Today it happened again.
I pulled out my Underwater Kinetics from the cabinet, placed it onto the table and opened the latches. Ahh, the scent of leather and film welcomed me. Made me open the case and revealed the sleeping beauty. My Arca Swiss. The jewel, the precision tool.
I removed it from the case and mounted it onto the tripod. Click – the adapter locked in. Took the cap off the lens, opened the shutter, set the aperture to 5.6 and focused the object. Removed the ground glass, inserted a Polaroid back (ok, an Instand film back, because the only supplier left is Fuji, and they have named their ‘pola’ ‘Instant Film’), closed the shutter, set the aperture to the meter reading, cocked the shutter, pulled the dark slide and triggered the shutter. An almost not noticable, soft ‘click’ signaled the end of the process. No noise when the gears move soft as silk along the rack while focussing. A soft gliding of the standard base for shift, a firm movement for swings and tilts, rise and fall.
120 seconds later I had my ‘pola’ in my hands. Geez, it’s always a great moment and a thrilling experience to have an ‘instant image’ in my hands. Without having to worry about empty batteries, failing electronics, front or back focus, menus, faulty circuits, etc.
The ‘Pola’:
Update 2012-08-16 – The scanned slide:
The ‘Pola’:
Update 2012-08-16 – The scanned slide:
I mean, just imagine that I can store the camera for years in the protective case, pull it out anytime and anywhere, compose a scene and make an image, provided I’ve stored it in a dry place. No, the shutters won’t go mad or become oily after a year if treated with care. The gears for the standards won’t go mad if treated and maintained well with lithium grease. Everything is running smooth as ever and always.
Anybody out there who can duplicate this unique experience with a digital camera?
To be fair, each system does have its advantages and draw backs, but I just love the mechanical precision devices to make (and not take) the images and photographs I envisioned in my mind.
Let’s keep the good times with good tools rollin’.
First image:
My precision imaging toolbox filled with an Arca Swiss monorail camera, 3 different roll film backs, a ‘pola’ back, 2 different light meters, 5 fine Rodenstock and Nikon lenses, mirror viewfinder box, cable releases, clamps and a self made and storm proof lens shade. Behind the foam padding is a Kodak grey card, a rail extension, some spare parts like screws and washers for the gears, screwdrivers, spare batteries for the meters…
Second and fourth image:
Scanned Fuji Instant images
Third and fifth image:
Scanned slides
Sixth image:
The Arca mounted on a tripod with a geared head
all photographs © 1999-2012 by jens g.r. benthien
