Today, I loaded up 12 sheets of tri-x and took the new-to-me Fotoman 4x5 point and shoot out for a walk about. I got lucky, there was a high school marching band contest going on down town...kinda like a parade except all the entries are HS marching bands...Lots of folk...lots of good music. I had six film holders in my bag - which go fast with the Fotoman - so, I didn't stay long. I was somewhat shocked at how much attention the Fotoman drew. I was out for a couple of hours and must have had ten people ask me...what kind of camera is that?, why would you shoot that? is it better than digital? how do you get the photos out? Is it a Polaroid?...and of course, "How many mega pixels is that? - answer: "about 650 mega pixels! 
"....on and on and on.
I'vegone out with the Crown Graphic many times and not gotten any where near this kind of reaction. With the crown, most people kinda look, seem to recognize it vaguely - maybe as something they saw in a movie or something and then look away...only rarely does somebody actually stop and ask questions or, say something like "my uncle had one of those back in the sixties".....or something really deliciously dumb like, "is that a black and white camera?" (how do you answer that?).
Anyway, despite the harassment, I think that the Fotoman is a keeper. I wish they had put the little dark slide clippies on the back - like the Graphics have. Where do you stow the dark slide once pulled?
I'm gonna put a camera strap on it so it can hang it around my neck next time.
anybody else have any fotoman experiences to share?
"....on and on and on. I'vegone out with the Crown Graphic many times and not gotten any where near this kind of reaction. With the crown, most people kinda look, seem to recognize it vaguely - maybe as something they saw in a movie or something and then look away...only rarely does somebody actually stop and ask questions or, say something like "my uncle had one of those back in the sixties".....or something really deliciously dumb like, "is that a black and white camera?" (how do you answer that?).
Anyway, despite the harassment, I think that the Fotoman is a keeper. I wish they had put the little dark slide clippies on the back - like the Graphics have. Where do you stow the dark slide once pulled?
I'm gonna put a camera strap on it so it can hang it around my neck next time.
anybody else have any fotoman experiences to share?
