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The Armed Eye
{K:3563} 3/18/2006
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Ahh, unique combo, one for grown ups ! :-))Are you contented with the reliability of ARAX ?
DSLR ? These plastic toys are good for those who can't SEE and must let others tell them what is to be seen on their "images" ??? :-))
Don't surprise me with such an image here, Roger ! :-))
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Roger Williams
{K:86139} 3/9/2006
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It is basically fairly simple--but nothing at all is automatic! So you have to wind on, focus, and set the shutter and aperture yourself. There are also few safety interlocks, so it is easy to damage the camera doing something that more modern designs would prevent you from doing or make harmless anyway. The things that look like counterweights are the handles for the tripod head, one each for side-to-side, front-to-back, and round-and-round movement. You twist the handle to lock it. Probably more than you wanted to know! [grin]
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Mary Brown
{K:71879} 3/9/2006
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that is quite an interesting looking set up, Roger. To me, it looks complicated. I qm sure it would quite some practice to understand how to use this properly. Are those counterweights?
Mary
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Roger Williams
{K:86139} 2/25/2006
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I'm luckier than you. I just drop off at one of the main stations on my way home and buy bargain packs of 5 or 10 rolls at a time. My favourite 120 film is Fuji New Pro 400 (it's been "new" for several years now). I was looking at a Mamiya Press Super 23 just yesterday. Fascinating camera, hope it works out for you.
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![Nelson Moore [Kes] -](http://images.imageopolis.com/images/5/7/8/7/5787/1481659-micro.jpg)
Nelson Moore [Kes] -
{K:20241} 2/25/2006
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Hi Roger -
> "TRY IT before you BUY IT"
Good advise - and I'm taking it!
I've a Mamiya Press Super 23 on loan with option to purchase. 6x7 backs, extention tubes, 100mm 3.5 and 150mm 5.6 lenses. And a ground glass back that's supposed to aid in focusing.
Should be fun, but I don't have any film yet. You can't just run out and buy 120 film here, it's a 75 mile drive one-way! argh!
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Roger Williams
{K:86139} 2/15/2006
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They quite often NEED to be on a tripod, Mark. I can't hand hold his camera still enough at speeds below 1/250th with the standard lens (slower is possible with the fisheye, of course). Makes a heavy kit...
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Roger Williams
{K:86139} 2/13/2006
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"Not enough time" is the story of my life. Glad you are enjoying the new (and very much underpublicized) panorama function!
To answer your question, a waist-level finder is fine if you have glasses (I use trifocals). Plenty of what they call "eye relief." But there's also a flip-up magnifying glass which is almost indispensable for accurate focusing with the longer focal length lenses, and THAT can cause problems. For instance I can't use the magnifying glass on my Arax W/L finder because I can't get my eye close enough to it. So I can't see to the edges of the screen. OK for focusing the central area, which is what I use it for. The answer is TRY IT before you BUY IT. Good advice whatever camera you want to buy, and a strong disincentive to purchase via E-bay.
The W/L on the Arax has another problem... it leaks light! I get some spoiled images on every roll and have almost given up on it despite the convenience and clear imaging. Bummer. I should have waited until Hasselblads dropped to my price range (at present rates of decline it would only take another ten years or so!!!).
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Mark Sherman
{K:15669} 2/12/2006
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Somehow a medium format camera just looks really right on a tripod.
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Nelson Moore [Kes] -
{K:20241} 2/12/2006
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I came looking for your panoramas and saw this big beast...just had to look!
"... something to enjoy in the last few years of film!"
ouch, I think Nikon getting out of film is the nail in the coffin. But just the first nail, hopefully it will take awhile. I would like to get a medium format camera...or maybe even large...and play around. Dang the time, -and money - I just don't have enough of them to do everything!
Hope you get your camera going soon.
Oh, and I have a question since I'm on a ramble. I wear eyeglasses (need bifocals, but yet the hesitation/denial persists) and have always had to battle parallax in cameras. Does the waist-level finder function to avoid this?
tia,
kes
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Roger Williams
{K:86139} 2/8/2006
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Yeah, thanks Ian. Unfortunately I now find it looks a lot more impressive than it performs. The fisheye lens had to go back when it started to become unscrewed and some bits and piececs fell out and got lost, and the waist-level finder leaks light. Three shots out of 12 ruined... I have a pentaprism for it but I can't use glasses with it and can't focus without them. Argh!
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Ian V
{K:1730} 2/7/2006
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what a beaut.
