Chinn Cameras

[Jorge]

Jorge , I can be bought to process with good cold beer.

Well, you seem to have a lot of microbreweries up there so we have plenty to choose from...

 

[Jorge]

I just checked out the Ebony site. The 20x24 comes in at about 70lbs and the cost is $24000.00. The 11x14 looks great too but is again heavy on the pocket and on the arm! I'm eager to see how you like the Chinn 20x24 Jorge. Emile/www.deleon-ulf.com

Ah, well $24,000 is less than I expected. OTOH 70 lbs, is crazy. This camera will be impossible to use in the field.

 

[Aggie]

Jorge do you have a link to who might sell the inserts needed to ULF film in the jobo's? I know the 2840 tank will handle the small 11x14 I plan to do. I just need the insert they use to make.

Bob Carnie, if you hear of another Devere 11x14 enlarger let me know. Remember I live with two geeks who have no idea what a screw driver is for.

 

[Jorge]

Jorge do you have a link to who might sell the inserts needed to ULF film in the jobo's? I know the 2840 tank will handle the small 11x14 I plan to do. I just need the insert they use to make.

Bob Carnie, if you hear of another Devere 11x14 enlarger let me know. Remember I live with two geeks who have no idea what a screw driver is for.

Aggie, the guys who used to make the inserts at Jobo got let go now that they are shutting down. So I guess we are on our own. Try some window screen in between the negative and the drum and see how that works. It is what I plan to do.

 

[clay]

I'm not exactly objective, but I think it looks great. The main problem I have is dealing with dumping 6 liters of solution for each step, which is what it takes to fill a 28x32 tray. The stupid trays are so floppy that it is quite literally a juggling act. And I do use a single tray. Maybe it is just me, but I find it incredibly more prone to disaster than a 12x20. And yeah registering the gum coats requires some pretty quick timing to catch the print at just the right time in the drying process. I'm wondering whether it might be worthwhile to adopt Keith Taylors approach and temporarily mount it to aluminum until I am done.

Clay how does the print look?

I think Iam maxed out at 7 x 17 and 14 x 17, I am new to these formats, but after working with them for several months, including a lot of "dry firing" I really enjoy them....8 x 10 seems like a compact.....I also feel working with the larger cameras has made the smaller ones less formidable...i.e. 4 x 5-8x10....If one has a hankering for the larger formats I would say jump in with both feet, arms, legs, hands, and at times a very strained back....Develope a work flo pattern,,,,after making the exposure, the lab work is another issue (as you mentioned with the 20 x 24 and you are certainly no stranger to the large formats)

...such insane joy...I like it.

 

[Dave Wooten]

thanks,

I've just started to do some gum...took Kerik's class....a real blast...

I wonder if your tray was elevated a bit and a drain plug with plastic hose etc would drain into another tray about 1/2 inch below.....

that's a lot of liquid weight!

 

[sanking]

I'm not exactly objective, but I think it looks great. The main problem I have is dealing with dumping 6 liters of solution for each step, which is what it takes to fill a 28x32 tray. The stupid trays are so floppy that it is quite literally a juggling act. And I do use a single tray. Maybe it is just me, but I find it incredibly more prone to disaster than a 12x20. And yeah registering the gum coats requires some pretty quick timing to catch the print at just the right time in the drying process. I'm wondering whether it might be worthwhile to adopt Keith Taylors approach and temporarily mount it to aluminum until I am done.

Clay,

First, I made a tray this size with a 1/4" thick plywood bottom and 1/2" thick sides. It is very stiff and even when full there is no flop.

But second, why would you need 6 liters of solution for each step. I use only two liters for each step and this amount seems more than enough!

Sandy

 

[Dave Wooten]

Sandy,

Maybe he is doing 5 or 6 nega at a time and rotating them

 

[clay]

I do use only 2 liters of developer, but I have been using 4-6 liters of clearing agent just to make sure that they clear adequately and the solutoin doesn't deplete. I have had some real problems getting Fabriano extra white to clear adequately, and it demands a lot of attention. I found this out when I started masking all my borders. I see quite a few prints that I bet are not cleared adequately, but the problem is obscured by the brushed borders. I have found the only truly reliable check on clearing is to shine a light through the print from the back side and look for any yellow stain in the masked off border areas. Many times it is not apparent to the naked eye under reflected light even, but that transmitted light will reveal it every time.

Clay,

First, I made a tray this size with a 1/4" thick plywood bottom and 1/2" thick sides. It is very stiff and even when full there is no flop.

But second, why would you need 6 liters of solution for each step. I use only two liters for each step and this amount seems more than enough!

