MirkoBoeddecker
The
Fotoman cameras have finally arrived and are now available for delivery.
Advancing lens plates for: Schneider Super Angulon 72 mm
Other lens plates will be sourced shortly.
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We wish all our customers a Happy New Year!
Mirko Bödecker + the IMPEX Team
Gast
Hello Mirko,
The price for the (planned) Fotoman 9x12 is really attractive. The same goes for the 6x17, of course.
Is there already a FOTOIMPEX guide price for the other lens plates?
As I’ve only ever viewed large format from a respectful distance so far, could someone perhaps briefly answer the following basic question for me (please don’t just refer me to a large format forum):
What is the difference between a Copal and a Compur shutter, and how do I get a large-format lens off one plate and onto another?
Thanks and bye
Dierk
Urnes
Hi Dierk,
They’re both central shutters, but as far as I know they’re from different manufacturers. These days, though, you can only get Copal ones. I’ve never really been interested in the differences, as my old lenses only have Compur shutters and as long as they’re working, it doesn’t really matter.
The lenses are attached to the lens board with a retaining ring and stay there, meaning you need a separate board for each lens and always swap the whole unit.
With the Fotoman, however, you don’t just need the board but, if I’ve understood correctly, also the worm gear, as the camera doesn’t have a bellows. And I reckon the lens unit with the worm gear is significantly more expensive than the body. The Fotoman 4x5" is a great solution for landscapes on the go and travel photography when you need to pack light but want large format and wide-angle. Well, it’s a bit like an Alpa with a large format. For a ‘start’ in large format, however, I’d first have a look on the second-hand market and perhaps look for something a bit more conventional; you simply have more options with a bellows when it comes to stills and portraits.
Regards, Sven.
MirkoBoeddecker
A Fotoman camera comes complete with a lens mount and worm gear: in other words, everything you need to start taking photos as long as a lens is fitted to the shutter.
The wide-angle boards are included in the price. Anyone wishing to convert it into a portrait camera (e.g. for group shots) and use, say, a 135mm lens will have to pay a little extra, as the boards are milled from a solid block of aluminium in a manufacturing process and are therefore costly to produce.
This amounts to an additional charge of around 50–200 EUR, depending on the focal length.
A second plate costs between 140 and 360 EUR, depending on the focal length, plus 50 to 70 EUR for the spacer.
You can reuse the worm gear from another lens and simply measure out your own distance scale and mark it on with a paint pen.
Of course, a separate worm gear can also be purchased – unfortunately, the prices for this have not yet been finalised.
I find that the 4x5" format is excellent for getting started with large format. It is easy to use – limited to the essential functions – lightweight and compact in design, and, last but not least, very affordable. With large format, it’s just like with other formats. Most of your budget should be spent on the lenses. In that respect, a Fotoman is the perfect body for a beginner. If your requirements for adjustability increase, you can upgrade.
Mirko
PS: Alongside the 4x5, we will be listing the full range of Rodenstock large-format lenses and offering special deals on camera and lens sets.
Gast
Thank you very much for the information. That was exactly what I wanted to know.
Best regards,
Dierk
Urnes
Hi Mirko,
could you explain again exactly how this worm gear thing works? So, let’s say I’ve got an old Angulon 6.8 90mm lying around at home in a 00 mount – would that work, or does the worm gear only fit the current mounts, and can I fit it myself? If so, I’d have to revise what I said about the price. I just had a look in the latest Linhof catalogue to see how much a new lens with a worm gear mechanism costs. But if it’s possible to do it yourself with a second-hand lens, then that’s really interesting.
Regards, Sven.
MirkoBoeddecker
Hi Sven,
Are you sure the old Angulon without the "super" 6x17 actually covers the format?
Have a look at the technical specifications.
I’ll enquire about the 0-shutter – but I don’t think that’ll be a problem.
You actually have to mount it yourself and then, if necessary, compensate for any minor factory deviations using the supplied extension rings. The focusing screen is included for this purpose.
Best regards,
Mirko
Urnes
No, the 6x17 doesn’t cover that, but the 4x5" from the second Fotoman does. For the 6x17, though, you could certainly envisage the 6.8 120mm, and that fits into a 1-series shutter. So, if I’ve understood you correctly, the lens is screwed into the focusing gear (instead of a bayonet mount), and the extension rings are then used for fine-tuning.
Regards, Sven.
MirkoBoeddecker
Hmmmm, 120 is quite a long focal length for a view camera without a focusing aid...
If it covers 4x5, it’ll most likely work for 6x17 as well – though we don’t have any measurements for that.
You use the original counter ring. The worm gear has a hole at the end, and you thread your shutter through that – put the counter ring on – done.
Just like with a 4x5 plate or something.
Regards,
Mirko (who’s off for the day now...)
Gast
Hi Mirko,
Do you happen to have a view of the back of the Fotoman 4x5"? Can the back be rotated for portrait or landscape orientation? And do you slide the sheet film cassettes under the focusing screen, or do you have to remove the screen first and use the Graflock?
Many thanks.
Regards, Sven
