Back on the Horse(Man). Or...the learning curve begins!

[Stephen Power]

Big learning curve out with the new (old) Horseman 970 technical camera today at the lighthouse close to my home. It takes only 8 shots per roll of film. I think I got 4. I'll know tomorrow when I've processed it.

The mistakes in order:

1. Forgot my light meter, had to download an app on my phone. Won't be nearly as accurate as my trusty Minolta meter.

2. Forgot to remove the 'dark slide' from the film holder, so the first 3 exposures were not actually EXPOSED to the light!

3. Mis-read the instructions about winding on the film, kept my finger on a slider (when I shouldn't) and moved the film on 2 extra frames.

There are probably others I care to forget. But overall, a good learning experience. Actually, I'm already enjoying being slowed down by this camera. If I had got 8 frames to expose, I'd probably still be out there!

One question (based on a number of discoveries today). Does anyone know if the Horseman 970 only has backwards tilt on the front standard? Mine seems to be only going backwards. Can forward tilt be utilized on the rear (pull-out) standard and will this work in the same way as on the front?

 

[Dan Daniel]

http://www.mediajoy.com/en/cla_came/horseman970/a07.html
(note the back and next buttons to go through more steps)

Horseman Vh and most Graflex type cameras have a way to swing the front bed down to get it out of the way for wide angle lenses. then the rear tilt is meant to match this drop. So with a wide angle lens, you tilt the bed down and swing the lens back to get it parallel again.Then raise the lens to get it back up to the center, if that's what you want.

The basic rule of view camera work is that the back is to control shapes and the front is to control focus and view.But yes, you can achieve the equivalent of front movements with the back movements and some tilting of the tripod head, etc.

Yeah, keep going. Once you get used to all the steps, it becomes a great way to shoot.

 

[Stephen Power]

http://www.mediajoy.com/en/cla_came/horseman970/a07.html
(note the back and next buttons to go through more steps)

Thanks again Dan. I've been using that web page for about 10 days, while waiting for the Horseman to arrive. It's the only direct info I have on the 970 (I have a manual for the 985). But, I've sent to 'Old Time Cameras' for a specific manual. The link only shows the backward tilt on the 970, and that seems to be it. I've just had a bit of a practice, and seem to be getting somewhere, but need the back standard to be free-er (as per your reply to my other post).