BennehBoy wrote:There's one minor thing I want to rectify, but I'm not sure if I'm being a bit precious so would appreciate some advice.
Basically the front standard sits slightly rotated (only a very small amount) around the rail in relation to the rear - it's fine until I tighten the rail clamp on the bearer, then it slightly keels over. Any thoughts on how to rectify this - or am I just being daft?
Oh, one other question, I need a focusing cloth - the black t-shirt I tried is a bit umm impractical
... robert whites has a couple listed, harrison, and ebony - any tips on which way is best to go?
For the rail twisting, you do have the standard positioned along it so that the keyway locates in the groove on the standard clamp? This keyway should keep both front and rear standards aligned with very little rotation possible. It's only a nominal clearance to allow sliding along the rail until you tighten up the standards. It's normal that the centre block allows rotation in the main rail/tripod clamp as this lets you set the full camera at differing angles on the tripod although I wouldn't try it too much with your tripod as putting the sizeable mass too far off-centre might have dire consequences...
I generally find that holding the top of the camera as you tighten up the main clamp minimised any rotation and I'd be levelling the thing up afterwards anyway.
If you're still unsure, is it possible to post a piccy pointing to the bits you mean?
As for instruction manuals, I don't think many cameras actually have them even when new - I think manufacturers assume you know what you're doing at this level but sometimes it would be nice to have an idiot's guide to let you know how to open the thing and what each bit does... Some of the books we've mentioned give a good overall idea of operation but you've still got to apply it to your particular camera.
Ah, the darkcloth saga! They are like the Holy Grail with people searching for the ultimate one. Some have nice features but you get fed up of other niggles and want to get the next "better" one - it's all silver bullet chasing! I survived for years with a sheet of black material bulldog clipped to the rear standard. I then tried the traditional "horseblanket" which is heavyweight cotton, normally double thickness (red or white and black) but found it was so heavy it pulled my current camera and tripod back with me if I moved my head. I then tried a Harrison darkcloth which is good but the size of it blew up like a bolster case in any wind (along with rain, the bane of outdoor LF photgraphy.) It was waterproof so good for slinging over the camera in a shower. I then moved onto a BTZS hood which is good but the material isn't really breathable so condensation quickly forms on the ground glass and you wonder why everything's gone soft.
There's the Blackjacket which is an improvement by having sleeves to let you use the loupe without having gaping holes which let in light. There's also the new Paramo darkcloth invented by Joe Cornish / David Ward. This is one of the few items available in the UK as most things are US origin so are awkward to get hold of.
As far as I know Masch has used or still has a Blackjacket, Joanna has just got a Paramo and I've still got my BTZS hood plus material sheet. You can try them out sometime at a meet or you might find that making your own is perfectly OK - it's whatever you can get to work with the least gripes
As for the Ebony, Paul Owen on the board has one but I think they are best suited to Ebony cameras with the width of the stiffened flat across the top. They also need the Ebony clamp to hold them down which wouldn't fasten onto the front of the P2 as it needs a hotshoe socket.
This lot might have helped or just confused you even more!
Andrew
Full Member of the Tearoom Appreciation Society - affiliated to UKLFPG.
