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UER Forum > Private Boards Index > Medium and Large Format Photography > Sinar F1 (Viewed 11138 times)
yokes 


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Sinar F1
< on 1/5/2009 6:17 AM >
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This past weekend I was trespassing my way through various Detroit abandonments with the rented F1 4x5 camera. It was my first time shooting large format.

Before I left I loaded 20 sheets of Kodak VC 160 (my current favourite film) into holders, and found it surprisingly easy to do. I was definitely intimidated by this beforehand.

Using the F1 was a joy. Very simple and well laid out controls. My main problem was getting used to how dim the ground glass was in these dark buildings (when I was inside - exteriors were fine). Even with an f4.5 lens It was impossible to see much outside of the center of the glass, let alone see if the corners were in focus. Inside a beautiful abandoned church, one shot was 10 minutes long @ f22, to give you a sense of the light levels. Another building I just left the camera in the car because I knew it would be impossible for me to use it inside.

Problems: I ruined 3 frames before even taking photos. One: When I re-inserted the darkslide, it seemed to be getting stuck on something.. turns out the film had removed itself from the holder. Two other times, when removing a film holder, it caught the lip of a darkslide and lifted it up (the little locks had spun free). While taking photos, I ruined one by opening the shutter (whoops) and I think another might not have been in focus (it started to freezing rain and I rushed) - I hope it was close enough and the F22 caught it.

Overall I had a great time shooting with the camera. But I've decided to not buy one just yet. I'm going to spend the next year shooting medium format (I'm thinking about a Mamiya Rz67 system currently) and making sure I'm comfortable enough with being film only before I make the jump to large format. Plus, I need to give a lot more thought before buying a camera system with a viewfinder so dim that I might leave it in the car.

Dropping off the shots for developing today and will post the results when I scan them!



[last edit 1/5/2009 6:20 AM by yokes - edited 1 times]

"Great architecture has only two natural enemies: water and stupid men." - Richard Nickel
controleman 


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Re: Sinar F1
< Reply # 1 on 1/5/2009 9:40 AM >
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That's surely a nice camera but you could always invest on a cheaper one. For exemple, I got a Calumet for 75$ and 6 backs for 20$.

Just sayin'...




yokes 


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Re: Sinar F1
< Reply # 2 on 1/5/2009 1:06 PM >
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True.. but it doesn't get around the whole "can't focus worth a shit" aspect in dark places. How do you do it?
(I should add that this is to be my sole urbex camera. I sold all my digital gear)



[last edit 1/5/2009 1:07 PM by yokes - edited 1 times]

"Great architecture has only two natural enemies: water and stupid men." - Richard Nickel
controleman 


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Re: Sinar F1
< Reply # 3 on 1/5/2009 1:09 PM >
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yokes 


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Re: Sinar F1
< Reply # 4 on 1/5/2009 2:11 PM >
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I was thinking about a $10 Canadian tire million candlepower light myself.

Part of my decision is that while I want to take far fewer photos than I would with digital, I'm not sure I want to take as few as I would with LF! MF is, a happy medium for now.

Of course, this could all change when I see the negatives later today!




"Great architecture has only two natural enemies: water and stupid men." - Richard Nickel
micro 


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Re: Sinar F1
< Reply # 5 on 1/5/2009 2:51 PM >
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Yeah, I think you made the right choice. I've considered making the leap as well, but have always been turned off after hearing stories similar to your own involving low-light conditions.




controleman 


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Re: Sinar F1
< Reply # 6 on 1/5/2009 2:56 PM >
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Yeah, MF is quite enough I think..

The major drop down to me was the film price.. 100$us for 50 sheets of film + developping is kinda ridiculous!

But it still a very nice think to play with and wouldn't sell mine!




micro 


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Re: Sinar F1
< Reply # 7 on 1/5/2009 8:19 PM >
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I don't know how well they do in low-light, but if you want some movements and portability then, you might want to have a look at the Ebony 23S or Arca Swiss FC. They're both 6x9 MF cameras.




msb 


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Re: Sinar F1
< Reply # 8 on 1/6/2009 2:25 AM >
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Funny this thread popped up, I just did a similar thing.

As much as I would absolutely love an arca-swiss 6x9, it was just a bit too expensive for my liking. I have been watching them on ebay the past few months, and they all go for at least $2000. Tack a $800 wide angle to that, and a few accessories, and you are up to quite a bit of money.

I picked up a Chamonix 4x5 with universal bellows for a tad over $600 and and a Sironar-N 150mm for a few hundred more. The 150 is definitely not as wide as I would like, but it seems to be very sharp, and has ample coverage. The camera is awesome; it weighs 3lbs, seems to have all the movements I could possibly need for UE, and packs down to almost nothing. It is a hell of a lot easier to carry than a full monorail.

My biggest problem with LF is the sheet film; it is a pain to develop, and film holders get really heavy, fast. I seldom print, so the additional neg area is pretty marginal. I decided to buy 6x9 roll film back, and that seems to be an excellent trade off of convenience for data (and it is cheap). The only thing that sucks, is that 47mm, 55mm, 58mm LF lenses tend to be expensive, and have very restricted movements on 4x5.





yokes 


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Re: Sinar F1
< Reply # 9 on 1/6/2009 1:11 PM >
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I got my negatives back and Imacon scanned them (2040 dpi.. not full res, but good enough for now). Holy balls.





