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"The Practical Zone System" by Chris Johnson. It's a great book.

Hi Raymond. Thanks for passing this on. It's nice to hear those thought between all the talk of equipment and technique. I am definitley going to try and find a copy for myself. Cheers.

Thanks everyone for the info. I combined the advice, washing the negs in the Jobo first. Actually I had not thought about cleaning out the Jobo itself so that is good advice. And I just recently...

I just bought a Jobo CPA-2 and am wondering if there is an alternative to washing the film in the Expert tank. I've seen 4x5 film washers by Gravity Works, but nothing for 8x10. Can you wash 8x10...

Thanks for your replies. Since it will be horizontal, maybe I can just remove the counterweights? I'll have to take a closer look at the unit. The head is cooled by a wall fan with an exhaust tube...

Correction: I think it's actually a 10x10 enlarger.

Hello,

I just picked up a beautiful Sinar Norma 8x10 camera, originally intending to do contact prints. But there is a lab in town that has gone digital and is looking to get rid of an 8x10 Fotar...

I've been using the HP Combiplan for 4x5 with excellent results: evenly developed negs, very easy to use and doubles as a washer.

Here's a link for Fujimoto enlargers:

http://www.jobousadarkroom.com/products/fuji450m.htm

Hello,

Has anyone used a Fujimoto 450M-Multi variable contrast 4x5 enlarger? I'm wondering about the relative merits of these vs. other good quality variable contrast enlargers for 4x5 black and...

I never met Adolph Gasser, but I got my first real camera in his shop and plenty of other supplies and help along the way.
...

Is the difference really noticable to the eye? In color or sharpness? Does this have an effect in black and white?

Thanks Tor. I really like the camera, especially the modularity and build quality. I'm glad to hear it can be transported easily. I'm not sure if it's OK to post queries on prices here, but the...

Thanks. The camera that it comes with includes a seperate Sinar shutter. So it would be usable as is. I guess I'm really wondering about the quality of the optics. I haven't used a Symmar lens of...

Thanks Austin and Frank. I took a look at the Norma brochure on http://www.king-platypus.com/sinar/norma/sinarnorma.html, and it calls the camera a "standard", which appears to be the basic model,...

Hello,

I am thinking of buying a camera that I *believe* to be a Sinar "Norma". It is a 4x5 rail camera with an interchangable 8x10 back and bellows. It uses a seperate shutter that sits behind...

Hello,

I am considering buying an 8x10 Sinar Norma. The package includes a Schneider Symmar 360mm F5.6 lens. The lens is a barrel lens (correct term?) but there is a Sinar shutter with the...

Hi Marko. You're so right. Stalin saw himself as another Tsar, in particular the 2nd coming of Ivan the Terrible. So there wasn't much difference at all.

Bringing this back to photography,...

Hey Marco. Great story. Mosty true, except the Potemkin village was for Catherine the Great, not Stalin.

http://www.bartleby.com/61/0/P0480000.html

Cheers,

Hey Frank. Love your site. I've been browsing through the rest of your blog and just saw your latest entry. That new shot of "Laura" is cool. I also like the girls dancing on the tree stump. ...

To me, color is about the experinece. Black and white is about memory.

I just bought a Schneider 80XL second hand: originally purchased at Badger a few years ago (it came with the original box. Will any problems be obvious. It *looks* clean peering through the lens. ...

Thanks Oren, for those links. They are a great resource. That 250 Tele-Xenar looks like a great option, except for the price. I might look for a Fuji 240 as an alternative. Thanks,

Hello, I just purchased a complete LF outfit, including Horseman HD, 80mm and 150mm lens. I'l like to add one semi-long lens, preferably a 240mm. Can I use this on the HD, or will I need the...

I just picked up a Horseman HD, 80mm and 150mm Schneider lenses, Gitzo CF tripod w/Linhof ballhead, Fuji quickload, stack of film holders, loupe, bags, etc. etc. The whole set-up---for a song. All...

Hi Peter,

The book is available at Amazon and I have seen it in Borders and Barnes & Noble (where' I got mine):
Here's the link to Amazon . I'll send you a picture of the cover by email.
...

Hi Peter, Just a few more notes:

They call it "Coal Tar Exopy" in the book but there are other versions of this with different names. I still have the can from mine if you need the exact name....

Hi Peter. I built my own sink six years ago out of 3/4 plywood, coated with a material used in boat repair that is painted on and forms a permanent, chemical resistent and water-proof surface. The...

Thanks Steve. I have been reading Jack Dykinga's book and another one on large format photography by Kodak. They are both very good. Jack's book is especially full of information and inspiration. ...

Thanks John. That's a great idea. I've used similar cutouts for cropping prints, so it makes sense that they could also crop the real world. I was also reading the article by Ken Lee in the latest...

Thanks for all the replies. Ralph, I think I also see LF as adding a new dimension to my work. When I started using medium format, I was initially frustrated then as well. But over time I adjusted...

Hello,

I have always shot in 35mm and medium format, hand-held, in natural light. For medium format, I use an old Rollei TLR and a Mamiya 7 rangefinder, allowing me to work much the same as in...

Wow. I am both impressed and inspired. Kirk and Gary, your images are wonderful. I will definitely be going back again and again to soak them in. I have also been skimming through many of the...

That post on Paul Shambron was great. Can anyone recommend other sites with examples of good LF work? I'm new to large format, and among all the talk of equipment, and film vs. digital, it's nice...

Great work. Those meeting shots are fascinating.

Hi Bob. Are these options available for the Technika III as well?

Hi Bobby. My sentiments exactly. Keeping the faith...

Thanks again for the responses. I'll definitely get a Rodagon, Componon or Nikkor. My other lenses for 35mm and 6x7 are Rodagons and I have been very happy with those, making 20x24 prints from 35mm...

Do you think there would be a difference in actual print quality between a Schneider 135mm f/5.6 Componon-S and Nikon 135mm f/5.6 EL-Nikkor? I see both of these lenses for sale, in excellent shape,...

I need to get an enlarging lens for my 4x5 negs. Is there really a difference between the different brands? Nikon is so much cheaper than Schneider and Rodenstock. Is there a quality difference in...