Tag: camera

How to modify a Polaroid SX-70 for 600 film

Nicolai Grossman 1 Comment

Adrian Hanft (of Lego pinhole camera fame) wrote a nice, step-by-step tutorial on converting a Polaroid SX-70 camera—whose Time Zero film has been discontinued—to take the still-available 600 film. He writes:

Polaroid 600 film actually fits in an SX-70 camera pretty easily. The problem with using 600 film in the SX-70 is that it is four times more sensitive than SX-70 film. Without modification, all your photos taken with 600 film would be overexposed. To correct this problem, we are going to adjust the camera by two stops. We will use a one stop neutral density filter to cover the lens, and we will remove the neutral density filter that covers the photocell. If you are wondering why we are adjusting by two stops when the film is four times faster, here is a quick math lesson. One stop is equivalent to doubling (or halving depending on which direction you are going) the amount of light. So, 2×2=4. Alright, lets get started.

Read tutorial at Found Photography

Zeiss Ikon SW superwide 35mm viewfinder camera

Nicolai Grossman 3 Comments

Carl Zeiss AG Press Release:

Oberkochen, August 15, 2006. The Zeiss Ikon SW is the 35mm precision camera for uncompromising superwide photographers. Its lens mount takes any lens with M bayonet, in particular the ZEISS high performance superwide-angle lenses Distagon T* 2,8/15mm ZM and the Biogon T* types from the ZEISS ZM range. An accessory shoe directly above the lens takes the corresponding superwide Viewfinder. A second shoe is built in to take a flash, a bubble level or other accessory. The electronically controlled metal focal plane shutter offers speeds ranging from 1/2000 sec. – 8 sec. in automatic mode (AE-lock is available) and 1/2000 – 1 sec. + B in manual mode. Fastest flash synchro speed is 1/125 sec.

The Zeiss Ikon SW offers the same extremely high image quality as the known Zeiss Ikon rangefinder camera: far above today’s digital cameras. It is fully integrated into the Zeiss Ikon system. The Zeiss Ikon SW comes without the complex rangefinder and is therefore considerably more affordable than the rangefinder camera.

The Zeiss Ikon SW will be available as of October 2006. List price is 799,00 € (without VAT)

Technical Data

Camera type: 35mm camera with focal plane shutter and TTL light metering.

Film format: 24 x 36mm on 35mm film

Lenses: Intended to be used with short focal length types of the Carl Zeiss T* ZM-mount lens family in combination with an external viewfinder. Other M-mount lenses, including M39 screw mount lenses with an M – mount adapter can be used.

Exposure metering: TTL center-weighted metering at working aperture.

Metering range at ISO 100 and f/2: EV0-EV19 (f/2-4 sec., f/16-1/2000 sec.)

Film speed range: ISO 25-3200 manually set in 1/3 f-stop increments.

Exposure modes: AE with aperture priority or manual; AE lock option for a single exposure or for a sequence of exposures; exposure compensation +/-2 f-stops in 1/3 stops set at shutter speed dial.

LED display: Combination of 3 LED indicates shutter speed setting situation.
Shutter and shutter speed: Vertical-travel metal focal-plane shutter with electronically controlled speeds accurate to 1/12 f-stop.

Range in Automatic mode: 8 sec. to 1/2000 sec.

Range in Manual mode: 1 sec. to 1/2000 sec. in 1-stop increments; B.

Flash synch: Synchronization at 1/125 sec. and longer shutter speeds

Film transport: Rapid-wind manual advance lever, with ratcheted partial advance

Camera body: One-piece aluminum base structure, external magnesium covers, tripod thread 1/4 inch in base, two accessory shoes for external viewfinder and flash

Batteries: One CR 1/3 Lithium or two 1.5 V cells type LR44 or SR44

Dimensions: 138mm W x 72.5mm H x 32mm D (5.4” W x 2.9” H x 1.3” D).

Weight: 395g (13.9 oz.)

Carl Zeiss is a leading international group of companies operating worldwide in the optical and opto-electronic industry. Carl Zeiss AG is headquartered in Oberkochen, Germany. The business groups, which each operate with sole responsibility, are generally ranked first or second in the strategic markets of biosciences and medical technology, system solutions for industry and optical consumer goods. They offer products and services for biomedical research and medical technology, system solutions for the semiconductor, automotive and mechanical engineering industries, as well as high-quality consumer goods such as camera lenses and binoculars. In fiscal year 2004/05 (ended 30 September) the Carl Zeiss Group generated sales totaling EUR 2,222 million. Carl Zeiss has 11,500 members of staff, including 3,300 outside Germany. The Carl Zeiss Group is directly represented in more than 30 countries and operates production facilities in Europe, America and Asia.

The eyeglass business now operates as Carl Zeiss Vision International GmbH and is the number two eyeglass provider in the world. This company is owned 50:50 by Carl Zeiss AG and a private equity company.

