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View Full Version : New article by Paul Owen: Shen Hao 6x17 RF Back



QT Luong
6-Feb-2005, 17:51
A new article by Paul Owen,
The Shen Hao 6x17 Roll Film Back and Ground Glass Viewer - A User's Review (http://www.largeformatphotography.info/shen-hao-6x17.html), has been posted. Please feel free to leave any constructive comments in this thread.

paul owen
15-Mar-2005, 08:17
Just an update on the film back. I have installed a fresnel lens in the viewer and the improvement in screen brightness and eveness of illumination is quite amazing! What's more amazing is the fact that I simply cut down a flexible A4 page magnifier (cost £2!) and using clear self adhesive corners for photo albums fixed it in place over the existing ground glass! I recently paid a brief visit to Scotland where I used the 6x17 back wihout any hitches and the transparencies that I got back from the lab are further proof (to me anyway) that this film back was a "wise investment".

Bill_1856
15-Mar-2005, 08:38
How much did the thing cost?

David A. Goldfarb
15-Mar-2005, 08:48
Mine (the Da Yi version) was about $545 including shipping from Hong Kong from a seller on eBay who goes by "oneworld3".

Scott Fleming
15-Mar-2005, 09:34
Pictures would be nice.

Bill_1856
16-Mar-2005, 10:00
Paul, isn't there a problem with shadowing of the film edges with anything but very wide lenses? (I have a 5x7 back for my 4x5 Nagaoka camera, and with normal FL lenses it's only a 5x6 because of the shadows from the bellows.)

David A. Goldfarb
16-Mar-2005, 13:38
It works with lenses from 75mm (wider if there are such lenses that cover the format) to 150mm before you see mechanical vignetting. Still, you can get about 6x16.5 with a 168mm lens or about 6x15 with a 210mm lens.

I've posted some impressions and test shots in this thread:

http://www.apug.org/forums/showthread.php?p=113867#post113867

paul owen
20-Mar-2005, 10:08
The only vignetting I have found is when using a 210mm lens. Anything up to a 150mm works fine. The 210mm gives a frame size of approximately 160mm long as opposed to the 175mm full frame.

paul owen
20-Mar-2005, 10:09
There are pics of film back and viewer on Robert White's web site (under LF section - Shen Hao). Cost me just shy of £500 UK pounds (including VAT and shipping).

Mosadek Miah
21-Mar-2005, 14:14
David, I also had the DAYI version of the 6x17 back (also purchased from ebay seller - oneworld3 - in Hong Kong when the thing first came out in early 2004), and I was disappointed by it for a couple of reasons - sold it thereafter. Firstly, the felt material lining inside the film window area was poorly glued in, and was coming apart at the corners, and intruding into the image area all around. The useable image area I achieved was only 54mm x 165mm at best with a 90mm lens. I could never get close to 56x170mm, never mind the 178mm Paul managed.

I also owned an Art Panorama 6x17 back once, and found this to be MUCH better in this regard, giving a full 56mm x 178mm image, just like the Art Panorama 170 cameras.

Can anyone tell me if the recent DAYI 6x17 backs have the same problems with the felt lining and image area limitation?

Also, there is another manufacturer - Kang Tai, I think (also calling their back the "KT617 Art Panorama") selling on ebay, for a bit more - USD$733. They have examples of images taken with 90mm and 150mm lenses, and claim the full 56x168mm image area - anybody got one of these or compared it with DAYI/Shen Hao??

Thanks!

David A. Goldfarb
21-Mar-2005, 15:05
Mosadek--The felt seems fine on mine, and the maximum image size is 56x170 mm, or slightly less if you crop the notches at the ends of the frame.

Ted Stoddard
28-Mar-2005, 08:49
I just purchased this from ebay and its on its way.... I have 2 options when using this back.... I have a Tachihara 4x5 and a 8x10 to 4x5 reducing back for my 8x10.... I'm going to try them both I have lenses Fuji 150mm .... Fuji 250mm ... and a Nikkor 90mm.... I'm glad I had the chance to read this review so now I know it wasnt a complete... waste of my money.... Thanks for the great info Paul and I will take a look at that A4 Page Magnifier after I get it to help out on getting a clearer and better view of what I want to shoot.... I have a Gallery Showing coming up in July and hope to have some of the shots in the show.... Thanks again Paul.....

