what waS your last photography related purchase?

[Dennis-B]

In the past few weeks, I've had a severe attack of GAS. I purchased a Meridian Press/Technical Model B camera. Seems to be in very nice condition, although a couple of missing button covers, and a lack of a lens board. I've found some 4x4 Graphic View boards, but the lower groove is a bit narrow, so I can use them reversed. I have a 8.5" f/6.3 Commercial Ektar mounted now.

The second is a Linhof Technika III. It's in excellent condition, only missing a lens board. I have some .062" aluminum sheet stock coming along with a III lens board. Not
sure what lens for this one, but I have several in mind.

 

[benveniste]

A 33-55mm f/4.5 Lens, thereby completing a medium format "trinity

"

 

[abruzzi]

New standard bellows for the Linhof Technikardan S 45 from Custom Bellows UK. A huge saving over the Linhof list price!

I'm curious, can you say approximately what you paid? I have a TK (not an S) that has a light tight, but pretty iffy bellows. I know I can get Chinese bellows for under $200, but I've heard the Custom Bellows quality is very good. I'm wondering what the cost difference it. (Linhof bellows at $1k are right out.) Also, did they install the frames, or did you do it?

 

[Dennis S]

speed type grip for my Mamiya m645

Watch out for the gears on you camera as they have been noted for stripping gears and ruining cameras. When I found out about that I saw that the gears are very thin and if not connected firmly can result in your camera ruined. It's only the hand crank for me now.

 

[MattKing]

speed type grip for my Mamiya m645

Watch out for the gears on you camera as they are noted for stripping gears and ruining cameras. When I found out about that I saw that the gears are very thin and if not connected firmly can result in your camera ruined. It's only the hand crank for me now.

Which model, and what version of the grip?
dances_w_clouds is correct about the Mamiya 645 Super and the battery powered power grip.
Other models handle the power grips and the thumb operated rapid wind grip quite well.

 

[GLS]

I'm curious, can you say approximately what you paid? I have a TK (not an S) that has a light tight, but pretty iffy bellows. I know I can get Chinese bellows for under $200, but I've heard the Custom Bellows quality is very good. I'm wondering what the cost difference it. (Linhof bellows at $1k are right out.) Also, did they install the frames, or did you do it?

You send them the existing frames, with or without the old bellows still attached. Keith then attaches the new bellows to the frames for you, and posts them back. This is my first order with them, and my old bellows/frames have not long arrived there so it will be a few days more I expect.

I can tell you exactly what I will be paying: £140 + VAT + shipping, so around £180 total I would imagine. The price from Linhof Studio (the official UK Linhof dealer) for the same item (albeit including the frames) is around £600 total with shipping, so a huge saving, assuming you don't think two plastic frames are worth £400. What's more, Custom Bellows are the OEM provider of bellows for many camera makers, including Linhof, so you are literally getting an identical bellows to the original.

Everything I've ever read about their bellows has been glowing praise. I couldn't comment on Chinese copies, but it sounds like you would be saving almost nothing by going down that route, so I doubt it's worth the risk.

 

[R.Gould]

Which model, and what version of the grip?
dances_w_clouds is correct about the Mamiya 645 Super and the battery powered power grip.
Other models handle the power grips and the thumb operated rapid wind grip quite well.

Not the power grip, I don't like them, it is the left hand grip that has a shutter release on the grip, you still use the crank to wind the film, I called it a speed grip as that is what it was called by the dealer, mainly to make hand holding the camera easier, the camera is the m645 1000s, which came as an outfit with 45,150 and 500mm lens, for which I paid the grand sum of £250 GBP, tfrom our local camera repair man, all fully serviced and guaranteed for 6 months

 

[R.Gould]

Watch out for the gears on you camera as they have been noted for stripping gears and ruining cameras. When I found out about that I saw that the gears are very thin and if not connected firmly can result in your camera ruined. It's only the hand crank for me now.

Fully agree I wouldn't use a power drive on any MF camera, this is a left hand grip that has the shutter release, you still use the hand crank for winding the film,

 

[abruzzi]

Everything I've ever read about their bellows has been glowing praise. I couldn't comment on Chinese copies, but it sounds like you would be saving almost nothing by going down that route, so I doubt it's worth the risk.