"Great architecture has only two natural enemies: water and stupid men." - Richard Nickel
mortimer 


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Re: Sinar F1
< Reply # 10 on 1/8/2009 4:25 AM >
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Yokes, did your digi garage sale net you enough money for Horseman or Linhof? Press cameras will give you the 4x5 film size with rangefinder focusing (even easier than slr focusing). The Linhof Tech 3s can be had for under a grand if you shop around and have some patience, and the lens quality is second to none. The ground glass is still there when you need it/want it, and coupled with a really good loupe and dark cloth you'll find the glass isn't quite so hard to see through. Anyways, 4x5 rangefinders = sex in my books. Food for thought (the rangefinder part, not the sex part).




yep.
yokes 


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Re: Sinar F1
< Reply # 11 on 1/8/2009 1:41 PM >
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Missed this post...

A number of people have recommended a Chamonix to me. Seems like a good body. Know anyone else selling them for that price?

Why is sheet film more of a pain to develop?


Posted by msb

I picked up a Chamonix 4x5 with universal bellows for a tad over $600 and and a Sironar-N 150mm for a few hundred more. The 150 is definitely not as wide as I would like, but it seems to be very sharp, and has ample coverage. The camera is awesome; it weighs 3lbs, seems to have all the movements I could possibly need for UE, and packs down to almost nothing. It is a hell of a lot easier to carry than a full monorail.

My biggest problem with LF is the sheet film; it is a pain to develop, and film holders get really heavy, fast. I seldom print, so the additional neg area is pretty marginal. I decided to buy 6x9 roll film back, and that seems to be an excellent trade off of convenience for data (and it is cheap). The only thing that sucks, is that 47mm, 55mm, 58mm LF lenses tend to be expensive, and have very restricted movements on 4x5.







[last edit 1/8/2009 2:05 PM by yokes - edited 1 times]

"Great architecture has only two natural enemies: water and stupid men." - Richard Nickel
yokes 


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Re: Sinar F1
< Reply # 12 on 1/8/2009 1:45 PM >
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Posted by mortimer
Yokes, did your digi garage sale net you enough money for Horseman or Linhof? Press cameras will give you the 4x5 film size with rangefinder focusing (even easier than slr focusing). The Linhof Tech 3s can be had for under a grand if you shop around and have some patience, and the lens quality is second to none. The ground glass is still there when you need it/want it, and coupled with a really good loupe and dark cloth you'll find the glass isn't quite so hard to see through. Anyways, 4x5 rangefinders = sex in my books. Food for thought (the rangefinder part, not the sex part).


I've got somewhere around $1000-$1100CDN to play with. Unfortunately, it won't get me the lens I want (which is around $1600), but I could put together a decent monorail system (not as ideal as a field camera for portability). I'd be fine with a press camera, but they are typically limited on the wider angle. Also, I don't think Vistek has lens boards for them for their LF lens rental stock (which I'm basing a camera brand purchase around). I think they stock boards for monorails by Horseman, Linhof, Toyo, Cambo/Calumet and Sinar, and Toyo field cameras.




"Great architecture has only two natural enemies: water and stupid men." - Richard Nickel
mortimer 


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Re: Sinar F1
< Reply # 13 on 1/8/2009 3:14 PM >
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I would never suggest getting a Graflex press camera, if that's what you were thinking of - they have all the inconveniences of 4x5 with very few of the benefits. The Linhofs are not really press cameras, just press camera style. With version IV and newer, you can go as wide as a 75mm with no real issues other than dropping the bed. Of course, for a IV and a 75mm, your budget would be blown and then some, so just keep them in mind for future if you keep shooting large format - the benefits of a field camera with a rangefinder can't really be oversold (and if I had the $, I'd be shooting one myself). Next time you're out in Etobicoke, International Camera usually has a few bargain-ish wide angles and sometimes have Linhof bodies as well.

Re: sheet film being more of a pain to develop: mostly if you're developing your own. If you're not, it's not more of a pain, just really expensive.

msb, are those Chamonix cameras much different from a Shen Hao?




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Re: Sinar F1
< Reply # 14 on 1/8/2009 7:47 PM >
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Up until mortimers arrival I was kind of able to follow the conversation.




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micro 


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Re: Sinar F1
< Reply # 15 on 1/9/2009 1:52 AM >
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I'm always afraid of rangefinder cameras because I fear parallax.

I've nothing more to add other than to say that International Camera is a great place. The old guy who works there is pretty nice and has always been more than willing to take the time to answer all my dumb questions.




yokes 


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Re: Sinar F1
< Reply # 16 on 1/9/2009 1:57 AM >
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I didn't know about them. Thanks for the tip!




"Great architecture has only two natural enemies: water and stupid men." - Richard Nickel
yokes 


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Re: Sinar F1
< Reply # 17 on 1/9/2009 7:01 PM >
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stopped in the shop today. Thanks so much for the recomendation. He has a nice selection of gear and answered all of my dumb questions.




"Great architecture has only two natural enemies: water and stupid men." - Richard Nickel
argonian 


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Re: Sinar F1
< Reply # 18 on 1/9/2009 7:02 PM >
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I should stop reading your threads. You are really making me want to try out large format.




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yokes 


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Re: Sinar F1
< Reply # 19 on 1/9/2009 8:43 PM >
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You will be assimilated




"Great architecture has only two natural enemies: water and stupid men." - Richard Nickel
UER Forum > Private Boards Index > Medium and Large Format Photography > Sinar F1 (Viewed 11138 times)
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