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11/25/2013 01:16:15 AM · #1			 | 
		
		World's Biggest Camera
 
 Saw this linked in GiantMike's entry that just rolled over, thought it deserved a thread of its own.
 
  
  Message edited by author 2013-11-25 01:16:27. |  
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11/25/2013 10:35:55 AM · #2			 | 
		
		| Too cool,thanks for sharing Robert,and Mike. |  
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11/25/2013 10:49:17 AM · #3			 | 
		
		I've seen it.  I adore that thing.
 
 Clearly they're bracing the subjects, but it seems like that's a fast lens... Wonder why the subjects needed to stay so still?  I guess just to keep things in focus?
 
 I'd LOVE to see the optical path of that thing.
 
 In any case, the mechanism is just gorgeous - super jealous - and a bit inspired. :D
  Message edited by author 2013-11-25 10:51:25. |  
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11/25/2013 11:00:03 AM · #4			 | 
		
		Thanks for starting the thread Bear. This thing was certainly a sight to behold!
 
 Cory, the fastest shutter speed this has is 1/100. When I saw it, it was set to 1/2, which of course means the subjects need to stay pretty still.
 
 If anyone gets the chance to see it, do it. I made a 60 mile drive to see it in the rain, and it was still worth it. |  
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11/25/2013 11:04:30 AM · #5			 | 
		
		| I'd say that the fact that a "normal" lens is going to be in the 1800mm range (based on a 72" diagonal of the film format) coupled with the 20-30 ft optical path would drive the need for a fairly long exposure. |  
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11/25/2013 11:08:11 AM · #6			 | 
		
		Originally posted by giantmike:   Thanks for starting the thread Bear. This thing was certainly a sight to behold!
 
 Cory, the fastest shutter speed this has is 1/100. When I saw it, it was set to 1/2, which of course means the subjects need to stay pretty still.
 
 If anyone gets the chance to see it, do it. I made a 60 mile drive to see it in the rain, and it was still worth it.  |   
 
 Were you able to see what the FL on the lens was?
 
 I wonder how good that lens is optically?  Considering it's a replica of a much smaller lens, one has to wonder what the optical characteristics are.
 
 (And I also have to wonder what that costs... Custom building a lens cannot be cheap)
  Message edited by author 2013-11-25 11:25:30. |  
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11/25/2013 11:34:48 AM · #7			 | 
		
		Cory, this is a screen capture off the second video   |  
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11/25/2013 11:41:51 AM · #8			 | 
		
		Originally posted by see:   Cory, this is a screen capture off the second video    |   
 
 Looking closer, you're right, the focal length is there.  Looks to be either 1070mm or 107"..  I think 1070mm probably makes more sense..
 
 Wonder what this would look like with a 600mm f/3.5?  
 
 Obviously, this makes me wonder if I shouldn't build mine to use film too, but where the hell does a person get film that size? (and what does it cost?  Gotta be magnificently expensive...) |  
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11/25/2013 11:44:50 AM · #9			 | 
		
		| I saw something on a different camera and they made their own film, it was on glass. |  
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11/25/2013 11:54:22 AM · #10			 | 
		
		It's 1070mm. When I first saw that number I was blown away :)
 
 FYI, I heard the lens itself cost a half a million dollars, so they likely aren't all that concerned with film costs. |  
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11/25/2013 11:56:35 AM · #11			 | 
		
		Originally posted by Cory:  .. where the hell does a person get film that size? (and what does it cost?  Gotta be magnificently expensive...)  |   
 Not to mention having to build side-by-side swimming pools for the developer and fixer ... :-)
 
 I think the largest film I've ever used was 20" x 24" (graphic arts, not panchromatic).
 
 FWIW where I used to work they used to have a Brown horizontal graphic arts camera which might have taken film nearly that big -- the rail assembly which held the target object and lights ran some thirty feet down the room.
  Message edited by author 2013-11-25 12:00:11. |  
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11/25/2013 11:59:47 AM · #12			 | 
		
		Originally posted by giantmike:   It's 1070mm. When I first saw that number I was blown away :)
 
 FYI, I heard the lens itself cost a half a million dollars, so they likely aren't all that concerned with film costs.  |   
 
 1/2 million?  Where did you hear that figure?
 