Thanks!

 

[Dennis S]

Fully agree I wouldn't use a power drive on any MF camera, this is a left hand grip that has the shutter release, you still use the hand crank for winding the film,

Just a bit of information that I now know that MattKing relayed to me after I did put the power winder on the camera he sold me. I saw what he had mentioned and removed it. Thanks to him I got started in 645 film and now I have 2x 645 Super and 3 lenses and still all working fine after years I have been using them without any problems.

 

[R.Gould]

Just a bit of information that I now know that MattKing relayed to me after I did put the power winder on the camera he sold me. I saw what he had mentioned and removed it. Thanks to him I have 2x 645 Super and 3 lenses and still all working fine after years I have been using them without any problems.

Thanks for the information, Mat also posted the warning, I have seen what happened to a friends Mamiya with a motordrive, ruined it, I have sped grips (Not the motordrives but the lever wind one's)but after seeing the damage caused to my friends mamiya, a few years ago, I prefewr the crank/lever winds, better safe than sorry

 

[GLS]

Thanks!

Just FYI, the bellows arrived safely and are perfect. He had them in stock so the whole process from him receiving the old ones to me receiving the new took about 3 days. Obviously if you're in the US it will be a more lengthy affair, but worth the wait I assure you!

 

[log]

Realitysosubtle 6x17 camera (pinhole). Can't wait to to take it out to the fields!

 

[Disconnekt]

Ordered a MR-9 battery adapter for my Sears TLS camera a couple weeks ago, just got it in the mail yesterday.

 

[Dennis-B]

Found a very nice Schneider Kreuznach Xenar 150mm f/4.5. Elements are clear, no dust, no fungus and shutter was recently CLA'd. I'd been looking for one to mount on my new (to me), Linhof Technika III. It doesn't have a huge image circle (180mm), but I need it primarily for straight landscape shooting. The lens board is for a IV, or later, but I had a suitable III board.

 

[Donald Qualls]

I bought three caps -- inner bayonet rear, outer bayonet rear (shallow, for 85-135 lenses), and a body cap for Contax mount, to use with my Kiev 4 cameras and lenses. Brand new, 3D printed items found on eBay.

 

[John Bragg]

Just awaiting delivery of a mint OM Zuicko 35-70 f4 zoom. I owned one previously and it may not be fast, but it sure is convenient as a walkabout lens with very decent build quality. The constant aperture is great on a manual camera like my pair of OM1n bodies. I have a bunch of fast lenses, but sometimes a lens like this is an advantage when travelling light.

 

[R.Gould]

67mm orange filter, 2 67mm lfront lens caps and 67mm wide angle lens hood all for my Mamiya 645

 

[guangong]

Not really a new purchase, but feels like a new purchase. I bought Fuji 654 folder several years ago but electronics were dead on arrival. Didn’t have time to return, then in room with fire. On a whim gave to friend who gave inside camera works a good cleaning. After sitting for years and heat and soot of fire camera is perfect. Even battery is still good. Amazing.

 

[Cholentpot]

I got a Yashica MG-1 for $5 recently. Had to rig a battery but the test roll came out fine. It is a fun camera to use.

 

[Roger Thoms]

Springs and a knob from McMaster Carr plus a spare tripod plate from FLM Canada (thanks Ari) so that I can hack my new FLM tripod to take a through the bolt and knob. That way I can attach my 810 2D directly to the tripod. Basically I want an attachment similar to what a Ries tripod has.

Yep, I’ve totally caved and am ditching the Ries and going carbon fiber. Ok, maybe I hang onto the Ries, it is an awesome tripod, but it’s just a bit on the heavy side.

Roger

 

[cjbecker]

Lunapro F

Be my first non sekonic meter. Be a nice addition to my l208, Its replacing a l-358 that I sold a while ago to use with flash.

 

[Philippe-Georges]

ROLLFILM!!!!

 

[Ian Grant]

A Pentax viewfinder magnifier for my Spotmatics and SV.

Ian

 

[GLS]

Wimberley P50 quick release plate
Toyo 4x5 film holders
Delta 100 4x5 sheets
Linhof 4x5 Folding Focusing Hood
Novoflex neoprene wraps
Schneider-Kreuznach Apo-Symmar L 5.6/150