Harman Titan 8x10 opinions?

[rince]

Hi there!

I have another question, this time concerning the above mentioned Titan 8x10. Does anyone of you use it? I can only find very limited information on how people like it. I watched all the youtube videos and the filmwaster one mentioned, that it has a tendency to wobble in even slight breezes. I am not good at all with tools and I rather would not build a 8x10 camera by myself. Is there a different camera you would recommend for 8x10 (not exceeding the budget of the Titan) ?

Thanks
Dennis

 

[Matt Fattori]

I'll make you a sturdier one for $300.

 

[gone]

I'm not a large format shooter, but wonder if the instability is due to its very light weight, or the fact that it's a big camera that is bound to catch a lot of wind no matter what? Or both?

 

[rince]

I guess it is a combination out of the two and maybe it is also related to the flexibility of the material, but I am honestly not sure. No store around here carries the camera, so I could have a look before I buy, therefore I wanted to see what experiences of people here were with the camera.

I'm not a large format shooter, but wonder if the instability is due to its very light weight, or the fact that it's a big camera that is bound to catch a lot of wind no matter what? Or both?

 

[rince]

So what kind of camera are you offering here?
Do you have pictures and specs?
Thanks
Dennis

I'll make you a sturdier one for $300.

 

[Xpres]

It is like putting a sail on top of your tripod... so you need a very heavy one. The camera itself is very sturdy and attaches well to the tripod.

 

[Dr Croubie]

Keeping it low to the ground may help.

I don't have a Titan, but I do have a (roughly) 12x20" pinhole camera made out of an old cardboard suitcase. Literally, it's lighter than at least half of my lenses.
But I don't put it on a tripod, I just put it straight on the ground, like a good suitcase should.
It has moved in high winds (like 20+ knots), but it's usually fine in normal weather.
So I know the titan probably needs to be mounted on a tripod, it doesn't look like it's got much of a base on it, but if you collapse the tripod as much as possible it might pick up less wind movement.

Or beanbags. Actually, they'd be great, because you can pack them around it to keep it really sturdy.

 

[rince]

It is like putting a sail on top of your tripod... so you need a very heavy one. The camera itself is very sturdy and attaches well to the tripod.

Thanks for the answer, I am glad to read that the camera itself is very sturdy.


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[rince]

Excellent advice, thank you. I am sure beanbags would work well.
12x20? Wow, would love to see some prints this baby produces!

Keeping it low to the ground may help.

I don't have a Titan, but I do have a (roughly) 12x20" pinhole camera made out of an old cardboard suitcase. Literally, it's lighter than at least half of my lenses.
But I don't put it on a tripod, I just put it straight on the ground, like a good suitcase should.
It has moved in high winds (like 20+ knots), but it's usually fine in normal weather.
So I know the titan probably needs to be mounted on a tripod, it doesn't look like it's got much of a base on it, but if you collapse the tripod as much as possible it might pick up less wind movement.

Or beanbags. Actually, they'd be great, because you can pack them around it to keep it really sturdy.

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[removedacct1]

Hi rince,

I have made my own pinhole cameras up to 8 X 10" (but I don't own the Titan) and I can say this much: large cameras tend to wobble in strong wind no matter who made them or what they're made of. It's simply a matter of having such a large object attached to a tripod at a single, small point; the threaded mount. People have remedied the wobble problem with bungee cords to strap the camera to other points on the tripod - I would certainly consider that as a fix if needed. I have an 8x10 pinhole camera I built out of a wooden humidor, and it does benefit from some extra stabilization in windy situations. I simply take two lengths of masking tape and strap the camera - on both sides - to the tripod for extra stability.

I think the Titan 8x10 is a well made camera and I would not hesitate to buy one if I were in the market for a good 8x10 pinhole camera. But I like to build my own, so it's not something I'm considering ;-) I will say this though: pinhole cameras can be as simple as you want them to be, and so they're not necessarily difficult or complicated to construct. You might want to consider looking at some tutorials online to see how other people made theirs - you may find some of the designs are very easy to emulate and build. Once you've made one, the process isn't nearly as intimidating as you might think!

 

[rince]

Thank you so much. For both, your opinion and your encouragement to maybe try and build one by myself. Maybe I should really try and build one myself. I guess I will scour the inter webs tonight and look for easy constructions, which can be accomplished by someone like me with two left hands and all thumbs

Hi rince,

I have made my own pinhole cameras up to 8 X 10" (but I don't own the Titan) and I can say this much: large cameras tend to wobble in strong wind no matter who made them or what they're made of. It's simply a matter of having such a large object attached to a tripod at a single, small point; the threaded mount. People have remedied the wobble problem with bungee cords to strap the camera to other points on the tripod - I would certainly consider that as a fix if needed. I have an 8x10 pinhole camera I built out of a wooden humidor, and it does benefit from some extra stabilization in windy situations. I simply take two lengths of masking tape and strap the camera - on both sides - to the tripod for extra stability.

