Today he has simplified his approach to photography
and prefers to use his new Ebony SV5X7U2E for location photography,
and his Sinar P 5X7 for studio work.

5X7 is his format of preference, using Kodak or Ilford film,
processed in 510 Pyro or Pyro Rollo developer.

He prints all his enlarged images on Ilford or Bergger paper,
using Ansco 130 (personal modification) as a developer.

All his exhibition prints are processed to archival
museum standards using non-acid fixers for maximum print life.

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Here is his opinion on cameras he uses or has used in the past:

Speed Graphic, 4X5
Built like a tank. An easy camera to use. Due to its low cost you can bring it anywhere.
Some of my first shots ever were taken with a Speed Graphic
and a 135mm Ektar lens (which is a terrific lens!).
Drawback: Somewhat limited swings and tilts. No movement on back.
Advantages: Inexpensive. Compact. Built a focal plane shutter allows use of barrel lenses.
Easy to use.

Linhof Kardan B.
Probably the finest view camera ever built. Machined to perfection. Not too expensive today.
Parts may be somewhat difficult to find.
Drawback: The version I had did not allow a Polaroid holder to be used in landscape format.
This has been corrected by inserting an adapter on the rear frame. Somewhat heavy.
Mono rail does not fold away in a compact manner.
Advantages: Precision. Micrometer drives on shift - front and rear. Butter smooth focusing.

Deardorff 8X10:
A very beautiful camera, a classic. Easy to transport.
Drawback: No shift on front or rear standard; something that is an absolute necessity in my opinion,
especially when shooting close ups. (Shift can be done by rotating camera,
then swinging front and rear standards.
A double move that can be more time consuming.)
Drawbacks: No shift. Flimsy at long extensions and with large lenses. Hated the locking knobs.
Advantages: Easy to pack. Tough. Simple.

Sinar P and P2:
All cameras should function this way. Swings and tilts are incredibly easy to use. Self locking.
Never again a lock that has been forgotten. All movements micrometer drive.
Drawbacks: Heavy. Does not transport well. For long extensions a double support is required.
Advantages: Large Sinar system. This camera functions the way view cameras should.
F-stop scale allows precision setting of f-stop. Micrometer drives on all movements.
Asymmetric swings and tilts. Large number of special parts, allowing view camera precision
for all cameras from 35mm - 2 1/4 - 4X5 - 5X7 - 8X10 - and home made / special built 11X14 backs.

Sinar C:
A hybrid, lighter weight version of Sinar P. Same advantages, same disadvantages,
although lighter weight.

Linhof Kardan GT:
Linhof Presion. very similar camera to Linhof Kardan B, except no micrometer drive
on shift function.
Drawbacks: Heavy. Cost. Not built as well as Kardan B.
Advantages: Large Linhof system. All movements.

Linhof Kardan Standard 4X5:
Great "little" camera, Inexpensive and straight forward to use.
Drawbacks: Fixed length monorail. Does not fold as flat as a field camera, but close... No base tilts.
Advantages: Cheap, quick and easy to use.

Burke & James 5X7:
A light weight 5X7 camera that transports well.
Drawbacks: not very precise - needs clamps to hold bed flat solid.
Advantages: Cheap. Light weight.

Leicaflex SL = solid, easy to use.
Leicaflex R6 = solid, easy to use.
Leica m4-2 = solid as a brick - stealth camera
Leica m5 = solid as a brick - stealth camera, very accurate meter
Leica m6 = solid as a brick - stealth camera, very accurate meter
Leica R8 a solid well built camera!!!

Nikon F = a workhorse
Nikon F3 = another workhorse, with a few not so good plastic parts

Hasselblad 500C, 500CM, 500ELM = great cameras, great system!

Rollei 6001 = so far the finest medium format camera.
Very well designed. Fast and easy to use. Filmbacks very fast loading.

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THE ULTIMATE CAMERAS for the large format portrait and
landscape photographer: The Ebony SV810UE and the Ebony SV5X7U2E

These cameras have asymmetric swings and tilts similar the the Sinar P, have long bellows,
are extremely stable (zero vibrations) and are incredibly well made out of Indonesian Ebony
and machined Titanium.

Quite simply put: There is no competition from any other camera manufacturer in the world!

These are the kinds of cameras you purchase and keep for a lifetime.
According to Hiromi Sakanashi - the photographer / designer / owner of Ebony Camera
should anything go wrong with the camera from accidents etc.
the cameras (actually any Ebony camera) can be restored
by the factory to NEW condition.

The cameras do cost a lot of money but are not expensive when you look at the
design / features / craftsmanship / finish. ANY quality tool costs money.
In the long run these cameras may in fact be inexpensive as they will ensure
flawless performance for years to come.
All it takes is one missed image due to problems on a lesser camera
and the Ebony may have paid for itself.
Quality tools for the professional photographer.

Link to a review by Nathan Congdon Click Here.

Link to Ebony Camera Click Here.

