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Bob: I probably won't need much in terms of movements for this work, but edge sharpness will be critical.

Brad: No, I don't look at prints with a loupe. I was, of course, referring to the...

Thanks for the replies. Brad, I've had three of the 135Ns since about 1995, and they all performed about the same. I've exposed over a hundred sheets with that lens and I assure you I can tell the...

Hi all. I'm starting a project that I'll be able to use my old press (now field) camera for, at least partly. All my "good" lenses are a bit too big for easy handling on it, and they sure won't...

I used sailing gloves for years (just the very ends of the fingers exposed, unlike most fingerless gloves). Last year my wife bought me a pair of heavy, dense fleece fingerless gloves from...

Buy a light tripod and use your bag (or a local rock!) hung from the center when you need extra stability. Better to have less to carry when wind isn't a consideration.

Craig's advice on the 65mm is good, although I find I use 90 & 135 the most (300mm for exteriors from a distance - flattens nicely). The real key is to get the most out of your camera's movement...

They are fine lenses. Glad you decided to keep the camera. Make some pictures!

Hi asd: First, try those shots at f22-32. And how is the focus on the ground glass?

As Louie wrote, they are reasonably sharp, although not as sharp as some other options. Coverage is OK for 4x5 (216mm @ f/22 & infinity). I've had both a 1960's single-coated example and now have a...

Used 45As and AIIs have been going on ebay for $500 - 750 the past couple of months. You could probably get a good deal after the holidays. Just try to get one from a reputable seller and make sure...

Schneider's store has some B&W filters on sale. I just picked up a 67mm KR 1.5 (a few of which I already own in other sizes -- useful for cutting blue and UV) for $38. Just remember that the "66"...

Should cover 4x5. Schneider's "Vintage Lens Data" page says 190mm @ f16.

Sounds like you fixed the problem. I can only add (for others who may read this thread down the line), that the battery issues are real with Apple notebooks. My G3 iBook finally died beyond...

I own Hoyas and B&Ws and the Hoya MC filters seem to work every bit as good. I've never had any problem with the aluminum vs. brass (although I don't usually leave filters on lenses all the time).

The best bang for the buck new will be either the Rodenstocks re-labeled for sale by Calumet (ie http://www.calumetphoto.com/item/CL2210/ -- very limited range available now) or the Fujinons (see:...

I agree about spending most of your time and money on photographing and printing at this point. However, it's a great buyers' market right now on lenses. If I were to start with two, they would be...

Do you have a reference? I'm skeptical, since in my experience the Canon and Nikon filters are about the same quality (maybe not even as good) as a regular Hoya MC.

The 165mm Ilex (coated, in Seiko shutter) that I got off ebay a little more than a year ago for $75 works like a charm: sharp pictures, good color and an accurate shutter.

I'm not sure what film size you're using, but I've done 4x5 TMAX dip-n-dunk in the rubber trays with no problem. Agitation should be gentle and regular (no sloshing), and you need to give the...

I have a great piece done by an old friend. It's a drawing on newsprint, done with a ballpoint pen (blue, even). The strength of the work is in its content and execution, not its materials. When...

You can find rangefinder cams for the Super used from time to time (ie, at Gandy's www.cameraquest.com). Although you don't need the RF for handheld pictures, it's nice for working fast. The...

The Schneider Symmar-S was also sold by Calumet as the Caltar-S II, and the Rodenstock Sironar-N as the Caltar II-N. The Caltar lenses are identical to the original manufacturer's branded versions,...

That's real helpful (and almost, but not quite, intelligible).

I have the same lens and like it. It's not perfect, but its a nice performer and folds up inside my Busch Pressman D. The aperture question was correctly answered above: when set to 6.3, that's...

Yes. Cock the shutter, then pull the lever straight out.

It's one of those things that you might not need very often, but when you need it you need it. I use rear rise or fall (more often) when my POV is far enough off that front rise/fall alone isn't...

My Pressman back turns very smoothly and with no slop (and I've owned a Technika III and IV (briefly)--the action of the BPD is comparable, although it feels less "damped").

To the OP: You can...

Nice to hear from another satisfied BPD owner, Bob. It may not be the ideal "only" LF camera, but it's a great compliment to a monorail (or medium format gear, if that's what you normally work in). ...

You can get a good used monorail very cheap on ebay or probably on the sales forum here (a Cambo / Calumet or Toyo, for example). I use my cambo in the field with no problem, but a press camera in a...

"Ahh yes, yesss! Finally you have realized that that gnawing hunger deep within your belly is the undernourished and underfed artistic soul desperately crying out for the mothers milk of sustenance...

Try wrapping the front cell in a rubber band or using a rubber pad / jar opener. You should be able to get it off without pliers, I think (had one on a polaroid, but it was a while back.....)

You write: "And it will definitely be far from the car: I don't have one, I just bike, walk or take the train "

So I'm putting a vote in for a folding clamshell field or press camera. A Toyo...

But if you need to remove it, just put it back in a 3-part 4x5 film box (you don't need the inner envelope - just clean all the dust out of the box and then store it in a ziplock). You will run the...

Hi all. I used to own a '60s vintage SA 90/8 (silver barrel, Compur 0) but can't remember how wide the rear cell was. Does anyone have one they can measure? Is it the same as the 80's vintage in...

I've used the Nikon and use the 848 now. To me the 848 is noticeably better for 120. I also have an Epson 4970 at home and it's OK for proofing, but that's about it (and I've optimized the holder...

I've made good 30x40+ prints from 4x5 (Imacon and drum scanned), but I would think if you want decent resolution in a print that's over 100" on a dimension, you will probably want an 8x10" neg.

You might want to do a search for this topic. Here's one recent post:
http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?t=42041

Thanks again for the feedback. I've received a full refund and the camera has been sent back, so now I am just waiting for the return shipping refund. In the future I'll try to ask even the...

The Caltar 135 was the first LF lens I ever bought, if you don't count the 127 Ektar I got with a camera (I was buying the camera, not the lens). I've used it for 12 yrs and it's always been great. ...

The Toyo and Cambos can be bought pretty cheap used. I've used a Sinar and they're nice, but I wouldn't trade my 80s/90s N series Calumet (like the Cambo SC) for one. It's light, smooth operating...