Travelwide 4x5

[Johnmcd]

I just couldn't resist (now on the look out for a lens). A have all the gear for developing the film for my Crown Graphic. The dilemma is scanning as my Minolta Scan Multi Pro only goes up to 6x9 and my enlarger 6x7.

Looks like a flatbed or a LF enlarger (or both). Now the price goes up 🙂

 

[Johnmcd]

Or use it with my 6x9 Graflex 120 Roll holder...

 

[Ken Ford]

I've been looking around at home processing options and found this gadget:

http://www.mod54.com/

Hopefully a flatbed scanner that will do justice to 4x5 negs won't break the bank.

 

[zuiko85]

Kuzano,

The 90 f8 Geronar looks like an interesting option. How much larger and heavier is it compared to the suggested 90 f6.8 Angulon?

 

[mbisc]

Around 800 new 4x5s will hit the streets this year -- has anyone told Kodak to start the film coating machines? 😀

Congrats to Ben and Justin -- and congrats to all you, for making this happen (and therefore for finally getting me a non-tripod mounted 4x5)

 

[Roger Hicks]

Around 800 new 4x5s will hit the streets this year -- has anyone told Kodak to start the film coating machines? 😀

Congrats to Ben and Justin -- and congrats to all you, for making this happen (and therefore for finally getting me a non-tripod mounted 4x5)

If everyone uses 50 sheets a year, this is 4000 sheets -- hardly worth re-starting a coating line for! Ilford will be WELL able to meet demand. Bear in mind too that Ilford sold well over 1000 of the Walker pinhole in the first year, and that their new Harman Obscura pin-hole comes out soon. Shortage of film is not a concern.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Ken Ford]

Uh-oh - I'm starting to talk myself into ordering the 90mm version too. Put a pinhole in it for now and watch for a lens. I have a photographic project in mind...

Does anyone know if you can change a Kickstarter pledge?

 

[pdexposures]

Uh-oh - I'm starting to talk myself into ordering the 90mm version too. Put a pinhole in it for now and watch for a lens. I have a photographic project in mind...

Does anyone know if you can change a Kickstarter pledge?

You can, however you're only able to get one reward level per person. This means you would need to jump to the $189 level for both cameras. Fine if you pledged at $99, but if you were an early adopter it could end up costing you more.

 

[mbisc]

If everyone uses 50 sheets a year, this is 4000 sheets -- hardly worth re-starting a coating line for! Ilford will be WELL able to meet demand. Bear in mind too that Ilford sold well over 1000 of the Walker pinhole in the first year, and that their new Harman Obscura pin-hole comes out soon. Shortage of film is not a concern.

Cheers,

R.

Actually 40,000 sheets 😀

 

[axiom]

Actually 40,000 sheets 😀

40,000 sheets per year, that's about 4,000 sheets per month...

 

[Roger Hicks]

Actually 40,000 sheets 😀

Dear Mike,

Whoops. You are of course absolutely right. But even allowing for my hopelessly sloppy order-of-magnitude error, the argument still holds good. That's the equivalent (roughly) of 10,000 rolls of 35mm film: still not very much when it comes to running a coating line.

Cheers,

R.

 

[mbisc]

Dear Mike,

Whoops. You are of course absolutely right. But even allowing for my hopelessly sloppy order-of-magnitude error, the argument still holds good. That's the equivalent (roughly) of 10,000 rolls of 35mm film: still not very much when it comes to running a coating line.

Cheers,

R.

No worries...

 

[Ken Ford]

You can, however you're only able to get one reward level per person. This means you would need to jump to the $189 level for both cameras. Fine if you pledged at $99, but if you were an early adopter it could end up costing you more.

I'm at the $99 level, so it wouldn't be a problem. Tempting...

 

[kuzano]

I've owned a number......

I've owned a number......

Kuzano,

The 90 f8 Geronar looks like an interesting option. How much larger and heavier is it compared to the suggested 90 f6.8 Angulon?

The Geronar is minimally larger than the Schneider Angulon. The glass however is bigger, likely for a better optical performance result. I'd say it sticks out from the more than the Angulon/Synchro Compur shutter less than 1/4 inch more in front. It is a contemporary lens, and considering what's happening to the Angulon prices (partly as a result for now of this project) can likely be purchase for little more.

The back of the Geronar is likely not protruding into the camera more than the Schneider. I believe a goal of the design was to create a lens that could readily be folded into a field camera without removing from the front standard. So in this case not much bigger. Weight... hmmm. It certainly will not make the travelwide more front heavy than those planning to use Super Angulons or similar Rodenstocks with larger optic front/rear cells.

