Questions for Epson P5000 Commercial Edition Users.

I have a P5000 that is about to be delivered. It's replacing my old 4900.
1. What, if any, difficulties or glitches did you experience in the priming process?
2. Difficulties setting up the ICC profiles, doing initial test prints etc?
3. Any mechanical issues?

Thank you in advance.

V/r,
Doogie

Ok, quick question for fellow 4900 users.

(I got the printer second hand- in very good condition with one small detail) The orange nozzle (T-653A) is clogged.

I've tried power cleaning the OR/GR channel as well as doing a nozzle check/ adjustment just like the techs over at Epson suggested. (Spent an hour and a half with them on the line setting up the printer).

Short of lugging the 100lbs down to the car and taking it to the Epson repair center to have the tech fix it (At $145.00/hr.) does anyone have ANY suggestions. Please keep in mind I'm on a college student budget.

Thank you so much in advance.

V/r,
Doogie

The answer to this age old question (and yes, we photographers have been asking this question for over 130 years now) is that there is no Magic bullet so to speak.

The general rule of thumb is purchase the equipment you need for the job or assignment that you need to complete. And keep in mind that it does pay to have a versatile tool kit. Camera bodies will come and go, however, the glass is where you should invest the money. This has been true since the days where we used single element lenses and brass tubes for Camera Obscuras.

There is, however, another point to consider. Take LF (Large Format) 4x5 photography for example. Now we all have our favorite lenses, however, each one is used for a different purpose.

My favorite utilitarian purpose len is a Technika Symmar 1:5.6/150~1:12/255 convertible for the Linhof Tech V. Now I've had that lens through 3 different cameras. Different lens boards, different bodies, but the lens has remained the same while the camera body has changed. And keep in mind that the lenses I use are over 50 years old. But very pristine and very sharp center to edge.

No reason to change to the newest fanciest APO 150mm lens. Do you get the meaning?

It is not about the newest fanciest gear, but what works for you to create the images that rest within your creative vision. A new lens and a top notch camera body produce the same exact results depending upon the photographer that uses them.

Remember. There is no Magic bullet that will fix the glass or the camera body. Only practice and familiarity with the equipment chosen to do the job will provide that.

Best of luck to you mate. I am sure you will make the decision that is best suited for your type of photography.

Cheers,
Misha

~Remember: you never just make a photograph but rather a solitary reflection of your entire life experience when you press the cable release button in the moment of blindness.~

Good of you to note the uneven processing. Still trying to figure out what I did wrong during the development phase that would have caused it.

I processed this photograph by hand in a dip tank with film hangers at the school lab.

I will check with the lab tech at school to see if I can get some distilled water to do a pre-soak. That sounds like a great idea! :)

technical critiques and advice are always highly appreciated in my book.

V/r,
Doogie

Up for your consideration is a 4x5 format photographic image being considered for Graduation Portfolio.

Technical Critiques are appreciated. Thank you for your consideration.

Steptoe
1452hrs. Sun positioned behind w. 3/4 cloud coverage.
Shadows: EV13
Highlights EV15
SBR 5
No Bellows Ext. factor.
No Filter factor.
Film: HP5 400 4x5 Sheet.
Camera: Linhof ST V
Lens: Technika Symmar 1:5,6/150~ 1:12/265
F~32 1/50th
Processed: D76 1:1 68 Deg. F. @11:30min.

(Download)

LOL. Will do. Now where is that coffee. Going to need some stop bath flavored creamer by the end of the quarter at school. LOL

Up for your consideration is my latest still life piece. It is an Homage to Edward Weston's Peppers.

Titled: "Artichoke En Vogue"
Focal Length 75mm
Lens EF 75-300
ISO: 100
Aperture/Shutter speed: f/9 @ 1/125th
-off camera white lightning pair with pocket wizard Side lit @ f-2.1
Temp. 5550K
Orig File Format Raw

White balanced: separate target Using Bridge
Lens correction/chromatic aberration taken into account.

