Great weather

[richard littlewood]

Right now outside it's a really georgeous day. The sun is out, it's warm. and very little breeze. Clear blue sky with some straggly thin cloud. Beautiful photography weather? I dont mind it at all apart from when I'm feeling lazy (like now!)

[Thingy]

Beautiful day. Lay in bed on Sunday till 1045 then rose and caught 1139 fast train to London. Spent three hours with Ebony in smaller rucksack (LowePro Nature) with new GT2541 tripod (much lighter!!! ) 6x12cm roll film holder and Fuji QL holder & new Light & Land Hood. My hood didn't need an assistant to hold it down this time (unlike at Maldon ) and the police didn't stop me photographing Parliament - which is a pleasant change

I got chatting with a couple of photography students on the walkway below St Thomas's Hospital who had learned about LF cameras but not actually seen one in the flesh, or should that be in the wood? I told them about the UKLFPG and suggested they visit our website for more information about LF photography. I could have done with some group publicity stickers with our web address on!

Interestingly when I crossed the river and took some shots using my 58mm XL, a lens I have not actually used before, I kept getting foreign tourists asking me if I was shooting for a magazine or if I was a journalist. The latter amused me: a journalist lugging a LF camera outfit around??!!

I'm not sure how the images taken with the 58mm XL will come out, as I applied too much rise (5cm as against the maximum for portrait view, 7mm! ). Although the image was just visible* top and bottom on the screen, I suspect the corners will be missing. The 58mm was so dim I was forced to use my hood, whereas I was able to use my 90mm and 150mm lenses without a hood (with the Maxwell HI-LUX Ultra Brilliant Matte 4.7 screen)! It was much more comfortable given the outside temperature of 23C.

I can report that rise (albeit excessive in my case) with the Ebony bag bellows is substantially greater that when trying to use their "ordinary" universal bellows. With the ordinary bellows there is no movement possible with the 45SU and the 58mm XL whereas the bag belows offers considerable latitude, though I had to extend the bellows to make the rise adjustments and then re-focus. When I tested out the 120mm Nikon I had far greater movement using these bellows, as movement is limited with the universal hood by reason of the size of the rear compound lens - which is the same size as the front lens! I will bring the bag bellows along to the next workshop, if any one is interested in trying them out?


*Perhaps I need Maxwell's HI-LUX Extreme Wide Angle screen too......

[timparkin]

.....

*Perhaps I need Maxwell's HI-LUX Extreme Wide Angle screen too......

I have had these nasty thoughts too...

Tim

[Mike M]

Right now outside it's a really georgeous day. The sun is out, it's warm. and very little breeze. Clear blue sky with some straggly thin cloud. Beautiful photography weather? I dont mind it at all apart from when I'm feeling lazy (like now!)

As much as I like the sunny days I much prefer to take photos in the winter to be honest.
I do manage to get out and shoot in the summer but I've got a backlog of negs to print and a ton of other things to get on with in the darkroom to keep me busy.

[Thingy]

.....

*Perhaps I need Maxwell's HI-LUX Extreme Wide Angle screen too......

I have had these nasty thoughts too...

Tim

Looks like Bill will be getting a couple of new orders later this year...... Do you think he offers a discount to members of UKLFPG?

Cue for Joanna to negotiate special deal.....

Steve

PS: I've just realised that this means I'll need to buy that spare Ebony focussing screen back to make life earier....

[timparkin]

PS: I've just realised that this means I'll need to buy that spare Ebony focussing screen back to make life earier....

Yeah I worked that out as well...

I'll have to buy a wider lens to make the most of it too! (I use an 80XL)

Expensive fresnel

[joolsb]

Looks like Bill will be getting a couple of new orders later this year......

Make that three. Those things are seriously tasty bits of kit.

[Thingy]

I have updated the thread 'Focusing Screen' which has information on some of Bill Maxwell's 4x5" focussing screens, prices & his contact details. I have asked Bill the price and other details of his Ultra Wide FS.

