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Wednesday, March 8th, 2023

Shooting an ultra fast lens (140mm F1.0) with an ultra large format camera

In short words “this lens is something else”. It’s extremely fast, huge and has a strange focus distance. It was used in Sony CRT Projectors from 1997. I bought it some years ago from a very interesting guy. He had so many more great stuff in his shop and I regret that I did not buy more. It took me some time to find the right opportunity to use that lens. But I think it was worth the waiting. I am glad my friend and former workshop participant Alois Stingl came over with is wonderful ultra large format camera.

Before I could use it, it needed some cleaning, I used a cloth that was soaked with water and just put it on the lens without wiping to avoid more scratches.

with some patience I could clean it.

I measured the lens at infinity to calculate the F-Stop. I measured 135mm and the front element was 145mm That is about a F0.9 lens. But a document I found on the internet told me its more an F 1.0 lens. Still crazy fast.

You can see here how short the focusing distance is. That makes it hard to focus un an ultra large format camera.

When I saw the yellow coating on the front element of the lens, I thought about Mathieu Stern’s video about radioactive lenses. If it really is made of Thorium, it is indeed radioactive, but only for a very small amount. Watch Mathieu’s video to learn more about this Material

Thorium was used to get more light into the lenses back then.

Because the lens is very fast it is still dangerous. If it focuses the sun on something, it will start to burn immediately. That’s the reason you should not put the lens near a window and always put a lens cap on it.

In the video I will show you how easy you can start a fire with that lens

I thought it would be interesting to calculate the crop factor of an 40x50cm ultra large format camera. If you use the common formula to calculate crop factors you will see that this plate size has a crop factor of 0.0067 compared to a full frame sensor. With that you also can calculate the comparable depth of field F-Stop. This would also be F 0.067 compared to F 1.0 on a full frame camera. When I tried to focus on the ground glass, I could barley find something in focus. Thats why you see me focusing for a very long time.

it took quite some time to focus with this very fast lens.
I think this shows pretty well how sensor and plate sizes compare

But there is more. a 140mm lens is a tele lens on a full frame camera, but it’s a wide angle lens on an ultra large format camera. This is because of the bigger plate size of the ULF camera. listen to my full explanation in the video.

My drawing shows in a simple way that the subject needs to be farer away from a full frame sensor the get the same angle of view as the close setup of the ULF camera.

To “connect” the lens to the camera, I designed and printed a basic flange in Tinkercad. It needed some pool line and tape, but eventually it worked out.

I think Tinkercad is one of the most yeas to use tools for 3D printing.
a very basic part, but incredible helpful
No screws, just tape, pool liner and my 3d print. Sounds funny, but worked wonderfully

The next issue was the fact that my darkroom was not made for 40x50cm plates. only for 30x40cm ones. After some tests with smaller plates, we only had one cup of developer left. Beside that, everything starts to get unpleasantly expensive if you pour on plates with this size. So my goal was to make it work with only one attempt. I did some dry runs to get comfortable with everything. Not only the dark room work was something I had to prepare for, but also the camera. These old beauties all have some quirks. Besides that, Alois made a beautiful plate holder by himself. These holder needed also some special attention. But as explained in the video, I love these challenges. It makes the result at the end even more sweet.

To calculate the strobe power I needed, I used my wet plate strobe calculator that I created for my Patreon supporters. Since I made it, I use it all the time for myself, because it makes life much easier with the wet plate process. If you are a fan of analog photography and the wet plate process, have a look at our wet plate conversation magazine on Flipboard. Besides many great stories about our favourite process, you’ll wind there also work from other wet plate artists.

I really like how this portrait turned out. As expected it is very abstract because of the F-Stop and the wide angle lens.Here you can see again how huge that tintype is.

But this is not the end, because of some kind of funny coincidence, a former workshop participant sent me a very similar lens over. I am thinking to do a still life plate with that one. What do you guys think?

Two very similar lenses. Funny how sometimes things turn out.

But there is more, I got also a very tiny lens. I guess I need to build a camera for this one

A full functional lens in the size of a thumb. I haven’t seen such a thing before. What a cutie.

I hope you enjoyed that journey. It took me a long time to finish everything, but I am again glad that I worked through it.

