what would be the ideal rollfilmback for me?

game · Jun 29, 2007

hi everyone,

I use a mamiya RZ67 right now, but will soon start to use a 4x5 fieldcamera as my main camera. There is not really a weight or size difference between the mamiya and the fieldcamera. So why have a mamiya rz67 on the side for 120 film, if I could also bring along a rollfilm back and have both formats at my command?

So that leaves me with two question basicly:

1. is my conclusion right, and is a rollfilm back a good replacement for a heavy mediumformat camera, considering my aobve mentioned arguments?

2. what rollfilmback is the right one for me?

I think the sinar zoomback is quite great, and the posiblity to have every format from 6x45 to 6x12 seems very attractive.
but are there better ones? or are rollfilmbacks not any good in general, and should I forget the idea?

PLease, every input is more than welcome!
thanks, kind regards Game

David A. Goldfarb · Jun 29, 2007

1--No. A view camera and an SLR do different things, so one is not really a substitute for the other. That said, sometimes it is convenient to shoot rollfilm with a view camera. If you have both, you'll eventually start using the SLR for what it does best and the view camera for what it does best.

2--The Sinar Zoom backs are outstanding if you can afford them. I like the Linhof Super-Rollex backs, which have excellent film flatness and are a good value on the used market. They are on the heavy side, so they aren't really the right choice for an ultralight camera, but work well with most cameras that have a Graflok/International style back.

Nick Zentena · Jun 29, 2007

Do you like wide angle lenses? Then a 4x5 with a rollfilm back can be a bit of a problem.

People like Shen Hao have adapters [or whatever it's called] to mount RB backs to the camera. I think these are really Graflok 2x3 format. If you had a RB this would be a good route but the RZ backs are different.

If you want to shoot 6x12 then things change. Wide angle lenses on 6x12 aren't much shorter then wide 4x5 lenses. You can get double duty.

game · Jun 29, 2007

hmmm, had not thought of wide angles, thanks for mentioning.
I tend to work with nothing wider than 65/75 on 6x7. I guess the focal lenght will not be a problem then.
I use my mamiya rz67 in a way as if it is a 4x5 camera. I only do tripod work, and only make few exposures. So that's my appraoch to the medium format slr. So in my case a zoomback would seem a nice plan.

if anyone wants to add, please do so
thanks!

Helen B · Jun 29, 2007

I use a Zoom 2. I could send you a pdf of the instructions if you wish.

Now I could very well be wrong about this, because I'm not an expert, but here goes. The Zoom 2, as it comes out of the factory, does not have Graflok grooves but the original Zoom does, I think. It is just possible to machine Graflok grooves into a Zoom 2 - mine has them. This is just as well, because the Zoom 2 (and the Zoom, for all I know) will not fit properly in some cameras, including a couple of mine - the bulge for the film compartment fouls the gg surround. It wouldn't be a big problem to remove a small amount of the gg surround, however. In this respect the Zoom 2 is worse than the Polaroid 545 - ie a back that allows the 545 to slide in fully may not allow the Zoom 2 to slide in fully. If you want that in pictures, I'll take some.

Best,
Helen

KenS · Jun 29, 2007

6x7 back on 4x5

Game...

I use a Linhof monorail... as well as a Mamiya RB67..
both reputed to be the 'heaviest' in their formats.

On occasions where I cannot justify humphing both units into the field at the same time as my 75mm Grandagon provides wide enough images on either format.. but the ability to use some lens/back shift/tilt with the Linhof and the Rollex back makes the weight of the 6x7 worth the extra strain worth it. The 75 mm on the 4x5 neg allows but minimal shift. There have been a few occasions where the combination of the 6x7 back and my 'longer' lenses have provided me a better image. I have (sometimes) found the combination of the 75 Grandagon/Linhof/6x7 back to be quite beneficial for doing macro work with PanF roll film.

Ken

Early Riser · Jun 29, 2007

I have both zoom and zoom II backs. Helen is correct when she says that the zoom has graflok grooves and the Zoom II doesn't, however the darkslide setup on the Zoom II I think is a better one and is less prone to breaking. As far as I'm concerned the zoom and zoom II are the best rfbs there are.

I use them on Sinars so they fit and work perfectly, I would suggest testing their fit on your camera first.

HerrBremerhaven · Jun 29, 2007

I think a rollfilm back on a 4x5 is a good substitute for a medium format camera. Currently I have a Linhof Super Rollex (56x72) that I use on my Shen-Hao. I feel it is a good way to quickly crop a view, or use some films I might not want to use often in 4x5 sizes (especially since I prefer packet systems like Quickload and Readyload).

I looked into the Mamiya to 4x5 adapters, though I decided that I did not like the idea of two interlocks to locate the back. In practice, this is probably not an issue. If you have several Mamiya backs, then you might want to look into one of these adapters.

Ciao!

Gordon Moat
Dead Link Removed

k_jupiter · Jun 29, 2007

I have perhaps a slightly different solution. I have a 5x7 B&J Field camera. With the removable film backs, I have just built a back that incorporates a spare rb rotating back. I use a 2x3 film pack with a piece of GG for focusing and composition. Pull the film pack out, slide in the rb back, remove dark slide and expose. This lets me use the movements of the field camera with the ease of 120 film and the reliability of rb backs.

tim in san jose

palewin · Jun 30, 2007

Since no one else mentioned them, you could take a look on the used market for one of the Calumet roll-film holders (I have and like the C2N 6x7) which fit under the GG similar to a film holder. The Sinar holders are excellent, but very expensive, and heavier than a "simple" roll-film holder. Depends on how mobile you want to be. The simplest, but appropriate, analogy would be to compare a Sinar P2 (fantastic monorail camera/system) with almost any 4x5 field camera.

PHOTOTONE · Jul 1, 2007

You have basically two design choices for rollfilm backs. The Graflex/Mamiya style which fits in place of the ground glass back, but requires a graflok back, or the Calumet style that fits in like a 4x5 film holder, sliding in beneath the ground glass. The Calumet (style) seems to me to be more practical to use, as you can more easily continue to use the ground-glass back for focusing and image composition between shots. All the rollfilm backs have a darkslide, so they may be removed between shots. In any case, you would need to mark on your ground glass the area covered by the film back, so you can compose to fit the format.

Kilgallb · Jul 2, 2007

I found a simple solution for using a 6x7 back on my 4x5 ground glass.

I took a piece of exposed, developed and fixed 4x5 film and cut an opening dead centre of the film that is the same dimensions as the 6x7 back. No, it is not precisely 6x7.

I place the film on the back of the GG and can easily slide it under the clips that hold the GG in place. By actually blocking the GG I feel I get a better feel for the composition. I store the piece of film in my notebook. It also makes an excellent composiotion tool when not attached to the camera.

what would be the ideal rollfilmback for me?

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