All posts tagged Large Format

Looking for 8X10 T-Max Film?

KB Canham is very close to a special order of 8X10 T-Max film in 10 sheet boxes. Pricing should be close to $75 per box, depending on the amount ordered. Shipping is not included in that price.

If you need film in the near future and are interested in placing an order, please do it right away. Once this order is sent to Kodak, another co-op list will need to be filled before the next order can be placed.

Here’s a link to find out more about placing an order for Kodak large format film.

The embedded video below is from the Kodak booth at Photokina last summer with Keith discussing his large and ultra large format film orders.

 

The Wet Plate Process

I’ve recently noticed many photographers investigating vintage collodion or wet plate processes. The 19th century invention of Frederick Scott Archer, wet plate glass negatives, have a look all their own. Many contemporary artists are working within the wet plate process to make some extraordinary “vintage” images in our modern time.

Collodion is a process which involves dissolving nitro cellulose, also known as ‘guncotton’, in ether.  This solution is then poured onto a well cleaned glass plate and spread around the glass by tilting back and forth until the glass plate is evenly coated.  It’s then dipped into silver nitrate and loaded into a film/plate holder while still wet.

With the camera having been already focused and readied to shoot, the holder is inserted into the camera and exposed.  This process had to be accomplished quickly, as drying out ruins the coated plate. It is then processed as a normal negative would be for an excellent result.

Because of the volatility of ether, many photographers died - in fact on average, 1 photographer died per week in the 19th century due to some facet of the wet plate process.  Another cause of death was the use of liquid silver nitrate, which left your hands blackened.  The ‘quick’ remedy to remove the black stain was to rub your hands with a cyanide crystal, potentially fatal if you had a scratch on a finger or hang nail.

The wet collodion process held sway from the late 1850’s until the 1880’s when dry plates became readily available.

Watch this excellent video filming Luther Gerlach working on location with wet plates.

Amelie and Alchemy from Konstantin Brazhnik on Vimeo.

An antiquarian man. A contemporary daughter. For 15 seconds two worlds collide and from the black arts emerges poetry.

Another video worth watching – Rob Kendrick Tintypes
Robb Kendrick – The Tintype Process

More good stuff here – Sally Mann discussing a wet plate project. Video from the NPR website:
Sally Mann, From Lens to Photo

For more information about the collodion process and other alternative processes, visit these sites:

http://www.capworkshops.org/

http://www.alternativephotography.com/wp/

Enjoy!

 

 

 

Kodak Large & Ultra Large Format Special Order Film

Kodak™ Sheet Film

K. B. Canham Cameras, Inc. has announced that they have an agreement on pricing and minimum quantities needed for a range of special order Kodak™ films 5X7, 8X10, 11X14, 7X17, 14X17, 8X20, 12X20, 16X20, and full plate 6.5X8.5.

Film orders will require 100% pre-payment (shipping not included). Once pre-payment is received you will be placed on a list along with everyone else that has ordered the same size and emulsion of Kodak™ film (this will be referred to as a Co-Op). Once enough orders are placed to reach the minimum number of boxes needed, K.B. Canham, Inc. will contact Kodak™ and should receive the film in 6 weeks or less. Once a Co-Op is started, a deadline date will be posted for that group.

You can purchase this Kodak™ film from a dealer or directly from K. B. Canham Cameras, Inc. If you have questions regarding Kodak™ sheet film you can contact a dealer, or direct via phone or mail to K.B. Canham, or you can use this online inquiry (question) form. To find out what is currently started pre-purchases please check the status page. To place a pre-order for a film please fill out this form and send it along with your payment.

Here is a “How to order film” page for help on ordering film.

Each box contains 25 sheets unless otherwise stated. All prices are in US dollars. Once an order has been placed with Kodak™ for a film size your money is not refundable. Prices do not include shipping from K. B. Canham Cameras, Inc. to the purchaser. Shipping cost will not be collected at pre-payment, but charged later when the film has been received and an exact shipping amount can be determined. If you are interested in any Kodak™ emulsions or sheet film sizes not listed please contact them.

K. B. Canham Cameras, Inc. is only supplying sheet film from Kodak™. They will not be supplying any other types of film.

http://www.canhamcameras.com/kodakfilm.html

Galerie-Photo interview with Arca-Swiss

The French website Galerie-Photo has an interview with Mr. Vogt of Arca-Swiss, concerning the Arca RM3d and RL3d camera design. Some excellent product photographs have been taken and are shown alongside the interview with Mr. Vogt. I have linked to the Google (French to English) translation page here: Galerie-Photo

The translation is a little rough, but worth the read.

