Stuck in a Rut

Re: Stuck in a Rut

Ron in Drums PA

>I have a 4x5 speed graphic, oldie but goodie.

I'd like the link please.

Re: Stuck in a Rut

John K Jordan

>>So what have you done when you have gotten

>into a woodworking rut?

Get yourself a farm and there is no time to even think of a rut! With building the chicken house, feeding the goats, equipment repair, putting up hay, fixing the barn roof, working the kitchen garden, fencing, ...

I understand the attraction of large format photography. After 30+ years I just got rid of the darkroom but kept the 4x5 Crown Grafic. That camera has bellows but was intended I think as a news camera with rangefinder as well as ground glass focusing - the rangefinder is unique in that it can project a spot for focusing "in the dark" for flash news photography. It has limited viewcamera adjustment at the lens board but none at the back. I used to carry around the tripod and black focusing cloth and came back with some amazingly crisp negatives even with ole' grainy Tri-x. Quite a contrast to a digital SLR!

JKJ in East TN

Re: John K, check your e-mail.

Gary Evans, Tallassee, TN

>I sent you a message on your regular address.

Glad to see you back in town.

Gary

Re: Stuck in a Rut

Stuart Johnson

>Spent 3 years in the Army using a Speedgraphic. Even turned it into a quick on the spot enlarger at one point. Made more money than the Army ever thought of paying me taking wedding and when a model school paid me to take photos of the girls to give them experiance in front of a camera and lights I thought I had died and gone to heaven. Of course I only agreed because of the artistic experiance I would gain. All in all a rather fun time.

Speed Graphic

Ron in Drums PA

>Sounds like what my father did in the army and afterwards with weddings

Great camera, I used it allot in B&W photography. I was a Ansel Adams wannabe.

Check Your Email Ron

Jim Shaver Oakville, Ont.

>

Re: Stuck in a Rut

Keith Tompkins

>HI Jim, when I get into a woodworking rut, I try something new as a source of inspiration. Maybe a concert or museum visit will give me new ideas. I enjoy viewing the work of other craft artists in various fields also.

I also keep a notebook of sketches, when I get an idea for a project, I'll make a sketch. Luckily my book is pretty full, my problem is finding the time to make any of the pieces I've sketched.

When I do hit a lull, I'll go through the book and decide which project to start next. That way, I don't seem to get into too many ruts.

I'm not much of a photographer....

Re: Stuck in a Rut

MikeinCapeMay

>It happens to me too. I have a 1962 Boston Whaler Nauset that I'm restoring. This boat has a fiberglass hull but a mahogany center console and seat of the same specie. The console had numerous coats of paint and varnish which I stripped and sanded. AFter that I applied 15 coats of Petit Flagship varnish. The seat was shot so I'm building a new RPS (Reversible Pilot Seat) also of mahogany. The trailer, a 1978 Cox, I rebuilt, hubs, races, bearins, keel rollers, etc. The engine is a 1985 90 hp Evinrude, it just needed paint, which I've done. Anyway, that's what I do when in a rut.....work on the boat. A lot of it is woodwork but it's not turning. It's been about 6 weeks and I'm ready to get back on the Vicmarc. The boat is within 4 weeks of seeing water.

Re: Stuck in a Rut

JamieDonaldson

>Jim- it just so happens that I have some 4x5 equipment that needs a new home since I retired my photo business almost 2 yrs. ago. Also have several 6x7 & 6x9 cm. cameras to sell with a variety of accessories. And I was a workshop assistant to Ansel a long time ago! I would be interested in the large format site in order to list these items for sale at a good price.

Yashica mat 124

Dominic Greco at home in Richboro, PA

>Jim,

Last summer, my big brother Joe gave me a Yashica Mat124. He sent me the user's manual not long ago, but I have yet to play with it. How hard are they to use?

He also gave me an OLD Kodak bellows style camera that was my Uncle's. I remember looking at it sit on the shelf in our bedroom closet back when we all lived at home. It is in pretty decent shape and has the words "No1 Premo Film" and the date "July 8, 1913" stamped onto the inside of the film cover. Know anything about it?

See ya around,

Dominic

Re: Yashica mat 124

Fred in NC

>That bellows camera probably takes postcard sized film !!

I still have a Yashicamat... 120 film.

Re: Yashica mat 124

John Lucas

>Dominic

I had the early version of the Yashica 124. It a was a Yashica C. Fun cameras to play. I sold that one and bought a Mamiya 22 then a Mamiya 220. After that I went 4x5 and 8x10. Now I only own a digital rebel. Print quality sucks when your used to large format cameras.

Re: Yashica mat 124

Barry Turner

>I had a Yashica 124G Mat a few years ago. I liked the camera. Actually, it's pretty easy to use, once you get used to a few things. It has no built-in light meter and the image is flipped left-to-right in the view finder.

Re: Yashica mat 124

John Lucas

>Dom

I just found out that B@H photo now offers film in out of production sizes including 616,127 and other odd sizes. Maybe you can find one to fit your Kodak.

Re: Stuck in a Rut

Jim Pugh, Ohio

>I would like the large format link please. Mine has been gathering dust for quite a while now and the darkroom us being used for storage.

4x4 and a tow rope?

Jennifer@Indy.USA

>Hi Jim, sorry about your rut. I hate when that happens to me. Be happy that you have the photography to get your mind off your WW woes. I find those old bellows cameras very fascinating, but would be hard pressed to create a picture of any quality having to frame it upside down.

I have a 4X4 truck and a tow rope if you need help getting out of your rut :)

Not to worry...you'll be making sawdust real soon!

Jen

Re: Yashica mat 124

Dave MacLuskie

>My favorite camera has been a YashicaMat D that I picked up off ebay for next to nothing. It's lessy fancy than the 124s (no auto film advance) but the quality is great. 120 film is still easy to find.

I've gotta Mamyia C330 as well. Didn't realize there were so many photo lovers on the forum :)

Re: Yashica mat 124

Sam Dean

>It's starting to seem like they're running hand in hand! I've got a thing for the old Agfa folding camera's. I started collecting and rebuilding them years ago. They take some spectacular photo's on 120 at 6x6 and 6x9.

Sam

Re: Yashica mat 124

Robert Simmons

>I used to have a Yashica mat 124g, much cheaper than a Rolliflex at the time. The real challenge with the left-right reversal was shooting action (like football) when you might have to get out of the way quickly. I worked with 4X5 and 5X7 cameras for a long time, now I use a Sony digital for non-work related photography.

Those old Kodak Autographics are a hoot - I have a couple of them stashed away. I didn't know that the film was available again anywhere - I'll have to check that out.

Robert

Re: 4x4 and a tow rope?

JamieDonaldson

>As I recall the old Kodak used 620 film and some could be modified to spool contemporary 120. The Yashica is a Rolleicord/Rolleiflex knockoff- some had good Yashinon(Tessar formula)lenses, and the others were 3 element formulas that weren't too good edge to edge. Anyone interested in a real Rolleiflex- I only have 5 left from my business collection, including a ton of repair parts! I custom modified mine to 645 format, and had to salvage many parts.

Re: Yashica mat 124

Jerry Whitaker

>Sadly, real photography has pretty much gone out the window. I have gone digital and am sitting on about 10 Nikons with tons of lenses, motor drives and accessories, two 4x5 graphlex camera, a 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 graphlex, a Mamiya 645 (120 film) with 3 lenses (great camera, two Olympus XA's and some other odds and ends. Just don't seem to have the time for the creative photo stuff anymore.