Short Lenses on C-1 8x10

Brentwood Kebab!

A
Brentwood Kebab!

  • 0
  • 0
  • 26
Summer Lady

A
Summer Lady

  • 0
  • 0
  • 31
DINO Acting Up !

A
DINO Acting Up !

  • 0
  • 0
  • 23
What Have They Seen?

A
What Have They Seen?

  • 0
  • 0
  • 32
Lady With Attitude !

A
Lady With Attitude !

  • 0
  • 0
  • 34

Recent Classifieds

Forum statistics

Threads
198,758
Messages
2,780,506
Members
99,700
Latest member
Harryyang
Recent bookmarks
0

gbenaim

Member
Joined
Nov 3, 2004
Messages
441
Format
8x10 Format
Hi all,

I find myself shooting mostly my 19 inch lens on the C-1, partly because it's harder to compose on shorter lenses. Even w the 300mm I have a harder time seeing the picture well, and so I was wondering how those of you who use one of these beasts get around this limitation of an otherwise excellent camera. I also find that the shorter lens seem dimmer even for similar aperture lenses (e.g. my 19 and 12 inch lenses are both f9). I'm curious whether this is due to the usual wide angle dimming or to the distance from the GG at which one must look given the rear rail. All advice and suggestions welcome.

GB
 

PHOTOTONE

Member
Joined
Oct 30, 2006
Messages
2,412
Location
Van Buren, A
Format
Large Format
You might could do with a better ground glass. They are not all created equal. However, learning to compose with a dim GG image is a skill. It just takes time to master. Be sure you have a good dark cloth that is big enough for an 8x10 camera.
 

Captain_joe6

Member
Joined
Mar 3, 2007
Messages
195
Location
Portland, OR
Format
8x10 Format
I've been asking myself this exact question lately. I have a C1 that is, I'll agree,quite the beast, but indeed an excellent contraption. Using my Turner-Reich 12-21-28 I've noticed that the 12" length (f/6.8) is significantly dimmer than the 21" (f/11) and that the 28" (f/16) is the brightest of them all (though this probably because the 8x10 ground glass is right in the middle of the hot-spot). Just the same, though, the 12" seems about 2 stops dimmer than even the 12". I've been wanting to get my hands on a Wollensak Ex.WA 159mm lens and have wondered how bright it would be or even if I could focus down close enough, or if I'll have to make a recessed board for myself.
 

Shawn Dougherty

Subscriber
Joined
Jul 22, 2004
Messages
4,129
Location
Pittsburgh
Format
Multi Format
I have 480mm and 365mm F9 Nikkor APO process lenses and find them to be quite bright. Surprisingly so. I've had no problems seeing my 365 or the old 300 I used to have. At infinity there isn't all that much rail behind the ground glass. Maybe it's a matter of height? I'm 6' tall and I've basically got my nose on the GG when I'm checking focus... The best suggestion I have is to get a really big darkcloth as it takes quite a bit of material to really wrap up that camera. All the best. Shawn
 

TheFlyingCamera

Membership Council
Advertiser
Joined
May 24, 2005
Messages
11,546
Location
Washington DC
Format
Multi Format
You SHOULD be able to focus the 159 exWA on the C-1. However, you'll have a devil of a time using any movements with it. I think part of the problem with this camera and shorter lenses is the bed rail poking you in the chest. That said, I never had issues with my 12" and 14" lenses, or even my 10" lens, and I was using the Calumet factory ground glass.
 

juan

Member
Joined
May 7, 2003
Messages
2,706
Location
St. Simons I
Format
Multi Format
I have a 159EWA and I am able to focus with it. As TFC says, the compressed bellows allow very little movement. The lens is very dim and if my subject is close enough, I sometimes resort to putting an LED flashlight in various parts of the scene to check focus. I point the lamp directly at the camera so that I am focusing on the bulb itself, not trying to illuminate something in the scene. For landscapes, it seems that DOF takes care of everything, at least for the contact printing that I do. OTOH, my 12.5-20-28 Rapid Rectilinear is bright enough at all focal lengths.
juan
 

John Kasaian

Member
Joined
Sep 24, 2002
Messages
1,021
240mm f/9 isn't a problem on my 8x10--the aerial image is bright all the way into the corners. With a 159 Wolly the corners get pretty dim. Don't worry about bellows compression limiting movements--159 Wollys (especially the f/9.5) hardly have any wiggle room to spare.
 
Photrio.com contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.
To read our full affiliate disclosure statement please click Here.

PHOTRIO PARTNERS EQUALLY FUNDING OUR COMMUNITY:



Ilford ADOX Freestyle Photographic Stearman Press Weldon Color Lab Blue Moon Camera & Machine
Top Bottom