If you had a choice, same price, which camera?

[keithwms]

I wonder if you could enlarge 617 negs by placing the neg diagonally in a 4x5 enlarger, with the neg carrier slightly expanded.

Anyway I would think that 617 contact prints could be very appealing.

[Sirius Glass]

Go for the Fuji and get a shorter focal length lens for the enlarger.

Enjoy, you will be happy with either.

Steve

[Steve Smith]

I wonder if you could enlarge 617 negs by placing the neg diagonally in a 4x5 enlarger, with the neg carrier slightly expanded.

Unfortunately not. The diagonal dimension of a 5x4 frame is 162mm so it is a bit short plus it will crop the corners off. However some enlargers, like my DeVere 54 have a larger light source/diffuser than 5x4 so could be adapted.


Steve.

[Cruzingoose]

The deed is done. I'm now the owner of a practically new G617. The counter reads 064. Got the case, camera, special filter, rectangular sun shade and 4 other colored 77mm filters, yellow, red, UV and green. There is a step ring in the package it fits the filters but it does not fit the lens. The only thing missing is the manual.

[Cruzingoose]

Just a quick update on the G617.....

The foam seals were a slightly gooey and a test roll of 220 showed some edge fogging, but not too bad. All other functions are perfect. Tonight I removed the foam goo and replaced it with black felt. I used acrylic yarn for the channels with light dabs of Elmers glue.

Just got in 50 rolls of Shanghai B&W 120 and I must say that it is pretty nice stuff. At normal exposure and 8 minutes in HC110 makes for nice crisp negs. It does seem to need a couple of minutes in PhotoFlo to keep spotting at bay compared to other films.

Now to build a basic horizontal enlarger for 10" enlargements. I've got a Photographers Handbook dated 1908 that describes in great detail how to build enlargers, powered by window light, oil lamp and limelight (gas). Sounds like a bit of a project, but unless a 5x7 enlarger finds me, it will have to do.

[mrred]

Just got in 50 rolls of Shanghai B&W 120 and I must say that it is pretty nice stuff. At normal exposure and 8 minutes in HC110 makes for nice crisp negs. It does seem to need a couple of minutes in PhotoFlo to keep spotting at bay compared to other films.

I found that LuckySHD really loves to be selenium toned (the actual neg). You might want to try that on the Shanghai.

Now to build a basic horizontal enlarger for 10" enlargements. I've got a Photographers Handbook dated 1908 that describes in great detail how to build enlargers, powered by window light, oil lamp and limelight (gas). Sounds like a bit of a project, but unless a 5x7 enlarger finds me, it will have to do.

Were not the first enlargers just upside down view cameras?

[Ian Grant]

Were not the first enlargers just upside down view cameras?

Surprisingly no. Often they were horizontal and purpose built.

Ian