Graflex.org

b1bmsgt · Joined: 02 Jan 2006 Posts: 9 Location: Connecticut, USA

All I can say is WOW!! As I said in my previous post, owning a Ciro-flex had inspired me to get back into the darkroom. I got my new eBay Bogen enlarger at 6:00PM last Friday, and by midnight I had developed and printed my first roll of 120 from the Ciro. You can see 2 of them here:
http://jeryldesigns.com/cgi-bin/i/ebayimages/B29%201.jpg
http://jeryldesigns.com/cgi-bin/i/ebayimages/B29%202.jpg

I am VERY impressed with the quality of this camera! I couldn't believe how sharp these pictures were when I first turned on the lights!

It has been 19 years since I last did any darkroom work, but it all came back to me pretty fast. When I turned on the safelight, it really brought back a lot of memories, and made me realize how much I had missed doing this kind of stuff...

Anyway, I just wanted to share this with some folks who probably understand.

Russ

_________________
R.L. Sisco
MSgt, USAF, Retired

[ This Message was edited by: b1bmsgt on 2006-01-18 17:45 ]

45PSS · Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2006 1:55 am Post subject:

In the first image the men on the lower right appear to be distorted, camera angle?, crinkle in film?, illusion created by lighting?
Where is the B29?

_________________
The best camera ever made is the one that YOU enjoy using and produces the image quality that satifies YOU.

Henry · Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2006 2:31 am Post subject:

"Where is the B29?" LOL!

Those flyboys look like life-size cardboard cut-outs to me.

Nice photos! Great quality b/w images. No wonder you are pleased with the camera. I've been tempted to go for a Graflex 22. This may push me over the edge.

Where were these taken? I'd like to see that 29.

[ This Message was edited by: Henry on 2006-01-18 18:33 ]

b1bmsgt · Joined: 02 Jan 2006 Posts: 9 Location: Connecticut, USA

Yes, those guys are actually a cardboard cutout made from a photo of the crew of the original aircraft that the markings were copied from. You can see it at the New England Air Museum at Bradley Intl Airport, Windsor Locks, CT, just North of Hartford.

_________________
R.L. Sisco
MSgt, USAF, Retired

[ This Message was edited by: b1bmsgt on 2006-01-18 19:14 ]

[ This Message was edited by: b1bmsgt on 2006-01-18 19:16 ]

[ This Message was edited by: b1bmsgt on 2006-01-19 02:15 ]

Rangemaster · Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2006 4:10 am Post subject:

Nice shots, good job...

Shameless plugs for items you have available for money are not allowed on this system..

I again, enjoyed the shots.

Dave

_________________
Focus on the Picture, Not on the Glass.
Satin Snow(TM) Ground Glass

b1bmsgt · Joined: 02 Jan 2006 Posts: 9 Location: Connecticut, USA

Oops, sorrry about that. Shameless plug removed.

Russ

_________________
R.L. Sisco
MSgt, USAF, Retired

Henry · Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2006 6:39 pm Post subject:

Next question: what film? You can't give the camera *all* the credit now!

b1bmsgt · Joined: 02 Jan 2006 Posts: 9 Location: Connecticut, USA

These were taken on Fuji Neopan 400 at f8 with shutter speeds between 1/10 and 1/50th, as determined by a very old GE light meter. I have another roll to process tonight, which is Kodak TMax 400.

Russ

_________________
R.L. Sisco
MSgt, USAF, Retired

Henry · Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2006 3:11 am Post subject:

Is your "very old GE light meter" by chance a DW-68?

b1bmsgt · Joined: 02 Jan 2006 Posts: 9 Location: Connecticut, USA

It sure is. Good guess. How did you know? I didn't buy it from you on epay, did I?

Russ

_________________
R.L. Sisco
MSgt, USAF, Retired

Henry · Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2006 4:58 pm Post subject:

Nope, I don't eBay! I picked up my DW-68 from a local photog who was disposing of his stuff at a camera show. Got the meter in its box with original instruction booklet for, I think, $15. No case, though. Best $$ I ever spent. I use this meter outdoors constantly, although for very low-light/indoor work I rely on a Gossens Luna-Pro F. So much to like about the GE: no batteries(!), it's calibrated for the shutter speeds on our Graphex shutters (1/5, 1/10, 1/25, 1/50, etc. etc., not 1/4, 1/8, 1/15-30-60-125 etc.), it's got a full range of ASA settings, it's easily used as an incident meter, and if I could ever find a set of those masks that the instruction book speaks of, its range could be further extended. BTW, a Tamrac cell-phone case fits it perfectly for on-the-belt use.

[ This Message was edited by: Henry on 2006-01-20 11:16 ]

b1bmsgt · Joined: 02 Jan 2006 Posts: 9 Location: Connecticut, USA

I got mine on eBay for 99 cents plus 4.99 shipping, and got the belt case with it! I don't know if it's me or the meter, but all my negatives to date are a tad underexposed. Next roll I am going to bracket my exposures and see what happens. It's definitely easy to use, though.

Russ

_________________
R.L. Sisco
MSgt, USAF, Retired

Henry · Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2006 10:43 pm Post subject:

I've found that the GE meter is *very* particular about the angle at which it is aimed. I've had to train myself *not* to point it toward the sky too much; just a little adjustment here makes a big difference in the reading! I've checked the GE against an 18% gray scale, along with my Gossens, and they are in close agreement--within 1/3 to 1/2 stop, so I'm pretty sure it's not the meter. Obviously, if you're reading too much sky (or aiming it toward whatever light source), the meter will underexpose your negs (it'll tell you to stop down too far).

I always shoot Ilford XP2 Super chromogenic b/w film, rated at 400, but I expose it at 100 to give a denser negative for scanning purposes. This film has a lot of exposure latitude, so it works well with the GE which, let's face it, is not the last word in meter technology. But it's the same age as my Century (c. 1954), which somehow makes it very satisfying to use.

For a fiver you got a terrific deal!

[ This Message was edited by: Henry on 2006-01-20 14:45 ]

douggrosjean · Joined: 11 Dec 2004 Posts: 46 Location: NW Ohio, USA

Nice job on the first roll of pics.

I'm still dumbfounded by just how good even a low-end MF camera like the Ciro-Flex can be, compared to a 35mm.

Something I like for museum pics is to use a tripod, small aperture, and loooooooooong exposure. I've taken some really nice shots that way with my own CF.

_________________
Best,
Doug Grosjean
NW Ohion
douggrosjean@gmail.com
Various 35mm SLR and P&S cameras,
Kodak Medalist, Rolleicord, and Ciro-Flex,
Burke & James 4x5 Press, and #10 Cirkut

ANDRE · Joined: 11 Feb 2005 Posts: 16 Location: VA-DC-MD

"Low end"? They certainly were not considered low end when they were first made. Considering that a Ciro cost about a week's pay way back when; translate that into 2006 money and they become what we now call "prosumer" quality. There were plenty of 620 size Anscos around back then,(and a plethora of other cheap 620 pseudo-TLRs) to fill the low end of the market. And being built like the proverbial brick shot-house is it any wonder they still perform as well as they do?

By the way Jean, thanks for your nice comments about my portfolio on Photo.net