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Ash
27-Apr-2007, 11:21
Many thanks to Simon Benton, I am now the proud owner of a 4x5 Korona!!

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/second-belated/DSC00124.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/second-belated/DSC00125.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/second-belated/DSC00126.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/second-belated/DSC00127.jpg

It came disassembled, ready for restoring, but hey I'm impatient! Quick scrub over and a bit of polish, I spent a few hours putting it back together and here we go!!

I can't quite believe how compact it is, and although there are pinholes in the bellows, the whole thing looks so great. I nabbed some GG springs from a half-plate back that I no longer use (the original back from the Kodak camera restoration) and placed a SatinSnow screen on there. On the front is my old Dagor as a test lens. It'll probably be replaced by the Dogmar from Randy, or something else depending on how I feel.

Surprisingly the camera is so light it will sit securely on the Lander tripod. Nice and lightweight kit!!

Nice, aint it?

Ash
27-Apr-2007, 11:22
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/second-belated/DSC00128.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/second-belated/DSC00129.jpg

reellis67
27-Apr-2007, 11:25
Nice camera. Welcome to the Korona Club! I've got the 4x5 and 8x10 with full frontal movements and they are both a joy to use.

- Randy

Ash
27-Apr-2007, 11:29
Am I allowed a schoolboy giggle at the term 'full frontal' ? :D

Colin Graham
27-Apr-2007, 11:46
Nice. I always thought the rear standard tilts on these were a great design, but have never gotten the chance to try one. How are they in actual use?

Ash
27-Apr-2007, 11:48
the movements are quite smooth, but I think my re-assembly has left the setup a bit stiff. Nothing is as silky as it should be. The Kodak I have is much smoother, although much larger.

Randy H
27-Apr-2007, 13:20
Congrats. Good looking camera. Glad to see you finally got it. I just happen to know a guy that can set you up with some really nice lensboards.:rolleyes:

Ash
27-Apr-2007, 13:26
Hey Randy I think your guy was already my guy (see the kodak lensboard) :D

I'll be replacing the crappy fibreboard with hardwood shortly ;)

Jan Pedersen
27-Apr-2007, 13:58
Now don't attract Scott's attention, he is working on a special project for me:D

Ash
27-Apr-2007, 15:57
Don't worry, Scott sent me a bunch of boards, I won't need to hassle him for a while I should hope :)

Just weighed the setup:
Camera - 5.8lb
Camera + tripod - 9.2lb

not bad, compared to 10lb for the Kodak camera only :D

Rafael Garcia
27-Apr-2007, 18:02
I have the 5x7 Korona View II and a Korona View I (full front movements) with a 4x5 back that is the same size as the 5x7 (possibly a 5x7 with reducing back). I have used the 5x7 a lot, and it is a pleasure to use, and very smooth. Lensboards are easy to make. I even made one that adds tilt and swing for my 5x7 version II. Overall, I don't find it very compact, but it is fine, and fun to use. The rear geared tilt is, indeed, fantastic.



http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h285/ragc01/5x7%20Korona%20Photos/Dsc00230sc.jpg


http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h285/ragc01/5x7%20Korona%20Photos/Dsc00008s.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h285/ragc01/5x7%20Korona%20Photos/Dsc00046s.jpg

Ash
28-Apr-2007, 01:56
Yours is in really nice condition, I think I saw a post about your lensboard somewhere else too.

I got the Dogmar from Randy this morning in the post (thanks!!) and it's ridiculously wide! I gotta say I'm more comfortable with longer lenses, since I'm not *that* keen on landscapes. regardless I'll probably take the setup to Avebury next week and try out some photo's there. The Petzimex (300mm Hanimex 35mm slr lens, front element only, petzal effect when used wide open) is pretty nifty on the front, but even that needs some waterhouse stops made for it or something.

