Over 1,000 Harman TiTANs sold already [Archive]

Austerby

03-14-2012, 05:44

This little pinhole camera is taking off in a big way - just think how much associated film and chemicals are being purchased for it too. It's only been on the market since the end of last year!

Many congratulations to Ilford for producing this, in association with Walker Cameras.

Info on Ilford's website here: http://www.ilfordphoto.com/pressroom/article.asp?n=143

I'm really enjoying using mine and getting into those amazing big negatives. It's making me think very hard about the future of my photography.

ibcrewin

03-14-2012, 06:00

oooh.. I want one!

jsrockit

03-14-2012, 06:00

That's really cool. I wasn't aware of this previously. Thanks.

Mackinaw

03-14-2012, 06:03

Mine arrived a few weeks back. I must admit, this thing is really cool and the 4 X 5 negatives are huge. And I love the old-fashioned shutter (uncovering the pinhole for several seconds).

Jim B.

jsrockit

03-14-2012, 06:06

Nowhere to be found for sale at this point... too bad, looks fun.

OlliL

03-14-2012, 06:14

I'm really interested in this camera and plan to pick one up soon.

Here's a really interesting video from Leon Taylor of filmwasters:
https://vimeo.com/32270594

anjoca76

03-14-2012, 06:14

I saw one of these for the first time earlier this week and was smitten. I want one!

Roger Hicks

03-14-2012, 06:20

Eventually there'll be a review in Shutterbug (they have the text and pics already). It's the most impressive pinhole I've ever seen. I saw Mike Walker on the Ilford stand at Focus ten days ago, along with the prototype 8x10 inch, which has 3 pinholes (centred, rise, cross -- pick whichever hole is most use!). The 4x5 is OK with Direct Positive Paper (again, review coming) but it was pure magic with FP4.

Cheers,

R.

raytoei@gmail.com

03-14-2012, 06:23

http://www.silverprint.co.uk/ProductByGroup.asp?PrGrp=178

f16sunshine

03-14-2012, 06:29

Roger Hicks

03-14-2012, 06:36

I bought 4) 8x10 film holders in anticipation of the next Titan. Hope it's here soon. :)

Dear Andy,

Alas, not VERY soon. Mike is so snowed under with 4x5 orders that he can't contemplate series production of the 8x10 for a while. He's looking at ways of eliminating the worst bottlenecks in the production sequence (especially painting) but the sheer success of this thing has taken both Ilford and Mike by surprise. Ilford is delaying the official US launch until they're caught up with UK orders. Yes, you can buy them in the USA, but that's without a official launch, because they don't want to stoke up still more demand that they can't handle.

Mine is between my keyboard and my monitor as I type these words...

Cheers,

R.

ibcrewin

03-14-2012, 06:50

Nowhere to be found for sale at this point... too bad, looks fun.

Adorama has them listed at 219. IIRC

ibcrewin

03-14-2012, 06:52

Too bad it doesn't come with film holders.

Roger Hicks

03-14-2012, 06:59

jsrockit

03-14-2012, 07:01

Adorama has them listed at 219. IIRC

But they aren't in stock. However, I ordered one from the UK for $225 shipped. I had to try one since I haven't used a store-bought pinhole in 18 years or so. If it isn't my thing, I'm sure I'll have no issue selling it.

fbf

03-14-2012, 07:12

no wonder. I have seen their Walker Titan 4x5 field cameras and very impressed by its workmanship.

ruby.monkey

03-14-2012, 07:17

Not really. Both Mike and Ilford took the view that they're VERY widely and cheaply available second hand, so who's going to want to buy new ones? I'm sure they're right.

Cheers,

R.
I wanted to (for a different camera); according to the gentleman at Ag Photographic, the arrival of the Titan made sourcing them difficult for a few months.

Roger Hicks

03-14-2012, 07:25

I wanted to (for a different camera); according to the gentleman at Ag Photographic, the arrival of the Titan made sourcing them difficult for a few months.

They may have been exaggerating slightly. Yes, there's vastly more demand than there was, but there are still countless millions of the things out there. Rather more worrying is that they are no longer being produced new in the USA, so all they're selling is old stock.

Cheers,

R.

