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which give prices. Thanks for your cooperation!
I sent copies of photographs
of the type of device you wrote Shutterbug’s HELP! column about
(a question published in July 1999 issue inquiring about a solenoid
device for activating a cable release). This device was made by Heiland
Research and was part of a complete synchroflash unit. The other tripper
they supplied was the one you most likely will find. It screwed to the
lensboard of a press type camera and operated the opposite of this one,
it pulled the tripper on the shutter to fire the shutter. Now, for the
bad news. This device is at least a half-century old and I have had
mine more years than I can recall or want to admit. Where can you get
one? Copy a couple of the pictures and start walking. Try all the camera
stores in your area. Ask them if they have a “junk box”
(that’s where I got mine). Unfortunately, it seems that in many
stores “junk boxes” have a new name “collectibles”--complete
with price increases far afield from the true worth of the item. If
you are unsuccessful locally, don’t despair, try some of the advertisers
in Shutterbug, e.g.: Brooklyn Camera Exchange; Del’s Camera; Wall
Street Camera; Midwest Photo Exchange; etc. If you find the item, try
to get the battery case that was used with it. If you are successful
in your quest, your problems will have just begun. The connecting cord
takes a special terminal fitting. Try Radio Shack’s power cord
department. You will have to splice it anyway so it doesn’t really
matter what’s on the other end, but if it is a standard male terminal
plug, so much the better because as I recall that is what fit the battery
case. If the plug is polarized you will have to file the polarized prong
to fit. If you have the battery case you will know how many 1.5v batteries
it takes and the amount of voltage the solenoid can handle. I have used
a 6v lantern battery on mine because I used a very thin wire and the
thinner the wire, the higher the resistance therefore the greater the
voltage drop exacerbated by the length of the wire. I hope this has
been of some help to you.
Jim O’Reilly
San Francisco, CA
Although I immediately mailed
the above letter to Gary Garvens, New Braunfels, Texas who sent the
first inquiry, I’m also going to print it since the suggestions
are valid and we have had several other readers recently asking about
remote control devices to fire their camera electrically from a distance.
I also wanted to let other readers know exactly how helpful some of
our readers can be in supplying an answer to a question that might have
stumped one of us so-called “experts” who attempt to answer
reader questions. Besides, I have always contended that photographers
are some of the most sharing individuals I know since they typically
go far out of their way to assist fellow photographers when they have
a problem or question. Not only did O’Reilly take the time to
write his quite good suggestions on how to find this solenoid, he also
included photos of the unit. I would like to thank him for the extra
effort he went to on this question. He was nice enough to put a P.S.
on his letter saying “Love the column. Please keep up the good
work.” It’s people like him that provide additional resource
assistance and ideas that make our job compiling this column so rewarding
to us.
Robert E. Mayer
Q. I buy computer
and musical equipment through two different catalogs (Damark and Musicians
Friend). These companies bill my credit card in six or 10 month installments
and charge no interest for this service. My first payment is billed
when I place the order, and each subsequent payment comes due 30 days
apart until the full amount is paid. I would like to find a photographic
equipment retailer who does the same, but no one I’ve contacted
has knowledge of this type of financing. I’ve been able to make
major purchases this way with computers and musical products and would
like to expand my photographic equipment inventory this way. Do you,
or your readers, retailers, or equipment manufacturers know of anyone
who finances this way? Thank you.
John Pritchett
WHAM! Photography
1604 Southeast 241/2 Ave.
Mineral Wells, TX 76067
A.
This sounds like an ideal way to purchase something and defer the total
cost while the item is making some income for you. I’m sorry,
but I honestly don’t know of any photographic retailer that offers
this type of credit, but since I don’t get involved with this
type of credit purchasing, I don’t have any need to know. So,
we will print your full mailing address so if any reader or retailer
who knows of this type of deferred finance charge is available on photographic
products can contact you directly. I’m sure if any photo retailers
do offer this type of credit service that they will get in touch with
you to solicit your business.
