Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2015/01/08

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Subject: [Leica] IMG: The Biggest Camera I Ever Used
From: richard at richardmanphoto.com (Richard Man)
Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2015 23:29:08 -0800
References: <D0D33EC7.2FB2C%mark@rabinergroup.com> <E23242A9-2CF8-4AE9-B053-E9E83068C9BE@mac.com> <41B5A644-2740-4860-A405-290E5F04CC02@gmail.com>

Wow Leo, if I ever get rich, I would so get a 20x24" Polaroid :-). There
are only two left right? I can be like Chuck Close!

On Thu, Jan 8, 2015 at 4:43 AM, Leowesson <leowesson at gmail.com> wrote:

> I did a shoot once with the 20x24 Polaroid.  It was one big ground glass!
> http://darkclothdiaries.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/20x24camera21.jpg
>
> Leo Wesson
> leowesson.com
>
> > On Jan 8, 2015, at 01:41, Mitch Zeissler <zeissler at mac.com> wrote:
> >
> > The largest camera I ever worked with was a NuArc horizontal process
> camera, with which we used pin-registered 8x10 or 11x14 Kodalith film.
> >
> > Closest thing I found on the interwebs were these photos:
> >
> http://www.publicsurplus.com/sms/docviewer/aucdoc/photo6.JPG?auc=955302&docid=7773693
> <
> http://www.publicsurplus.com/sms/docviewer/aucdoc/photo6.JPG?auc=955302&docid=7773693
> >
> >
> http://www.publicsurplus.com/sms/docviewer/aucdoc/photo5.JPG?auc=955302&docid=7773692
> <
> http://www.publicsurplus.com/sms/docviewer/aucdoc/photo5.JPG?auc=955302&docid=7773692
> >
> >
> http://www.publicsurplus.com/sms/docviewer/aucdoc/photo1.JPG?auc=955302&docid=7773704
> <
> http://www.publicsurplus.com/sms/docviewer/aucdoc/photo1.JPG?auc=955302&docid=7773704
> >
> >
> http://www.publicsurplus.com/sms/docviewer/aucdoc/photo2.JPG?auc=955302&docid=7773703
> <
> http://www.publicsurplus.com/sms/docviewer/aucdoc/photo2.JPG?auc=955302&docid=7773703
> >
> >
> > Compared to the camera in the photos, ours had a 12 foot range of
> horizontal travel and was all in one room, like this one:
> >
> http://www.osti.gov/home/sites/www.osti.gov.home/files/imported/60th/1970/p7hg_img_1/fullsize/1970s_darkroom_camera_fs.jpg
> <
> http://www.osti.gov/home/sites/www.osti.gov.home/files/imported/60th/1970/p7hg_img_1/fullsize/1970s_darkroom_camera_fs.jpg
> >
> >
> > It was a beast.  20"x24" rotating film board with vacuum back; 30"x40"
> rotating copy board; four 800 watt lights.  When we were putting together a
> multi-image presentation, we would shoot Kodalith negs for days on end --
> 300-400 8x10 sheets was pretty typical for a big show.  You had to use ear
> plugs because the vacuum system was so loud.
> >
> > Mitch Zeissler
> > ===
> >   Website: http://exploratorius.us/
> >
> >> On Jan 7, 2015, at 7:51 PM, Mark Rabiner <mark at rabinergroup.com> 
> >> wrote:
> >>
> >> Edward Weston had a 5x7 which he called his "mini".
> >> I've always loved the format and the print size.
> >> My portfolio now is 5x7.
> >> I wish they were contact prints.
> >>
> >>
> >>> On 1/7/15 1:10 AM, "Alan Magayne-Roshak" <amr3 at uwmalumni.com> wrote:
> >>>
> >>> Coincidentally with the discussion on formats, I came across the
> negatives
> >>> of me with the biggest camera I ever used.  In 1972 I was running a
> >>> darkroom in the student union when the Craft Centre director
> discovered we
> >>> had access to government surplus for the facility.  He and I went to
> the
> >>> surplus warehouse in Madison and with very little cost secured a
> Fairchild
> >>> F-56 aerial camera with 20" f/5.6 lens.  It came in a case with a
> vacuum
> >>> back for 9" wide roll film, but also a Grafmatic-type back for multiple
> >>> sheets of 5x7 film.   This is the back I used to take vistas around
> town,
> >>> since the lens was fixed focus at infinity.   The camera is most likely
> >>> still lurking in some basement corner in the union.
> >>>
> >>> I shot a box of 25 sheets, but only got around to processing about
> eight
> >>> (in a tray).   I've had the exposed film in a freezer since 1972  ;~)
> >>>
> >>> <
> >>>
> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Alan+Magayne-Roshak/Portraits/Self-Ports/1972
> >>> 0704_MR_Mine_30A.jpg.html
> >>> <
> >>>
> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Alan+Magayne-Roshak/Portraits/Self-Ports/1972
> >>> 0704_MR_Mine_33A.jpg.html
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> --
> >> Mark William Rabiner
> >> Photographer
> >> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/lugalrabs/
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> Leica Users Group.
> >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Leica Users Group.
> > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
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>



-- 
// richard <http://www.richardmanphoto.com>
// http://facebook.com/richardmanphoto
// https://www.facebook.com/Transformations.CosplayPortraits


In reply to: Message from mark at rabinergroup.com (Mark Rabiner) ([Leica] IMG: The Biggest Camera I Ever Used)
Message from zeissler at mac.com (Mitch Zeissler) ([Leica] IMG: The Biggest Camera I Ever Used)
Message from leowesson at gmail.com (Leowesson) ([Leica] IMG: The Biggest Camera I Ever Used)