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Thread: Camera fresnels?

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  1. #1
    Kirk Gittings's Avatar
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    Camera fresnels?

    Are all camera fresnels created equal? Or are some better than others? How? Why?
    Thanks,
    Kirk

    at age 73:
    "The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
    But I have promises to keep,
    And miles to go before I sleep,
    And miles to go before I sleep"

  2. #2

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    Re: fresnels?

    Are we talkjng of fresnels as lenses on lighting units or cameras?
    No on both accounts.
    I use an $8 map magnifier on my 8x10 that works wonders.
    Camera Fresnels often seem to be optimized for short focal lengths.

  3. #3
    Big Negs Rock!
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    Re: fresnels?

    Kirk, it looks like you have a typo in your link to your website. http://'http//www.gittingsphoto.com/index%22 I tried a couple of different ways and couldn't get it to work. This one works: http://www.gittingsphoto.com/
    Mark Woods

    Large Format B&W
    Cinematography Mentor at the American Film Institute
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  4. #4
    Kirk Gittings's Avatar
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    Re: fresnels?

    Quote Originally Posted by Mark Woods View Post
    Kirk, it looks like you have a typo in your link to your website. http://'http//www.gittingsphoto.com/index%22 I tried a couple of different ways and couldn't get it to work. This one works: http://www.gittingsphoto.com/
    Weird? Thanks.
    Thanks,
    Kirk

    at age 73:
    "The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
    But I have promises to keep,
    And miles to go before I sleep,
    And miles to go before I sleep"

  5. #5
    Kirk Gittings's Avatar
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    Re: fresnels?

    Sorry, for ground glass purposes. Mine is pretty scratched up and I'm thinking of replacing it.


    I remember once on a long trip to the middle of nowhere, I broke my GG and had no replacement (these days I carry extras in my xtra gear bag) and made it through the shoot with just the fresnel.
    Thanks,
    Kirk

    at age 73:
    "The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
    But I have promises to keep,
    And miles to go before I sleep,
    And miles to go before I sleep"

  6. #6
    Big Negs Rock!
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    Re: fresnels?

    Hello Kirk, I assume you mean fresnels for cameras. My understanding is that camera fresnels can be of varying quality. With lighting units, the bigger problem isn't the fresnel, but the reflector. When it's out of alignment, the best fresnel in the world won't help the light spread.
    Mark Woods

    Large Format B&W
    Cinematography Mentor at the American Film Institute
    Past President of the Pasadena Society of Artists
    Director of Photography
    Pasadena, CA
    www.markwoods.com

  7. #7
    Format Omnivore Brian C. Miller's Avatar
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    Re: fresnels?

    I have a Brightscreen on my Graflex Super Graphic. After I got it shimmed into position for the film plane, I'm absolutely satisfied with it.

    Can you get a replacement from your camera's manufacturer?
    "It's the way to educate your eyes. Stare. Pry, listen, eavesdrop. Die knowing something. You are not here long." - Walker Evans

  8. #8
    Kirk Gittings's Avatar
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    Re: fresnels?

    Quote Originally Posted by Brian C. Miller View Post
    I have a Brightscreen on my Graflex Super Graphic. After I got it shimmed into position for the film plane, I'm absolutely satisfied with it.

    Can you get a replacement from your camera's manufacturer?
    Its a Phillips with a Horseman back so I guess yes but at $132 ????!!. But if it is no different than the $5 generic...........
    Thanks,
    Kirk

    at age 73:
    "The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
    But I have promises to keep,
    And miles to go before I sleep,
    And miles to go before I sleep"

  9. #9
    Format Omnivore Brian C. Miller's Avatar
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    Re: Camera fresnels?

    About your URL: The system automatically converted a trailing space (" ") to %20, which is the hexadecimal representation of a space character in a URL.

    About the Fresnel: the difference in the Fresnel lenses is the thickness. The original Graflex Fresnel was thicker than the replacement, so I had to add shims to move the GG-Fresnel assembly into position. You may be able to get away with a non-OEM replacement. I am sure that the book magnifiers are thinner than the GG Fresnel, unless you really do have a seriously thin Fresnel lens. Believe me, it's a lot of work to shim and test the position of the Fresnel lens. I made my shims from LF sheet film and 35mm film. Together they put the focus point exactly where I need it. If the original Graflex GG-Fresnel was still available, I would have bought it without a second thought.
    "It's the way to educate your eyes. Stare. Pry, listen, eavesdrop. Die knowing something. You are not here long." - Walker Evans

  10. #10
    Steve Sherman's Avatar
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    Re: Camera fresnels?

    FWIW
    Fresnel focusing screens likely won't impact landscape photogs but in studio situations where close focus and critical focus are common place it's best to steer clear of fresnel screens. F screens redirect light rays towards the center area of the ground glass thus giving a false impression of sharpness the further you move off center.

    Cheers


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