Q. Do you know who
sells or makes diazochrome polyester color films? My 1980’s source
was James River Graphics, South Hadley, Massachusetts, under the product
name Technifax Diazochrome Polyester Color Film. It was available in
26 colors but is apparently no longer available. Do you know of anyone
who may sell diazochrome film today? I need to know the sizes, colors,
and prices of currently available diazochrome material. Thanks for your
help.
Robert Green
PO Box 3147
Weehawken, NJ 07087
A. Sorry,
but I have not heard of diazochrome film material for over 20 years
and really don’t have any clue where to guide you in your search.
We will print your full mailing address so any firm or individual who
knows of a current source for this material can contact you directly.
We hope this assists in your quest.
Q. I recently purchased
a Minolta Autometer IIIF at a yard sale for $20, and it works. The problem
is, there was no instruction manual included. I contacted Minolta, but
instructions for this model are no longer available. Can anyone help
me with a manual or a copy of one?
Kevin Parker
Chatsworth, GA
A. Manufacturers
cannot keep instructions in stock for all of their older equipment.
When this is the situation, some of the best sources for this type of
instruction information are these two firms. One is John S. Craig, Box
1637, Torrington, CT 06790; (860) 496-9791. Another firm specializing
in older instructions and repair manuals is Finger Lakes Photo Books,
PO Box 1002, Elbridge, NY 13060; (315) 251-3661. You can contact them
at flpbks@localnet.com or www.fotomall.com/ flpbks.htm We hope one or
the other will help you get your Minolta Autometer IIIF operating.
Q. I want to start
taking pictures of the moon, but I can’t seem to get enough light
into the lens. Is there some aperture/f/stop combination that I don’t
know about? Please help me out. Thanks in advance.
Tim Adams
via Internet
A. Sorry
for the delay, but I had to check with a local friend who is knowledgeable
on the subject to obtain a valid answer for you. He has his own observatory
in his backyard for his personal use in documenting the heavens. He
printed out the following data to assist you. He said you would need
an 800-1000mm lens to see detail in moon images or a “T”
adapter to use your camera with a telescope. “Because the moon
changes phase, lunar exposures vary over a wide range but all are shorter
than you might think--after all, the moon is just a large sunlit rock.
For shots of the full moon a good starting point is 1/60 with ISO 50
film. This assumes a f/ratio of f/11 (close to the f/10 focal ratio
of many Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes). If you have a f/16 telescope
you would use 1/30 sec. Phases less than full require more exposure.
There is a simple rule to follow. Each phase less than full requires
a doubling of exposure. If 1/60 works for a full moon, then 1/30 should
be fine for a gibbous moon. A first or last quarter moon will require
1/15 sec, while a wide crescent such as a five or six-day-old moon will
need 1/8 sec. A thin crescent needs the longest exposure, about 1/4
through 1/2 sec wouldn’t hurt. For more information about lunar
photography, see Staging a Moon Shot, August 1992 Astronomy.”
I trust that this data will assist you in your lunar photography.
Q. I have a roll
of 126 Kodacolor C-22 process film that I would like developed. I understand
the difficulty in view of its antiquity, however I believe the HELP!
column will find a processor, somewhere, if one indeed exists. Thank
you for your attention.
Robert Cusenz
Hilton, NY
A.
There are still a few labs that can gear up to run old discontinued
C-22 color negative film formats. Those on my address listing include:
Kolor Print, Inc., 2121 Thayer St., Little Rock, AR 72202, (501) 375-5581;
Rocky Mountain Film Lab, 145 Madison St., Denver, CO 80206, (303) 399-6444;
and Sundance Photo, Industrial Drive, Jackson, WI 53037, (800) 558-7818,
(414) 342-5678. I would suggest you first contact the lab to determine
if they still do process C-22 film and ask their cost and turn around
time. The last time I checked it was $10 to $20 per roll for development
and processing which might be more than you care to spend. If none of
these labs can assist you call the Kodak hotline at (800) 242-2424 and
ask if they have any additional lab suggestions. By the way, I understand
that B&H Photo in New York City does offer current Kodak Gold 200
film in 126 format if you need film for an old 126 camera.
Q. I have recently
come across various German lenses from manufacturers that no longer
seem to be in business. Is there any way to contacting Heintz Kilfitt
of Munich, Steinheil of Munich, Schacht of Ulm, or Hugo Meyer of Gorlitz?