It is going before review and selection as a tentative piece for my graduation portfolio and Graduation Gallery installation.

Critique session is open. Please be as specific as needed especially with regards to technique!

Thank you for your time and consideration in reviewing this piece.

V/r,
Doogie

Critique selection review.

(Download)

Setting your camera to Manual gives you 100% control over each and every aspect of your photographic endeavors.

Very well handled. Very well indeed. On one hand I think that while our society has changed so to has the need to be more aware of one's surroundings.

Having several family members who work for various PD I can tell you that I worry about their safety as much as I used to worry about my marines. But on the other hand it is very reassuring to see officers out on patrol when i'm out with my family. Another pair of eyes to keep the family safe in this day and age.

On the other hand when it comes to photography and the making of photographs I always get a chuckle or two when an officer approaches and asks what that is for while curiously looking at the bellows. I always offer to buy them a cup of coffee on the house. Gets more smiles than frowns. :) :)

Agreed. To prove a point I'll often invite one of my Non-photographer phone snap shot buddies to make a similar image and then compare the photograph I made with a 4x5 with the little snapshot they took with their "Smart" Phone. That normally settles the question as to what a photograph actually is as well as wins the bet in my favor. ( I do enjoy the free cup of coffee). LOL

Well I guess I'll add my two cents. To answer your question. Yes without question. I ended up getting a MBP for school with similar specs but opted to max out the capabilities and available hardware/software. It is a beast, but I've never once had a single issue working in LR, BR, or PH. Heavy lifting. Yup. Try opening up 20 Raw files at once from Camera Raw into photoshop and sit back and watch the fun. It's almost instantaneous in all regards.

You will have fun and never look back to a PC for work with Photography. Just make sure you get the Apple Care option with the MBP. That will cover you in case anything out of the ordinary should happen to your MPB. Well worth the additional cost.

Also. In addition to the apple care option, I would take a serious consideration to purchasing Color Monkey. It will help out immensely with regard to any photographic work and the need to have an accurately calibrated color profile.

Hope that helps.

V/r,
Doogie

Hmm. Well after reading this thread I guess this is what I would have to say.

I'm currently in the middle of a photography degree. With regard to Traditional B/W photography, Large Format, and Wet plate photography there is a resurgence of interest on a professional level within both academia and Fine Art. In our program we typically get several students per quarter that initially express interest within Film/Wet plate and then dive right in. The Advanced B/W and Large Format Classes are alive and well.

So too is the Digital aspect, however, if one intends to find placement as a transfer student to a 4 year the ability to knowledgeably produce a photograph via the traditional methodology of Large Format is highly regarded.

As for myself, I have the habit of making a photograph, developing the film, printing a contact sheet, and then shelving both the negatives and contact sheet for 6 months to a year before I revisit them and decide to make a photograph. By then the personal attachment to said photograph is gone and I am able to objectively view the negative (got to love 4x5 negatives. :) ) in a manner that allows for the reinterpretation of the image I wish to make. It is a meditation that is unlike none other in my humble opinion.

I would say that Traditional photographic arts are far from dead. Despite the advances in Digital technology and the Phone snapshot stuff I would say that Film and traditional photography along with the cameras used to create still stunning works of photographic art are alive and well. Traditional Large Format Cameras will be utilized by serious photographers for years to come. Interest is definitely not dying.

V/r,
Doogie

Hmm now that does sound like a fun project. :) I have to go out and make some photographs for school this weekend So I might just attempt it. :)

And for the record I will eventually move up from 4x5, however I think perhaps that I may opt to attempt a build of a completely new 8x10 camera. Should be a fun exercise is time. :) Thank you for the idea for the exercise this weekend. :)

V/r,
Doogie

Sighs. Wish I had seen this sooner.

Hmm. Stumbled upon this by chance. You have pegged my interest. Would like to see some photographs of the kit though. Lots of parts equates to lots of fun in my book. :)