From: dp@world.std.com (Jeff DelPapa)
Subject: Re: 4x5 holders
Organization: The World Public Access UNIX, Brookline, MA
Distribution: usa
Date: Tue, 15 Sep 1992 18:23:52 GMT

I am somewhat leery of used holders, I bought some once, and had
problems with light leaks.  I am happy with the MIDO system, tho I
haven't gotten rid of my riteways yet (the MIDO are not IR film safe).
The riteways are more expensive than others, but I *like* the
darkslide safety catch - (one othe other Lg. fmt regulars on the echo
doesn't) - but then again, I have pulled the wrong slide when trying
to hurry

I strongly recommend getting the polaroid holder in addition to
conventional holders - you get proofing, image transfer (and other
sorts of play - I have done my pinhole expirements on polaroid stock
exclusively), and access to pre-loaded color transparency film (non
instant) from kodak (not reccomended, I have had problems with film
not exposing, and film slipping out), polaroid (contains Fuji
rdp-100), and fuji itself (havent tried yet).

Polaroid instant films:

type 52 (asa 400 b+w) good proofing stock (tho 2 stops faster than
what you will be likely shooting the final at) with a pretty good
contrast range (Trick: shine a flashlight through the backing to see
more of what the final will actually get in the shadow areas),
requires dealing with the smelly coaters, 15 second development.

type 54 (asa 100 b+w) - speed matched with the common final output,
reasonable contrast range and resolution, opaque backing so you may
not be able to see the full contrast range, no coaters, 45 second
development.

type 55 (asa 75, b+w, pos/neg) yields a quite nice negative, (tho
correct exposure for the neg is not the same as the best for the
print) but you have to clear it in sodium sulfite (a pain), Don't
remember if the prints needed coating, development: 60 seconds.

type 59 (asa 75 (80?) color, daylight balanced) - the thing for image
transfer, real short storage life (for unused film), no coaters, 60
second develop.

There are others, these are the ones I have played with personally.
(new ones include a tungsten balanced color...) They are single sheets
in paper packets. There is a 4x5 pack size (numbers like 552, etc),
but they take a different holder, which can be a problem for some
cameras (it is thicker than some ground glass springs can cope
with), not as many places stock the film, and you don't get to use the
pre-loaded slide films.

Newsgroups: ramanand@pumpkin.ece.uc.edu
Subject: Re: 4x5 holders
Summary: 
Expires: 
Followup-To: 
Distribution: usa
Organization: The World Public Access UNIX, Brookline, MA
Keywords: 

I am somewhat leery of used holders, I bought some once, and had
problems with light leaks.  I am happy with the MIDO system, tho I
haven't gotten rid of my riteways yet (the MIDO are not IR film safe).
The riteways are more expensive than others, but I *like* the
darkslide safety catch - (one othe other Lg. fmt regulars on the echo
doesn't) - but then again, I have pulled the wrong slide when trying
to hurry

I strongly recommend getting the polaroid holder in addition to
conventional holders - you get proofing, image transfer (and other
sorts of play - I have done my pinhole expirements on polaroid stock
exclusively), and access to pre-loaded color transparency film (non
instant) from kodak (not reccomended, I have had problems with film
not exposing, and film slipping out), polaroid (contains Fuji
rdp-100), and fuji itself (havent tried yet).

Polaroid instant films:

type 52 (asa 400 b+w) good proofing stock (tho 2 stops faster than
what you will be likely shooting the final at) with a pretty good
contrast range (Trick: shine a flashlight through the backing to see
more of what the final will actually get in the shadow areas),
requires dealing with the smelly coaters, 15 second development.

type 54 (asa 100 b+w) - speed matched with the common final output,
reasonable contrast range and resolution, opaque backing so you may
not be able to see the full contrast range, no coaters, 45 second
development.

type 55 (asa 75, b+w, pos/neg) yields a quite nice negative, (tho
correct exposure for the neg is not the same as the best for the
print) but you have to clear it in sodium sulfite (a pain), Don't
remember if the prints needed coating, development: 60 seconds.

type 59 (asa 75 (80?) color, daylight balanced) - the thing for image
transfer, real short storage life (for unused film), no coaters, 60
second develop.

There are others, these are the ones I have played with personally.
(new ones include a tungsten balanced color...) They are single sheets
in paper packets. There is a 4x5 pack size (numbers like 552, etc),
but they take a different holder, which can be a problem for some
cameras (it is thicker than some ground glass springs can cope
with), not as many places stock the film, and you don't get to use the
pre-loaded slide films.

Newsgroups: rec.photo