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Two great accessories for anyone doing outdoor photography:

1. The Ebony All-Weather focusing cloth.

Ok, I'll admit I was skeptical about spending $175.00 on a focusing cloth. No more!

I have tried almost every focusing cloth / bellows - what have you under the sun / and the moon.
The Ebony All-Weather cloth is the best I have ever tried and worth every penny!
It protects the camera, not just from rain but from sand, and the rest of elements.
In addition it allows you full control of all camera knobs, front and rear.
And equally important it allows you to keep the camera draped
while inserting and removing film holders / dark slides.
= Very important in the Southwest if you are shooting during the middle of the day
with the sun usually blasting right down into your film holder!

2. The Ebony lens shade / clip holder...

Simply terrific. If you don't have an Ebony camera
buy this clip anyway and attach to your view camera with hot glue, screw, bolt, gum, etc...
Its worth it. AND you'll find that you prevent lens flare far easier
than just holding the dark slide in your hand!

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Opinion on lenses used by Per Volquartz:

Schneider 65mm Super Anglon, f5.6 = amazing lens on a 4X5

Schneider 90mm Super Angulon, f5.6 = equally amazing on a 4X5

Rodenstock 90mm Grandagon, f4.5 = BRIGHT, sharp and will cover 5X7 format

Schneider 210mm Symmar-S, f5.6 = great all-around lens,
Almost covers 8X10 at infinity.

Kodak 203 Ektar, f7.7 = by far one of the best lenses ever made. Covers 5X7 and has
a beautiful tonality and incredible sharpness. While it is an old lens (made in 1947) it gives a look
to black and white negatives that is not found in modern lenses..

Schneider 240mm Symmar, f5.6 = beautiful lens with results similar to Dagor lenses.

Apo Ronar 300mm, f9.0 = very, very sharp, contrasty with beautiful scale.

Schneider Gold Dot Dagor 355mm (14") f.8 = the finest lens ever made for large format photography!
Period!

Nikkor-M 450mm f9 = very sharp and contrasty lens that easily covers 8X10
- perhaps 11X14.

Zeiss Apo Tessar 455mm in barrel with waterhouse stops, uncoated
= a wonderful look - sharp and with a beautiful scale.

21mm Super Angulon f3.4 (Leitz) = an outstanding lens with incredible sharpness and scale.

35mm Summicron f2.0 (Leitz) = very, very sharp

50mm Summilux f1.4 (Leitz) = favorite lens for 35mm (25 year old version, silver)
= an outstanding lens with incredible sharpness and scale.
(Sold this old lens in a moment of utter stupidity!)

21mm Leica R = very good lens (not as sharp as the equivalent version
for the M series Leica).

90mm Elmarit R = outstandiing lens!

Leica 100mm Apo Macro R = THE sharpest lens on the planet!

Leica 60mm Macro - versatile, extremely sharp, beautiful tonality, a great lens!

Micro Nikkor 55mm f.3.5 (old version)= one of the sharpest lenses on the planet.

Rollei PQ and PQS lenses for Rollei 6000 series:
Rollei 50mm Super Angulon 2.8 = wow, incredible etc...
Rollei 150mm Sonnar = similar to Hasselblad's version. Great lens!

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Here are a few sources for professional supplies in the USA:

Satin Snow Ground Glass - Great groundglass at reasonable prices.
http://www.satinsnow.com

Bostick & Sullivan - Supplies for traditional and alternate processes.
(Pyro Rollo and much more!)
http://www.bostick-sullivan.com

Photographer's Formulary - Specializes in photo grade chemistry
for the amateur and professional photographer.
(TF-4 fixer and a lot more!)
http://www.photoformulary.com

Ebony Camera website
http://www.ebonycamera.com

Badger Graphic - One place to purchase lenses and large format cameras
(such as the Ebony) in the United States
http://www.badgergraphic.com/

Need Shutter repair?
Flutot's Camera Repair in Whittier, California
is one of the very best!
Call Carol Flutot at 562 696-0759 for shutter problems
or visit their website:
http://www.flutotscamerarepair.com

Frestyle Photographic in Los Angeles
Back in 1968 when I first visited Freestyle Photo it was a "cult" store.
It was the place where you could buy 35mm Ilford HP4 in 100' foot rolls,
empty film cannisters and bulk loaders. The store was crude in its interior "design",
but was a place where upcoming photographers would buy their supplies.
Freestyle did not cater to the photographer on a budget,
instead the focus was on the photographer "with no budget".
It was a great place, with great service and great prices.
Freestyle today has come of age. It is now a complete store
carrying traditional materials for photographers, who work in traditional media.
While the store is bright, well laid out and fully stocked
it still has the same qualities that made Freestyle popular
during the exiting years of the late 1960's:
A great place, with great service and great prices.
http://www.freestylephoto.biz

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Online resource / community: http://www.apug.org

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Copyright © 20011 Per Volquartz. All rights reserved.