  • Get yourself a beautiful print here: http://prints.mhaustria.com

  • Find all the tools I use here : http://list.mhaustria.com

  • Looking for wet plate gear? http://gear.mhaustria.com

  • Buy me a tea: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/mhaustria

  • Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mhaustria

  • Get cool analog shirts here http://shirts.mhaustria.com
  •  

    Wednesday, December 21st, 2022

    End Of 2022 Studio Tour

    Maybe you missed my exhibition, or you want to come for a portrait or a workshop. Then you have now a chance to walk with me in a brief overview through my studio.

  • Get yourself a beautiful print here: http://prints.mhaustria.com

  • Find all the tools I use here : http://list.mhaustria.com

  • Looking for wet plate gear? http://gear.mhaustria.com

  • Buy me a tea: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/mhaustria

  • Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mhaustria

  • Get cool analog shirts here http://shirts.mhaustria.com
  •  

    Tuesday, January 18th, 2022

    My Strobe gear with a Canon/Rollei/Westcott surprise

    Often people ask me what strobes I use. Thats the reason of todays video. From digital to wet plate, I covered everything. But there is also a little surprise, that might be new for a lot of people. It’s about using the Canon ST-E3-RT remote with Rollei HS Freeze 2s, Westcott FJ200 and Jinbei Strobe. All details in the video and bellow. Find links to all the gear I use here: list.mhaustria.com
    Please check the chapters in the timeline to jump to the part that is interesting for you.

    By accident I figured out that the Rollei HS Freeze 2s and probably the Wetscott FJ200 / Jinbei HD-200 can be controlled with the original Canon ST-E3-RT remote trigger. All these brands have the same looking remote trigger (Westcott FJ-X2m, Jinbei TR-Q7II, Rollei Profi Funksender Mark II) that is advertised to work with Canon, Funji, Nikon, Olympus and any more. The Rollei I have really works well and if you work with different Camera brands, that is a wonderful solution. But after I switched the strobe to RT, I figured, it can be triggered and controlled with the Canon remote. So I called Rollei (they have an excellent service here in Europe) and asked them why I should use their remote to trigger the Rollei strobe and my Canon speedlites, when my Canon remote can do the same. They were surprised noted the remote I use and happily took their remote back. I can use even the integrated master function of the Canon speed lite 600EXRT to trigger the Rollei strobe.


    There are some advantages of the original trigger: The original trigger has the advantages to reduce the strobe power for one more stop, turn beep on and off, turn modelling light on and off and enable freeze mode. But that is nothing I need to do in the field.
    I tested everything only with the Rollei strobe, but I think there is a big chance, that this will also work with the other brands as well.

    Strobes in this video: Canon Speedlite 600EX II RT, Canon Speedlite 430EX III-RT Flash, Canon Speedlite ST-E3-RT Speedlite Transmitter, Westcott FJ200, Rollei HS Freeze 2s, Hensel Expert D 250 Speed, Hensel Integra 1000 plus, Hensel Tria 3000AS Generator, Hensel EH Pro 3000 head, Hensel Tria 6000S Generator, Hensel EH Pro 6000 head

  • Get yourself a beautiful print here: http://prints.mhaustria.com

  • Find all the tools I use here : http://list.mhaustria.com

  • Looking for wet plate gear? http://gear.mhaustria.com

  • Buy me a tea: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/mhaustria

  • Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mhaustria

  • Get cool analog shirts here http://shirts.mhaustria.com
  • Posted by Markus | Filed in collodion, Hensel, review, studio, wetplate | Comment now »

     

    Wednesday, February 3rd, 2021

    wet plate / Nassplatten Workshop WIFI Salzburg

    Today I want to share some impressions of my recent workshop at the WIFI training center in Salzburg. We could do that because of daily testing and wearing masks. I had a great time and met great new people. Thanks to the whole WIFI Salzburg Team for everything!

    For private wetplate workshops contact me here: http://www.markus-hofstaetter.at/pages/kontakt/
    Or book other ones here http://www.markus-hofstaetter.at/pages/workshops/

    Art: http://shop.mhaustria.com

    If you guys want to experience yourself how a tintype is made and own a one of a kind wet plate, please contact me via my website http://wetplate.art

    Don’t forget to subscribe to my Newsletter: https://blog.markus-hofstaetter.at/Newsletter/

     

    Tuesday, August 27th, 2019

    The Rocky Horror Picture Show Wet Plate

    click or scroll down for the English version

    Ich arbeite immer sehr gerne mit der Schauspielerin Glenna Weber. Dieses Mal habe ich sie in der Rolle von „Janet“ aus dem „The Rocky Horror Picture Show“ Musical auf Kollodium Nassplatte festgehalten. Diese Rolle spielte sie der Aufführung in Amstetten. Ich freue mich riesig, dass ich diese Auftragsarbeit mit euch teilen kann. Hier gibt es wieder ein Video und Fotos vom Shooting.

