Is It Weird...

Mike1234 · Nov 1, 2009

... to be as excited about building a system for my brother as it is to build one for myself? I just bought a tele lens for the kit I'm assembling for my brother and it feels every bit as nice as buying a lens for myself. Mind you, I'm not a wealthy guy... never have been. In fact and as always, I'm having some very serious financial issues myself and am having to cut back on my own kit so I can build his. I suppose the fact that economic situations have reversed for us somewhat makes a difference. At any rate, I'm finding myself in unfamiliar territory.

Sorry... I should have posted this in the Lounge Area.

BrianShaw · Nov 1, 2009

1. Not weird. It is nice to hear that you have a good relationship with your brother.

2. Yes, probably better content for The Lounge... but it might not really matter where it is posted.

Mike1234 · Nov 1, 2009

Hi Brian,

My relationship with him isn't the best lately but I still love him. He is my brother and recently he needs some diversion to take his mind from his worries.

Mike

EASmithV · Nov 3, 2009

Nope. I talked my friend into buying more graflexes than I own.

Rick A · Nov 3, 2009

God will bless you greatly for forgoing yourself, to bless another.

Rick

2F/2F · Nov 3, 2009

Sounds pretty dern normal to me...

removed account4 · Nov 3, 2009

sounds like both you and your brother are lucky

Mike1234 · Nov 3, 2009

Not quite as lucky as I'd hoped. The 240mm Tele Arton I bought for him, though nearly perfect in every other way, has separation in the rear cell group. I wish Adorama had mentioned that in their description of the lens. I'm sending it back and will continue my search.

BTW, anyone have a nice 65mm Angulon or SA they want to sell? Or a 240-ish tele? I'm missing the longest/shortest lenses for his kit. Actually, I have a TT&H Cooke 65mm but the sale of that lens will buy him both of the others. I'm not exactly in the best financial situation myself at the moment and, although I want him to have a nice kit, I can't afford to go overboard on one lens.

DanielStone · Nov 3, 2009

nice. I'd be doing the same if my brothers were interested in photo too, but all they're interested in is girls and swimming and football. I'm the oldest of 4 kids(two younger brothers and a younger sister).

but its alright. I'll have to keep Kodak in busineez by myself .

-Dan

k_jupiter · Nov 4, 2009

Mike1234 said:
Not quite as lucky as I'd hoped. The 240mm Tele Arton I bought for him, though nearly perfect in every other way, has separation in the rear cell group. I wish Adorama had mentioned that in their description of the lens. I'm sending it back and will continue my search.

BTW, anyone have a nice 65mm Angulon or SA they want to sell? Or a 240-ish tele? I'm missing the longest/shortest lenses for his kit. Actually, I have a TT&H Cooke 65mm but the sale of that lens will buy him both of the others. I'm not exactly in the best financial situation myself at the moment and, although I want him to have a nice kit, I can't afford to go overboard on one lens.

If he hasn't done LF before, he doesn't need a three lens set up. Two is overboard. If he has done LF before, he should have his own kit already or he is probably not interested enough.
I would give hime the body with what ever normal lens you have and a couple of film holders, a Luna Pro, and let him prove himself with that. Remember, things given to you are no where near as precious as things you got yerself.

tim in san jose

BrianShaw · Nov 4, 2009

k_jupiter said:
I would give hime the body with what ever normal lens you have and a couple of film holders, a Luna Pro, and let him prove himself with that.

That is how I got my start in LF many years ago (about 30), except it was a Weston III (but Luna Pro is what I ended up buying for myself as my needs expanded)... and it is still the combination what I use 90% of the time. Less is sometimes more.

Mike1234 · Nov 4, 2009

k_jupiter said:
If he hasn't done LF before, he doesn't need a three lens set up. Two is overboard. If he has done LF before, he should have his own kit already or he is probably not interested enough.
I would give hime the body with what ever normal lens you have and a couple of film holders, a Luna Pro, and let him prove himself with that. Remember, things given to you are no where near as precious as things you got yerself.

tim in san jose

Sage words, Tim. Thank you. However, this is a medium format kit built around a 2x3 Century Graphic. He tried medium format many years ago with an old Bronica SQ and found some enjoyment in it. Really though, at this point for him, it may just be the gesture that counts and I'm trying to assemble a very nice complete system that, if nothing else, he can just set on a shelf and look at.

BrianShaw said:
That is how I got my start in LF many years ago (about 30), except it was a Weston III (but Luna Pro is what I ended up buying for myself as my needs expanded)... and it is still the combination what I use 90% of the time. Less is sometimes more.

Thanks, Brian. Yeah, my first kit was... how should I put it? Spartan!! But I want this to be something really nice and complete even if he can't use it. Sometimes it's the thought and sacrifice that counts.

k_jupiter · Nov 4, 2009

As such, it will look just as good with a 101/4.5 Ektar on it as anything else.
If I were building a MF camera for someone, it would say Mamiya rb67 on it. Dirt cheap and 10x more functional.

Take care,
tim in san jose

Mike1234 · Nov 4, 2009

Tim, funny you should mention that. The best lens combo I can think of right now consists of a 65mm Angulon, 101mm Ektar, 165mm Ilex (the little one), and a 240-ish tele. This taxes the bellows limits of the Century Graphic and gives him a very nice array of focal lengths.

I've also considered a 65/90/127/180-tele/240-tele kit because I like the spread better but I think he'd appreciate the lighter weight of the above option (teles are heavy). BTW, I don't think a 47 SA will focus to infinity on the Century or I'd add one of those to the kit too.

BrianShaw · Nov 4, 2009

Ahh, I somehow missed the fact that it is MF, not LF getting set up. Still, I think almost any situation could be satisfied with something like the 101mm Ektar and 165mm Ilex (or the 90 and 180-ish) that you mention. If not... perhaps the foot-powered "zoom" should be employed. I'm not much of a WA kind-of-guy so I find it easy to say that WA lenses are totally un-necessary.

One additional thing to consider is multiple film backs (I am assuming that you are considering roll film backs, not sheet film). Two would be nice: Color and B&W.

Mike1234 · Nov 4, 2009

All good thoughts, Brian.

Regarding lenses: Maybe I'll just outfit his kit with a 65/101/165 or 65/127/240-tele setup and see how that goes. He isn't getting around very well so a smaller/lighter kit will probably appeal to him. With regard to multiple roll film backs: He probably won't shoot B&W because he prefers color. Also, he likes prints so color neg is the way to go. Negs are much more forgiving of exposure error too. Now... maybe one back for medium speed and one for fast speed is a good option. He does seem to like early morning and late evening photos.

Thanks for the ideas!!

BrianShaw · Nov 4, 2009

Question: With that breadth of lenses, what will you use to calibrate the rangefinder? Unless working with sheet film GG focus might be rather inconvenient... and I'm not sure how much (if any) color neg is still available in 2x3 sheet. To attach a roll film back to my 4x5 Graphics requires removal of the GG panel and using the Graflok sliders; I assume it is same or simialr with the smaller cameras.

Mike1234 · Nov 4, 2009

Brian, I was expecting him to use GG focusing. The Century has a Graflok back so using a RFH is fairly easy and quick... the same as your 4x5. If he finds this too cumbersome then I'll trade him for a Koni-Omega Rapid with 58, 90, 135, and 180 lenses. I have the K-O kit on hand but opted against it due to bulk/weight plus I'm thinking he might enjoy the meticulous functionality of a field camera. If neither kit suits his needs then I'll probably just sell them both to fund a nice high res DSLR and two zoom lenses for him.

Is It Weird...

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