[LargeFormat] magnola

[Les Newcomer]

Wow for a guy just starting out you sure have it on most of the problems
of LF!

I'll break your email down and answer what I can.

ffranta@volny.cz wrote:
> 
> Hello all!
>         I am just another lurker coming into light :)
> Although my work lies in 35mm, I was from the start impressed and fell in
> love with medium format - the clear & crisp enlargements, mechanical beauty
> of many (older) MF cameras, cleaner work with MF negs, and also the much
> more complentative approach to photography it offers. While I am still
> studying, I can't devote enough finances into photography (I keep my PJ
> activities just enough to finance my personal devotion to photography) and
> LF, I would like to move into larger format.
>         The fields that I would like to cover there are mainly landscapes & travel
> photography. As I have said, I don't have much funds available for LF (I
> must pour what I have into 35mm :( , so I have narrowed my options to an
> used field camera with one basic and one wideangle lens.
>         I have been considering the UK made MPP IV, which looked very promising in
> the specs, but then I found an opportunity to buy very cheaply one 13x18cm
> (5x7") field camera, inspired my Linhof Technika I special. It's Meopta
> Magnola. It features all the movements I can dream of in a field camera,
> including bed fall, and movements on the back - it has sort of technikal
> back (like the MPP or Technikas). 13x18 is not a problem for me, actually
> it's better because I will be able to contact print all B&W stuff (and a
> good & cheap LF enlarger I can get with my budget is 13x18cm anyway, not
> 4x5" only)

13x18cm is not exactly the same as 5x7, and in the US that would be a
problem since 13x18 is slightly larger, You may be limited by the
choices of film you can get in 13x18 to B&W only. I know Kodak is paring
down the 5x7 choices every year.

> Only problem and my question is this:
>         If anybody knows what kind of back system does it use. I would like to get
> some more accessories in the near future, like roll-film back or panoramic
> roll-film back 6x12, etc. I don't quite understand the different back
> systems there are, but I think that most older cameras have backs for which
> newer roll-backs are impossible to put on. What does "international" back
> mean?

Except for metric size there really is only two back systems that I know
of (But then I don't hang around with guys with Linhoffs and Toyos) The
spring back which pretty much dissapeared with around WWII and the
Graflok back. This is the one where the ground glass slides off and two
slide locks can lock on a roll back. Graflex is long gone, so they
changed the name to international back. Finding a roll back for 13x18
would prove difficult. You may have to look for a 13x18 to 4x5 reducing
back and then a roll back for the 4x5. But I have to say this is a lot
of camera to end up using 120 roll film.  

Roll type Panorama backs are very expensive $500-$600 and they give you
essentially the long side of you sheet film and half the short side.
Unless you can't get the film you need (say color neg) in 13x18 I say
it's cheaper to shoot sheet film and crop it. You could even make a mask
from a spare darkslide, so you can get two images on each sheet of film.

 Will I be able to use
> some other reducing back to 9x12cm (~4x5") 
Youll have to find a Magnola back reducer since Camera brands have their
own unique way of attaching the back.

(my scanner's TMA so far offers
> only 4x5" maximum for trannies. It would come in handy at times to have the
> occasional Velvia 4x5" scanned myself).

Here lies the crux of large format any why medium format has taken off
in the last few years.
A good scanner capable of negs/trannies in 4x5 is two to three times
that of medium format. Once you hit 5x7 you need a drum scanner, which
will cost the price of a decent car. At this point its cheaper to find a
house that will scan it for you... around here a scan is in the 10-25
dollar range.
> 
>         I already have the basic accessories like spot meter, changing bag, but
> would like to add a specialised 13x18 dev tank. JOBO would be of course
> nice if it has one, but I would have to buy a whole system anew, as my
> present one only allows 35mm and 120 films dev. What are the possibilites
> of cheaper dev tanks for 13x18cm? I can get away with tray developing, of
> course. And I plan to use a roll-back most (for colour work & traveling).

Here again the 13x18 vs 5x7 format may be troublesome. I bought a dozen
or more 5x7 film hangers for around $2-$4 each, three rubber tanks for
$5 each and use an old cooler to hold it all and as a tempering bath.
When doing still deverlopment (very dilute developer, no/little
agitation and times ranging inthe 45min to 1 hour) it also makes a good
light tight box.


> What else do I need? I can rig a adjustable-focus focusing loupe from my
> normal lightable loupe easily (it's just 4x mag, though - is it enough?).
> Focusing hood can be my black t-shirt in a pinch :). Anything else I need?
>         Tripod is a bit of problem at the moment - in 35mm and 6x6 I am
> available-dark type of guy, with solid monopod but not enough solid tripod
> to support the camera (I could weigh it down with sand bags, though).
> Perhaps I should get one of those surveyors' heavy wooden beasts we used to
> use with our TV camera some time back... Or what Bogen/Manfrotto tripod in
> the normal price range is heavy enough to steady 13x18? + 3-way (or pan) head.

I have a Bogen 3047 that will handle an 8x10 deardorff, Go with a three
way head or mini geard head. Forget the sandbags, they are a pain when
traveling without assistants and a day rate :-)

> 
> Thanks a lot for all suggestions. I will summarize my questions bellow :)
>         1) what types of backs are there - what type did Technika I special have.
> What roll-backs can I use on it. What holders are compatible. 
Most roll holders sold today will fit a 4x5 intnational back, Calumet
makes a roll holder (C2, C2n) that will fit most spring backs and
international backs by sliding in like a holder. You will still need a
reducing back down to 4x5 and 5x7 film holders won't fit 13x18 backs
that I know of.
>         2) What other accessories?
>         3) Tripod - a surveyors's wooden or new/used Manfrotto (Velbon? ...)?
> Which (+head)? Not so expensive :(
>         4) Lenses -  can I use the barrel long-focus or teles which are so cheap
> for landscapes?
If you've got the bellows a long focus will outperform a tele of the
same focal lenght nearly every time. Barrel lenses are okay as long as
you realize shooting transparencies would be difficult as exposure times
are only as accurate and repeatable as your wrist.
>         What cheaper wideangle is reasonable for it? I can get a 150mm (or 135mm?)
> old-design (4-element) lens in shutter for it VERY cheaply, I guess it
> would be enough for contact printing. 

Id look for a 6" dagor It will be great for contacting or moderate
enlargement, the front element can be removed and using the rear element
get a roughly 10" lens. A 135/150 Tessar won't cover 13x18. Nor would
the older Protars. 

What WA could I get for rollback?

> Should I look for MF only WA (65 Angulon, etc...) or save for one of the
> Super-Ang types?
It would seem a shame to have this huge camera and not be able to use
the movements. I'd save for the superAngulon, but first confirm with
somebody that this camera can get that scrunched and focus on infinity,
plus still use the movements.

Les Newcomer


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