     



    Fine Art Shop: http://www.markus-hofstaetter.at/pages/front_store/


    Nächste workshops: http://www.markus-hofstaetter.at/pages/workshops/


    Für individuelle Workshops kontaktiert mich hier http://www.markus-hofstaetter.at/pages/kontakt/

     

    Wollt ihr selber eine Nassplatte samt Entstehung erleben – kontaktiert mich einfach http://wetplate.art

     

    Wollt ihr immer auf Letztstand sein, benutzt einfach meinen Newsletter ein Newsletter: https://blog.markus-hofstaetter.at/Newsletter/


    English version

    For me it’s always a pleasure to shoot with the Viennese actress Glenna Weber. This time I captured her on colllodion wetplate in the role of Janet from “The Rocky Horror Picture Show“ Musical . She performed in this Musical in Amstetten this year. Happy I can show this commissioned work.



    Fine Art Shop http://www.markus-hofstaetter.at/pages/front_store/

    Upcomming workshops: http://www.markus-hofstaetter.at/pages/workshops/

    For individual workshops please contact me here: http://www.markus-hofstaetter.at/pages/kontakt/

     

    If you guys want to experience yourself how a tintype is made and own a one of a kind wet plate, please contact me via my website http://wetplate.art
     

    Don’t forget to subscribe to my Newsletter: https://blog.markus-hofstaetter.at/Newsletter/
     



     

    Tuesday, July 23rd, 2019

    How I got a black eye and diy with collodion process part II

    click or scroll down for the English version

    Das heutige Videoposting behandelt die folgenden Themen:
    Umbauen eines 8×10 Filmhalters um mit Kolloidem-Nassplatten zu Arbeiten
    Erstellen einer Unterstützung für eine Großformatkamera
    Erstellen einer Objektivunterstützung


     

    Und wie ich zu einem schwarzen Auge gekommen bin bei der Nassplattenfotografie.



    Hier noch die Links zu den verwendeten Produkten (alles selbst gekauft)

    Tisch für die Stichsäge:
    https://www.neutechnik.de

     

    Schrauben für Kamera und Stativ:
    https://www.fotoschraubenshop.de
    https://www.gerdneumann.net/deutsch/imperial-screws-fotoschrauben-fotogewinde.html



    Fine Art Shop: http://www.markus-hofstaetter.at/pages/front_store/


    Nächste workshops: http://www.markus-hofstaetter.at/pages/workshops/


    Für individuelle Workshops kontaktiert mich hier http://www.markus-hofstaetter.at/pages/kontakt/

     

    Wollt ihr selber eine Nassplatte samt Entstehung erleben – kontaktiert mich einfach http://wetplate.art

     

    Wollt ihr immer auf Letztstand sein, benutzt einfach meinen Newsletter ein Newsletter: https://blog.markus-hofstaetter.at/Newsletter/


    English version

    Todays video blog contains the following diy parts:

    Modifying a 8×10 film holder to work with the collodion wet plate process
    Creating a camera support for large format cameras
    Creating a lens support

    And why I got a black eye using the wet plate collodion process.


    Link to the jigsaw table (I bought everything by myself):
    https://www.neutechnik.de

     

    Camera and tripod screws in Europe:
    https://www.fotoschraubenshop.de
    https://www.gerdneumann.net/deutsch/imperial-screws-fotoschrauben-fotogewinde.html

     

    Fine Art Shop http://www.markus-hofstaetter.at/pages/front_store/

    Upcomming workshops: http://www.markus-hofstaetter.at/pages/workshops/

    For individual workshops please contact me here: http://www.markus-hofstaetter.at/pages/kontakt/

     

    If you guys want to experience yourself how a tintype is made and own a one of a kind wet plate, please contact me via my website http://wetplate.art
     

    Don’t forget to subscribe to my Newsletter: https://blog.markus-hofstaetter.at/Newsletter/
     

     

    Wednesday, July 17th, 2019

    Corruption and Lies

    click or scroll down for the English version

    Inspiriert durch Vorkommnisse in der ganzen Welt – Nassplatte 21x27cm


    Makeup Artist: https://www.fiona-luzia.at
    Casting by Das Deck

    Fine Art Shop: http://www.markus-hofstaetter.at/pages/front_store/

    Nächste workshops: http://www.markus-hofstaetter.at/pages/workshops/

    Für individuelle Workshops kontaktiert mich hier http://www.markus-hofstaetter.at/pages/kontakt/

