Harman TiTAN 8x10 Pinhole Camera Review

[Leon]

Dear all

I dont visit here as much as I ought to these days, but I thought I'd share my experiences with the new Harman TiTAN 8x10 pinhole camera. It will be formally announced on Sunday at the Focus on Imaging show in Birmingham, UK, and available shortly afterwards. Harman/ Ilford/ Mike Walker kindly let me have a preview of this beastie - and I put together a video review:

[video=vimeo;60680136]http://vimeo.com/60680136[/video]

or

http://filmwasters.com/podcast/archives/258

It's a great thing - the film is a bit expensive though

 

[cjbecker]

Those were some grea looking images. Nice review also. It might be fun to get one and shoot some positive paper through it.

 

[FredW]

Looks great Leon, I have also been using the Harman Titan 4x5, and will definitely consider this. I will be using it for alternative processes, and contact printing.

 

[sly]

I've been hoping, ever since these were announced last fall, that I'd be able to take one on the camping trip I have planned for mid-March. Seems pretty unlikely now, even if they go on sale tomorrow, that I'll be able to get one out here on the far side of Canada by then.

Maybe I'll have one for my next trip.....whenever that happens.

 

[Michael W]

Useful review, thanks.

 

[Simon R Galley]

Dear All,

HARMAN TiTAN's will start shipping from Mobberley to our distributors around the world in teh next 10 days or so.

Many thanks to all our customers who have pre-ordered units.

Simon. ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology Limited :

 

[TheToadMen]

Just in time for World Wide Pinhole Photography Day (WPPD) on April 28th, 2013??
See: (there was a url link here which no longer exists)
I've already a box of Ilford Direct Positive paper waiting for this camera ;-)
(if I can afford one, that is ....)

 

[Toffle]

I wish I could afford one.

 

[MartinP]

For damping the vibration, how about a long strap from one tripod leg, over the back, held to the other side of the tripod somewhere with a (weak) bungee? Using just enough tension to keep the body from buzzing would help and the camera back is certainly sturdy enough to take a few ounces of pull. The only tricky bit might be arranging the strap to be clear of the DDS I suppose.

 

[grahamp]

Depends where the vibration is coming from. If the motion is due to flexing of the camera/tripod mount itself, the only thing to do would be to use a wind shield. On the other hand it is large and light, so weighting the tripod might help if it is the overall combination that moves.

 

[largeformat65]

Is the 8x10 version available in the USA? I have the 4x5 version and love it.

Dear All,

HARMAN TiTAN's will start shipping from Mobberley to our distributors around the world in teh next 10 days or so.

Many thanks to all our customers who have pre-ordered units.

Simon. ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology Limited :

 

[FredW]

I just took delivery of my 8x10 Titan, so they are available in North America. I must say the quality of the camera is great, and I am eagerly anticipating using it soon.

Just a note, the camera takes 3/8" tripod post, so you may need to pick up a 1/4 - 3/8" thread adapter, as 1/4" seems more common in NA.

 

[FredW]

Had a chance to use the camera today, what a joy to use. Its much lighter than my usual kit. Cannot comment about the vibration, as there was very light wind today.

 

[largeformat65]

post some images when you can!

 

[sly]

Received my Titan 8x10 on Friday. Managed to squeeze 2 shots on DPP into a very busy day today. Tomorrow's busy too, but hope I'll get a chance to develop them. It was quite gusty here. I hung my photo vest over the back of the camera to stabilize - Pentax spot meter and a couple of other things in the pockets. If it was shaky, I'll make sure I have a full water bottle next time. I did consider putting my shoes in the pockets, but the ground was mucky, and I was going straight to a clients house - arriving with muddy feet wouldn't have been professional
I'll post if I've got anything to post.....

 

[sly]

Unflashed direct positive paper in my new Titan 8x10. You can see it was breezy, but hanging my vest on the camera seems to work fine.
Not worth framing, but a starting point.....

 

[SMBooth]

Although I have no proof, to me the tripod mount on the Titan will allow it to flex given the materials use and thickness of the mounting point. Not the camera weight on tripod.

 

[TheToadMen]

Do you mean that the body itself could flex because it is not sturdy or ridged enough?

 

[SMBooth]

Yes at the pivot point. Remember I'm making that assumption based on looking at photos online so could be wrong.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Thanx

 

[FredW]

Nice shot sly, I have been considering using Selectol Soft developer for the DPP to control the contrast of unflashed paper.

It was used in the past to give about a half grade reduction in contrast. The DPP is suppose to be about grade 3, so 2 1/2 may be ok.

 

[sly]

Well I've experimented with preflashing DPP. I printed old lantern slides on it last winter, and had done lots of testing to find a preflash that brought down the contrast just enough. My first test was grossly over-exposed, so more testing gave me an ISO of 12 to work with. Didn't get anything I was happy about. High contrast sunny scenes were still lacking detail in the high and low values, while scenes with lower contrast just turned out muddy. I like the idea of DPP, as life has been giving me only snippets of time for photography lately. Expose, run the paper quickly through developer, stop, fix, and wash - ta da! Finished print! Quick, but not so great if I can't get something I want to keep. I'm sure with more experimentation and lots more time, I could get there, but I'm too busy and impatient (and almost out of DPP). I shot a few negs and developed today. I've posted a flatbed scan of one in the gallery. There's more detail in the highlights than the scan will pick up, and I'm excited about printing it, when time allows.
I've got a few days off coming up, so I'll have a bit more time for photography play. I'll try to ignore the garden -it's been screaming for attention for weeks now.

 

[hvandam2]

Other options for the titan 4x5

Simon,
I sent a query to Ilford about the longer 110 and 150 cones. No reply. Are they for sale yet?

BTW, I love the little beasty, took some HP5 exposures of the famous Taos N. M. church Adams and Strand photographed years ago. Still need to develop them.

Thanks,
Howard

 

[FredW]

I ordered the 110 cone some months ago, and finally took delivery 2 weeks ago, so they are available. I do like the perspective, wide but not too wide. Great to have a choice.

 

[PhotoBob]

@ Sly
thanks for sharing, nice image and I like the wave action in the background