Category Archives: Equipment

Equipment talk

Large Format Camera – Chamonix

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Things has come full circle. Recently I have been dabbling in film photography again, almost 10 years after I started learning photography in 2002. The difference is I have gone bigger in the format – large format(4×5). The negative is 4 by 5 inches.

The camera I am currently using is a Chamonix 45n2.

Chamonix Camera

Chamonix Camera

The made in china Chamonix View Camera is a recent entry to the wooden field camera market . But its high quality product with a relatively low price has attracted many Large Format(LF) users including myself. I was then trying to get a used wooden field camera but the lowest price I could find then were still around US$500-600 despite their age and condition. If that is the case, I might as well top up a few hundreds more to get a new one instead.

Chamonix makes multiply film size cameras ranging from 4×5 all to the way to 20×24 but I will just focus on the 4×5 camera for this post.

The 4×5 model is now at its 2nd version- the 45n-2. The weight is about 1.4kg matching the another China made camera -ShenHao PTB 45 but at a price of US$900 compared to US$759 for the ShenHao PTB 45.

If the camera is in stock, then you will get it pretty fast as they use EMS. For example, I paid on a Tuesday and received it 3 days later on Friday. To order, you can email to Hugo Zhang at hugoz_2000@yahoo.com to check on stock availability.

Pro & Cons of this camera

Pros
1. Light at 1.4kg
2. Good finishing quality on both the wood and metal – even the level gauge is the low profile type that fit nicely to the cam
3. Easy to setup and disassemble *
4. Availability of other accessories from carbon fibre lensboards to reflex viewer

Cons
1. Front standard need to be screw/unscrew when folding the cam. If you are changing from a wide angle to telephoto lens then you also need to unscrew the front standard and then fit it to the preset holes that is suitable for that lens.
2. No scale on the movements. You can’t really see how much u move in terms of mm or degrees. *
3. Delicated . This one won’t survive a fall. I always forgot to lock the ball head. *

* might be true for most field cameras

Here are some of photos of the Camera taken off the Chamonix website:

Fine Focusing Knob

Fine Focusing Knob

 

In its collapsed state

In its collapsed state

Front Standard

Front Standard. Bellows are not shown

Front Standard. Bellows are not shown

Back Swing and Tilt control

Plustek OpticFilm 120

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Plustek Optic Film 120

Plustek Optic Film 120

For those of us who are still shooting film, here is a new product for your consideration – the Plustek Opticfilm 120 film scanner.  With the rise of digital photography, products for film photography has to take a backseat. Other than film, most of the film users has to source the 2nd hand market for film photography products. So a new medium format (MF) scanner is definitely good news. It will probably be available in the market in August 2012.

The OpticFilm 120 delivers the professional image quality results from 35mm film strips, slides, and 120/220mm film from 6×4.5cm up to 6x12cm in sizes. It is designed for professional photographers, advanced amateur photographers, film photo enthusiasts, photography schools and clubs. The OpticFilm 120 satisfies the film scanning requirements of advanced amateurs or professionals that require the ultimate in image quality and an ICC profiled scanning system.

Features:

  • Scans 35mm film and 120/220mm film. Supports 6×4.5, 6×6, 6×7, 6×9 and 6×12 frame sizes.
  • Up to 10,600 dpi input and 5,300 dpi output for film and slides provides extraordinary images.
  • Built-in infrared channel for dust and scratch detection.
  • Efficient power saving design.
  • The patent-pending adjustable pitch 120/220mm film holder is easy to load and holds 120/220mm film strips flat.
  • Motorized film transport for automatic batch scanning.
  • Innovative folding rear cover reduces the size of the scanner to save desktop space and prevent dust from entering the scanner.
  • Powered by LaserSoft Imaging SilverFast®

 

Self Processed Slides

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I explained  how to self developed E6 slides at home in my previous post on.  

Slides are always better view on top of a light box rather than scanned and view online.However for those who are curious how the results look like,  here are some images of my self processed slides.

Toys
Toy captured in natural light – Velvia 50. Self processed.
Lower pierce sunset
Low Pierce Reservoir – Velvia 50. Self processed.
 
Wayang Stage
Wayang Stage – Velvia 50. Self processed.

Christmas Ideas for Photographers : Pelican Pelicase 1510

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I am considering getting a hard case for my camera gears when I go out for my assignment. I am thinking that a hardcase will be more convenient for me. Currently, I am carrying my gear in a Crumpler canvas bag and maybe another one or 2 bags for the other photo accessories.  Obviously I have to pay more attention to the Crumpler bag since the equipment in it is worth the most.

