Zed
@behindthebluemotel.com
Too many cameras, not enough painting.
https://behindthebluemotel.com
Flickr:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/behindthebluemotel/
https://behindthebluemotel.com
Flickr:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/behindthebluemotel/
OK, I'm the only one up and it's coffee and headphones time so let's also nerd out a little. I'm still catching up on the Rodenstock Grandagon designs.
February 8, 2026 at 2:28 PM
OK, I'm the only one up and it's coffee and headphones time so let's also nerd out a little. I'm still catching up on the Rodenstock Grandagon designs.
Is five cameras enough for a movie day with friends? Asking because I'm a broken individual.
February 8, 2026 at 2:14 PM
Is five cameras enough for a movie day with friends? Asking because I'm a broken individual.
At the end of all this I’m going to figure out which era Godzilla I want to find to scale to my SOC Voltron
February 8, 2026 at 12:57 AM
At the end of all this I’m going to figure out which era Godzilla I want to find to scale to my SOC Voltron
A while back there was the whole viral thing with 'what video game did you love that everyone hates' and the closest I come to that is The Evil Within, from the guy who really made Resident Evil what it was best at.
I played the first The Evil Within right at the cusp before I got anxiety meds...
I played the first The Evil Within right at the cusp before I got anxiety meds...
The Evil Within - Live Action Trailer
YouTube video by GameSpot
www.youtube.com
February 7, 2026 at 11:59 PM
A while back there was the whole viral thing with 'what video game did you love that everyone hates' and the closest I come to that is The Evil Within, from the guy who really made Resident Evil what it was best at.
I played the first The Evil Within right at the cusp before I got anxiety meds...
I played the first The Evil Within right at the cusp before I got anxiety meds...
There might be something special to that 100mm f/6.3 Wide-Field Ektar. Yanno how sometimes there are stand-outs even in a uniformly strong line? It's giving those vibes.
February 7, 2026 at 10:47 PM
There might be something special to that 100mm f/6.3 Wide-Field Ektar. Yanno how sometimes there are stand-outs even in a uniformly strong line? It's giving those vibes.
Time for "Son of Godzilla". This one comes in hot.
February 7, 2026 at 8:53 PM
Time for "Son of Godzilla". This one comes in hot.
The three lens 4x5 field kit:
1. Calumet Caltar II-N 65mm f4.5 (18mm-e)
2. Kodak Wide-Field Ektar 100mm f/6.3 (28mm-e)
3. Kodak Ektar 152mm f/4.5 (43mm-e)
1. Calumet Caltar II-N 65mm f4.5 (18mm-e)
2. Kodak Wide-Field Ektar 100mm f/6.3 (28mm-e)
3. Kodak Ektar 152mm f/4.5 (43mm-e)
February 7, 2026 at 7:17 PM
The three lens 4x5 field kit:
1. Calumet Caltar II-N 65mm f4.5 (18mm-e)
2. Kodak Wide-Field Ektar 100mm f/6.3 (28mm-e)
3. Kodak Ektar 152mm f/4.5 (43mm-e)
1. Calumet Caltar II-N 65mm f4.5 (18mm-e)
2. Kodak Wide-Field Ektar 100mm f/6.3 (28mm-e)
3. Kodak Ektar 152mm f/4.5 (43mm-e)
February 7, 2026 at 5:57 PM
How about a complete (three lenses, four holders) 4x5 field kit that fits in a schoolboy-style messenger?
~9.5 pounds, complete save for tripod and dark cloth.
~9.5 pounds, complete save for tripod and dark cloth.
February 7, 2026 at 5:28 PM
How about a complete (three lenses, four holders) 4x5 field kit that fits in a schoolboy-style messenger?
~9.5 pounds, complete save for tripod and dark cloth.
~9.5 pounds, complete save for tripod and dark cloth.
Lens tests on the Nagaoka as a potential field kit.
L-R:
Calumet Caltar II-N 65mm f4.5 (18mm-e)
Kodak Wide-Field Ektar 100mm f/6.3 (28mm-e)
Kodak Ektar 152mm f/4.5 (43mm-e)
L-R:
Calumet Caltar II-N 65mm f4.5 (18mm-e)
Kodak Wide-Field Ektar 100mm f/6.3 (28mm-e)
Kodak Ektar 152mm f/4.5 (43mm-e)
February 7, 2026 at 4:59 PM
Lens tests on the Nagaoka as a potential field kit.
L-R:
Calumet Caltar II-N 65mm f4.5 (18mm-e)
Kodak Wide-Field Ektar 100mm f/6.3 (28mm-e)
Kodak Ektar 152mm f/4.5 (43mm-e)
L-R:
Calumet Caltar II-N 65mm f4.5 (18mm-e)
Kodak Wide-Field Ektar 100mm f/6.3 (28mm-e)
Kodak Ektar 152mm f/4.5 (43mm-e)
Allow me just a little bit more gear porn this morning.
Nagaoka 45D-II, 1888 J.H. Dallmeyer Rapid Rectilinear Patent 8.5x6.5
Nagaoka 45D-II, 1888 J.H. Dallmeyer Rapid Rectilinear Patent 8.5x6.5
February 7, 2026 at 4:48 PM
Allow me just a little bit more gear porn this morning.
Nagaoka 45D-II, 1888 J.H. Dallmeyer Rapid Rectilinear Patent 8.5x6.5
Nagaoka 45D-II, 1888 J.H. Dallmeyer Rapid Rectilinear Patent 8.5x6.5
Go ahead, go get high and try listening to this cover. I dare ya.