Michiel Fokkema

03-14-2012, 07:49

I guess that when I mount a pinhole plate on my Graflex 4x5 I have the same thing? But with zoom capability? will be bigger and heavier though.

batterytypehah!

03-14-2012, 08:07

Too bad it doesn't come with film holders. Not really. Both Mike and Ilford took the view that they're VERY widely and cheaply available second hand, so who's going to want to buy new ones? I'm sure they're right.

Cheers,

R.

Sorry Roger, but that's clearly the seasoned LF shooter's view. IMO releasing this with a view towards attracting new users and then not offering holders is simply ridiculous. It's like Cosina bringing out the Bessa line and telling everybody, sorry, you have to source your own cassettes, but don't worry, there are millions of FILCAs out there.

OK so they already can't keep up with demand but once they catch up, I think they should reconsider.

jsrockit

03-14-2012, 08:10

It's like Cosina bringing out the Bessa line and telling everybody, sorry, you have to source your own cassettes, but don't worry, there are millions of FILCAs out there.

Does any large format camera come with holders? :confused:

ampguy

03-14-2012, 09:01

what are some good budget 4x5 film holders?

bensyverson

03-14-2012, 09:10

Guys, if you search eBay for "4x5 holder," you'll get hundreds of results. There are literally millions of these things out there. As long as the holders aren't completely trashed, you'll be fine. I have some pretty ugly wooden holders from the 1940s that still do the job.

If they included a new film holder with each camera, it would increase the retail price by at least $50.

batterytypehah!

03-14-2012, 09:12

Does any large format camera come with holders? :confused:
Does any other one come as a kit including film and paper?

They create the impression that everything you need is included, down to an exposure calculator, and are remarkably coy about the fact that you have to source the holders on the used market. You have to go into the PDF manual to find this:

The camera is designed to fit 4x5 film holders such as Fidelity holders. Holders are not included in the kit, but it is possible to obtain them via local or on-line Photo Dealers.

Roger Hicks

03-14-2012, 09:15

Sorry Roger, but that's clearly the seasoned LF shooter's view. IMO releasing this with a view towards attracting new users and then not offering holders is simply ridiculous. It's like Cosina bringing out the Bessa line and telling everybody, sorry, you have to source your own cassettes, but don't worry, there are millions of FILCAs out there.

OK so they already can't keep up with demand but once they catch up, I think they should reconsider.

I see your argument, but new ones are damnably expensive, so providing them as part of the kit would have been prohibitive. Also, it's not really as specialized as FILCA: 4x5 holders are very widespread and very standardized, and Bessas don't come with film holders either. I will however pass on your argument to Mike and Ilford to see if they might start selling them separately from the cameras.

Cheers,

R.

f16sunshine

03-14-2012, 09:16

Yes, there are many, many usable holders on the used market. Just be sure the dark slide is flat and not bent or dented. Also that there are no cracks in the rails that the dark slide moves through. There is little else to go wrong if the holder is intact and in good shape. No reason to make new holders (new waste stream).

Austerby

03-14-2012, 09:28

Imaginative suppliers such as Ag Photographic do offer film holders alongside the camera, which seems like a practicable approach.

I didn't have any 5x4 film holders prior to purchasing my Titan but sourced plenty from ebay readily enough.

jsrockit

03-14-2012, 09:29

Does any other one come as a kit including film and paper?

They create the impression that everything you need is included, down to an exposure calculator, and are remarkably coy about the fact that you have to source the holders on the used market. You have to go into the PDF manual to find this:

Good point and observation. I concede defeat. :D

batterytypehah!

03-14-2012, 09:30

I see your argument, but new ones are damnably expensive, so providing them as part of the kit would have been prohibitive. Also, it's not really as specialized as FILCA: 4x5 holders are very widespread and very standardized, and Bessas don't come with film holders either. I will however pass on your argument to Mike and Ilford to see if they might start selling them separately from the cameras.

Cheers,

R.
Yes, of course as a separate option, totally agreed. And priced so that Ilford makes a profit on them, too. I just don't see how anybody could object to that.