Here is one of the one that I am considering getting : the Pelican Pelicase 1510

Camera Cases)

I thought with a hardcase trolley will free up my concern for the cameras and lens since he Pelican is “The world’s toughest watertight protective cases. Pelican cases feature an exclusive 1/4″ neoprene o-ring to guarantee a perfect seal. Neither dust nor water can penetrate this barrier.” Sound pretty good isn’t it?

Let me know if you have use one before and what your experience with it.

Canon DSLR – EOS 600D

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Canon 600D
Canon 600D

After many years of using Nikon SLR and DSLR camera, I finally bought a Canon 600D only. Why?  Mainly is to use it for videography. In the last one year or so, there is a bloom of videographers or independent (also known as budget) filmmakers who made the switch from camorders to using DSLRs for making films and videos.  

Here are the 2 main reasons :

  1. You get HD quality off the camera.  In fact the camera has to reduce the image size to HD quality which only has 1920pixels at its longest side.
  2. The use of prime lenses with big apertures allow you to achieve the film look with shallow depth of field.
  3. The digital format (in Quicktime MOV) will allow video editing to be done easily. 

I only purchase the Canon 600D body as I could use a Nikon to EOS adaptor  to fit my Nikon lenses on them.  Just buy the simple one that I linked to above. Initially, I tried the AF Confirm Nikon to EOS adaptor but the video footage suffered from some light level flickering. I guess somehow the AF confirm signal sent from the adaptor to the camera is causing some interference.

So I have my Nikon 20mm , 50mm and 135mm prime lenses for use on this little body. Of course the camera lose the metering and autofocus feature. It is something that I can live with. I will probably get some Canon L glasses if my interest in videography continue.

I will share some more accessories used for HD SLR in my next post.

Review : Thinkphoto Digital Holster 20

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It has been a while since I buy a camera bag.  The triangular shape SLR bag or holster like bag  that I got when i first purchased by first SLR has been breaking abreak after 8 years. So I decided to get another to replace it. I finally decided on the Thinkphoto Digital Holster 20 for the following reasons :

  1.  It is expandable to fit a 70-200mm lens. Although my reasons would probably be keep one short lens mounted and another short lens in the bag. It is also part of the Thinkphoto modular system.
  2. It has a raincover to keep the camera dry.
  3. The material (canvas, zip) and stitiching are superior than other brands of bag that I check out.
  4. There are a few options on carrying it : by the sling, by the handle on the top cover or use it on the optional belt system.

Just take note that there is a Thinkphoto Digital Holster 20 ver 2.0 that has a few more minor improvements over the original. So if you intend to get one , ask for the ver 2.0.

Thinkphoto Digital Holster 20

Thinkphoto Digital Holster 20 (Photo credit : ThinkPhoto)

Price : $80  from TK Photo at Funan Digital Mall, one of the most popular shopping spot for Singapore photographers.

Strobist Stuff – Lightstands

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Well, again on strobist or off camera lighting stuff.

We will also need lightstands that will hold our lights while we shoot.

Manfrotto Nano Light Stand

Manfrotto Nano Light Stand

Some of the things to consider when looking for a lightstand are :

  1. Weight – We usually need more than one lightstand so the lighter it is the more we can carry. The trade off here would be the steadiness as it will be more flimsy in its support.
  2. Height  - How high can the lightstand go up to? This is important for setting up hair lights. I would say 2 metres and above would be helpful.
  3. Compactness – relating to point one and 2, how compact would the lightstand be when fully  folded?  Reminder strobist tends to work outdoor and we need to bring the lightstand around.

Other tips :

  • Weight down the lightstand with your bag to prevent it from falling.
  • A tripod can be use as a light stand if you have an flash stand

Want to learn more?  Enroll for our Off camera Flash Photography Course here

Strobist Stuff – An Introduction

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Well, strobist or off camera lighting is not a new concept. It means to take the camera from the camera hotshoe and place it in a different position. Sometimes it means using more than one source of light. Digital cameras has made it easier for us to gauge our exposure immediately after taking a shot.

So what are the gear that we need , mainly

  • A Flash.  Personally I prefer a Nikon Speedlights for its portability.  The good thing about operating the flash in manual mode means we could still use some of the older Nikon Speedlights models like SB-22, SB-28 etc.  However if you have other brand of flash, they are still usable.
Ebay triggers
  • Triggers – There must be a way to trigger off the flash. There are the cheap ways (not so reliable)  or the expensive way (very reliable). The ones I used are from ebay  which are cheap and pretty reliable .

Want to learn more?  Enroll for our Off camera Flash Photography Course here