Ebony Whole Plate!

[Don Hutton]

Hi Steve,

that's really interesting. I had assumed the weight was saved in some magical way in the whole design of the camera rather than a specific part. Is the Ebony's front/rear standards interchangeable/replaceable?

I do subscribe to the "small is beautiful: philosophy and prefer small over large. The Gandolfi half-plate camera is a case in point: it's lens panel is the size of a Speedgraphic and a standard half-plate lens is smaller and lighter than a 50mm f1.7 standard 35mm format lens.

Good point about the portrait lens although I think I would be happy with just one portrait lens which I've already earmarked (along with its Series XV sister.... 2 -3 lenses would outpace me, to say nothing of a huge array of lenses which I would never ever find the time to even mount on a lensboard...

The PS945 does not have huge coverage - I really don't think that you are going to be satisfied on whole plate with it. 5x7 is fine, and while I have a shot or two on Polaroid 8x10, you have to get very close.... I honestly can't see it being the solution for whole plate portraiture unless you like shooting only heads from less than 5 feet.

[Rob_5419]

Thanks for the feedback Don.

You are saying this to make me feel better now that the PS945 has been discontinued, right? (It will cover half-plate in any case)....

[Don Hutton]

Thanks for the feedback Don.

You are saying this to make me feel better now that the PS945 has been discontinued, right? (It will cover half-plate in any case)....

Well that too! BTW, the story on Cooke lenses: there will not be any manufacture of either the PS945 or the XVa going on for the next twelve months - they have just landed a large job which is going to tax their small resources. It is their intention to manufacture LF lenses again... Obviously that could change, but that is the update I have.

[Rob_5419]

Ok ok!

I think I'll work a 12" English brass lantern lens into a shutter instead

Shooting heads from 5 feet would be a real challenge!

That means their XVa series will be on hold as well. Who knows by next year whether it will be out again or not.

Maybe I'll just settle back into using all these ancient optics that have been seeing dust and give up-dating the modern..

[David Karp]

Given Fotoman's announced plans to produce holders, I hope David and many other dive in. That would likely inspire additional camera manufacturer whole plate offerings, not to mention supporting ongoing film production.

I have been seriously considering the creation of a whole plate fund that I can contribute to over time. A nice camera is in order, and I have a serious case of Ebony envy for the first time. Of course, if Tachihara started selling whole plate cameras, maybe more of us could afford a new camara! In the meantime, don't tell my wife I am thinking about this!

Oh yeah. I loved Oren's recent article. Maybe Mike Johnston would allow it to be reprinted on Tuan's site, if Oren is interested.

[Oren Grad]

Of course, if Tachihara started selling whole plate cameras, maybe more of us could afford a new camara!

I'd love to see Tachihara making a whole plate camera. Who knows, maybe they will. But if you don't insist on having the minimum possible weight, you can easily get a Tachihara whole plate camera by buying the 8x10 and having a whole plate reducing back made for it. You can do that with any 8x10 that has a removable back, of course. That would add only a few hundred dollars to the price, which means that there are many options for having a "new" whole plate camera at a price very substantially lower than the cost of a new Ebony SV. And if one is fortunate to own a Phillips, a Wehman, a Canham lightweight, or some other ultralight 8x10, it can be done with little or no weight disadvantage.

And thanks for your kind words! Per Mike's enlightened blog-contributor policy, I retain the copyright on that piece. In fairness to Mike, I'd like to let him have it as exclusive content for a little while, but after that I'd be happy to have it posted on the LF Info site if people would find it useful.

[Sal Santamaura]

...Of course, if Tachihara started selling whole plate cameras, maybe more of us could afford a new camara!...

I'm hoping Fotoman's holders will become the whole plate "ANSI Standard" that never was. This should make it easier for other camera makers to enter that format. The possibilities aren't limited to Ebony or a fantasy Tachihara. I've heard of one Asian manufacturer who would consider a small run if the market demands it, and someone today suggested they might contact Keith Canham to inquire about a whole plate version of his design. Be agressive and vocal -- go for it!