Pulled toward the whirlpool . . .

DWThomas · Oct 20, 2006

OK, so this summer, I cobbled together a Bronica SQ-A and began to get my feet wet in medium format, a decades old fantasy. Initially I approached it as going minimalist -- spend about $400 - $500 -- one body, one back, one lens, one viewfinder; shoot B&W and process at home, printing with an Omega B8 that "suddenly arrived here."

So I've dabbled, had some back -- uh film back -- problems, got 'em resolved. Was unhappy with my ancient slow CDS light meter and not satisifed with attempts to adapt it to silver oxide batteries. So I broke down and bought a Gossen Digisix -- a trifle disconcerting, as it feels like an empty plastic box, but it appears to work. It even tells me the time -- and the temperature -- I can't tell you how much I've always wanted that <snicker> :rolleyes: .

Anyway, knowing that slide film is the ultimately fussy test of exposure, I put a roll of Provia 100F through the beastie last Monday and got it processed. Oh my goodness -- now I find myself looking at 6x6 slide projectors on e*ay! I've already been eyeing a 65 mm f4 lens and have just acquired back #3. Is there help for me?!!

DaveT

(See the scans hither.)

Konical · Oct 20, 2006

Good Afternoon, Dave,

Yes there is. The symptoms you have experienced will abate considerably when you begin to explore LF.

Konical

bill schwab · Oct 20, 2006

DWThomas said:
Oh my goodness -- now I find myself looking at 6x6 slide projectors on e*ay!

Nothing like a 6x6 slide projected! Many years ago I was hired to do supplemental slides for a exhibit at a National Park here in Michigan. They all had to be trannys for projection. I had never seen such a show prior and was completely blown away by the final presentation. It was huge... and sharp as a tack.

Have fun!

Bill

DBP · Oct 20, 2006

I know the feeling. Finally picked up a B&L 6x6 projector a couple of months back. It's a beast, but was fairly cheap and came with lots of slide trays and 35mm slide adapters. Haven't used it yet, as my MF transparencies had been 6x9 and 6x7 and I couldn't justify getting a projector THAT big. Of course that also raises the question of whether to keep my 35mm projector. It's getting crowded around here, between cameras, lighting equipment, enlargers, projectors, dive gear, sailing gear, and books.

naturephoto1 · Oct 20, 2006

Hi Dave,

There are worse ways to spend your money. I have never found the need for the purchase of a 6 x 6 or even a 6 x 7 slide projector. But, I shoot more 35mm or 4 x 5 than my medium format Rollei TLR or my Mamiya 7II. I would suggest at least for a while to get another lens or 2 and enjoy looking at the chromes on the light box for a while before I decided to invest in the slide projector. Don't forget, the projectors will shorten the life of the chromes. You may actually find real delight in printing some of the chromes either conventionally as a Ilfochrome (Cibachrome) or digitally through a machine like a LightJet or a Chromira.

Rich

naturephoto1 · Oct 20, 2006

DBP said:
I know the feeling. Finally picked up a B&L 6x6 projector a couple of months back. It's a beast, but was fairly cheap and came with lots of slide trays and 35mm slide adapters. Haven't used it yet, as my MF transparencies had been 6x9 and 6x7 and I couldn't justify getting a projector THAT big. Of course that also raises the question of whether to keep my 35mm projector. It's getting crowded around here, between cameras, lighting equipment, enlargers, projectors, dive gear, sailing gear, and books.

Hi Bruce,

Just don't put the yacht into the house.

Rich

r-brian · Oct 20, 2006

Dave

Yes there is hope for you. The SQa was my first medium format camera and I've reached the point where I've settled down. Of course I have 2 bodies, the AE prism, WL finder, speed grip, the 40, 50, 80, 150 and 250 lenses, 2 6x6 backs and a 6x4.5 back, pro hood that fits all but the 40mm. So see if gets better. Of course the sad part is I haven't shot this camera in over a year. Seems I bought a 4x5 outfit. But I do like the 6x6 format, so much that I recently bought 2 Rolleiflexes.

Help, it doesn't stop. I was wrong. Run away as fast as you can.

Brian

Richard Kelham · Oct 20, 2006

Konical said:
The symptoms you have experienced will abate considerably when you begin to explore LF.

As will your bank account...

Let's face it, you're dooomed. Just like the rest of us.

Richard

DBP · Oct 20, 2006

naturephoto1 said:
Hi Bruce,

Just don't put the yacht into the house.

Rich

Not a problem, as I don't have a trailer to tow it on and it weighs a little more than my car anyway. I did consider sleeping aboard a few nights recently when I couldn't use my bedrooms. And I do often keep a camera aboard - a Ricoh RW-1.

rpsawin · Oct 20, 2006

DWThomas said:
OK, so this summer, I cobbled together a Bronica SQ-A and began to get my feet wet in medium format, a decades old fantasy. Initially I approached it as going minimalist -- spend about $400 - $500 -- one body, one back, one lens, one viewfinder; shoot B&W and process at home, printing with an Omega B8 that "suddenly arrived here."

So I've dabbled, had some back -- uh film back -- problems, got 'em resolved. Was unhappy with my ancient slow CDS light meter and not satisifed with attempts to adapt it to silver oxide batteries. So I broke down and bought a Gossen Digisix -- a trifle disconcerting, as it feels like an empty plastic box, but it appears to work. It even tells me the time -- and the temperature -- I can't tell you how much I've always wanted that <snicker> :rolleyes: .

