Glass Plates with RB67...

ChristopherCoy · Apr 2, 2021

How these things happen, I'll never understand - but I just recently learned that a.) glass plates are being manufactured again, and b.) that the RB67 can shoot plates with the Type A or J cut film holders if you take their inserts out. This has many interesting aspects for me. Not only will the cut film holders allow me to shoot and develop one sheet at a time, the experience of making and having glass negatives is something I thought I might not ever be able to do.

But before I jump in head first, I'd like to hear some of the experiences that shooting glass plates provides that regular roll film doesn't? I want to make sure I'm not romanticizing it before I jump in.

Anyone? Buehler?

Donald Qualls · Apr 2, 2021

Unless you already have the right adapters and cut film holders for the RB67, it's probably much easier to buy a 1920s vintage plate camera. The common sizes (6.5x9 and 9x12) are standard sizes for J.Lane Dry Plates, and you don't need to worry about whether the plate holders have film sheaths.

One of the big differences (I haven't done it, yet, but I'm considering it) is that the J.Lane plates are either blue-sensitive (like 1870 plates) or orthochromatic (like those from later periods, though there were also panchromatic plates available by around 1900). That means you can develop them by inspection, under the same red safelight you'd use for enlarging. And you'll probably want/need to develop in trays, since they won't fit most sheet film developing tanks (those depend on curving the film some).

There are a number of YouTube videos on developing glass plates that use J.Lane plates. Nicole Small (Canadian photographer) has done them on video at least a couple times, and I'm sure I've seen others.

ChristopherCoy · Apr 2, 2021

The type A and J holders for the RB are plentiful and not that expensive. I'm fairly certain they just attach to the rotating back as well without any adapters.

Donald Qualls · Apr 2, 2021

Might be. I'd have to go back to that other RB67 thread with all the accessories under the sun to verify them going directly on the Graflok mount.

ChristopherCoy · Apr 2, 2021

Donald Qualls said:
Might be. I'd have to go back to that other RB67 thread with all the accessories under the sun to verify them going directly on the Graflok mount.

No need. I think this explains it unless I'm missing something.

http://ianbfoto.com/downloads/Mamiya RB67/Mamiya RB67 Double Cut Film - Plate Holder.pdf

Donald Qualls · Apr 2, 2021

Yep, that covers it. Specific, proprietary holder, one for a quarter of a half plate, the other for 2x3 film. If you're buying J.Lane plates, you should be able to use either one, as he'll cut plates to any size you like.

juan · Apr 2, 2021

I have some old Graflex 2x3 glass plate holders with the slots. They fit, too.

ChristopherCoy · Apr 2, 2021

juan said:
I have some old Graflex 2x3 glass plate holders with the slots. They fit, too.

Do they fit on the RB without any adapter? Care to post a pic?

juan · Apr 2, 2021

Yes, they lock in with the sliders. I'll have to find them, and I'll post a picture. These are the holders with the slots - not the regular 2x3 holders.

JPD · Apr 2, 2021

Are you thinking of these plates? https://www.macodirect.de/en/rarities/1092/agfa-apx-100-glass-plates-exp.-date-01/2022

They are expensive, and if it's the flatness of the substrate you are interested in, then sheet film should be good enough as it's thicker than film and yould stay flat in the holder and cost only a 1/4 compared to the plates: https://www.fotoimpex.com/films/ado...-25-blatt-65x9-cm-255x355-inch-25-sheets.html

ChristopherCoy · Apr 2, 2021

JPD said:
Are you thinking of these plates? https://www.macodirect.de/en/rarities/1092/agfa-apx-100-glass-plates-exp.-date-01/2022

They are expensive, and if it's the flatness of the substrate you are interested in, then sheet film should be good enough as it's thicker than film and yould stay flat in the holder and cost only a 1/4 compared to the plates: https://www.fotoimpex.com/films/ado...-25-blatt-65x9-cm-255x355-inch-25-sheets.html