Arca-Swiss RL3d

 

Arca-Swiss RL3d Technical Camera

 

This state-of-the-art professional viewfinder camera comes equipped with new functions for making great high-resolution images both digitally and on film. Following the success of the Rm3d, Arca-Swiss has introduced the RL3d, a universal camera with increased shift, enabling you to take images in multiple formats up to 4×5 in.

Despite its solid build quality, the RL3d remains light and compact and ideal for location photography. The Arca-Swiss R-Line has five exceptional functions to improve efficiency and ergonomics and help you capture all sorts of images:

  • All In Plane vertical and horizontal shift
  • An integrated ± 5° horizontal or vertical tilt function to provide optimum sharpness where required (Scheimpflug effect)
  • Focus distance can be measured and displayed electronically
  • Camera level can be found electronically or using conventional spirit levels
  • The camera comes equipped with focus sensors; framing is achieved using the new variable Vario viewfinder which covers focal lengths from 23 – 210mm.
  • Lenses are fitted onto the ARCA-SWISS R via an exclusive bayonet mount. By equipping lenses with a bayonet mount and by opting to link the optical system to the helical focus mount, they can be used both on the RL3d and Rm3D, as well as a bellows camera.

Versatile
Photographers using the RL3d will be able to take pictures on film or digitally in a multitude of formats up to 4x5in. Thanks to Arca-Swiss’ wide selection of interface plates it is possible to take anything from medium format images through to panoramas. The extraordinary versatility of the modular Arca-Swiss photographic system enables you to use elements from the F- and M-Line cameras as well as a binocular viewer, lens hoods, bellows and other accessories to significantly enhance the functionality of the Arca-Swiss R-Line.

The optional electronic module extends its versatility even farther as it electronically calculates and displays data relating to level, distance from the subject and focused distance, as well as depth of field.

The quality of the image is determined by the choice of digital or film back, and by the type of film or format selected. It is easy to use as a hand-held camera and enables you to do away with a tripod, particularly in tricky situations such as construction sites, working on scaffolding or even on ladders.

RL3d technical specifications

Horizontal Shift 40 mm (20/20)
Vertical Shift 50 mm (10/40)
Tilt (horizontal or vertical) ± 5°
Weight (body only) 1500g
List Price Eur. 4650.-excl VAT

(body, international back with ground glass and Fresnel lens)

Why stop there!
The ability to shift the lens has eliminated perspective distortion and the tilt or swing movement has extended the depth of field. The integrated bubble levels make it easy to keep the camera level, ensuring images are perfectly straight and accurately reflect reality. The shape and position of the hand grips make it easy to switch between landscape and portrait without having to change the position of the viewfinder or back.

Lenses are mounted using the exclusive Arca-Swiss R bayonet system attached to a helical focus mount. Its large diameter does not restrict the choice of lenses. The micro-precision helical focus mount, which has precise control using 1/100mm increments, is part of the R-line body guaranteeing extreme precision. The very bright multi-focal zoom viewfinder eliminates stray light and informs the photographer what movements are required. It also offers tips: points of light appear in the viewfinder generated by the format mask to indicate the amount of shift required. Each point of light equates to 5 mm of shift. The viewfinder bracket is identical to the tripod bracket, enabling the photographer to turn the camera over and thus achieve the maximum amount of shift both upward and downward.

All cameras come equipped with focus sensors. The electronic functions are provided by a separate optional electronic module that provides a wealth of information! It uses a ultrasonic device to measure the distance between the camera and the subject and also provides information on the distance on the focus ramp, the depth of field covering four F-stops and the camera level in any position.

The Arca-SwissR-Line cameras come with two built-in tripod mounts for regular or up-side-down configuration, but can be also slid onto a monorail to attach a bellows for the use of longer focal lengths. The R-Line extension kit provides a variable extension for use on long focal lengths or for still lifes.

The unique Arca-Swiss Rotaslide sliding back enables you to switch quickly between ground glass and digital back. This sliding back also enables you to rotate the digital back from landscape to portrait without having to remove it.

A wide selection of film and digital backs can be fitted to the Arca-Swiss RL3d. A high-quality camera for high precision, high quality work!

shift in X 40mm /20/20

shift in Y 50mm /10/40

tilt 10°

body weight 1450gr