Hello

[BrucePercy]

Hi All,

I recently joined this forum because I was in the process of selling off my LF equipment. However, I've since decided to hold onto the equipment and stream line it down a bit.

LF has not come naturally to me. It has and still very much is, something I have growing pains with.

My interests range from Landscape, portraiture, travel through to photojournalism. For me, the power of the final image is all that matters.

My favourite artists are Michael Kenna for his surreal images, Galen Rowell for his spirit of Adventure and Ansel Adams for starting me off on the right track. But I love many types of work.

I just thought I'd finally get round to saying hello.

[masch]

Bruce,

I know what you mean. LF tends to be hard work in comparison to large MF (6x7 and larger). In the time I shoot a single LF neg, someone with and RZ or RB will have easily gone through a roll of Velvia, with bracketing, and two different viewpoints
It can be frustrating, especially if afterwards you realise, that ytou have underexposed by a stop due to the changing light...

The quality differential from say 67 to 54 isn't as huge as from 135 to MF, so the gains seem to be only minor. However, when LF works out, it does work out really well, and a good exposed LF slide makes up for a whole host of previous problems and errors...

I have found, that I am slowly coming off the desire to have lots of different viewpoints and sites during a day, since I have started LF. I'm beginning to be content with setting up at a site and wait for a few hours until the light is just about right. In the meantime, I will amuse myself with a small rangefinder or a 645 SLR in the surroundings...

So, it's good to hear you decided to stick with it. It is worth it in the long run, IMHO.

Welcome and have fun

Marc

[CarlRadford]

you know you wan to sell me you 72xl. You have some stunning images on your website - makes me wonder the quality you'd get in LF! I wan to try more LF portraiture as well as landscape stuff. Just need to get some lights for some indoor stuff. Have enjoyed reading Robin Gilanders book on the subject. Anyway hopefully our paths will cross soon - just at the other end of the M8 after all - couple of miles from J5 of the M75 if you are ever this way!

All the best, Carl

[Joanna Carter]

Hi Bruce

I'm so glad that you have seen the error of your ways

I was just about to let you know that I had managed to source a 90mm Nikkor for less than you were asking, so I hope you get a lot more enjoyment out of it.

Please try and get together with someone else in the group for a day out or so; it's a great way to learn from each other and boost your confidence in, what can be, a difficult skill to grasp.

Let us know what part of LF you find the most problematic, there are plenty of us who have struggled before and can offer sage counsel

[Joanna Carter]

you know you wan to sell me you 72xl ... I wan to try more LF portraiture...

Now, let me get this straight; you want to buy a 72mm to do portraiture

[CarlRadford]

there is a full stop after 72xl That said I have seen a great image of a person with two pit bull where the photog used an ultra wide at ground level to produce a very dramatic image - not sure that'd work on lf unless the dogs were stuffed

[BrucePercy]

Hi All,

Thanks for the replies.

I think the one thing that I really have trouble with LF, is composition. Seeing the image on the ground glass upside down is very difficult for me. I've learned to check the top/bottom and sides of the image now to make sure I'm not cutting anything off, but still, I don't always get the composition I was seeking - and often obtain, when using a camera where the viewing is the right way up.

I've considered a bino viewer, but they are bulky, and I would need to send the Ebony of for customisation. Anybody use a Bino viewer and esp on a 45SU - who can give me some tips/pros/cons?

Thanks for the kind words about the images on my site. Unfortunately, they are mostly from a Mamiya 7 camera - 6x7. I guess at the small sizes of my jpegs and the aspect ratio - it would be easy to assume they are LF.

[masch]

I think the one thing that I really have trouble with LF, is composition. Seeing the image on the ground glass upside down is very difficult for me. I've learned to check the top/bottom and sides of the image now to make sure I'm not cutting anything off, but still, I don't always get the composition I was seeking - and often obtain, when using a camera where the viewing is the right way up.

Have you considered a linhof 45 viewfinder?
They were designed to fit the accessory shoe of the Technicas as a DV finder, but are superb composition tools. I carry one outside my backpack to check possible shots w/o havig to unpack the camera. Once you have decided on this, you can then line out the camera by the edges quite comfortably.
I found mine on ebay for about GBP 120. New they are like a king's ransom ( I recall prices of just under GBP1000). The new ones have superb optics, allegedly, but I never got close enough to one to check...

Marc

[Richard Childs]

The Linhof Optical zoom viewfinder is £495 plus vat new. I used to lug my Pentax 67 and three lenses but now use the linhof and save a fortune in pysiotherapy costs for my knees and back!!

Richard

[masch]

The Linhof Optical zoom viewfinder is £495 plus vat new.

Old age is setting in for me...
USD 1000 more likely then...

Marc

[du a gwyn]

masch,i'm also interested in getting a linhof optical zoom for my linhof color.is it possible for you to take a photo of your linhof optical zoom so we can see what are we looking for,and if it possible does it have a part number.
diolch.

[masch]

i'm also interested in getting a linhof optical zoom for my linhof color.is it possible for you to take a photo of your linhof optical zoom so we can see what are we looking for,and if it possible does it have a part number.

The current one can be found here:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/control ... Navigation

And the one I have can be seen here:
http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=005eId

Marc