Film Is Dead

[ChiangMaiAmerican]

A few of the medium and large format cameras that can be had at reasonable prices on Ebay if anyone want to try larger format film.

Gundlach Korona 5x7 on Burke and James Tripod with a telephot device, Ilex Acme #4 shutter and lens. The bellows need repair or replacement but at about 3000 baht it was a real bargain. This kind of bargain isn't common. A 5x7 Gundlach with a lens but without a tripod is usually about 6500 baht up.

My less than 2000 baht Mamiya 645 1000s. They can usually be found for 6000 baht up. I got lucky on this one.

Ikoflex TLRs are another low cost way to enter medium format photography. They can regularly be found for less than 2000 baht on Ebay. Look for those with Zeiss Tessar lenses. The coated Opton Tessar is can be found on later models of this camera though they are more expensive.

My less than 2000 baht Ricoh Diacord L. These were based on the Rolleiflex TLRs. They have excellent lenses and shutters. They are relatively common and the price I paid is not that unusual.

A full movement 4x5 Burke and James Field view cameraThese can be found at bargain prices though not every day. Someone usually has one for sale several times a month.

A Zeiss Ikoflex TLR with a Zeiss Tessar taking lens. This was another camera made to compete with the Rolleiflex. They can be found for under 2000 baht. The coated Opton Tessar version found in later models cost about 3-4000 baht. These are relatively common.

A B&J Press camera. These can often be found for less than 3000 baht with a lens and occasionally for less than that. They are capable of limited front movements such as shown. They have tilt, shift, rise and fall but no swing or back movements. The B&J, Graflex and Busch press cameras are plentiful and not too expensive. A hard cased set can usually be found for under 6600 baht and occasionally much less. A Meridian 45B (1940s-50s American Linhof copy) with front and back movements can be found in good condition for about 12-14000 baht up. Occasionally Meridians turn up with repairable issues. These can be had for about 6500 baht. Meridians are not common.

Edited December 26, 2007 by ChiangMaiAmerican

[Ieyuhrah]

Even though the old style camera shows are slowly fading away, There are still many wood/brass (5"X7">11"X14"), 122/3A/3.5"X5.25", numerous folders, & others like the Kodak Medalist, Chevron, or Reccommar18/33, and of course the Graflex (if you don't mind using older totally manual cameras) still available and to be had most inexpensively. Last year I even found a panoramic 122/3A (swinging lens) box camera that does double postcard size negatives. Some here are scavenging newspaper copy cameras, building custom film carriers, using 1/16" plexiglass for plates, and turing them into field cameras. (Can you say "contact prints the size of the front page of a newspaper"?) Using liquid light(or equiv.) or digging out dryplate formulas is a bit of a hassle but it does become a self contained process for the photographer. If you can get your hands on some film carriers in a format you like and a decent lens there are plans on the net showing how to make sliding box cameras. There are also plans on how to make your own replacement bellows for any size field or folder (should you find one in less than pristeen condition). I am looking forward to when I can move back to LOS for the previously stated reason of affordable labour costs. Do I ever have a list! I am glad that I delayed getting a digital SLR. I have used Pentax/Chinon for 20+ years. All the Pentax digitals not only can use all the PK mount lenses ever made but they have adapters to use all the screw mount, 645, and (I believe) 670 medium format glass as well. My daughters tease me about eventually being dragged into the 20th century but as an additional tool I am getting a bit excited about going to a digital SLR for some things. As long as they produce the film & chemicals for 35mm then all my macro & most of my stereo (I use a Loreo/Argus besides a Kodak 35mm, a Personal View Master, and a 620 Kodak box) I will go that route. [You-all may want to take a look at the Loreo site. They have accessory stereo & pinhole lenses for a variety of SLRs and some may be compatable with your digitals. If you want to get past the 'flatness' of digital then pinhole may be a way.] Some of the digital people here are starting to use some type of metallic print paper to try to get some 'pop' in their images, particularly when printing above the 12"X18" size. In the camera club I attend there are still 5 of us using film. I will ask the 40>50 others what they do about any differences they may have noticed with film/digital. comparisons.

[The Vulcan]

CMA - your shots remind me of the old days and my MPP 5x4 monorail - needed to start at dawn to get a dusk shot!