Harman Titan 8x10 opinions?

canuhead · Feb 8, 2015

Hey Bob,

If you want to buy a commercially made pinhole, maybe look at these cameras. They come in various focal lengths as well. I have their wide-angle 4x5.

http://www.pinholecamera.com/prices.html

or you could make your own and call it the CarnieCamera v1.0

cliveh · Feb 8, 2015

SMBooth said:
My biggest concern with the Titan is the tripod mounting at the rear not in the middle where it would help stability.

The Zen pinhole camera has no tripod mounting, as it is designed to be placed rather than mounted.

DWThomas · Feb 8, 2015

The one shown here has a basic frame of 1x4 inch oak and is normally mounted on a carbon fiber tripod rated for 17 pounds load. I often hang the old laptop case I use to carry five 8x10 filmholders on the hook at the bottom of the center column. I'm sure at some point -- hurricanes, tornadoes, etc. -- almost anything could wobble -- including me, which is why I seldom go out in those conditions!

My last two builds have used 'T' nuts captured between a rectangle of plywood and the camera frame for a tripod connection and are pretty solid. I have generally used RC2 Manfrotto QR plates though which are probably toward the upper end of their ratings in this application, but so far, so good.

There are some gorgeous commercially available pinhole cameras, but this compulsive tinkerer is just too darn cheap to indulge.

jon.oman · Feb 9, 2015

I made two simple plywood pinhole cameras, as seen here:

The big boy is 8x10, and the small one is 4x5. Both use film holders.

rince · Feb 9, 2015

Thanks everyone. I decided to pull the trigger on the Titan. Looking forward to adding this camera to the family

sly · Feb 9, 2015

Hope you have as much fun with it as I do with mine!

rince · Feb 11, 2015

It arrived today !!! What a great designed camera ! Can't wait till the weekend when I can take the camera out for a spin!

sly said:
Hope you have as much fun with it as I do with mine!

Dr Croubie · Feb 11, 2015

rince said:
Can't wait till the weekend when I can take the camera out for a spin!

It does work better when you hold it pointing in one direction.

Although, spinning it around with bright lights in the frame would also be cool.

rince · Feb 15, 2015

Two images from my first tries with the beautiful camera ... So happy with the camera !!!

TheToadMen · Feb 15, 2015

rince said:
View attachment 103414
View attachment 103415

Two images from my first tries with the beautiful camera ... So happy with the camera !!!

Beautiful! Well done.

Bert from Holland
http://thetoadmen.blogspot.nl

MattKing · Feb 15, 2015

rince said:
Two images from my first tries with the beautiful camera ... So happy with the camera !!!

They look wonderful!

Did you use film, or was it on paper negative?

rince · Feb 15, 2015

MattKing said:
They look wonderful!

Did you use film, or was it on paper negative?

Hi Matt,
thank you! I used film Adox CHS II souped in D76
Kindest regards
Dennis

sly · Feb 16, 2015

Terrific!! You've got it mastered already. Way faster than I managed. Look forward to seeing alt prints, when you get to them.

Bob Carnie · Feb 16, 2015

Pretty Impressive ... for a pin hole camera - your subject matter is in the size range of what I like working with,, I think it may be a 8x10 titan that I get over the 4x5 version

rince said:
View attachment 103414
View attachment 103415

Two images from my first tries with the beautiful camera ... So happy with the camera !!!

Simon R Galley · Mar 9, 2015

Love the picture of the scales:

Pleased you like the TiTAN.

Simon ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology Limited :

Ces1um · Jan 15, 2018

rince said:
View attachment 80985
View attachment 80986

Two images from my first tries with the beautiful camera ... So happy with the camera !!!

Those photos are beautiful, especially the flowers. Very impressive results! I use the titan 4x5 and my results are not as sharp as your much larger negative 8x10. How do you get your 8x10 negatives scanned for display here on the forum?

sly · Jan 15, 2018

Don't know about Rince, but I scan prints.

Over a decade ago I knew a photographer who had an Epson scanner that transilluminated 8&1/2x11 (I think). He was scanning all his MF and 35mm negs, in their sleeves, by the page. Digital contact sheets didn't interest me, so I paid little attention. Don't know if such a scanner is still available, nor what it would cost, but you could ask around.

Ces1um · Jan 15, 2018

sly said:
Don't know about Rince, but I scan prints.

