Planet Randy

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

JT Juniper 5x7 Ambro

5×7 CGA
J.H. Dallmeyer No.1a Rectilinear
35 seconds, f/45
OWH
“Market Pantry” Vinegar Developer
KCN

The clouds were amazing after the storm passed at JT that brought snow, rain, and gusty winds. Sadly, this is the last image my 1922 Korona 5×7 will make – at least until I can repair the damage from the fall due to a gust of wind. It’s not a high value camera but my grandfather was in his teens when it was made and it broke on my watch. Surprisingly, the lens had no damage.

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!

Merced River View

From Will Dunniway’s Yosemite 2012 Workshop

5×7 CGA

El Capitan

From Will Dunniway’s Yosemite 2012 Workshop

5×7 CGA

9.5″ f/4.5 Aldis No.19
5×7 CGA
1.25 minutes, wide open
OWH
“Market Pantry” Vinegar Developer
KCN

I mixed “Market Pantry” Vinegar Developer and tried it out today. Developed this ambrotype for about 30 seconds and it actually worked.

6″ f/~5 No Name Petzval Magic Lantern
4×5 CGA
6 seconds, wide open
OWH
“Market Pantry” Vinegar Developer
KCN

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!

I’m really liking how this $7 lens renders with collodion.

Surplus Shed 333mm Cemented Achromat Doublet
12 seconds, noon
4×5 Black Aluminum
OWH
KCN

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.

Add a bit of clouds and some sun light… just point and shoot.

Had to do some steep and gnarly Jeep roads just to get here.

The Road 400 is spectacular!