I think I have a few bits awaiting arrival. I'm going to see how long a lens I can use on this bad-boy before the extension bed and bellows say "oooh no you don't!" :D

Ash
28-Apr-2007, 14:26
Here's my first photo from the Korona, c/w Dogmar 150/4,5

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/second-belated/dogmar1.jpg

Some obvious flare on the corner it seems I had to cut down on contrast to save some highlights, the original was very contrasty, with most of the top half blown out. Good old Ortho ;)

Randy H
28-Apr-2007, 15:28
Too cool. It is obvious you do well shooting and printing. Especially if you got that with the Dog. Today I am in the process of reclaiming my darkroom, with intentions of getting to go shoot something all day tomorrow. I only hope mine come out half as good as yours do. I will be trying the APHS.

Ash
28-Apr-2007, 15:35
Hey Randy, that's the wonders of the Curve tool in photoshop :D

The flat scan of the neg is here (I selected as many tones as possible on the histogram) - http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/second-belated/dogmar.jpg

I miss having a darkroom :(
The Beseler CB7 is sat in the corner of my room crying for some attention! It works perfectly but I simply can't use it properly yet!

Thanks again for the lens, it's a fine performer by any means. That, or I got lucky!

Randy H
28-Apr-2007, 16:46
There was some discussion some time back, about whether it was the equipment, or the operator that made a photographer "great". It is also kinda like the old song about the violin at the auction. It was old and kinda beat up, and was not getting any bids. Then an old timer got up and played a song on it that was so sweet it made everybody cry. Then the price of the violin went through the roof. Same old beat up violin. The difference?
The master's touch.
Still a good lookin pic, even for an old "dog" of a lens.

Ash
29-Apr-2007, 02:02
I can't find a proverb about ballooning somebody's ego, or else I'd add that in lieu :D

Ash
30-Apr-2007, 01:40
Through a three-way trade (I sold some TLR filters to a guy on RFF, but he sent the money to Jason so that I could have this lens I'd promised to buy a while ago) I've received the convertible Conley RR that Jim Galli was selling a while back. It's totally gutted, no aperture, shutter is destroyed.

That said, I can JUST focus to about 5ft using the single rail on the camera. That's fine for a portrait lens, right?? :D

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/second-belated/DSC00143.jpg

EDIT:

I'm going to pester my neighbour about sources for hardwood sheets so I can make myself some lens panels. I've decided to try and build a... counter-recessed?... lens panel. Basically a recessed panel on backwards. Hopefully this will give me a couple extra inches of play on the focus rail, since the focal length is too long to comfortably use with the camera on a flat panel.

Ole Tjugen
30-Apr-2007, 01:57
I can't find a proverb about ballooning somebody's ego, or else I'd add that in lieu :D

Whom the gods would destroy, they first make mad.
Euripides (484 BC - 406 BC)

:D :p

Ash
30-Apr-2007, 02:06
Thanks Ole :D

Oh man.. a lady-friend of mine in america sent me some sweets. Reese's EGGS!! They're like the peanut butter cups, but smaller! It's 10am, I'm estimating I've eaten them all by 10:30. :D


Whom the gods would fatten, they first make Reeses.

Randy H
30-Apr-2007, 02:21
I'm going to pester my neighbour about sources for hardwood sheets so I can make myself some lens panels. I've decided to try and build a... counter-recessed?... lens panel. Basically a recessed panel on backwards. Hopefully this will give me a couple extra inches of play on the focus rail, since the focal length is too long to comfortably use with the camera on a flat panel.

You might also keep your eye open for one of the roller-blind shutters, such as the Thornton-Pickard.

Ash
30-Apr-2007, 02:49
Ah yea, fair shout. I guess the Thornton-Pickard would increase the distance also. Kinda expensive on the bay, however.

I may look into a small packard shutter to fit onto the camera, and then re-work lens panels to attach in front (kinda like the original packard mod I made).

I love the lightweight, compact, appeal. I'm not so keen on limited bellows draw and tiny front standard, however. I took large, easily modified front standards for granted up until now :)