Users of roll film backs?

[xya]

I use plenty of them. loading a roll into a back, it's a minute or so (except sinar). putting a roll of 120 into a jobo tank, I can do this within 5 minutes in my bathroom. developing it, can be done there too, so, after 20 minutes, I can look at the results. it's all much more complicated with sheet film. I use:

6x6, 6x7 and 6x9 on mamiya universal
6x6 and 6x9 graflok on linhof technika
the mamiya backs in a sliding ground glass/back device on rittreck
6x12, one chinese, one sinar on a cambo wide

 

[fdonadio]

A clip-on type roll holder for a Graflok (= International) back replaces the focusing panel, not the whole back. Letting dust in isn't a major problem, putting the focusing panel down safely doesn't have to be a major problem.

I've just found out how to get the GG out of the back. Sure, my Sinar back is an International/Graflok type, so one just presses the large metal "buttons" on the top and bottom of the GG assembly and slide it to the right. And, when you do this, you'll see sliding locks on the top and bottom, where the clip-on holder will... uhhmmm... clip! Couldn't be easier!

But I am still considering the slide-in type.


Flavio

 

[Dan Fromm]

But I am still considering the slide-in type.


Flavio

Sinar, Sinar and Sinar. Fixed format, format adjustable for a roll of film, format adjustable within a roll.

Also $, $ and $. Fixed format 6x7 and 6x9 clip-on type roll holders are usually less expensive than fixed format Sinar roll holders. 6x12ers (Horseman and Widepan = imitation Horseman) are nearly as expensive as the Sinar 6x12 Panorama but are easier to find. Sinar Zoom and Vario roll holders are out of sight.

A sensible person would think Horseman, Horseman, and Horseman. Or equivalents (Linhof Super Rollex, Wista). Linhof Techno Rollex are out of sight too. My sight, anyway, if you have a larger budget than I do, good for you.

 

[fdonadio]

My sight, anyway, if you have a larger budget than I do, good for you.

No budget now. But I'm saving money to satisfy my GAS in the near future.

Thanks for all the tips.


Flavio

 

[DREW WILEY]

Horseman backs fit just fine on a Sinar.

 

[Dan Fromm]

Horseman backs fit just fine on a Sinar.

Indeed they do, but the OP started out talking about insertion type roll holders.

 

[DREW WILEY]

Significant pros and cons. With the slide-in backs you don't need to remove your GG glass and worry about where to put it (I keep mine safely tethered to the tripod on a bit of shock cord), but you do have to worry about quite a bit of extra weight and bulk, and the fact that not even every
Sinar camera likes to be tugged that hard either in the insertion procedure or via just extra weight overall on the back. The more solid Sinar cameras
are mainly the ones you wouldn't want to lug into the field.

 

[fdonadio]

Significant pros and cons. With the slide-in backs you don't need to remove your GG glass and worry about where to put it (I keep mine safely tethered to the tripod on a bit of shock cord), but you do have to worry about quite a bit of extra weight and bulk, and the fact that not even every
Sinar camera likes to be tugged that hard either in the insertion procedure or via just extra weight overall on the back. The more solid Sinar cameras
are mainly the ones you wouldn't want to lug into the field.

Good point...

 

[Kilgallb]

I used a 120 back (6x7) when I first started in large format. I took several months to find a 4x5 enlarger so I used the 120 film with my Ektar 127 mm and learned movements and focusing. The bonus was I could get the colour film developed and printed locally. I rarely use it any more, just a trip to Hawaii so I did not have to lug film backs.

 

[grahamp]

My slide-in 6x9 holder was obtained to work with my wooden Wista. With that spring back it was the only option. With the MPP VII I can either slide it in, or remove the glass and use the Graflok clips.

 

[Early Riser]

I use two different models of the Sinar roll film back. The Zoom and Zoom II. They can frame as 6x 4.5, 6x6, 6x7, 6x9 and 6x12. I only use them as 6x12. The difference between the two is that the Zoom has a curtain that expands open from the middle, and the Zoom II has a slide that stays in the back. If I were doing long exposures in the wind I'd use the Zoom, but the Zoom II is a little faster and harder to screw up an exposure with.

I use them on a Linhof MT3000 and Sinar F2 and P2 cameras. They do not require that you remove the ground glass. But you do need to use them on a fairly rigid camera as they are heavy and could possibly tilt the rear standard off focus.