[LargeFormat] magnola

[largeformat@f32.net]

Les, thank you for tips!
May I ask some more questions below?

At 09:41 10.2.2001 -0800, Les Newcomer wrote:
>Wow for a guy just starting out you sure have it on most of the problems
>of LF!
	*** Thanks :) That comes from long hours of lurking here ;)

*** BTW, the 13x18cm size is better for me than 5x7", because I live in
Central Europe (Czech republic), and most of the film here, including
colour, is cheaper here in metric sizes than in imperial sizes,
substantialy cheaper (even developing of it). [btw, metric measuring is
after all _default_ in photography, ain't it? Photography being invented in
France, which used metric even at the time :)

>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.  

I think that too! I just fell in love with 13x18cm contact prints I saw
exhibitioned. And I saw great contacts of landscapes shot on 24x30cm camera
(that's about 9.5x12.5" for the metric-impaired :)
But colour would be nice - at least I could make some money out of it - I
have a small base for calendar photos already (nothing much though), using
my 35mm and MF cameras. It's just the price of having 13x18cm slide
developed - it's horrible how much they charge for it.

>(Panorama rollbacks)
>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.

	*** But when I do this, I cannot use shorter lenses with coverage only of
the 6x12 or 6x17 format, but not 9x12 or 13x18 ones, no?
	I hoped one technician I know could make me   panorama roll-back at
reasonable price. He recently made a 6x12 one, for his Linhof, and he did
it greatly! 

>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

	*** I will have a normal flatbed with trannie option by the time I get
this camera, but all the models I am looking at have only 4x5 or 5x5"
maximum. The *nice* models like Agfa Duoscan T2500 or ScanMaker 5 (trannies
up to 8x10") with enough resolution and greater Dmax are just WAY too
expensive if they do not generate profit, which they won't for me I think.
	I thought of if doing colour with either reducing back or rollback, I
could scan the up to 4x5" trannies on my lesser flatbed and have them
printed on Fuji Frontier (they won't accept 9x12 or larger film, only 120
up to 6x9cm) - Frontier does very nice prints from digital onto chemical
colour paper, if the operator is skilled.
	But B&W is the best anyway :)

>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.

	*** Is there a text on this development method? I can't find any tips on
it either in my B&W cookbooks from 50s or Focal press Encyclopedia... What
are the benefits? Won't you get too much of the edge effect? I think only
few developers/films are suitable?

>way head or mini geard head. Forget the sandbags, they are a pain when
>traveling without assistants and a day rate :-)

	*** Hmmm, I guess my significant other won't be much pleased to carry
tripod AND sandbags ;-)
[it's the other way around in fact. I carry my photo gear PLUS the tent and
all the food ;) ]

>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.

	*** Which is not much (my wrist). The Magnola has triple extension
bellows, I think more than enough for any tele I can get.

	*** Are some of the simpler shutters like Packard reliable enough for
slides with those lenses? As I understand it, they don't offer much speed
options - just 1/5 and B or similar, yes?

>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. 

	*** The WA I can get is not a tessar, of course. It's 4-element
symmetrical design, don't remember which design type now. Simple lens, but
at least it does not flare at all if clean.

	*** What is the widest WA still covering 13x18 with at least some movements?
Is there any other option other than the newest Super/XL/grandagon (going
for big bucks) ?
Like older Angulon designs? I am pretty sure I wouldn't be able to afford a
Super Angulon or similar newer lens for quite a while - after all, LF will
be more of a hobby for me, at least now (or an obsession ;) I am pretty
sure about that)


I am already looking to the fun and work it will be...

*** BTW, in case I miss the deal on Magnola, or get some more money to have
both, what is a decent system for 120 film (like Baby Graphic or something
similar, or small 4x5"/9x12cm with rollback) which can be had cheaply, if
it isn't an oxymoron? Most of the 'Graphics are out of option, as they are
pretty rare in Central Europe (and most prices around, especially UK's used
prices are very overpriced compared to everywhere else). The 120 could be a
a field or even a monorail, I think it will be small enough for backpacking
when 120. I would like to get something like that for colour - just add
some cheaper lens like WA Ektar or similar, few Tessars and go :)

Frantisek