What was once old, is now new....

[JimCollum]

I started a thread in the Large Format forum about a lens i just picked up... an old Hayden, Booth &Holmes Petzval lens from 1860. I've been playing around with it and the Betterlight scanning back (since it doesn't require a shutter to use).

But a 30 second scan time is doable for portraits (that's a typical exposure time for when the lens was used .. just not very convenient.

So i jury rigged my view camera, sliding back, the lens, a shutter and gaffers tape to get it working with the Leaf 75s

the Frankencamera..

the first test shot (my barely willing neighbor)

and a test shot (pano from the sliding back) from this morning's walk

100% crops

 

[TRSmith]

Totally worth the effort. That portrait has a lot of really nice things going on with it. Stuff you can't fake in post. I think the gaffers tape adds a certain something (I can't speak/write French but phonetically it would be: jen a say kwa ) to that beautiful camera too.

Is the flat contrast an attribute of the back or your chosen processing?

 

[JimCollum]

Totally worth the effort. That portrait has a lot of really nice things going on with it. Stuff you can't fake in post. I think the gaffers tape adds a certain something (I can't speak/write French but phonetically it would be: jen a say kwa ) to that beautiful camera too.

Is the flat contrast an attribute of the back or your chosen processing?

The lens in general renders with very low contrast (without the lens hood, it pretty much flares in *any* light )

So far i'm playing around with it's original 'look'. As i get a better feel for the lens, i may play around with that some more

 

[MikeScecina]

Fantastic! You have a real time machine there, Jim. It's amazing that how a lens drew in the mid 19th century effects our vision of that era.

 

[TRSmith]

Your lens clearly has a pedigree. But it reminded me of one that I have that bears a resemblance. It's been kicking around my various dwellings as a shelf object for so long I forget where it came from. However there are enough similarities to yours to make me look at it a little differently!

Sorry for quality of this shot, just propped it up under my desk lamp.

 

[Cindy Flood]

The portrait is beautiful. Yes, low contrast, but it has a nice depth to it. I bet you could take some breathtaking flower/still life shots with that setup.

 

[JimCollum]

Your lens clearly has a pedigree. But it reminded me of one that I have that bears a resemblance. It's been kicking around my various dwellings as a shelf object for so long I forget where it came from. However there are enough similarities to yours to make me look at it a little differently!

Sorry for quality of this shot, just propped it up under my desk lamp.

it's a Bausch and Lomb Petzval. Jim Galli (who i think has cornered the market on soft focus lenses .. http://tonopahpictures.0catch.com/ has a few of them and says they're excellent performers.

Let's see what you can do with it!

jim

 

[JohnH]

Totally worth the effort. That portrait has a lot of really nice things going on with it. Stuff you can't fake in post. I think the gaffers tape adds a certain something (I can't speak/write French but phonetically it would be: jen a say kwa ) to that beautiful camera too.

Is the flat contrast an attribute of the back or your chosen processing?

Je ne c'est quoi

'I don't know ...'

E&OE of course...

 

[TRSmith]

Thanks for the link. I did a short google excursion and have come to realize that there are a lot of people making some great images using old lenses like this. I love the look of the finished product and the effort involved certainly seems worth it.

Now that I've seen examples, yours and others, I will keep the idea of finding a way to use mine somewhere on my long to-do list. As of right this minute, I've nothing to mount the monster on.

I have to say though, I'm completely jealous of your set up. That digital back on the view camera is a very cool thing.

 

[selsoe]

Je ne c'est quoi

'I don't know ...'

E&OE of course...

Je ne sais quoi

c'est means "it is", sais means "know"

Enough of the French lesson. Those are really beautiful shots! I really digged the portrait, but scrolling down, I fell more in love with the landscape one. Congratulations!

 

[TRSmith]

Thanks to JohnH and selsoe for the French lesson. I've learned a lot from this little thread!

 

[cmb_]

Wonderful Jim, I am in awe!

 

[PSon]

Fascinating images and wonderful original idea. The landscape is my favorite; the overall old glowing the image display is unique. I also just mounted the copal shutter in front of my enlarging and duplicating lens. The image circle I get is very large (4x5) and yet the resolution is very high.

btw is that Mr. Noodle?

-Son

 

[Steve Hendrix]

Well done Jim.

As you know, we've developed numerous exclusive custom products for our customers. We're considering offering a FrankenCamera sku. The bonus is you just never know what you're going to get when you open the box. We're looking for a supplier.

Interested?


Steve Hendrix

 

[Jack]

Way cool Jim!

:thumbs:

 

[FromJapan]

A technical question.

Is there a particular reason to mount the Copal shutter in front of the barrel lens? Supposing the lens was simply connected to the back, and an exposure made, what would happen? The barrel lens would be open, of course.

Kumar

 

[fotografz]

Jim, you continue to amaze.

Last time I did something like this was with an old wood 1890s 8X10 view camera and some giant brass lenses of dubious origin using an 8X10 polaroid back ... the shutter was the lens cap. Big PITA to get right, but fab results when you did.

Do more ... can't get enough of stuff like this. :thumbup:

 

[steflaurent974]

Je ne c'est quoi

'I don't know ...'

E&OE of course...

" ...Je ne sais quoi..." is the right spelling.

In fact a great portrait, as a result of the wedding of an high end digital back and an old lens ; incredible what love can do !

Stephane

 

[PeterA]

What struck me right away - was the ( daer I say it?) ...it has a film look to me..

great images- especially the landscape..
you got me thinking..

Pete

 

[David K]

Jim,
Thanks for sharing this... your passion for all things photographic is inspiring.