I Do Not Want This
YouTube video by Release - Topic
youtu.be
February 7, 2026 at 4:17 PM
Go ahead, go get high and try listening to this cover. I dare ya.
Alright, Nagaoka tests in the tank.
February 7, 2026 at 4:11 PM
Alright, Nagaoka tests in the tank.
OK, coffee break and brain burble before I go down and develop a boring test frame from each of the three new lenses.
February 7, 2026 at 3:39 PM
OK, coffee break and brain burble before I go down and develop a boring test frame from each of the three new lenses.
Fun fact, back when I acquired this center filter I thought I would never be doing large format photography and considered selling it to recoup some funds.
Glad I kept it, if I'm going to shoot a 65mm on 4x5.
Glad I kept it, if I'm going to shoot a 65mm on 4x5.
February 7, 2026 at 3:26 PM
Fun fact, back when I acquired this center filter I thought I would never be doing large format photography and considered selling it to recoup some funds.
Glad I kept it, if I'm going to shoot a 65mm on 4x5.
Glad I kept it, if I'm going to shoot a 65mm on 4x5.
Ok, end-of-night numbers:
Nagaoka w/ 100mm f/6.3 Wide-Field Ektar: 3 pound 1 ounce (1402g)
Nagaoka w/ 152mm Ektar f/4.5: 3 pound 5 ounce (1512g)
Nagaoka w/ 65mm f/4.5 Caltar II-N: 3 pound 6 ounces (1530g)
Nagaoka w/ 100mm f/6.3 Wide-Field Ektar: 3 pound 1 ounce (1402g)
Nagaoka w/ 152mm Ektar f/4.5: 3 pound 5 ounce (1512g)
Nagaoka w/ 65mm f/4.5 Caltar II-N: 3 pound 6 ounces (1530g)
February 7, 2026 at 3:18 AM
Ok, end-of-night numbers:
Nagaoka w/ 100mm f/6.3 Wide-Field Ektar: 3 pound 1 ounce (1402g)
Nagaoka w/ 152mm Ektar f/4.5: 3 pound 5 ounce (1512g)
Nagaoka w/ 65mm f/4.5 Caltar II-N: 3 pound 6 ounces (1530g)
Nagaoka w/ 100mm f/6.3 Wide-Field Ektar: 3 pound 1 ounce (1402g)
Nagaoka w/ 152mm Ektar f/4.5: 3 pound 5 ounce (1512g)
Nagaoka w/ 65mm f/4.5 Caltar II-N: 3 pound 6 ounces (1530g)
There is nothing in this world more validating than seeing my art make someone happy, and I absolutely love seeing where these end up.
I bought a painting from @behindthebluemotel.com last weekend. Excuse the “big light” but this is the easiest way to show off where it lives now.
February 7, 2026 at 12:21 AM
There is nothing in this world more validating than seeing my art make someone happy, and I absolutely love seeing where these end up.
OK, man, the Mk II Nagaoka had a -lot- of improvements over the original. The front standard collapse is much easier and more intuitive, and short focal lengths don't need the criss-cross of moving the rear standard forward before using the rack and pinion.
February 6, 2026 at 11:12 PM
OK, man, the Mk II Nagaoka had a -lot- of improvements over the original. The front standard collapse is much easier and more intuitive, and short focal lengths don't need the criss-cross of moving the rear standard forward before using the rack and pinion.
3 pounds, 5 ounces (1512g) with Kodak Ektar 152mm f4.5 in shutter.
February 6, 2026 at 11:02 PM
3 pounds, 5 ounces (1512g) with Kodak Ektar 152mm f4.5 in shutter.
Fun fact I just learned why I might want a vertically-offset lens board
February 6, 2026 at 10:56 PM
Fun fact I just learned why I might want a vertically-offset lens board
So, the Nagaoka will support a 65mm lens, which on 4x5 is like an 18mm ultra-wide on 135. The Rodenstock Grandagon has enough coverage for 4x5, and there's a Caltar rebadge of it right here...
Lock and Arch
A night view of the St. Anothny Falls Upper Lock through a lighted arch in the Stone Arch Bridge.
www.flickr.com
February 6, 2026 at 9:29 PM
So, the Nagaoka will support a 65mm lens, which on 4x5 is like an 18mm ultra-wide on 135. The Rodenstock Grandagon has enough coverage for 4x5, and there's a Caltar rebadge of it right here...
Megan has received the Nagaoka for me at home, and the photos of it in its folded state match the listing. Now for the long four hours until I can go home and examine the bellows and mount a lens up on it...
February 6, 2026 at 5:42 PM
Megan has received the Nagaoka for me at home, and the photos of it in its folded state match the listing. Now for the long four hours until I can go home and examine the bellows and mount a lens up on it...
Serial number 10.
10.
10.
Epson R-D1 Digital Rangefinder Mirrorless Camera Serial Number 10!
usedphotopro.com
February 6, 2026 at 4:54 PM
Serial number 10.
10.
10.
Every now and then, if you try real hard, you can spend Leica money on Olympus OM stuff too.
Olympus OM 35-80mm f2.8 Zuiko ED Lens RARE
usedphotopro.com
February 6, 2026 at 4:10 PM
Every now and then, if you try real hard, you can spend Leica money on Olympus OM stuff too.