    Wollt ihr selber eine Nassplatte samt Entstehung erleben – kontaktiert mich einfachhttp://wetplate.art

    Wollt ihr immer auf Letztstand sein, benutzt einfach meinen Newsletter ein Newsletter: https://blog.markus-hofstaetter.at/Newsletter/


    English version

    Because the whole political situation around the globe made me sick, I had to express this in a wet plate. I call it “Corruption and Lies”. – collodion wet plate 21x27cm


    Makeup Artist: https://www.fiona-luzia.at
    Casting by Das Deck

    Fine Art Shop http://www.markus-hofstaetter.at/pages/front_store/

    Upcomming workshops: http://www.markus-hofstaetter.at/pages/workshops/

    For individual workshops please contact me here: http://www.markus-hofstaetter.at/pages/kontakt/

    If you guys want to experience yourself how a tintype is made and own a one of a kind wet plate, please contact me via my website http://wetplate.art
     

    Don’t forget to subscribe to my Newsletter: https://blog.markus-hofstaetter.at/Newsletter/
     




     

    Sunday, June 2nd, 2019

    La Gacilly – Veröffentlichung meines Kollodium-Nassplatten-Portraits beim größten Fotofestival Europas

    Click or Scroll down for English Version


    Wir sind stärker! Denn die Zukunft ist weiblich – zu diesem Thema habe ich ein Portrait von der erfolgreichen Schirennläuferin Katharina Gallhuber auf Kollodium Nassplatte (21x27cm) erstellt. Ich bin sehr stolz, dass dieses Portrait mit 24 anderen beim größten Fotofestival Europas ausgestellt wird. Bis 30. September könnt ihr euch die Bilder am Josefsplatz in Baden bei der La Gacilly „HYMNE AN DIE ERDE„ ansehen. Hiermit wird wirklich ein Traum Wirklichkeit, denn diese Ausstellung bietet auf 7 Kilometern Länge Aufnahmen der weltweit besten Fotografen. Danke an die Innung der Berufsfotografen Niederösterreich für diese Möglichkeit. Zusätzlich möchte ich mich auch bei der Firma Berlebach Stativtechnik bedanken, da diese sehr Zeitnah und gerade noch rechtzeitig vor dem Shooting einen Ersatzteil für mein defektes Stativ gefertigt haben.


    Wollt ihr selber eine Nassplatte samt Entstehung erleben – kontaktiert mich einfach hierhttp://wetplate.art


    Nächste Workshops: http://www.markus-hofstaetter.at/pages/workshops/
     

    Für individuelle Workshops kontaktiert mich hier http://www.markus-hofstaetter.at/pages/kontakt/


    Wollt ihr immer auf Letztstand sein, tragt euch in meinen Newsletter ein Newsletter: https://blog.markus-hofstaetter.at/Newsletter/




    English Version



    La Gacilly – my wet plate at the largest photo festival in Europe

    We are stronger! The future is female – for this topic I created a portrait of the successful Austrian ski racer Katharina Gallhuber on a collodion wet plate (21x27cm). I’m very proud that my portrait is exhibited with 24 others at the biggest photo festival in Europe. You can visit this exhibition at the La Gacilly “Hymn to the Earth” in Baden (Austria) until September 30. That is a dream come true for me, because this exhibition features images of the worlds bests photographers at a length of 7 Kilometers. Thanks a lot to the lower Austrian professional association of photographers for the chance to be a part of this. And additionally, a special thanks to Berlebach Stativtechnik. They build a needed replacement part just in time before the shooting for my broken tripod.

    If you guys want to experience yourself how a tintype is made and own a one of a kind wet plate, please contact me via my website http://wetplate.art


    Upcomming workshops: http://www.markus-hofstaetter.at/pages/workshops/
     
    For individual workshops please contact me here: http://www.markus-hofstaetter.at/pages/kontakt/


    Don’t forget to subscribe to my Newsletter: https://blog.markus-hofstaetter.at/Newsletter/


     

    Thursday, March 21st, 2019

    Collodion Wetplate Passport Photo

    Scroll down for English Version
     

     

    Passfotos auf Kollodium-Nassplatte könnt ihr euch ab jetzt bei mir machen lassen – sind zwar nicht EU-konform, dafür gibt es eine Spaßgarantie 😉
    Die Kamera wird höchstwahrscheinlich auch beim nächsten Workshop im Einsatz sein: http://www.markus-hofstaetter.at/pages/kollodium-nassplattenworkshop-in-wien/

     

    Kurzer Funfact für Fotografiebegeisterte:

     

    Die Lichtschwachen Objektive (Blende 8 ) der Polaroid Miniportrait Kamera in Verbindung mit einer Lichtempfindlichkeit von ca. ISO 0,5 der Nassplatte waren doch eine größere Herausforderung als gedacht.