[Baxter]

I didn't even know about the wide angle Ebony Fresnel until Mr Cornish mentioned it. He was kind enough to loan me his for a couple of weeks, it makes such a difference that I bought one. I've now had mine over 2 years and use it for the 80mm and 58mm lenses.

The darkening of the standard sceen is very apparent with the 80mm lens and even more so for the 58mm. Originally I thought that this was just something I needed to counteract with improving my skill set. Spending the extra cash has made life so much easier.

The back slots into the international fitting really easily. Despite it being a cheaper alternative, I couldn't contemplate trying to use a screwdriver and exchange only the Fresnel every time I wanted to use a wide lens.

I've not seen one of the Maxwell screens, but am intrigued by the positive accolades given in this thread.

[timparkin]

I didn't even know about the wide angle Ebony Fresnel until Mr Cornish mentioned it. He was kind enough to loan me his for a couple of weeks, it makes such a difference that I bought one. I've now had mine over 2 years and use it for the 80mm and 58mm lenses.

The darkening of the standard sceen is very apparent with the 80mm lens and even more so for the 58mm. Originally I thought that this was just something I needed to counteract with improving my skill set. Spending the extra cash has made life so much easier.

The back slots into the international fitting really easily. Despite it being a cheaper alternative, I couldn't contemplate trying to use a screwdriver and exchange only the Fresnel every time I wanted to use a wide lens.

I've not seen one of the Maxwell screens, but am intrigued by the positive accolades given in this thread.

Hi Baxter,

I've used Joe's WA fresnel on the 80 too and it is a *lot* brighter than using the standard maxwell fresnel.. If I had the money I'd get a maxwell WA fresnel but I will probably end up skimping and getting the ebony WA as it does a splendid job with the 80 and I'm not likeley to use anything wider (it's as bright as my 240A Fujinon with my maxwell screen but not quite as bright as my 150 Sironar S)

Tim

[Thingy]

Baxter

If you come along to our next workshop/meeting & I am there, you are welcome to try out my Maxwell Hi-Lux screen which I replaced my Ebony screen with. I will need to get something brighter to use with my 58XL lens but the Maxwell is so bright when using my 90mm - 300mm lenses including the Schneider 120mm Makro HM that a hood is usually unnecessary!

Steve

[timparkin]

Baxter

If you come along to our next workshop/meeting & I am there, you are welcome to try out my Maxwell Hi-Lux screen which I replaced my Ebony screen with. I will need to get something brighter to use with my 58XL lens but the Maxwell is so bright when using my 90mm - 300mm lenses including the Schneider 120mm Makro HM that a hood is usually unnecessary!

Steve

When is your next meetup?

Tim

[Joanna Carter]

When is your next meetup?

Although we only have two "official" workshops per year, one in the spring and one in the autumn, members are also free to post a notification of a get-together whenever they want.

Locally to you, it can be as soon as we can summon up the clan As to the Maxwell screens, I have the "standard" screen and find that it copes very well, from 400mm right down to the 72mm SA XL. Not being too far from you, we would be only too glad for an opportunity to cross the Pennines again. Andrew Pell is even nearer to you and we often get together; get in touch and we'll see what we can arrange.

[jennym]

I have also had difficulty using my 80XL with the Ebony fresnel and thought it was just me, but it sounds as though others have also found it quite dark. I'd be interested to try the 80XL with an Ebony WA fresnel and a Maxwell screen and decide what would work best before I part with (yet) another load of dosh....

Are there people who are happy with the solution they have found when using their WA lenses? Is the 80XL particularly difficult or is it just the generic problem of WA lenses?

Jenny

[Joanna Carter]

Is the 80XL particularly difficult or is it just the generic problem of WA lenses?

Hi Jenny, I was talking to Tim Parkin about this and he knows more about the 80XL, but I have the 72mm SA XL which works fine with either the Ebony WA or the Maxwell standard fresnel. The difference between the Ebony WA and the Maxwell is that you would have to change screens to use longer lenses with the Ebony, whereas the Maxwell works well with anything from 72mm up to 400mm. I'll let Tim explain the problem with the 80XL.