In modern photography, the “Petzval Mod” is a camera lens hack that will turn a dull, run-of-the-mill Soviet camera lens into a dreamy, kaleidoscopic master shooter. The modification will provide a surreal, swirly background field, or bokeh, that envelops the center subject. To put it in basic terms, you need a HELIOS 44-2 common 35mm…
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Can my Pentacon Six TL handle a Saratoga, Corinth & Hudson Railroad shooting day?
This is the day. Pentacon Six TL “full debut day.” Because on this day, I am going to put this medium format East German camera through its paces. I’ve already run tests and trials … now let’s see if it can act like a camera that’s worthy of staying in my arsenal. I’ve packed several…
Read MoreThe first test shots with my new-to-me Meyer-Optik Görlitz Orestegor/Pentacon f/5.6 500mm lens
So the Meyer-Optik Görlitz Orestegor f/5.6 500mm lens arrived last Monday night. And let me say something about this lens. IT IS BIG. It measures nearly 16 inches from camera to front element. And it’s HEAVY AS ANYTHING. I could do barbell curls with it. And that lens cap? It barely stays in place. I’m…
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Tubes and meters, meters and tubes
Yes, I picked up some new attachments for my Pentacon Six TL medium format camera. And it goes right on top. This complicated gizmo is actually a through-the-lens (TTL) metering prism, which will allow me to get accurate light readings and adjust my camera settings accordingly. I have to adjust the dials on the top…
Read MoreGetting a Meyer-Optik Görlitz Orestegor/Pentacon f/5.6 500mm lens for my Pentacon Six TL
I’ve been pleasantly surprised with the photos coming from my new-to-me Pentacon Six TL medium format camera. The images are sharp, the chassis is strong, and I’m feeling more comfortable using this bad boy. So now I need to invest in some additional lenses. Because, honestly, the 80mm f/2.8 Carl Zeiss Jena Biometar kit lens…
Read MoreThe Pentacon Six TL goes to the harness track
In an effort to make my Pentacon Six TL camera more functional and versatile, I wanted to test its ability to handle fast sports action. And right now, the best case for “fast sports action” for me is a visit to the Saratoga Harness race track. I packed a roll of expired Kodak Portra 800…
Read MoreResults with the new digital scanner
Last week, I blogged about purchasing a new digital scanner for my film negatives. I had hoped that this new scanner – which involves capturing the photos on a miniature backlit light table with my cell phone, then using various software platforms to convert the negative into a positive – would improve my photography productivity…
Read MoreIs the Lomography DigitaLIZA+ film scanner my new film-to-digital replacement?
Point of clarification. I shoot with both digital and film gear. And when I shoot film, I usually give my pro labs the direction to scan the developed negatives and give me digital copies of those scans. On other instances, I’ll take the negatives and scan them in my flatbed scanner. Which … unfortunately ……
Read MoreThe Moon Trail Eclipse Photos
It’s the early morning hours of March 14, 2025. And if I’m going to pull this off, I must prepare like crazy. Clear, cloudless night. Or as cloudless as I can achieve. Equipment at the ready. I’ve got a pack of Kodak Tri-X 400 black and white film packed into my Pentacon Six TL camera,…
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Redscale Shooting in the Pentacon Six TL
After I had it tuned and cleaned and buffed and waxed by my camera tech Allan at CameraWorks in Waterford, my new-to-me Pentacon Six TL – which at this moment does NOT have a nickname – is ready for its first roll of post-tune-up film. And for this test run, I’ve packed a spool of…
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Chuck The Writer 
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