually be corrected by painting or taping over the leaks. Also, they may radiate some light to which photo material is...

Hurry, hurry, hurry! Worldwide pinhole day is this Sunday: www.pinholeday.org/. The bible of pinhole photography is Eric Renner's Pinhole Photography. One comprehensive site is Jan Grepstadt's:...

A check of a few sheet magnifiers from office supply sources suggests that the ones Bruce linked to may be somewhat better. Thickness of the office supply magnifiers is .020" to .022", compared to...

I rarely have more than one or two sheets of film to develop at any time, so tray development in total darkness is practical. A very small amount of developer is diluted for one-time use. A cheap...

The f/stop = focal length / diameter of the entrance pupil (the apparent diameter of the diaphragm opening as viewed from a distance from the front of the lens). Since measuring this at a distance is...

The 5x7 Elwood I used for several years was grey. I believe most of the metal parts of another 5x7 and an 8x10 are also grey. I can look at what's left of them tomorrow. The 8x10 was last used as...

Yes, it's a Graflok back.

A collectable NOS may be better off in the hands of a collector or investor than as a learner's camera. First cameras, like first cars, should be expendable.

Richard is right. One neat alternative is a hardware store threaded insert with 3/8" internal threads that can be screwed and perhaps epoxied into the bottom plate.

The level indicator isn't important. An inexpensive bullseye level from a hardware store works well enough.

I'm happy with small aperture lenses on large format cameras because they are often...

I rack the rails all the way back, set the front standard so a very distant subject is sharply focused on the ground glass, and set the infinity stops to the front standard. Then check the...

You should be able to improvise a negative carrier from mat board. A cutout is needed at the top of the carrier to (I believe) calibrate the scanner. There may be other features on the original...

The speed Graphic wasn't good for long lenses, but the Graflex with extensive modification could handle some huge optics. Of course heavy tripods were also used. Sometimes speed focusing levers...

Perhaps the pinion was replaced with one including a quick focus lever that would clear the outside of the camera body when everything was closed up. It takes about 3/4 turn of the focus knob to go...

Wow, Sergei!

While a SG shutter mounted just behind or in front of a lens will give exposures as expected from the selected shutter speed, it might not stop motion as much as the same shutter used near the film...

Someone just starting out in LF photography might do well to use a $100 Burke & James or similar camera and an older lens for a year or two, and then use the rest of the budget for a lifetime...

A 203mm Ektar has been my favorite for almost 40 years. It's compact, sharp, and good for macro photography.

A basic darkroom can be small when there is little room. I learned B&W printing in a darkroom 4x6 feet. One of the eight darkrooms improvised or constructed for myself was even smaller. Knowledge...

Long ago I improvised a light source from opal glass and a 600W movie light to copy negatives on an ancient Mustek. It didn't work well. Perhaps disabling the internal lamp for copying opaque...

If I ever get around to fine-tuning the height of my V700, I'll probably build up layers of thin cardboard until it seemed to give sharpest results.

If you buy a used scanner, make sure it has the required negative holder or be prepared to improvise one. The carrier shown on the Craig's List was only for roll film.

Liquitex may not adhere adequately to the resin coating on the backs of many photographs. I use some of their products for adhering fiber material.

My old Epson 2450 wasn't as good for 4x5 negatives as my V700, but it was good enough. Perhaps you can find a used one in good condition with the negative carriers. Ought to be cheap, too.

I've traced a similar problem to contamination on fingers. Tongs would help, but fingers work better.