(some thoughts on sunny Sunday's afternoon... at least here in Europe, might be same over the ocean when you log on your screen after the lunch. and, please, on any clumsy sentences you find, do remember that english isn't my first language)
Reading last few threads about "other formats", about landscape in 35mm, it came (back) to my mind that I would really like to make larger contact prints. I started as a kid with 35mm, 22 and 28 DIN film, went to 8 or 14 DIN for finer grain, later to ISO 25 or 50 on 6x6 (cm) cameras, 800 or more on 35mm... (yes, ISO standard wasn't "here" when I started, good I didn't have to learn GOST system). Today I'm playing with 25 on 4x5 and 6.5x8.5". Fine grain, decent enlargements (or scans) but I want contact prints.
Well, 8x10" (or 18x24cm) looks to me like fine size, but... *but*, there is also always "bigger is ***er"... At least, easier for my parents and grandparents to see the print. So, do I "want" 20x24"? Probably not for reason that II want to shot mostly landscapes with that camera. But some "table tops" (or likes) too. Either extensions would be way to big, either the camera would be to heavy.
I have a sketch of what I would like to build (have just reinstalled my computer and don't have Freehand on it now, so I will re-draw my idea in Photoshop) - some 12x20 with concave back. With custom build lens... if the students in local optical school will be able to build such thing. Lens will be enlarged redesign of Goerz Hypergon. Concave back to avoid light fall-off on the left and right side. some vertical shift would be possible, maybe some back tilt as well. Don't know what to use as material. Metal might be easier to use, but than without tilt.
Anyway, just an idea which is standing around for some time and might not be realized at all. (same as my idea to build body which will use Sinar's lens holder and ground glass with film holder... I just bought Tachihara ;-))
O.K., back to my primary thoughts - to switch or jump on larger (in my case UL) format isn't that easy - completely new system have to be bought. If I switch to 8x10, maybe I will be able to use my 210mm G-Claron as wide angle lens, but that is all. O.K., I hope I won't need new tripod and new car. Few backs - 10 shots is what I would like have in case I really go far away from home and If I find really "really good shots/scenery". I do like new stuff. New double film holders... on 12x20 it's about $500... waaaaaaaay too much for me. And than, where to look for used camera larger than 8x10? 11x14 or 12x20 are formats I like. Which lenses to choose or look for? How much does such system weight? (I'm afraid that most of such cameras are on north-America market, so I will need to pay a lot for shipping)... To go back on (dreaming about) 8x10 or to keep thinking about ULF?
tnx for sharing your thoughts and/or experience,
Janko
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