Anyway, knowing that slide film is the ultimately fussy test of exposure, I put a roll of Provia 100F through the beastie last Monday and got it processed. Oh my goodness -- now I find myself looking at 6x6 slide projectors on e*ay! I've already been eyeing a 65 mm f4 lens and have just acquired back #3. Is there help for me?!!

DaveT

(See the scans hither.)

Dave,

No. There is no going back. Now that you have seen mf chromes you cannot go back. I know this from personal experience...

Bob

TheFlyingCamera · Oct 20, 2006

Just wait until you see 4x5 chromes. Don't even think about looking at 8x10 chromes.

papagene · Oct 20, 2006

And 11x14 chromes will make you weep!!

gene

JBrunner · Oct 20, 2006

Konical said:
Good Afternoon, Dave,

Yes there is. The symptoms you have experienced will abate considerably when you begin to explore LF.

Konical

MOOhaHAHaHaHaHaaaa....

P C Headland · Oct 20, 2006

papagene said:
And 11x14 chromes will make you weep!!

gene

Certainly would, especially after finding that all your holders have light leaks given the cost of each sheet.....

As to the OP, well, you're doomed. 6x9 is the next step, then 4x5"...

copake_ham · Oct 20, 2006

DWThomas said:
OK, so this summer, I cobbled together a Bronica SQ-A and began to get my feet wet in medium format, a decades old fantasy. Initially I approached it as going minimalist -- spend about $400 - $500 -- one body, one back, one lens, one viewfinder; shoot B&W and process at home, printing with an Omega B8 that "suddenly arrived here."

So I've dabbled, had some back -- uh film back -- problems, got 'em resolved. Was unhappy with my ancient slow CDS light meter and not satisifed with attempts to adapt it to silver oxide batteries. So I broke down and bought a Gossen Digisix -- a trifle disconcerting, as it feels like an empty plastic box, but it appears to work. It even tells me the time -- and the temperature -- I can't tell you how much I've always wanted that <snicker> :rolleyes: .

Anyway, knowing that slide film is the ultimately fussy test of exposure, I put a roll of Provia 100F through the beastie last Monday and got it processed. Oh my goodness -- now I find myself looking at 6x6 slide projectors on e*ay! I've already been eyeing a 65 mm f4 lens and have just acquired back #3. Is there help for me?!!

DaveT

(See the scans hither.)

Dave,

I would like to offer you an "escape" from this dire situation but I too have become entrapped in this whirlpool!

I recently purchased a Hassey 503CXi w/80mm CZ lens et. Then added a 150mm plus the PME5 viewfinder.

Now I'm realizing that this kit will be fine for me here in New York - but what do I do about having MF gear in Tucson?

Oh no, not another kit!

And yet, I keep telling my wife that this camera stuff is cheaper than a mistress....

DWThomas · Oct 21, 2006

Thanks guys, I got a good many smiles out of this thread. I guess if there's that many folks caught in the maelstrom, my situation is perfectly normal!

As to the LF suggestions, there has been a B & J Press 4x5 in the "collection" here since the mid-60s, though its bellows looks a bit stiff and the whole beast is not exactly mint. When I set it up for the 2005 Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day, it was hard not to notice that 4x5 B&W film in modest quantities was nearing a buck a sheet. Having "suddenly retired" in 2002, a few years sooner than planned, going to MF was a carefully researched decision. An MF enlarger fits better in my modest darkroom too. I still have a roll of Portra 160NC to try, then I think I'll settle back to delve more deeply into B&W for a while. I have acquired extra SQ backs so I can switch films easily -- it will no doubt happen here and there -- especially after seeing these first results.

Carry on!

DaveT

benjiboy · Oct 22, 2006

The beauty about the square 6x6 format for me is that when I project my slides on my 60"x60" screen it fills the screen.

David Brown · Oct 22, 2006

DWThomas said:
Initially I approached it as going minimalist -- spend about $400 - $500 ... Is there help for me?!!

No. See my signature line.

Papa Tango · Oct 22, 2006

One lens? What in the world are you thinking? There is no hope for GAS once a format or process bites you hard. Up until recently, the majority of my aquisition fervor was getting equipment into the darkroom. Then there was that damned Mat-124 that was cheap... Then there was that first RB67 Pro body with the 180 & 90 lenses. Then there was the second body because it was so cheap, and the other lenses, backs, backpack, filters, etcetera, so on and so forth. And then there is that 100-200 zoom that I have had my eye on...

If given the outcomes of other formats I use, there will come a point that I have everything conceivable for the RB kit. And it will stay that way for a while. Then, a couple years down the line, I suspect that I will want to try an RZ body and lens... The rest will be fairly predictable. The GAS problem now is moving into 8x10. My signature line says it all...

BTW on the Digisix & Digiflash, they are great meters. I use the latter with a Nikon shoe adapter on my grip for all the MF work, and it has been the staple for most 4x5 ambient and flash work. The only exception has been some difficult architectural stuff where I have used Minolta Spotmeter F and some intriguing Zone System convolutions to extract the maximum detail. As to the temperature thing, you will find that real handy the first time you shoot a Polaroid sheet and wonder how long to time it out...

Claire Senft · Oct 22, 2006

The only known cure for this condition is to locate the nearest 10 story or higher building and to jump. This is >99.7% as a permanent cure. Bottoms down.

Pulled toward the whirlpool . . .

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