Sandy

 

[Dave Wooten]

Interesting....good tip

 

[clay]

Hey Jorge,

The guy buying this camera is legit. He's a friend of mine. He really is a photographer, and does quite a bit of wet plate work. Nice guy. He just happened to do really well when he sold his ranch in the hill country. As they teach you in business school, "buy cheap, sell dear".

Clay

LOL....Sandy, does this guy take pictures or is the camera just for show? Do you have any idea how much an Ebony 20x24 would cost? I asked them about two years ago how much a 12x20 would run, $20,000! I am thinking a 20x24 should be in the $30,000 range. I see no reason to spend this kind of money in a camera. I want mine as cheap as possible, cause I use them and abuse them.

Imagine the first scratch you put on that camera...ooops..there go $5000 worth of lacquer and repair...lol......

As far as Jim's camera, I am thinking from talking to him the camera would be at most in the 28 to 30 pound range, but I doubt it. I think it will top at 25 pounds, which I think it is amazing.

 

[Dave Wooten]

Clay,

I think this guy you are referring to is a mutual friend of ours......just moved to the east coast...right.....

Dave in Vegas

 

[sanking]

Clay,

I think this guy you are referring to is a mutual friend of ours......just moved to the east coast...right.....

Dave in Vegas

He just moved to Asheville, North Carolina. Can not be too many people around who sold the ranch near San Antonio and moved to Asheville who are also awaiting delivery on a 20X24 Ebony!!

Sandy

 

[Dave Wooten]

Correct Sandy, thats a 3 pointer, I hope to stop out that way on a cross country trip this fall.

 

[colrehogan]

A friend of mine moved there recently. Maybe I should go and visit her sometime.

 

[Dave Wooten]

I've heard its a fairly safe neighborhood....as long as you keep your bike on the sidewalk.

 

[Zebra]

Hello All,

Figured I might as well jump in here. Yes I do have an Ebony 20 x 24 on order. It is supposed to be finished sometime in late September or early October. No I haven't completely lost my senses although it is rumored that the person who has lost his senses is the last to know it. I will allow that that might be the case here. My wife and I found ourselves in a situation in which for her allergies we needed to sell a ranch we never thought we would leave. Giving it up wasn't easy. However in the process of negotiating that sell I was fortunate to have a wife that allowed for that buffer to be placed into an accepted offer. In short I viewed it as found money. Thats as good of an explanation as it gets. You get one chance at something like this and away I went with it. And yes I do plan to use it and abuse it.

As to my legitmacy as a photographer I have my own doubts about that so I see no reason why anyone else shouldn't either!!! I know it is a joy that language can't quite get its arms around so I won't bother trying here. This group unbeknownst to itself has been incredibly giving in its knowledge to my pursuit at growing photographically so thanks!

And yes if any of you are ever in Asheville, North Carolina please come up and take some 20 x 24's. You are always welcome.

I shoot mainly for palladium printing and of course the aforementioned wet plate collodion. Tintypes, Ambrotypes, and a recent class in redeveloped negatives designed for contact printing with Salt prints and palladium.

All the best

Monty

 

[photomc]

Monty...Welcome!! Sorry to hear about the ranch, SA was a lot closer than NC, never seen one of those 20x24 beast...but someday.

Thanks for sharing and look forward to seeing your work...just how the heck does one scan a 20x24 contact print?

 

[sanking]

Correct Sandy, thats a 3 pointer, I hope to stop out that way on a cross country trip this fall.

Sounds great. You can help both of us haul those big 20X24" cameras up on the tripod.

Plan the trip for mid to late October because the color is spectacular in the mountains of North Carolina around Asheville at that time. In South Carolina the peak tends to be 7-10 days later.

Sandy

 

[sanking]

I've heard its a fairly safe neighborhood....as long as you keep your bike on the sidewalk.

Well, many years ago I gave up the dream of competing in the mountains with the likes of Lance Armstrong so you won't find me biking anymore on the mountain roads that lead from Greenville up to Asheville, or at least not often. The route is rather "hors de categorie" for me at this time.

Sandy

 

[lee]

while I have not ever met Zebra my wife and I were his guests at a Mavs game a couple of years ago. Sorry to see he had to sell the ranch.

lee\c

 

[Rob Skeoch]

Did the sale of the ranch cover the whole cost of the ebony?
-Rob

 

[colrehogan]

Monty...Welcome!! Sorry to hear about the ranch, SA was a lot closer than NC, never seen one of those 20x24 beast...but someday.

Thanks for sharing and look forward to seeing your work...just how the heck does one scan a 20x24 contact print?

Welcome, Monty!

 

[ReallyBigCameras]

Any updates on the Chinn ULF cameras? Has anybody seen or used one?

Kerry

 

[Dave Wooten]

Are any photos up yet, I think awhile back Jim was going to post some images?