I snagged a magic lantern projector off Ebay for $119 for it’s Darlot Lens. I slapped the lens on the Speed Graphic and loaded some precious FP-3000B and snapped a photo.
The results seem promising.
The projector came with a few interesting items; a chrome slide, a couple of 4″ convex lens, and rather large, old light bulb. I’ve yet to test it on wet plate.
I feel a bit guilty for taking this item apart.
I’ve finally decided to buy Reinhold’s Wollaston Meniscus. I couldn’t find a decently priced lens that will cover 11×14 format, most are ridiculously priced. This 335mm F/4.6 meniscus is only $100 and the quality is amazing – hard to believe Reinhold makes enough money to make this lucrative.
Now to find some time to play.
Tim needed to verify his Fatfish tent, chemistry and new wet plate back for his Deardorff before our photo shoot next week; so we decided to head out to Riverside, CA and shoot The Mission Inn.
I think he has nothing to worry about.
Photo by Tim Scott
The video (avi) The Mission Inn
I acquired an Improved Empire State Camera by Rochester Optical with a 5″ Dagor from Dan yesterday and what beauty – many thanks Dan.
My Korona has been out of commission (perhaps de-commissioned) after a fall from JT and as luck would have it, Dan provided me with a replacement for field wet plate. Poured a plate today, slipped a 5×7 holder and set up my favorite succulent; here’s what it gave me.
5×7 CGA
5″ Goerz Dagor, f/6.3
20seconds, wide open
OWH
“Market Pantry” Vinegar Developer
KCN
It’s a 195mm Triplet with an aperture of f/1.25! This big boy is perfect for dags.
Problem 1: The 7″ diameter means I have to mount it on my Ansco Studio camera. Maybe it can support the weight.
Problem 2: I hope my bellows can compress enough to accommodate the focal length at portrait distance.
Problem 3: Will it illuminate an 8×10 ground glass?
Regardless, it will be fun to find out!
Well, it was bound to happen eventually. Dropped the 333mm lens, my heart sank a little then I saw my 148mm waiting for its turn.
The fun is dead - long live the fun!
Here’s proof that you don’t need expensive brass lens to have fun with collodion. Perused Surplus Shed and found an Achromat Cemented Doublet for $7.00 with a focal length of 333mm and diameter of 42.7mm giving an aperture of roughly f/8 at infinity.
333mm Achromat Doublet Lens Spec
After wrapping black electrical tape around the lens (I plan on blackening the edge with permanent marker next time), I chucked it up on an lens iris clamp and mounted it on the Gundlach 4×5 Korona.
333mm Achromat Doublet Lens on Korona
I grabbed my favorite succulent and mixed some Ol’ Workhorse – the result is quite pleasing.
333mm Achromat Doublet lens 4x5 test
Surplus Sheed 333mm Cemented Achromat Doublet
35 seconds, 5:00 pm SoCal sun
OWH
KCN
I really need to clean my scanner. Given the slow speed of wet plate, there’s an abundance of lens formulas available at Surplus Shed for some collodion adventure.
Scored a Darlot Portrait Lens last month at the Camera Show. It was a bargain considering these brassies have gone up considerably with the resurgence of wet plate collodion and the petzval mongers. It’s an 8×10 lens size 4-4 with a back focus of 10.5″; it looks it could be used on an 11×14 format in portrait distance. I found some details on this lens from an 1890 catalog, of course nothing beats an actual image from it which I plan on making this weekend. I made a leather lens cap for it.
A Real Darlot
Darlot Portrait Lens 1890 Catalog
The lens cost $32 in 1890, in today’s dollar it would be about $800 – about the price I would ask for.
Scored two Graphic Film Pack Adapter #1234 from the big auction site and decided to see how easy it would be to modify it for wet plate work. After some judiciously sized and epoxied scrap aluminum sheets I went to try it out.
A test shot this afternoon passed the light fastness test.
Nikkor W 150mm, f/5.6 at 30 seconds
4×5 black aluminum
B&S OWH
KCN
Not bad for a $10 investment.
I just got to straighten the roof rack and we are ready to roll over again. (hehehe…)
Here’s how she looked before she was molested by me.
Mike took the Ansel Adam method and applied it at JT’s Geology Tour Road with my Cherokee. The cargo rack was surprisingly supportive, though it needs a slab of plywood to prevent the metal grates from sagging.
We found some interesting rocks – I’ll post those later after I make some more developer.
My name is George.
“Just what I always wanted! My own little bunny rabbit ‘studio camera’. I will name him George and I will hug him and pet him and squeeze him…”
Muah, ha, ha, ha, ha,… I finally got my dream camera! An Ansco 8×10 Studio camera.
It’s an amazing piece of 1940′s furniture. The stand is rock solid and the camera has THREE standards and TWO bellows! I love the rise and tilt gears; the bellows extend beyond anything I can put on this. The lens board is a whopping 9 inches of real estate and will take on any known studio lens. I mounted my Ross No. 3 and it didn’t even flinch.
The seller mentioned Walt Disney used to own it but has no documentation to prove it. However, the stand and camera has a matching serial number – if I have time I’ll look into it’s provenance.
I can’t wait to use George!
After strumming my guitar and putting it back on the stand I noticed something that was staring at me the whole time - the head on my guitar stand is removable.
With a light stand, an umbrella/hot shoe mount, a super clamp (or flashpoint clamp), and a guitar stand – I rigged this up.
Claude Levet makes a functional and beautiful head rest. It’s hard for me to convince my wife that I need one. One day I’ll save enough money and buy a proper brace. In the mean time, this will have to do. It’s probably been done before but just wanted to share a moment of enlightenment. =D
Finally got my lift kit installed on the ’93 Cherokee. Apparently, the previous owner had put a budget lift with 2″ spring spacers up front and 2″ shackles on the back. I decided to keep these in addition to the Rusty’s 3″ lift kit; I gained a total of 5.25″ up front and 5″ at the rear!
The stock tires looked really dinky, so I found a set of used 31″ tires at Craigslist for $250 and five new D-windows black rims from Summit racing at $47 a wheel (shipped). What a difference on how she looks!
BEFORE
AFTER
UPGRADES
Suspension: Rusty’s 3″ Full Spring Pack + unknown 2″ spacers and shackles (5″ lift yielded)
Driveline: Rugged Ridge SYE with Tom Woods Drive Shaft
Steering: Rusty’s Tie Rod and Drag Link, KOR Track Bar, KOR Stabilizers and KOR Steering Box Brace
WHAT’S NEXT
I think this list will never end – photography is on the back seat for now. Time to find some rocks and dirt to try this “grocery getter” on.
Well, I finally decided that a home brewed 5×7 enlarger is just too time consuming to make. So, last month I perused E bay and acquired an old Durst G139 enlarger.
This beast came from a photographer in West Virgina that worked for the Charleston Chronicle. Apparently, his dream of a darkroom basement 10 years ago became a family room and time just kept moving. He decided that his work is more digital conducive.
Shipping this monster was another matter – it cost 6 times more than what I paid for it. I figure it was well worth salvaging and I intend to put it to good use once I figure out how to use it.
Now a surprise came when I opened the film carrier and found this Kodak 35mm slide film still in it. Durst stopped making this enlarger in the 70′s so I think this was the last film that was used on this enlarger. His haircut looks like from the 70′s. The colors are still vibrant and I am able to generate a 20 Mega Pixel image from it – a visual testament on film’s enduring qualities.
