Today i finally had the time to run a quick test with my new fresnel groundglass made by Massimiliano Acanfora (Bomm Camera’s Italy).

I first saw this fresnel last year at the ECW on the Bomm camera of Dennis Ziliotto 

and this year on a bigger Bomm from Tom Klein. 

All I can say, the difference is huge!

It’s always difficult to make a digital picture of the subject projected on the ground glass.

 But when using the fresnel it’s easy. See the differences.

For focussing you don’t have to move your head anymore to see what’s happening in the corners. 

It’s like looking at an LCD screen, that bright.

The light is spread very equally. 

Even not covered with a dark cloth i am able to see the whole picture. 

This is one of the best investments I ever made on my wet plate gear!! 

For more information just contact Massimiliano or http://www.bommcameras.com

Standard ground glass

New Bomm ground glass

Several Petzval lenses for sale

Some of you might already know, I am downgrading my collection of wet plate gear.

Over the years I have collected quite some wet plate stuff.

But I have decided to sell most of it as I always use the same lenses and same camera.

So it's Time to let them go and have them used by others.

All 4 lenses are nearly the same size, 21-22cm in hight 

and rear lens part is about 9-9.5cm in diameter

No1 

Hermagis convertible Petzval Lens
Comes with Original Flange

300mm F 4.8

early serial number 9339

Nice sharp petzval ( I prefer to use Hermagis)

Downside: 

previous owner opened the back part with quite some force,

using "heavy" tools.

So the back glass has some chips of and look quite beaten of.

BUT, the projection on the ground glass looks just great.
Crispy as every hermagis.

And if you don't know you will never notice it as this part will be inside the camera.... :)

Asking price: SOLD!!!!

No 2

Very rare Alexis Millet cone Petzval

This petzval has access with a bajonet connection.

Aparture is inside the lens with rings.

no flange

330mm f 5.2

Very clean crispy glass. 

No scratches besides the normal tiny cleaning marks.

Rack and pignon sometimes slips, but who will ever use that??

Asking price:  1100,= euro

no 3

French Gasc & Charconnet Petzval

330mm 6.5

Ff you take out the fixed aparture it will be a fast 4.5

Front glass part has a few scratches and air bubbles 

Back glass all clear with also few air bubbles.

These are quite common and this will not be of any effect in the pictures.

Comes with it's Original flange.

Rack and pignon works smooth.

Asking price 950,= euro

no 4 

Very rare Dutch Lens!

Sold through J. Saarwächter Nijmegen.

330mm 5.2 petzval

Both front and back glass in good shape.

very slight edge separation front lens, but only 2mm

Will be of no effect.

smooth working rack and pignon

asking price:  950,= Euro

Some news...

Hi All, 

It has been quite some time ago that I have posted something on my blog.

Really need to start blogging again. 
Problem is that you have to keep up with facebook, instagram etc,

Loads of things happened in the past period. Many exhibitions, new contacts, travelling etc.

But from now on I will try to inform you again every few weeks.

 This post is about a picture I had in mind already for a few years.

Wanted to do something with a grand piano, water, nature etc.

Don't ask me why. It was just a crazy idea which popped up in my mind.

Sometimes ideas can take a long time before I am able to life on a plate.

In this case it took more than 2 years…

Always the biggest problem is to find the right location and the needed props.

By coincidence I was able to buy the grand piano and because of the extremely warm weather we had in the past few months the water level at the spotted location was at very low.
So perfect combination for this new plate.

The making of video

New book from Corroda D'Agostini

Just recently I discovered that Corrado D'Agostini published a new book about antique lenses.

This time he wrote about the famous Lenses coming form Germany and Austria.

like Voigtlander, Petzval, Busch, Steinheil etc.

 

This book is holding more than 300 well documented pages full of history about these lenses.

Full with pictures and background information about the makers.

So A must have for those who collect and use these kinds of beautiful brass lenses.

 

HIGHLY recommended like his first book I wrote about French makers:
http://collodion-art.blogspot.nl/2012/06/fabulous-book-about-antique-french.html

 

The book can be ordered through his website: http://www.oldphotographiclenses.com/about2.html

 

Dimensions of the book: 20 x 30 x 2.5 cm