centre filter availability

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Large format photography : One Thread

I will not cut corners in quality, but I wondered if there was any alternative to the Schneider grad centre filter for the 65 Super Angulon worth considering. Put two rolls of RMS through my newly acquired Cambo Wide, shot everything at f22 in the hope that I might get away without that expensive accessory, but though the results are impressive the uneven coverage is clearly apparent. Sigh... Reaches for cheque book...

-- Anthony Harrison (AnthonyHar@aol.com), November 24, 2001

Answers

Anthony, It would be a pity to put a cheapo filter on such a set up. Unfortunately there don't seem to be any cheapo centre filters!! An alternative may be to try and find a used example. FWIW here in the UK I know that Robert White seems to carry a selection. Regards Paul

-- paul owen (paulowen_2000@yahoo.com), November 24, 2001.

Hi Anthony

Heliopan is the cheapest of the high quality german ones! In prof. photographie like LF is nothing really cheap, but Robert in UK is a very good shop with the best prices in hole EU! Good luck!

-- Armin Seeholzer (armin.seeholzer@smile.ch), November 24, 2001.


Look at the Heliopan graduated center weighted filters (CWF) for an alternative to the Schneiders, but make sure you have the possibility of reurning it in case it doesn't work as well as the Schneider CWF. My experience is that the Schneider Super Angulon designs have particularly bad illumination fall off from center characteristics, as compared to the similar focal length lenses from Rodenstock and Nikon. The Super Angulon XL designs are better too.

-- Ellis Vener Photography (ellis@ellisvener.com), November 24, 2001.

Hi Anthony, Here in Melbourne Australia there is a big professional/industrial photographic shop and I think I have seen a second hand. Obviously I don't need one so I did not look any further, meaning I don't remember the price and condition but it is on its proper case. I will have a look again early this week if you are interested. I buy all my stuff from this shop and their prices are the best in the world! I bought my cambo wide with 47xl with them more than two year now and I am enjoying it. I coverage is just wonderfull, it really suite how I see my images. But like what you said, you really need the central filter. I thought I can get away without it as well but definetely not.

-- Renee Galang (r.galang@chisholm.vic.edu.au), November 24, 2001.

Many thanks to Paul, Armin, Ellis and Renee for your help & advice. I got my Cambo from Robert White after inspecting that and other types (e.g. Silvestri) a few months ago when I called in. I'll be speaking to Matt on Monday about Heliopan and Schneider centre filters. I had only one query with the Cambo, which is a very simple camera: the crash bars are a good idea but they prevent the use of system filters such as Lee or the HiTech types I use (ND grads especially). Prompt advice from Henk Brands of Cambo in Holland, and from Matt at Robert White, enabled me to remove the bars easily. The only tools needed were a 1.5mm hex-wrench/Allen key, and a gunsmith-type fine slotted head screwdriver. If anyone wants to perform the same operation just contact me for details. Did I say I was shooting 6x12 on the Cambo? Lovely format, love those elongated trannies...

-- Anthony Harrison (AnthonyHar@aol.com), November 25, 2001.


Moderation questions? read the FAQ