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11/25/2013 12:41:13 PM · #13			 | 
		
		this *might* be more affordable, with exposures running in the $500 range ;-)
 
 gallery here |  
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11/25/2013 12:51:59 PM · #14			 | 
		
		Here is some good info from JS Online
 
 Some more good stats: Madison.com
 
 Here is where the $500,000 price tag for the lens was from (on the second page): HTR News |  
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11/25/2013 01:13:38 PM · #15			 | 
		
		Thanks Mike!!!
 
 "The film for the camera comes from Europe. When he first started working on the project a few years ago with prototypes, a roll that can take 15 to 18 photos cost $2,000. It now costs $25,000 a roll. That̢۪s one of the reasons Manarchy needs to raise about $3 million before he hits the road."
 
 ..
 
 Oh... Ok..  I'm clearly on the right path.  I have no need for $1500 per shot film thank you. |  
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11/25/2013 01:25:29 PM · #16			 | 
		
		So I was thinking, mightn't the "world's largest cameras" actually be the Keck telescopes, with an "aperture" of 10 meters and a focal length of 17.5 meters? Oops, read the rest of the article and they're only in second place ...
  Message edited by author 2013-11-25 13:28:54. |  
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11/25/2013 01:33:21 PM · #17			 | 
		
		Originally posted by GeneralE:   So I was thinking, mightn't the "world's largest cameras" actually be the Keck telescopes, with an "aperture" of 10 meters and a focal length of 17.5 meters? Oops, read the rest of the article and they're only in second place ...  |   
 THose aren't cameras anyway, they are lenses: a relatively normal camera is used for imaging. THIS baby is all camera: take the lens off, you still have the world's largest camera body :-) |  
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11/25/2013 01:37:18 PM · #18			 | 
		
		Originally posted by Bear_Music:  ...take the lens off, you still have the world's largest camera body :-)  |   
 
 OK, I had to put my nose into this one... I rather have a "big lens" and a small body than other way around!
 
 *just ignore this reply as a background noise*
  Message edited by author 2013-11-25 14:09:47. |  
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11/25/2013 01:42:11 PM · #19			 | 
		
		Originally posted by Bear_Music:   Originally posted by GeneralE:   So I was thinking, mightn't the "world's largest cameras" actually be the Keck telescopes, with an "aperture" of 10 meters and a focal length of 17.5 meters? Oops, read the rest of the article and they're only in second place ...  |   
 THose aren't cameras anyway, they are lenses: a relatively normal camera is used for imaging. |   
 I'm not sure the image-stabilization system on my camera can handle a 17.5m f/1.75 lens ... must be why they need a 275 ton "tripod" ... :-) |  
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11/25/2013 03:07:55 PM · #20			 | 
		
		It's interesting that they would choose to do portraits with it. At the slow shutter speeds, the subject will have some motion, even if it's just a heartbeat, making all the huge negative detail blurry.  
 It is a great concept, and a noble challenge.  I hope that they can pull it off as planned.  They certainly missed an opportunity when they didn't buy up a store of film and put it in the refrigerator. 
 I wonder if they shoot a few 6X6 ft  Polaroids to check composition and lighting before each shot? |  
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11/25/2013 03:41:05 PM · #21			 | 
		
		Originally posted by MelonMusketeer:   It's interesting that they would choose to do portraits with it. At the slow shutter speeds, the subject will have some motion, even if it's just a heartbeat, making all the huge negative detail blurry.  
 It is a great concept, and a noble challenge.  I hope that they can pull it off as planned.  They certainly missed an opportunity when they didn't buy up a store of film and put it in the refrigerator. 
 I wonder if they shoot a few 6X6 ft  Polaroids to check composition and lighting before each shot?  |   ]
 
 Probably more like spot-checks with 8x10 Polaroids..  :) |  
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