[LargeFormat] Shen Hao

[Lee Carmichael]

Uncle Dick, if that is your real name,
    You don't need a complete contact frame, you know.  An oversized piece
of thick glass will work just fine.

Lee
----- Original Message -----
From: "rstein" <rstein@bigpond.net.au>
To: <largeformat@f32.net>
Sent: Friday, June 14, 2002 9:36 PM
Subject: [LargeFormat] Shen Hao


> Dear Friends,
>
>      Have you nothing better to do with your time than read my postings?
> Goodness....
>
>     The Shen Hao is starting to work. The darkslides have been de-firred
and
> the film plates made out of good old Crescent mounting board work fine.
>
>      So far the best negatives are a result of 25 ASA - Rodinal 1:50 - 20C
> at 5 minutes - little agiatation - free mammography film. I was thinking
of
> labeling the film Tit-X but I realised that this would get me banned from
> the Sensible Shoe Forum so I didn't do it. Shhhh...
>
>     The film for the 10 x 12 holders is a little smaller than the actual
> gate so I have taken to sticky-taping it to the Crescent board and just
> marking out an 8 x 10 section on the ground glass screen to delineate the
> area that will be ultimately used to produce the contact print. It means
> there is a fair margin round the four sides for error which considering my
> eyesight is a good idea.
>
>     8 x 10 contact printing frames are non-existant round here but I have
a
> good old 4 x 5 and a friendly local frame maker who I can show it to for a
> copy. I think I will have it done as a 10 x 12 just in cas I get some
bigger
> film. I daresay there are bigger sheet films for radiography and if I can
> get it to work with Tit-X I can get it to work with them.
>
>     The Chinese lens that came with the camera is surprisingly pleasant to
> use. Good definition at f.11 to f.22 and this is where I generally pitch
my
> exposures anyway. The Shen won't be going into the Trotter's pack for a
hike
> up the Victorian Alps so I can figure on a steady studio light.
>
>     The next part to tackle is the backlash and general slop in the
> movements - there is a remarkable degree of what we might call momentary
> tilt in the back as the ground glass screen is folded up and over the rear
> standard that throws the focus out. This can be cured with coach bolts and
> an electric drill. The fit of the helices that drive the movements is
loose
> but I think this is a case of packing coil springs along them to cause the
> parts to always stay out at the end of wherever you shift them. All
> mechanics and all do-able.
>
>     First portrait sitter next Wednesday for the Shen. Results will be
> posted, albeit slowly.
>
>      If this works, Girls, there is an article in it for the photo press.
I
> smell money, which is a nice change from smelling trouble, or in the case
of
> the baby portrait trade, far worse things....*
>
>     Uncle Dick
>
> *     Yes. NOW I know not to pose new-borns on an angelic white velvet
cloth
> and then pop off a bright flash. You could have told me what would happen.
> It is hard to bleach velvet.
>
> PS: I still don't know what Shen Hao means. I went up to some of the
Chinese
> nurses at the hospital and tipped my hat and said " Shen Hao" and one of
> them burst into laughter, and one of them burst into tears, and one of
them
> hit me. Haven't had that much fun on a date in years.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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