Originally Posted by
DLee
Hi, I've had a Linhof Technica III v.5 for years and I finally got around to shooting some film with it.
I've been shooting 4x5 sheet and 120 with the 6x9 Rollex back. The first film that I've had processed is the 120 from the Rollex. Sure enough the Rollex overlaps... so I'll be sending it in for a possible adjustment.
The overlap is disappointing but I halfway expected that. What I didn't expect is the image to be kinda soft. Granted all the shots were made handheld and focused with the rangefinder, but there really isn't anything sharp in the image. Real close... but not quite. IF the rangefinder focus was off I would expect to see sharpness in front or behind my subject - but I don't. I didn't use any movements and shutter speeds were kept around 1/250 minimum.
The lenses I have are matched cam with sr. #'s to both camera and lens. I have a Linhof select S/K Xenar 150 4.5 and Linhof select S/K Angulon 90 6.8. I also have a 300 but I haven't shot with that yet. The lenses appear to be uncoated and the same vintage as the camera... mid fifties.
The film is Kodak 400 NC and I had it developed and scanned locally. The scans are OK but not that high a res. Checking the negs with a lupe sharpness appears close but not perfect in the best two (of 8) frames.
Here are my thoughts and questions:
Color neg just isn't that sharp and I should do another test with B&W with the camera on a tripod.
Are negatives just not as sharp as what I've come to expect with digital?
With focus so close... but not quite, could it be back alignment?
Could it be film flatness in the back?
Are the lenses soft?
Do I really suck this badly at photography?
I guess the next step is to do a real focus test with the camera on a tripod and shoot both 120 and 4x5... and process the 4x5, ha.
Sorry for the long ramble here. I know there's testing to be done... I was just so looking forward to seeing this film. To have it come back overlapped, soft and frankly... boring... is more than a little disappointing. I fear it's taking a little wind outa my sails for LF... but, not giving up yet. I'll mix some chemistry this weekend and see how the 4x5s look.
Any thoughts appreciated.
Thanks, Dennis
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