can't get sharp photos with an LF camera

[Tin Can]

Next you must convince yourself, that you can fix this

I have several calibers that are used every week

[Tin Can]

Wista 4x5 Groundglass/Fresnel Combination

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...mbination.html

[Tin Can]

advice nobody wants

make your own GG

Discover where it must be

Save $330 with tax

[xkaes]

Well, I only took apart the GG of the Wista 45D as it was in need of a clean. And what I found was:
- lens
- fresnel with the ridges to the side of the lens
- metal spacer
- GG with the ground side towards the lens..

That's exactly how BEATTIE says it should be set up for Wistas -- which seems to be confirmed from what others are saying for Wistas.

But that doesn't mean that there could not be something else "wrong". And it also doesn't mean that you should not run the easy "ruler" test mentioned before. Mark the ruler where you think the image is in focus, develop it and see if a different point is in focus instead. Then you need some adjustment. An if nothing is sharp, then the problem is the lens.

[GG12]

Agreed. Just to summarize:
Use the ruler test to see if anything is in focus.
If not, then lens, or camera mounting (vibration) likely culprits.
If so, then plane of focus off.
If negative sharp, then scanner.

[Havoc]

Ok, thanks for your input guys. So I need to do some tests the coming days. I won't be able to develop the results for a week or so but I'll come back with what I found.

[RichardRitter]

When you made the negatives did you close down the lens?
If you did there should be a sharp area on the negative. Even if the focusing screen is out of adjustments you will get a shape image on the negative some where.

Was the image sharp on the ground glass when focusing?
If yes the lenses are ok.

Since you used two different cameras and are getting the same results
It may be a problem in what happens after you expose the film.
Dark room light leakage, chemical fog, scammer not working right.

Post an image of the problem negatives.

[Havoc]

When you made the negatives did you close down the lens?

Yes, I always try to be between f/16 and f/27. Maybe a bit arbitrary but on the other hand I'm mostly at a fair distance of the subject.

If you did there should be a sharp area on the negative. Even if the focusing screen is out of adjustments you will get a shape image on the negative some where.

To me it all seems just as "not quite sharp".

Was the image sharp on the ground glass when focusing?
If yes the lenses are ok.

It was as sharp as I could get it. Some told me to check if the rear group is in contact with the shutter. I can confirm that with all my lenses it is.

Since you used two different cameras and are getting the same results
It may be a problem in what happens after you expose the film.
Dark room light leakage, chemical fog, scammer not working right.

Post an image of the problem negatives.

Could be. I'm out of ideas, that's why I ask here.

I have put a couple negatives on the net. I don't have negatives with the same film for the 4x5 as the 6x9. I also choose negatives that were taken without a yellow filter. When I have details about the shot I added it below. These are the 4800dpi scans of the Epson V700 converted to .jpg, nothing more. No other adjustments. So the files are large! 51MB for the 4x5, 23MB for the 6x9.

https://quirinus.one/forum_foto/unsh...5_orig_013.jpg
Wista 45N, Fujinon 125 CM-W, Adox CMSII100 film, ID11 7'30".

https://quirinus.one/forum_foto/unsh...5_orig_035.jpg
Wista 45N, Fujinon 90 SWD, f/19, 1/30, Fomapan 100, ID11

https://quirinus.one/forum_foto/unsh...9_orig_025.jpg
Wista 45D, Fujinon 90 SWD (about 10mm shift up), f/22, 1/60, Fomapan 200, HC110 1+63 12' (this one has a light leak at the lower left part)

It can be that I'm far to critical and I'm expecting more than is reasonable. These are typical of about 80% of the negatives I get.

This is what I get with a Fuji GA645Zi handheld on an autumn day.
https://quirinus.one/forum_foto/unsh...5_orig_003.jpg
Kodak Tmax 100, HC110 1+63.

[Andrea Gazzoni]

bad eyesight can be ruled out? had the same issue, it took me maybe three years to realize it was my eyes fault

[Alan9940]

Assuming that no sharpening was applied during scanning, on my monitor and to my old eyes your results look exactly like what I'd expect from a flatbed scan. And, honestly I don't see much difference between the GA645Zi scan and those above from 4x5. One thought about the scanner itself... Have you tested it to determine its true optical resolution? For example, my first flatbed scanner was an Epson Expression 1600 that was stated to achieve 1600ppi max resolution. After testing it, I determined that the highest quality scans happened at 800ppi. Just a thought...

Actually, one more thought... If your negatives look sharp through a loupe on a light table, pick the best one and send it out for a drum scan. Comparing a drum scan to your V700 scans should tell you oodles.