Digital BW, The Print

Dick,

There is one pitfall in moving up to medium format. You may not be going far enough. I bought my Pentax 67 and a Beseler 23 enlarger figuring that I would never, ever need a larger negative. Within 6 months I bought a 4x5 view camera and had to ditch the Beseler 23 for a 4x5 model.

The Pentax 67 was a good move though and it still gets a lot of use. At the time you could get a body, prism and 3-lenses new for about $1,800.

My point is that you may want to sample view camera life as well as medium format. For 6,000 UKP you should be able to do both is if you buy used and shop around. If you do go with a view camera, I would recommend 5x7 at this point as it will give you an advantage over 4x5 at the scanning stage.

Maybe a 6x4.5 for the portrait work and a 5x7 for the landscapes? Something to thing about.

Martin Wesley
http://www.borderless-photos.de/guests.html

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: dickbo 
  To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Thursday, April 25, 2002 8:31 AM
  Subject: [Digital BW] My wife does not understand me


  I am at last prepared to admit the larger film format offers a route
  directly into superior quality, and as a result I will shortly have to
  consider ways to raise the necessary funding.

  As an old age pensioner I can hardly be expected to pay for the beastly
  product out of official earnings, can I now?

  I will therefore have to seriously consider getting paid employment (God
  forbid that I actually do some work- well at my age it's just too terrible
  for words).

  I have set myself a target figure of UKP 6,000 big ones to be used for the
  purchase of a medium format camera, two or three lenses and the appropiate
  film scanner (by that time my last bit of personal capital will have been
  swallowed up in obtaining an 1160 and a Cone magic wand driver device).

  What I would appreciate from the that collection of great satanists who
  inhabit this here news group, is some suggestions as to the best currently
  available within the mid format range.

  Do not bother about the scanning side as I have had more to do with that
  product type than anyone here has had in hot dinners.

  I laready own a set of professional size Cokin's and a jolly little spot
  meter.
  My understanding of the technical application of the Zone System is complete
  so now all I need is the bread.

  Any suggestions most gratefully considered, even from the Rev Franklin, St
  Erlich? - well now that's a different matter entirely.





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