I think the Titan 8x10 is a well made camera and I would not hesitate to buy one if I were in the market for a good 8x10 pinhole camera. But I like to build my own, so it's not something I'm considering ;-) I will say this though: pinhole cameras can be as simple as you want them to be, and so they're not necessarily difficult or complicated to construct. You might want to consider looking at some tutorials online to see how other people made theirs - you may find some of the designs are very easy to emulate and build. Once you've made one, the process isn't nearly as intimidating as you might think!

 

[sly]

You haven't had any replies yet from someone with a Titan. I've got one. I had tried to make my own cardboard one, but wasn't happy with it. My construction skills are minimal. (If I could knit one, we might get somewhere!)

I wanted a sturdy, cart it into the woods, have it out in all weathers 8x10 pinhole, so I could use the negs for alt printing. I love the Titan. It does all I'd wanted it to. I haven't had a problem with wind. Might be worse in the vertical position, which I don't use often. If I'm concerned I hang my photo vest over the back of the camera. The weight of my light meter, a small camera, water bottle, snacks, holds the camera in place so far.

Here's an image or two:

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

 

[rince]

Thank you sly! Yes, I also want the camera for larger negatives for alt printing. I tried enlarging my 4x5 negs and print those, but it is just not the same I guess. I love the alt printed images in your gallery.

You haven't had any replies yet from someone with a Titan. I've got one. I had tried to make my own cardboard one, but wasn't happy with it. My construction skills are minimal. (If I could knit one, we might get somewhere!)

I wanted a sturdy, cart it into the woods, have it out in all weathers 8x10 pinhole, so I could use the negs for alt printing. I love the Titan. It does all I'd wanted it to. I haven't had a problem with wind. Might be worse in the vertical position, which I don't use often. If I'm concerned I hang my photo vest over the back of the camera. The weight of my light meter, a small camera, water bottle, snacks, holds the camera in place so far.

Here's an image or two:

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

 

[jeffreyg]

I just finished a morning session making some pt/pd prints from my Ilford Titan 4x5 with excellent results. I have been using it on my old Tiltall tripod with no problems. A very windy day IMOP is not the greatest time for long exposures. Around here there is usually some wind but I have not had problems either. I got the 4x5 because I can also use the negatives in my enlarger. If I want a larger negative for contact printing, I enlarge it on to x-ray duplicating film. However I like the smaller prints and often show the the excess coating when framing.

http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/

 

[canuhead]

While I applaud Ilford for making pinhole cameras, for the price of the camera, I'd rather buy a wooden pinhole camera and some film. I also love the beauty of wood vs plastic ymmv

 

[Joe VanCleave]

For my larger pinhole box cameras I cut a large plate from plywood and mount a 1/4-20 tripod bushing in the underside; attach the plate securely to the tripod and then bungee cord the camera to the plate. Little brass cup hooks, screwed into the edges of the plate, make for a handy way to secure the bungee cords.

~Joe

 

[rince]

Thanks Joe, that sounds like a great solution!!!

For my larger pinhole box cameras I cut a large plate from plywood and mount a 1/4-20 tripod bushing in the underside; attach the plate securely to the tripod and then bungee cord the camera to the plate. Little brass cup hooks, screwed into the edges of the plate, make for a handy way to secure the bungee cords.

~Joe

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[Bob Carnie]

I am very interested in this camera... I do a lot of still lifes of small objects like attached - soup bones - so you can see the size.

I am not very well versed with pinhole and wondering would this camera work well in short distances with objects close to 1:1 on the film??

 

[sly]

I applaud anyone who makes their own pinhole cameras. In general terms I prefer natural materials. The lightness of the Titan, for the size of the negative, is a big selling point for me. I have calcified tendonitis in both my shoulders. Undoubtedly caused by hiking into the hills with 15 pounds of camera gear for years. I can't carry the titan and a tripod for very long, and every ounce more of weight makes for less time/more pain. For a carry around camera, I'm down to an Olympus trip - where a Nikon FE used to seem plenty light enough.

Bob, the angle of view is pretty wide. I think to get 1:1 on the neg, you'd have to be so close, you'd be shooting in the shadow of your camera. I shot some pears, and thought they would fill the frame more. Very happy with the photo any way.

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

 

[Pioneer]

I now mount my bigger cameras to Majestic Gear Head with 4 inch or 6 inch bases. Combined with a good tripod it certainly helps with any wobbles.

 

[SMBooth]

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

 

[sly]

The camera itself is very light. Most of the weight is the 8x10 film holder, which IS at the back.

 

[Bob Carnie]

Hi Sly

That helps a lot -nice image, for a lot of my work I would be happy with that sizing.. how close was the camera to the pears? I have this lovely light box setup that I can basically
light the scene and put the lens or camera right in the box.
I have no worries about stability and wind since I only still life inside, of course I should consider if I am eating a lot of beans the day before

bb

 

[Pioneer]

Lets see? Beans and a pinhole? I'm not sure that is a good combination no matter where you are Bob!

 

[sly]

Bob, I'm not at home, so can't check my notes. I think it was about 12 inches.