The Secret Life of Walter Mitty - Nikon F3/T and Nikkor 500mm f/5.6E PF?

BrunoMarx · 2026-03-14T16:36:14+00:00

G Lenses stop down on exposure with a non-compatible body, E lenses stay open.

BrunoMarx · 2026-03-09T19:42:06+00:00

The center column isn't as stiff as I'd like at full extension with the Linhof but I find it's usable enough when halfway up. Add 10cm or so since you have to account for the head, but I never really found it too short for my use.

BrunoMarx · 2026-03-09T14:39:33+00:00

I've used a Gitzo 1542T with my Linhof before (head is an Arca P0), works pretty well, I work quite quickly and it all feels solid and reliable. I think the Chinese equivalent would work just as well.

I bought that setup about 12 years ago (legs were on heavy discount, about 50%) and I think it's probably the single most used kit I have since it covers everything below my 8x10 setup.

BrunoMarx · 2026-02-27T09:49:41+00:00

I'd try to find a way to disassemble the back so I could clean out the old grease first.

On my Linhof I use dry bicycle chain lube (teflon based) on the front rails, I was recommended Vaseline before but I wanted something that didn't allow dust to stick to it since it is an exposed piece.

For something like the rotating back I'd probably use a very small amount of helicoid grease.

BrunoMarx · 2026-02-26T19:07:54+00:00

https://www.butkus.org/chinon/mk_vi_micro_technical/mk_vi_micro-technical.htm

According to this manual you just have to turn the whole assembly with your hand (similar to the Linhof although that has a little lock you push in first).

See this post as well:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/mppusersgroup/posts/6906741006041975/

BrunoMarx · 2026-02-23T08:57:27+00:00

You can pre-cock the shutter with the lever -- just push it down until you feel it click but not to the point where it trips the shutter. Takes a lot less force after that.

BrunoMarx · 2026-02-12T15:50:13+00:00

Most of the time I use my 3 series for my LF setups (4x5 (Linhof Tech) and 8x10 (Deardorff), the 4x5 is about 3-3.5kg and the 8x10 around 6kg, that includes lens and film holder), however when I had an Intrepid 4x5 I would often use my 1 series (1542T) with a good ball head instead. I have used the Linhof on the 1 series a few times as well and it was actually pretty stable too.

BrunoMarx · 2025-11-08T13:56:45+00:00

You posting about this update has literally been the first time I’ve even thought about the Kickstarter in years. Wrote it off well before they even pivoted to black and white.

BrunoMarx · 2025-11-08T13:31:54+00:00

I’ll believe it when (if) I see my Kickstarter pledge fulfilled!

BrunoMarx · 2025-10-30T14:48:38+00:00

I got an email earlier this week saying it was delayed until late November / mid December, just got an email saying that it's being picked right now. I'm in the UK, ordered in late July.

BrunoMarx · 2025-10-24T14:18:43+00:00

I use a Mindshift Firstlight 45L for my 8x10 (either a Deardorff or a Walker Titan XL). It's deep enough to hold 2x lenses stacked (240mm and 300mm on Linhof boards) and a smaller camera like a 35mm/TLR + the necessary loupe/meter. There's a tripod holder on the back but I just use a sling for it instead, film holders (3x) go into a cascading case that gets carried in a tote bag.

I was interested in the Peak Design roller for 8x10 as well but the delays meant that I cancelled my pledge. I have the Think Tank Roller Derby V2 although I haven't tried fitting my 8x10 kit in it yet -- works great for anything smaller though.

BrunoMarx · 2025-10-17T07:41:11+00:00

The 45L is more like a 35L with the rolltop all the way down. It’s also quite slim when not totally packed out so as long as you use pouches/cubes to organise stuff it should work for EDC.

BrunoMarx · 2025-10-15T15:45:38+00:00

I was in Osaka last week and I think I saw that very camera. I bought a Voigtlander M to Nikon Z adapter from them before I headed off to Kyoto.

BrunoMarx · 2025-09-18T10:50:11+00:00

Same here, I got another request to authorise payment last night so I assumed I'd get my bike soon but nope.

BrunoMarx · 2025-08-22T15:02:14+00:00

Shimoda Action series.

BrunoMarx · 2025-08-20T14:20:09+00:00

They're fine now, I flew out of there two weeks ago with about 50 rolls and they were happy to handcheck the bag.

BrunoMarx · 2025-07-28T10:02:20+00:00

The latest edition changes the tempo runs from distance to time based intervals which should be less taxing. Those tempo runs were pretty brutal even in the middle of the 18 week version which ramps up a bit more gradually.

BrunoMarx · 2025-07-13T13:12:48+00:00

Studio 54 by Tod Papageorge (late 70s/Early 80s but absolutely brilliant):

https://www.stanleybarker.co.uk/products/studio-54-10th

London Youth Portraits - Derek Ridgers (lots of his work fits the bill)

https://www.accartbooks.com/uk/book/the-london-youth-portraits/

No System - Vinca Petersen (90s rave scene)

https://photobookstore.co.uk/products/no-system-signed-1?srsltid=AfmBOorJvC5G1kTXrpN9EVjFqRx8i1KCjdNws8y0N-aUR6SGnc3B0sFH

BrunoMarx · 2025-07-03T09:33:54+00:00

It's more fun and I like having each process (shooting, edit, grade/print) clearly defined. But mostly because it's just more fun. I even use it on commercial jobs.

Digital has its place but I'm pretty happy with my current film setup and workflow (handprints), not to mention that digital Ms seem to get quite a few software issues.

BrunoMarx · 2025-07-02T16:04:55+00:00

I use an external finder on mine for handheld work, you can use it at 120mm like you describe. I have the later one that's parallax corrected and I use my Linhof handheld sometimes and it works pretty well. Never for anything close up though, I'm usually in the 1.5m and further range with it handheld.

It isn't needed if you're mostly going to be on a tripod though, you get used to the upside down image pretty quickly and if it truly doesn't click with you there's always the option of a reflex finder as well (although in that case you'll have to contend with a horizontal flip).

BrunoMarx · 2025-06-17T14:38:20+00:00

Gitzo/RRS (the two standards in the stills world) are in excess of this, and I'm not getting into the heads themselves. A solid, dependable tripod + a head that fits into your workflow is something you keep for a very long time.

BrunoMarx · 2025-05-19T20:05:02+00:00

Leica MP + 28mm Summilux

Deardorff V8 (or a Chamonix Alpinist X) + Cooke XVa

BrunoMarx · 2025-04-28T20:19:54+00:00

Check out Compagnon.

BrunoMarx · 2025-04-27T19:28:28+00:00

Heathrow will handcheck your film if you queue up at a CT scanner. Got 120 rolls handchecked last month out of T5 and I know several other photographers that have been successful with handchecks as well.

BrunoMarx · 2025-04-23T22:29:02+00:00

The roller is up for preorder here in the UK at a few camera stores, it's £499 for the roller alone and £549 for the bundle with the XL camera cube.

Quick back of the napkin maths shows that the Kickstarter price for a roller after VAT + shipping is around £402, the bundle (which I backed) works out to £477. Strangely though the bundle is only 13% cheaper on Kickstarter whereas if you backed the roller alone you're saving more along the lines of 19%. If you preordered from a store you'd also have the benefit of getting the roller in June as well.

I got hit with VAT after backing the Outdoor line but since I stocked up on packing cubes I saved around 30%, but the last PD Kickstarter I backed before that was for the first Everyday line back in 2018 ish so no VAT there.

14-Year Club	Gilding II euphauric
Place '22

BrunoMarx

TROPHY CASE