Via PhotographyBLOG

Wavycam pinhole camera by Steven Taft

Nicolai Grossman Leave a comment

Homemade Wavycam pinhole camera by Steven Taft (photo used with permission)

Photographer and camera hacker extraordinaire Steven Taft built this wavy film plane camera. He writes:

…the latest is a "planomorphic" box with shower door rollers to guide the film along several wavy paths. I ran 2 rolls through it yesterday, and discovered a few light leaks and an exposure issue I had worried about. When the film is loaded along a path with deep bends, the single pinhole leaves dark bands down the middle of the image. One solution i had considered before the tests was to go with a multi-aperture system, but i would like to solve it as a single first. I designed this to make the rollers relatively simple to move, so i think i will try placing the film path in more of a convex arc, with the canisters towards the front of the box.

…

…it was never a very reliable/easy camera to use (hard to load, light leaks, film might jump the tracks). New version needed.

Even though the design needs some tweaking, this is a great idea!

See the results and more photos of the camera itself in this thread at f295.

New large format P&S cameras

Nicolai Grossman Leave a comment

Oren Grad writes at The Online Photographer:

Check out the re-launched, much improved website of Fotoman Camera. This Hong Kong-based company is known for its well-made, (relatively) inexpensive, interchangeable lens, scale focusing, roll film panorama cameras in 6×12, 6×17 and 6×24 formats. A long-awaited second lineup of large format point-and-shoot cameras has now finally become available, including an ultralight 4×5, an 8×10 and—surprise!—a 4×10 panoramic P&S. Helical focus mounts, viewfinders, a comprehensive selection of regular and panoramic viewfinder masks and a dual-axis bubble level are now offered separately as well for users who would like to mix-and-match with their own equipment.

They actually are relatively reasonably priced. I’m not quite sure when $699 US because "reasonable" for a metal spacer with lens and film holder mounts, but it is compared to what else is out there (typically $1500 and up(!)). By Grapthar’s hammer… what a savings.

Check them out at Fotoman Camera

Horseman SW-D Pro super wide angle camera

Nicolai Grossman 4 Comments

Direct Source Marketing (DSM) Press Release:

CONCORD, CA, June 22, 2006 – A joint venture between Rolleiflex and Horseman today announced one of the widest angle cameras on the market, Horseman SW-D Pro, which accepts digital camera backs to give professional and high-end consumer photographers wide angle opportunities that weren’t available in the past for medium format digital photography. Some of the possibilities not generally accessible for medium format digital photography in the past include super wide angle lenses and bellows-like movements.

Super Wide Angle Lens

Super wide angle lenses were not commonly usable with digital camera backs in the past, because of physical limitations of the camera body. But now, with the Horseman’s new design, you can use a 24mm lens unit with any digital back equipped with a Hasselblad V® mount.

The 24mm lens unit in combination with a 38 x 48mm image sensor provides the same angle of view as a 17mm lens with the 35mm format. This super wide angle is especially useful in interior architecture and landscape photography, but there are many other applications.

The Horseman SW-D Pro lens units come quipped with German Schneider and Rodenstock digital lenses. The shortest focal length, the Schneider Apo-Digitar XL24, is one of four available lens units that include Rodenstock Apo-Sironar digital lenses of 35, 45 and 55mm focal lengths. Horseman SW series (originally for film cameras) lenses can also be used.

All of the available lenses are optimized for digital demands, which mean a smaller image circle with high optical resolution and contrast. This is important because for digital photography, lenses are designed to provide optimum MTF at relatively wide apertures since resolution of the digital image drops visibly at stopped-down apertures (f-stops).

Control of Movement

The Horseman SW-D Pro gives you the freedom of bellows-like movements and adjustments for work that benefits from rise, fall or image plane shift… Maximum rise and fall are 17mm in either direction or (with a 24mm lens unit), 10mm. Sideward shift of the image plane is possible by 15mm in either left or right direction. By combining shift with several exposures, images can be "stitched", resulting in maximum image sizes of up to 48 x 66mm or 36 x 78mm (depending on image sensor orientation). For professionals, being able to manipulate camera movement can make all the difference in sharpness and photo quality.

Franke & Heidecke, manufacturer of the Rollei medium format camera in Germany, and Komamura (Horseman), a leading manufacturer of medium and large format cameras in Japan, announced in February their joint venture to distribute their medium and large format professional cameras in the U.S. through Komamura and doing business as Direct Source Marketing. DSM was created as a result of the joint venture between Komamura Corporation, a long time distributor of Rollei and Horseman products in Japan, and Franke & Heidecke, the Germany-based manufacturer of Rollei products.

The Horseman SW-D Pro is currently available from leading high-end retailers. For more information, go to www.dsmww.com

Suggested retail for the camera is $2,799. Lens pricing is $3,899 for the 24mm lens with APO-DIGITAR 24/5.6; $2,499 for the 35mm lens with the APO-SIRONAR-DIGITAL 35/4.5; $2,599.for the 45mm lens with the APO-SIRONAR-DIGITAL 45/4.5; and $2,599 for the 55MM lens with the APO-SIRONAR-DIGITAL 55/4.5.

Via PhotographyBLOG