No. Photrio member @Nodda Duma manufactures them. You can find them at Freestyle amongst other places. Here is his website. https://www.pictoriographica.com/about.html

JPD · Apr 2, 2021

ChristopherCoy said:
No. Photrio member @Nodda Duma manufactures them. You can find them at Freestyle amongst other places. Here is his website. https://www.pictoriographica.com/about.html

So you are going in the even more "classic" direction. Then isn't a Mamiya a little too modern when you can find older 6,5x9 cameras with classic lenses that come with plate holders and won't cost more than a set of plates? Maybe that could be a later project when you have learned using the plates?

ChristopherCoy · Apr 2, 2021

JPD said:
So you are going in the even more "classic" direction. Then isn't a Mamiya a little too modern when you can find older 6,5x9 cameras with classic lenses that come with plate holders and won't cost more than a set of plates? Maybe that could be a later project when you have learned using the plates?

I know absolutely diddly about 6.5x9 cameras. Wouldn't even know where to begin looking for one, or what to even search for.

Dan Fromm · Apr 2, 2021

JPD said:
So you are going in the even more "classic" direction. Then isn't a Mamiya a little too modern when you can find older 6,5x9 cameras with classic lenses that come with plate holders and won't cost more than a set of plates? Maybe that could be a later project when you have learned using the plates?

SLRs with modern lenses, Patric?
And I believe, could be mistaken, that the OP has an RB67 already

Donald Qualls · Apr 2, 2021

ChristopherCoy said:
I know absolutely diddly about 6.5x9 cameras. Wouldn't even know where to begin looking for one, or what to even search for.

Where is easy -- want a 1920s camera, you start on eBay. They're very much like classic roll film folders, except for having a back that mounts a ground glass or plate holder instead of one that holds a roll of film and take up spool. You'd look for a bellows that isn't a sieve, a clean lens and reasonably accurate shutter, possibly leather that isn't falling off.

ChristopherCoy · Apr 2, 2021

Donald Qualls said:
Where is easy -- want a 1920s camera, you start on eBay. They're very much like classic roll film folders, except for having a back that mounts a ground glass or plate holder instead of one that holds a roll of film and take up spool. You'd look for a bellows that isn't a sieve, a clean lens and reasonably accurate shutter, possibly leather that isn't falling off.

yeah... I'll stick with the holders and my RB. LOL

Donald Qualls · Apr 2, 2021

If/when I try glass plates, it'll be in one of my Ideals -- got one with Zeiss badge, the other with Ica, and a dozen plate holders. I'd use them more if there were more than one choice of 9x12 sheet film, though.

JPD · Apr 2, 2021

Dan Fromm said:
SLRs with modern lenses, Patric?
And I believe, could be mistaken, that the OP has an RB67 already

Very modern compared to the 1890s style dry plates.

Donald Qualls said:
Where is easy -- want a 1920s camera, you start on eBay. They're very much like classic roll film folders, except for having a back that mounts a ground glass or plate holder instead of one that holds a roll of film and take up spool. You'd look for a bellows that isn't a sieve, a clean lens and reasonably accurate shutter, possibly leather that isn't falling off.

Yes, that's a big project in itself, albeit fun and interesting.

If/when I try glass plates, it'll be in one of my Ideals -- got one with Zeiss badge, the other with Ica, and a dozen plate holders. I'd use them more if there were more than one choice of 9x12 sheet film, though.

Fotoimpex have their Adox, three Foma and three Ilford films in 9x12

Donald Qualls · Apr 2, 2021

And yet, Fotoimpex's own US distributor, Freestyle, only has one emulsion choice in 9x12: Fomapan 100. Not even their own rebranded Fomapan (which they did offer, some years ago). No Ilford, no other speeds of Fomapan, and certainly not the Adox offerings. There are more choices in 2x3! If I lived in Germany (or Sweden), it'd be another story entirely; all of those would be available...

Glass Plates with RB67...

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