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Matej Maceas
{K:24381} 2/4/2006
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No complaints, other than that the closest focusing distance is actually quite long, so it does not have all that much added value as a portrait or close-up lens. It's useful when I can't get close to the subject.
It's also rather heavy :-)
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Craig Hanson
{K:7836} 2/4/2006
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Hi Roger! Thanks for the highly interesting magazine! I'm really enjoying browsing through it! And that's quite a camera you got there! How about using it to take a photo of your mobile phone now.
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Roger Williams
{K:86139} 2/4/2006
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Mmmmm. Kind of "the other extreme" isn't it. Very impressive. How is the Jupiter 250? My beloved fisheye has had to go back for repairs, as the CZJ 180/2.8 Sonnar did.
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Matej Maceas
{K:24381} 2/3/2006
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How's this then? :-)))
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Kiev 88 + Jupiter 250mm |
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Ann Nida
{K:45248} 2/2/2006
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Very interesting information Roger. Thank you for taking the time to explain that to me. We are currently getting ready to go on the road again within the next couple of months which will limit my internet time but you have certainly given me food for thought and I appreciate it very much. Cheers - Ann :)
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Roger Williams
{K:86139} 2/2/2006
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To answer your questions, Ann, film is not hard to get here in Tokyo. I go to one of the big camera stores--they all stock it. Development may take a day or two longer because the film is sent to a central lab rather than being processed in the local lab. But the same chemicals and process times are used, so no big problem. This film will be available as long as 35mm film is. Only the most expensive professional digital cameras can produce the quality available from an El Cheapo MF camera's scanned negs. If quality is important to you, and you have a limited budget, and your lifestyle ever slows down enough , give it a whirl.
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Ann Nida
{K:45248} 2/2/2006
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Very interesting looking camera Roger. Perhaps you can think about starting your own camera museum. :) We are in the era of too many options. I did check out that site you gave me but I'm wondering how hard it is to get film for something like that these days....and also do you develop those yourself or can you still find outside developers to process that format? For my fast lifestyle these days I think I need to stay with digital for convenience but I will keep the info in case I get the time to explore the MF option some day.
Thank you for dropping by my Spiral stairs image and for your comment.
Cheers - Ann :)
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Roger Williams
{K:86139} 2/1/2006
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Thanks for visiting, GG. The camera is back but now the fisheye is off for repair! The mount came loose from the body of the lens and a screw, a spring and a little ball bearing fell out. Not QUITE up to Zeiss standards! Now on its way back to the Ukraine...
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Galal El Missary
{K:84569} 2/1/2006
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photo for old camera by a new mobile camera , great idea Dear Roger , Thanks for sharing , Kind regards .
Galal
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Giuliano Guarnieri
{K:36622} 2/1/2006
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Welcome back!
:)
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Roger Williams
{K:86139} 2/1/2006
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Cessy, it is a lot easier to take a picture OF this camera than to use it to take a picture of something else! I am going to take a series of the unusual cameras I own. I am fairly sure you will never have seen some of them before!
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cessy karina
{K:14205} 2/1/2006
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I see you still playing with your mobile camera phone and use your other cameras as objects instead hehehe....
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Roger Williams
{K:86139} 2/1/2006
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It's easy enough to get your hands on one, Hugo. It is quite inexpensive (53,000 JPY including 80mm/F2.8 standard lens!), and I can recommend a place that services and upgrades them to acceptable standards. There are very few safety interlocks, though, so you have to be VERY careful to avoid certain fatal mistakes. But it is an easy camera to like and the lenses are VERY good. Incredible value... something to enjoy in the last few years of film!
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Susie OConnor
{K:34798} 2/1/2006
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Wow what a camera. Yes, I think we forget what a "real" camera looks like sometimes. What a contraption!
Susie
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Caterina Berimballi
{K:27299} 1/31/2006
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That's some piece of equipment you have there Roger, *raises eyebrow* I'm impressed... :)
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Hugo de Wolf
{K:185110} 1/31/2006
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Good weaponry, Roger... I'd love to get my hands on that piece of equipment, or something similar, that is.,..:) Funny contrast with the mobile phone quality... I see you use Manfrotto tripods too, heh? Think I have the same one.
Cheers,
Hugo
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Rob Ernsting
{K:8899} 1/31/2006
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WOW that is really impressive Roger and with a 30mm fisheye. Extraordinary camera and it looks pretty heavy as well. Nice details even though from a mobile phone camera.
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stingRay pt.4 .
{K:250395} 1/31/2006
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Wonderful, wonderful equipment that reminds me of some of my old medium format rollfilm days. Thank-you for sharing and stirring my memories Roger.. Best wishes to you....Ray
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