Another question about the Shen-Hao

I use a Linhof 6x17 and I just noticed that with the Shen-Hao you can get a
6X12(120) Roll Film Back for 4X5. This means I could sell my 6x17 and have the best of both worlds. A pano camera with swings and tilts.

My only problem is that I want to make sure the quality will be the same or better than what I already have. The 6x17 is a 5x7 cut in thirds I believe,.

How many 6x12 shots can you get per roll? Right now with the 6x17 I can get 4.

I can a) keep the 6x17 and buy a 4x5 or b) sell the 6x17 and buy one heck of a nice kit with the money from the 6x17 including the pano 6x12 back. Does anyone have any examples from this back? Also can you take the back off to focus then put it on? Right now the 6x17 you cannot focis by looking it is a rangefinder so you just get to know your camera.

Again any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Kev

I had a Calumet 6x12 for a while, you can get 6 frames to a 120 roll, 12 to a 220. This brand has had issues with film flatness to you will need to check into this before deciding on it.

I decided it was cheaper, easier and more convenient to shoot a 4x5 sheet and crop to panoramic format as needed. The main reason I wanted it was to use Konica 750 roll film in it but found it was not infrared safe.

Kevin, I have a 4x5 Shen Hao and I also have the 6x12cm Shen Hao roll film back. I use the 6x12 back a lot and have posted some example prints in the APUG gallery. I have had no problems with film flatness.

The Shen Hao camera has a Graflock type back, and the 6x12cm Shen Hao back has a matching Graflock interface.

You focus on the ground glass (also a Graflock module), then replace the ground glass with the 6x12 back, pull the dark slide on the back and take the picture.

The Shen Hao 6x12 back has a very simple design with a winding knob operated film transport. Film advance is strictly manual, you turn the knob and watch the numbers on the film's backing paper in a red window to maintain frame spacing.

Another advantage to using a 4x5 (as gilbeas mentioned) is that you can use 4x5 sheet film and crop to panoramic formats.

An additional 4x5 advantage is the wide availability of high quality wide and ultra-wide angle lenses for the 4x5. The Shen Hao will focus most WA lenses without a recessed lens board.

How can I find one of your images in the gallery?

This seems very promising.

Thanks,

Kev

The images didn't survive the transition to the new system. I will re-post an image (probably tonight or tomorrow).

Hello Tom,

Thank you very much.

Kev

Kevin, I just posted a 6x12 scan in the Members Gallery under my name. This is from a film/developer test that I did back in April.