I doubt the weight would be more than marginal and not objectionable for the improved image quality and much newer optics and shutter when compared to the Schneider Angulon in Linhof or Compur shutter.

I've held both lenses at different times, and calculate them to be very similar in these aspects. Your findings may be subjectively different than mine.

I have the Angulon 90, but I will likely purchase a Geronar 90 for this project.

I located an ebay listing that has a profile view of the Geronar in a Copal 1 shutter. This listing also has all the specs you asked about. However, this listing is one of higher priced that I see for this lens. You can do better. This listing is merely to answer your questions. Also, Geronars seem plentiful. They were sold in great numbers as teaching lens AND also come in Calumet Branding as a Caltar, often for less money used simply due to brand recognition. Rarely are branded lenses "seconds" as many people assume. I would not recoil from a Rodenstock branded Caltar any more than from the Rodenstock itself.

However, if you have a Caltar, and you go to the country club bar, you may have to sit at the bar instead of at the tables with the big boys.

Don't worry about buying the Rodenstock I showed you from under me. It's a bit pricey and there will be a ton more pass through eBay before my Travelwides arrive.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rodenstock-...74609901?pt=Camera_Lenses&hash=item35c132f8ed

 

[benlees]

I have a Wollensak Raptar 90mm 6.8 with the Rapax shutter. These are basically cheap-as-chips. Mine was $70? Perfect condition. I wonder if this would work with the Travelwide?

 

[zuiko85]

The Geronar is minimally larger than the Schneider Angulon. The glass however is bigger, likely for a better optical performance result. I'd say it sticks out from the more than the Angulon/Synchro Compur shutter less than 1/4 inch more in front. It is a contemporary lens, and considering what's happening to the Angulon prices (partly as a result for now of this project) can likely be purchase for little more.

Kuzano'
Thanks for all that information. I'm still feeling my way here and won't rush into a purchase but thanks to your reply to my question the Geronar is on my short list now.

 

[kuzano]

Should be a very good solution and SMALL

Should be a very good solution and SMALL

I have a Wollensak Raptar 90mm 6.8 with the Rapax shutter. These are basically cheap-as-chips. Mine was $70? Perfect condition. I wonder if this would work with the Travelwide?

Wollensak also made a Raptar W. A. which might actually be the one you have. It would say Raptar 90 w. a. as I recall

Wollensak also made a lens called an Optar 90, but I think that was branded for Graflex so there is a Graflex 90 w a. Could be the same as the one you have.

See this page for variations of Wollensak 90s.

http://www.graflex.org/speed-graphic/symmetrical-wide-field-lenses.html

In any event... this all should be evidence that there is likely way more inventory in 90mm lenses than will be sucked up by this Kickstarter project.

 

[bensyverson]

The Geronar is minimally larger than the Schneider Angulon. The glass however is bigger, likely for a better optical performance result.

Hi guys! The Geronar is typically mounted in a Copal 1, which means you would need to make a permanent modification to the camera. It's not a big deal if you don't mind Dremeling your Travelwide, but I just wanted to be sure to point out that it will not mount on the camera as-is.

 

[kuzano]

Sorry for the oversight....

Sorry for the oversight....

Hi guys! The Geronar is typically mounted in a Copal 1, which means you would need to make a permanent modification to the camera. It's not a big deal if you don't mind Dremeling your Travelwide, but I just wanted to be sure to point out that it will not mount on the camera as-is.

Sorry Ben,

I've been hyping the Geronar, and I knew the shutters have typically been a copal 1. It just did not occur to me that a Copal 1 needs a slightly bigger hole than a Copal O, which is what the Schneider will typically come in in terms of shutter rear dimension. The Linhof and Compur shutters are the same size as the Copal O.

Is it safe to presume the Travelwide comes drilled for a #0 shutter at 34.7mm

I will probably enlarge to put the Geronar on, as once I have this camera outfitted with a lens, I will likely not change from the geronar. The enlargement from #0 (34.7mm) to #1 (41.8)=7mm bigger/2=3.5mm larger around the edge of the hole.

 

[Oren Grad]

I will probably enlarge to put the Geronar on, as once I have this camera outfitted with a lens, I will likely not change from the geronar. The enlargement from #0 (34.7mm) to #1 (41.8)=7mm bigger/2=3.5mm larger around the edge of the hole.

It's actually more complicated than that. Although the 90mm Geronar was supplied in a Copal 1, it's a non-standard Copal 1 that requires a much larger hole - some have said 60mm, some have said Copal 3-size, which is 65mm.