Lomo Instax Wide 4x5 Test With Range-Finder

Donald Qualls · Feb 27, 2022

I think this will work on an Annie; worst case, if my bed rail is narrower, I might have to glue a strip of something into the groove that rides the rail, of if narrower, take a coarse file to the edge. Critical is the right angle between groove and rear edge, and the distance from the front edge that touches the stop and the rear edge that touches the standard. Liked, collected, and now off to download. Nice viewfinder mask, too...

Donald Qualls · Feb 27, 2022

Ugh.

Apparently, my browser (SeaMonkey) and/or Thingiverse have made some changes when i wasn't looking. Even with no installed ad blocker at all, Thingiverse will not allow me to download any file until I disable my ad blocker. Apparently they're now yet another site that no longer recognizes standards-compliant browsers, but insists I use the one with their required extensions or features (like most of the world designed pages around Internet Explorer years ago). And Thingiverse doesn't have any form of user contact to even ask about it...

Ironically, FireFox does a much more complete job of blocking their ads -- but fools them into thinking it hasn't, so i'm able to download with that browser...

urnem57 · Feb 19, 2023

Checking back in on this thread. I have finally ordered The Lomo Back and the shim from Brooklyn Film Camera. They should be here this week and I will start playing with them.
I had no issues downloading the 3D printing files, so if you still need them I can send them to you.
This will be fun and looks like there's a lot to learn, as I primarily use my Speed Graphic with an Aero Ektar.

Cholentpot · Feb 19, 2023

urnem57 said:
Checking back in on this thread. I have finally ordered The Lomo Back and the shim from Brooklyn Film Camera. They should be here this week and I will start playing with them.
I had no issues downloading the 3D printing files, so if you still need them I can send them to you.
This will be fun and looks like there's a lot to learn, as I primarily use my Speed Graphic with an Aero Ektar.

I just used a few packs of Instax with my Crown Graphic. The info floating around online about how the stuff should be rated at ISO640? I found that to be untrue. The stuff does not like over exposure at all.

I never got a chance to use the back with the rangefinder. My RF is outa whack and I can't adjust it m'self. I've been using it locked down with the GG.

xya · Feb 20, 2023

Cholentpot said:
I just used a few packs of Instax with my Crown Graphic. The info floating around online about how the stuff should be rated at ISO640? I found that to be untrue. The stuff does not like over exposure at all.

I never got a chance to use the back with the rangefinder. My RF is outa whack and I can't adjust it m'self. I've been using it locked down with the GG.

I would rate Instax film under median circumstances the 800 ISO given by the manufacturer. In situation with very much light like sunny weather on a beach it behaves like 1600 ISO. And in low light it's the opposite, it's about 400 ISO. The only camera that can really cope with this behavior is the expensive Mint RF70, second batch (not the first founders edition) They worked hard on it https://www.instantphoto.eu/other/mint_instantkon_rf70.htm But if you adjust your meter to the circumstaces, it will turn out fine.

urnem57 · Feb 20, 2023

Good info, thanks!

Cholentpot · Feb 20, 2023

xya said:
I would rate Instax film under median circumstances the 800 ISO given by the manufacturer. In situation with very much light like sunny weather on a beach it behaves like 1600 ISO. And in low light it's the opposite, it's about 400 ISO. The only camera that can really cope with this behavior is the expensive Mint RF70, second batch (not the first founders edition) They worked hard on it https://www.instantphoto.eu/other/mint_instantkon_rf70.htm But if you adjust your meter to the circumstaces, it will turn out fine.

I can see 1600 on the beach. I use a few handheld meters at 800 and the photos came out pretty good. The film doesn't like to be back lit either.

Donald Qualls · Feb 21, 2023

Cholentpot said:
The film doesn't like to be back lit either.

Mostly it doesn't like high scene brightness range. It's as if it's already in reciprocity failure even at 1/100 shutter speed. If you've got direct, unfiltered sun and deep shadows in the same frame, one of the two won't be exposed within the film's range.

Cholentpot · Feb 21, 2023

Donald Qualls said:
Mostly it doesn't like high scene brightness range. It's as if it's already in reciprocity failure even at 1/100 shutter speed. If you've got direct, unfiltered sun and deep shadows in the same frame, one of the two won't be exposed within the film's range.

But, if you go artistic you can use this shortcoming to interesting results.

Donald Qualls · Feb 21, 2023

Cholentpot said:
But, if you go artistic you can use this shortcoming to interesting results.

Certainly you can -- silhouettes and burned-out skies are legitimate choices.

Lomo Instax Wide 4x5 Test With Range-Finder

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