To use a different example, I bet there are already more kayak paddles in existence than the world will ever need, and experienced kayakers wouldn't want to be seen dead with an entry-level aluminum pole sporting plastic blades. That doesn't mean it's a smart idea not to stock them, if your target market includes beginners.

sevo

03-14-2012, 09:34

what are some good budget 4x5 film holders?

Ages ago, Lisco, Riteway and Fidelity merged, and later swallowed up the remaining competition. That is, just about any "International" holder made for the past 40 years (except for luxury/boutique items like Linhof and Sinar vacuum holders) is from the same maker, and all of them are good to very good. Inherently bad ones are so old and scarce that you will hardly run across any. So it is strictly a matter of condition - beware of warped holders, missing/broken/mismatched dark slides and damaged hinges.

Roger Hicks

03-14-2012, 09:49

Ages ago, Lisco, Riteway and Fidelity merged, and later swallowed up the remaining competition. That is, just about any "International" holder made for the past 40 years (except for luxury/boutique items like Linhof and Sinar vacuum holders) is from the same maker, and all of them are good to very good. Inherently bad ones are so old and scarce that you will hardly run across any. So it is strictly a matter of condition - beware of warped holders, missing/broken/mismatched dark slides and damaged hinges.

And Toyo, of course.

Cheers,

R.

ibcrewin

03-14-2012, 09:52

I looked on ebay.. They are indeed ubiquitous

Mablo

03-14-2012, 10:22

I think I'll gradually start following the 8x10 holders on the *bay. 4x5 is great if you have an 4x5 enlarger or an Epson scanner but I want 8x10 contact prints.

jsrockit

03-15-2012, 06:24

Some 4x5 transparencies should be nice...

stompyq

03-15-2012, 06:39

Any difference between this and the zero image pinhole cameras?
http://www.zeroimage.com/web2003/ProductPage/45/Zero45_2003.htm

HoodedOne

03-15-2012, 06:50

This pinhole is awesome.
I've used it with some different polaroid backs. And am currently testing a Cambo 6x7 rollfilm back.
And yes, transparencies do look great. I did a test with a readyload holder and Fuji Velvia 50 quickload.

The only thing that I haven't used yet, is the "standard" 4x5 holder. :)

jsrockit

03-15-2012, 06:51

Any difference between this and the zero image pinhole cameras?
http://www.zeroimage.com/web2003/ProductPage/45/Zero45_2003.htm

Plastic or wood, etc. Both just nice high quality pinhole cameras. I prefer the plastic look of the Harman... since I've never seen anything like it (molded plastic). I've used store bought wooden pinholes 20 years ago. Seems the Zero Image stuff may be more versatile.

ruby.monkey

03-15-2012, 07:29

The Zero Image cameras offer far greater flexibility in terms of pinhole size, the availability of zone plates, focal length, and shutter actuation.

healyzh

03-15-2012, 15:42

It's also worth noting that it's possible to pick up a couple 4x5 holders easily and cheaply, the same is not true for 8x10 film holders. Of course it's even worse if, like me, you have an 8x10 camera that uses non-standard sized 8x10 plate holders...

lynnb

03-15-2012, 16:30

when I see work like this, I want one!
http://solargraph.blogspot.com.au/2011/12/first-shot-with-harman-titan-4x5.html

timor

03-15-2012, 18:15

Does any other one come as a kit including film and paper? Well, digi comes with the "film" and "developing" software. One can print strait from the camera.

randolph45

03-15-2012, 20:11

Will we be trying to fit a glass back and black cape for preview, anyone?

zuiko85

03-15-2012, 21:49

Keep on the lookout for 4X5 holders. You can find them in unexpected locations. I picked up 6 Lisco holders for $5 only a couple of blocks from my house at a garage sale. Of course that meant I had to build a 4X5 box camera out of 1/8 inch plywood and mount an old 130mm f7.7 Kodak lens on it salvaged from a unserviceable Autographic. So far I've only loaded paper negatives but I plan to get some film this summer.

KM-25

03-15-2012, 22:39

I have killer darkroom now that will do up to 4x5 so I might get this to support Ilford who really deserves it! Otherwise, I have 150mm 5.6 Rodagon 4 x 5 enlarging lens in new condition, 4 x 5 neg carrier and half a dozen fidelity film holders sitting around not getting used.

I already have a specific project in mind for this...:-)