Were these companies incorporated into any existing lens manufacturers
of today or are they gone in the way of the classic Leica and Exacta
cameras they fit? Any information about these companies would be appreciated.
Gary Hill
4062 Lancaster Dr.
Sarasota, FL 34241
A.
I too remember all of these lens companies and still have some lenses
made by them in my collection. I have not heard of any of them for many
years. I checked the extensive exhibitor catalog from the last (1998)
photokina trade show which is held in Cologne every two years, but did
not find any of these firms listed as exhibitors or under the trademark
listing. I’m at a loss of where else to look or determine if any
of these firms have been incorporated into present-day firms under another
name. Just in case a reader might be able to assist you in tracking
them down, we will print your full mailing address so they can contact
you directly. I’m sorry we cannot provide any positive leads or
guidance for your quest. Good luck.
Q. I’d like
to purchase a De Vere 540 enlarger. I know that Odyssey Sales in England
traded it and that in the U.S.A. TruTrak works closely with Odyssey.
I don’t have any more information, address or telephone. Please
help me find TruTrak or Odyssey. Thank you.
Leon T. Chudziak
Mission Viejo, CA
A.
I found a listing in a master photo reference guide for TruTrak Imaging
Equipment, Sitte America, Inc., 806 Crystal Ave., Denton, MD 21629;
(410) 479-0003. I know I have seen photofinishing processing equipment
at Sitte exhibits at trade shows, so I feel sure this firm might also
handle enlargers. My 1998 photokina trade show catalog lists De Vere
Sales, 32A Godstone Rd., Caterham, Surrey CR3-CRA Great Britain; (18
83) 33 08 00; fax: (18 83) 34 70 86. Hopefully one or the other of these
firms will be able to point you in the right direction for locating
the enlarger you seek.
Q. I am a free-lance
photographer who would like to do my own duplicating work. I have bought
a duplicating device that is attached to the camera. The duplicates
are not as sharp as I would like them to be, and I am severely limited
in making changes to the original image. I am looking for a slide duplicator
that is capable of making sharp, high quality duplicates that can also
be cropped. My slides are used in photo competition shows and are usually
sent through the mail to various locations. One of the main reasons
for wanting to make duplicates is to save my originals from damage or
loss through the mail. I do not see many advertisements for duplicating
devices that have the versatility to make the kind of changes that would
satisfy my needs. The only sophisticated device I see advertised is
one made by Beseler, which I cannot afford. What I wanted to do was
buy a copy stand and light box (color corrected) and use my camera with
a 50mm macro lens. I would like to use filters for color correction,
preferably the type of filters that are used in dichroric enlarger heads.
Can I purchase this kind of filter system without the enlarger head?
I would appreciate advice or suggestions on what path to follow.
Al Sauber
Selden, NY
A. Yours
is a rather common situation but is difficult to answer, especially
within the limited text confines of HELP! replies. I did an article
on duplicating five or so years ago in Shutterbug when I tried out some
duplicating attachments made by Adorama. As you have discovered, it
is difficult to make a top quality duplicate slide that is critically
sharp and especially so when you want to do some cropping and/or color
correction. If you try to use normal camera slide film you get undesirable
added contrast. So, in addition to needing a proper device to do this
you really need special low contrast slide duplicating film which is
made by Kodak and Fuji for standard E-6 processing. It is offered in
cassettes but sometimes is only available in 100’ lengths that
you have to bulk load into cassettes. In addition, the film is so specialized
that there are two different versions from Kodak--one for Kodachrome
and another for Ekta-chrome originals. A roll of Ektachrome Slide Duplicating
Film Type K/8071 for Kodachrome originals that I pulled out of my freezer
requires a No. 2B Wratten gelatin filter and a trial tungsten illumination
exposure of 1 sec at f/11 to f/16. You can also use electronic flash
light, but with a different filter pack. For further information on
duplicating slides there is a Kodak Publication No. E-38. I realize
this barely touches the surface of this complex subject, but it just
is more than we can easily answer in this column.