David Trumper
2-May-2005, 03:26
Could Paul please advise where he bought the page magnifier from in the UK.

Regards

David

Anthony Oresteen
31-May-2005, 15:10
Can this back be adapted to a Korona 5x7 field view? It seems to me that a 5x7 camera would work better as 178mm is 7".

Would a 210 lens vignett when used on a 5x7?

Thanks!

Tony

David A. Goldfarb
31-May-2005, 15:32
Adapting it to a 5x7" camera wouldn't solve the vignetting problem, because it is constructed for a 4x5" camera, so you would essentially have to use it on a 4x5" reducing back. If you look at a picture of the back, you'll get an idea of the problem.

David A. Goldfarb
9-Aug-2005, 11:53
I have the DaYi back, and I can't see what the upgrade is in the "Focus" back. It looks like mine, which also came with the 6x9 and 6x12 masks and the viewer.

Paul O
11-Aug-2007, 14:43
As an update - I've just returned form a 2 week photo trip to Iceland where, when the weather permitted, I put the 6x17 film back to good use. The specs list this back as being useable with lenses up to 150/180mm but I thought that some may be interested to learn that with a 300mm tele lens I was still able to get transparencies of 56x160mm in size.

kev curry
26-Aug-2007, 01:48
This link may be of interest:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/6x17-ROLL-film-back-for-Linhof-Sinar-Horseman-wista-617_W0QQitemZ140149760637QQihZ004QQcategoryZ627QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

eduardtoader
5-Aug-2010, 20:59
The only vignetting I have found is when using a 210mm lens. Anything up to a 150mm works fine. The 210mm gives a frame size of approximately 160mm long as opposed to the 175mm full frame.

Hello all! I´m interested too about this back..


Why 210 mm make vigneting? Isn´t a lens for 8x10" ? 8x10" back have a 20 x 24 cm. So, why would make the vignete if this lens offer enough image (as a wide lens for 8x10) to cover the 8x10 format? I have a 210mm Voightlander Braunschweig and a 210mm Schneider Xenar. Could I use one of them yo shoot 6x17?


The other question:

When I use the 90mm, shooting 6x17, I should use a graduated filter? It is necesary for this format?


The final:
Wich back do you reccomend as better made, light tight, buiding and all?v SH 6x17 backs or Da Yi 6x17?

Lot of thanks for your help.
Have a great week end.

Lachlan 717
5-Aug-2010, 23:56
Hello all! I´m interested too about this back..


Why 210 mm make vigneting? Isn´t a lens for 8x10" ? 8x10" back have a 20 x 24 cm. So, why would make the vignete if this lens offer enough image (as a wide lens for 8x10) to cover the 8x10 format? I have a 210mm Voightlander Braunschweig and a 210mm Schneider Xenar. Could I use one of them yo shoot 6x17?



The lens is not the issue with this form of vignetting; it is the design of the film back causing mechanical vignetting. In other words, part of the camera/camera back "interrupts" the path of light to part of the film.


The other question:

When I use the 90mm, shooting 6x17, I should use a graduated filter? It is necesary for this format?

Generally, this comes down to 3 things: your aesthetic preferences with light fall-off, what type of film you're using and how deep your wallet is. Many people like the slight vignetting effect of fall-off in B&W photos. On the other hand, even slight fall-off in a transparency shot can be off putting. But, it's up to your tastes. Finally, these filters are not cheap… (For what it's worth, I use one on my 90mm).


The final:
Wich back do you reccomend as better made, light tight, buiding and all?v SH 6x17 backs or Da Yi 6x17?

I've only used the DaYi dedicated 617 back (not the back for a 4x5 camera), but I have had no issues whatsoever with it.

eduardtoader
7-Aug-2010, 03:44
You right man.. I´ve not thought in the camera design.. I´m wonder how the 90mm circle of image pass through the camera without touch that parts of it that the 210mm touch..

Could you reccomend a good graduated filter? I would like to read more about it use, samples, etc.

You reply was very usefull for me. I´m really lerning here. Thank you.

have a bestlighted weekend..

Lachlan 717
7-Aug-2010, 04:07
Put simply, the cone of light that is produced by a 90mm passes through the opening of the camera back without hitting it. In other words, it is a flatter cone. The 210 is a much steeper cone that is interrupted by the body.

I use the Schneider center filters, one on my 90mm f5.6 and one on my 72mm. Why by a great lens and not put a filter of similar quality on it?