RE: [Leica] Re: 35,MF,LF

["Lee, Jonathan" <Jonathan.Lee@hrcc.on.ca>]

Jonathan,

I got a Crown with 127 Ektar for $250 usd. It is a very good intro camera
for 4x5 work because it is very light and for a 4x5 relatively portable.
The Crown rangefinder and finder (I have the Kaltar) are fun to use as well.
As far as I know, Crown rangefinders cannot be cammed for individual lenses
so you are stuck with either the 127 or 135 that came with them. 

I agree with Mark that the 127 is not a stellar performer, but you get what
you pay for. 

I woudl check out Stephen Gandy's Cameraquest site and also www.graflex.org
for Graphic info.

Jonathan Lee
- -----Original Message-----
From: Jonathan Borden [mailto:jborden@mediaone.net]
Sent: Tuesday, November 09, 1999 5:35 PM
To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
Subject: Re: [Leica] Re: 35,MF,LF


Mark Rabiner wrote:
> Jonathan Borden wrote:
> ><Snip>
> >     Ok Mark, you are getting me started ... I've decided to start with a
> > Crown Graphic 4x5 (the darkroom I use is equiped for 4x5
enlargements)... I
> > expect to get into this for a few hundred bucks...
>
> Thanks but what lens? My 127 Ektar on my speed graphic is 5 leagues down
from my
> 210 Fujinon on my Cambo.

    There is a Linhof Kardan Color sans lens for $460 which is available ...
but I assume that any lens can be attached to a Crown Graphic as well. So
assuming a Crown Graphic is say $200-250? What would be the advantage of a
'higher end' 4x5 like the Cambo or Linhof except more movements? Which is a
better deal for a 4x5 neophyte?

> If I had a decent lens for that
> speed graphic I would take it out and shoot with it. It looks great on the
> shelf. A black leather box. Makes me feel like a real photographer when I
look
> in my camera closet!

    Can't you fit the 210 Fujinon to the Speed Graphic, isn't is a matter of
mounting it on a lens board??

> Any of my smaller format cameras resolve better then the 127 Ektar on my
speed
> graphic. But the 210 Fujinon for 4x5 is my high end but I almost never
feel I
> need it. I shamefully use it once a year.

    This is the whole point isn't it! You can't take great pictures unless
you shoot film, grain be damned.

Jonathan Borden