     

    Die volle Leistung des Hensel Tria 6000 Generators mit dem Grand Mini 85 reichte gerade eben noch aus um eine korrekte Belichtung zu gewährleisten. Mein Sekonic Belichtungsmesser zeigte Blende 18 bei ISO 3 (einen kleineren Wert kann man leider nicht einstellen) an. Das sind also 2 1/3 Blenden mehr als F8, womit ich auf ca. ISO 0,5 komme 🙂

     

    Zum Glück steht im Schrank noch ein Tria 3000, damit sollte beim nächsten Passfoto mehr Kreativität möglich sein 😉

     v


     

     
    Mehr von meiner Arbeit auf meine Webseite: http://www.markus-hofstaetter.at
     
    Für Neuigkeiten, tragt euch in meinen Newsletter einNewsletter: https://blog.markus-hofstaetter.at/Newsletter/

     
     
    English Version
       
    Passport photos on collodion wet plates are something you can order now in my studio. They are for sure not EU standard, but a lot of fun.
    The Camera will probably be part during my next workshop: http://www.markus-hofstaetter.at/pages/kollodium-nassplattenworkshop-in-wien/

     

    Fun fact for photographers:

    The not so fast lenses (F8) on the Polaroid Miniportrait Camera in combination with a very low ISO wet plate (0.5) were very challenging.

    My Hensel Tria 6000 Generator with the Grand Mini 85 was at full power to just get the exposure right. My Seconic lightmeter measured F18 with the lowest ISO it can measure (ISo 3). If you deduct this 2 1/3 stops from ISO 3 oit matches nearly the ISO 0.5 on a wet plate 😉

     
    Check out more of my work on my website http://www.markus-hofstaetter.at
     

    Don’t forget to subscribe to my Newsletter: https://blog.markus-hofstaetter.at/Newsletter/
     

     

    Tuesday, July 31st, 2018

    Eyecosm – getting close to the eye

    Scroll down for English Version
     
    Die Augen des Menschen haben mich schon bei Porträts fasziniert. Deshalb habe ich schon in früheren Projekten Makros vom Auge gemacht. Bei diesem Projekt gehe ich noch einen Schritt weiter und gehe von der Macrofotografie in die Richtung Microfotografie.
    Augen so nahe abzulichten ist um einiges schwieriger, als ich mir vorgestellt habe. Auch wenn die ersten Erfolge vielversprechend aussehen, ist es noch ein langer Weg bis ich den Prozess dazu perfektioniert habe. Sobald die Ergebnisse konstanter werden, werde ich darüber in einer bekannten Fotografiezeitschrift darüber schreiben.
     
    Die ersten Ergebnisse könnt ihr auf der webseite http://www.eyecosm.com sehen.
     
    Hier eine Nahaufnahme von einer Blaugrauen menschlichen Iris.
     

     
    Mehr von meiner Arbeit auf meine Webseite: http://www.markus-hofstaetter.at
     
    Für Neuigkeiten, tragt euch in meinen Newsletter einNewsletter: https://blog.markus-hofstaetter.at/Newsletter/

     
    English Version
     
    Eyes did always fascinate me. That is the reason, that I did macro shots of them some years ago. But this project is pretty different. This time I go more in the direction of micro photography. To capture eyes that close is much more difficult as I thought in the first place. There is a lot improve, Even the first results are promising. As soon as I get more constant in my work, I will write about the whole process in a well-known German photography magazine.
     
    You can find the first results on http://www.eyecosm.com
     
    Here you can find a very closeup of blue-gray human iris.
     


     

    Check out mor of my work on my website http://www.markus-hofstaetter.at
     

    Don’t forget to subscribe to my Newsletter: https://blog.markus-hofstaetter.at/Newsletter/
     

    Posted by Markus | Filed in eye, heise, Hensel, macro, micro, photography, studio | Comment now »