Over a decade ago I knew a photographer who had an Epson scanner that transilluminated 8&1/2x11 (I think). He was scanning all his MF and 35mm negs, in their sleeves, by the page. Digital contact sheets didn't interest me, so I paid little attention. Don't know if such a scanner is still available, nor what it would cost, but you could ask around.

It seems like all the newer scanners have scanning areas when it comes to film. The largest current consumer level scanner I've heard of will do 4x5". I'm currently scanning 4x5 pinhole shots using my epson 600 but I can only scan half the negative at a time and then use software to join it. I seem to lose a lot of the deep blacks when I do this so it looks like either I have to figure out what I'm doing wrong, or buy a scanner made to scan 4x5. I was hoping Since might shed some light on how he does it. Ideally I'd print them in a darkroom rather than scanning but I don't have access to one with an enlarger anymore. Setting up a home darkroom would be great but it's unlikely that I'll go that route.

Roger Thoms · Jan 15, 2018

rince said:
Thanks everyone. I decided to pull the trigger on the Titan. Looking forward to adding this camera to the family

I just saw this thread so I’m a little late to comment, but I own both the 45 & 810 Titan and really like them both. Wind could be and issue with the 810, so I don’t shoot with it if it’s very windy. Of course wind can be an issue with any large format camera. Shelter the camera with your body, wait for a lull in the wind, good sturdy tripod. Think we’ve all been there. Anyway congratulations on your Titan purchase.

Roger

Ces1um · Jan 15, 2018

Roger Thoms said:
I just saw this thread so I’m a little late to comment, but I own both the 45 & 810 Titan and really like them both. Wind could be and issue with the 810, so I don’t shoot with it if it’s very windy. Of course wind can be an issue with any large format camera. Shelter the camera with your body, wait for a lull in the wind, good sturdy tripod. Think we’ve all been there. Anyway congratulations on your Titan purchase.

Roger

I'm curious- which of the two do you prefer to shoot? Does one stand out above the other? If you could have only one, which would it be? Also, what cones have you got for each?

Roger Thoms · Jan 15, 2018

They are both good, and it would be hard to chose. The 45 is super light and portable, plus film is much more affordable. The 810 is very nice for contact printing and although is is also light the whole kit is a lot bulkier. Also film is much more expensive. The is paper negatives and X-ray film but I have always shot regular film. If I had to chose I’d probably keel the 810.

Roger

sly · Jan 15, 2018

Ces1um said:
It seems like all the newer scanners have scanning areas when it comes to film. The largest current consumer level scanner I've heard of will do 4x5". I'm currently scanning 4x5 pinhole shots using my epson 600 but I can only scan half the negative at a time and then use software to join it. I seem to lose a lot of the deep blacks when I do this so it looks like either I have to figure out what I'm doing wrong, or buy a scanner made to scan 4x5. I was hoping Since might shed some light on how he does it. Ideally I'd print them in a darkroom rather than scanning but I don't have access to one with an enlarger anymore. Setting up a home darkroom would be great but it's unlikely that I'll go that route.

You could always do contact prints, without an enlarger. Silver prints using a light bulb or alt prints using the sun. More fun than fighting with a computer, in my opinion anyway.

Ces1um · Jan 16, 2018

sly said:
You could always do contact prints, without an enlarger. Silver prints using a light bulb or alt prints using the sun. More fun than fighting with a computer, in my opinion anyway.

I've never developed photographic paper outside of the old darkroom I had access to- and even then it was with an Ilford automatic processor. I don't have the skills currently to make a contact print (although I would like to learn). I have got a whole box of photo paper just sitting around expiring.

locutus · Jan 16, 2018

Contact printing is really about the simplest printing process you could do.

Stack negative on paper, cover with glass, turn on lightbulb for 20 seconds, develop, Image too dark? reduce time. Thats about all there is to it.

Ces1um · Jan 16, 2018

locutus said:
Contact printing is really about the simplest printing process you could do.

Stack negative on paper, cover with glass, turn on lightbulb for 20 seconds, develop, Image too dark? reduce time. Thats about all there is to it.

Never home developed prints before. I'll need to look up the chemistry required to develop/fix/stop. I also happen to have an old ansco contact printer with a safe light/regular lightbulb but I'll need to replace the electrical cord. Both bulbs still work but that cord is so old and sketchy with rubber crumbling off of the wire I wonder if it's a fire/shock hazard. Not sure it's size, I think it was for medium format prints.

Harman Titan 8x10 opinions?

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