Digital BW, The Print

On 5/30/02 9:04 AM, "Austin Franklin" <darkroom@...> wrote:

> Hi Robert,
> 
>> These are really good points...unfortunately...my family is all over the
>> world and photos are now seen as jpegs on web pages and attached to
>> email...so I have to deal with the digital overhead.
> 
> I completely understand!
> 
>> I think I'm about to buy a medium format and give that another
>> try...in the
>> past I haven't liked the inconvience of MF...but I've got several
>> recommendations for the Mamiya 7II given my shooting preferences (handheld
>> available light and mobile)...I'm going to rent one for a week
>> long shoot in
>> a couple of weeks.  Just got a 7000 to do BW work and would like
>> to be able
>> to exploit the extra real estate.
> 
> Two things made film great for me...one, a Jobo, and two, a Jobo ;-)  Once I
> got my times down, it's literally put in the film and press the button...oh,
> and I do have to load the chemicals before I press the button...
> 
> My BIGGEST issue with most MF is most don't have fast lenses, and most don't
> focus close at all.  I shoot MF (and 35mm) mostly wide open, and end up
> quite close in some circumstances, and mostly use B&W films with MF (Tri-X
> and Plus-X/Delta 100).  It's also why I don't like zooms...they are too slow
> for most of my work, and don't focus close enough (except with the Contax
> AX...as it has a built-in 10mm extension).  You may find the same thing, if
> you shoot in low light...  Hasselblad 20x(x) series can take a 110/2, and a
> 50/2.8...and they are the two fastest MF lenses around, and they are VERY
> close focus.  There are a couple of other fast MF lenses...the 80/2.0 for
> the Rollei 600x as well as one is available for the Contax 645 (but I don't
> like the 645 format at all).  The 200x series Hasselblads and lenses are a
> steal these days, IMO.  A camera I recently bought was a Plaubel Makina
> 670...which has an 80/2.8...and is the fastest folder I could find, and the
> lense is supposedly superb (it's a Nikor).  I have not developed any film
> from it though...yet.  For size, weight and great results Rollei TLRs are
> really spectacular too...but not close enough focusing for me...don't know
> how the Plaubel is at that yet.  I may be disappointed.
> 
Thanks,  the best the Mamiya does is F4...which is really slow for a guy who
is used to shooting f1.4 and 1.8 nikon glass.  Close focusing isn't a big
deal for me...but light is.  My main problem with the MF SLR's was mirror
shake.  I tried using mirror lock up...but that totally ruined my shooting
dynamics...much of which involves models, dancers and actors in motion.
That's why I'm thinking about the Mamiya 7II rangefinder...to get rid of the
mirror...and try to decrease the bulk of the camera body...make it feel more
pro 35mm body-like.  I also like to fool around with landscape and
architecture...where light is less important...but lightness is important.
I also don't shoot zoom lenses...I have about 10 primes for my nikon
rig...but could imagine doing with a 60-65mm MF lens.

Robert