Fred Picker

Marley said:
Interesting ... I'm an engineer from an engineering background: my grandfather worked for Vickers Supermarine on the Spitfire's development. My father was a rocket engineer on the Black Knight and Finally Black Arrow British space programme in the 60s and 70s that launched the first British satellite 'Prospero' in 1971. I started an enginearing company ten years ago designing and building music electronics and exporting my products worldwide after a long career as a professional photographer. I was (as far as I know the first professional theatre photographer in London to embrace digital photography.
For me photography is less about perfection and more about interpretation ... so I don't get my panties in a bunch about print quality and focus more on the the way it makes you feel :)
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Nothing to do with the post but, I purchased a camera from Mr. Gregory from Long Eaton Derbyshire. He was an electronics engineer. Mr. Gregory told me that when he was young he worked as an entertainer at seaside holiday camps. To enliven his act he claimed that he invented the very first effects boxes for electric guitars. He made and sold a few but never patented anything, Fender began to mass produce them and sold thousands.
 
thronobulax said:
The thing I most miss from Zone VI was the original Brilliant Graded paper. I have never seen a more lovely paper before- or since from any vendor.
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I could be wrong, but if I'm remembering correctly, Brilliant was made under license by Kentmere back then.
I used to like Kentmere Bromide paper when it was available.
Like I said, I could be wrong.
 
Keith tapscott. said:
I could be wrong, but if I'm remembering correctly, Brilliant was made under license by Kentmere back then.
I used to like Kentmere Bromide paper when it was available.
Like I said, I could be wrong.
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The original Zone VI Brilliant graded paper was manufactured by Guilleminot Boespflug in France. Later versions - which were deeply inferior - were made elsewhere, possibly Kentmere, possibly Ilford.
 
Keith tapscott. said:
I stand corrected. :)
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The original graded paper was hands down the finest paper I ever printed on. There are modern VC papers I like a lot like Bergger Prestige VC NB when it was available, or - more recently - Fomabrom Variant 111 VC FB. But neither are close to the texture, tooth, and weight of the original Brilliant graded. It really was an amazing paper. It was so good, it was worth giving up split VC printing to use it.

I had hoped that when Picker moved into VC, he'd find a way to have multi-spectrum emulsions laid down on Guilleminot's papers. Sadly that was not to be. The French company went under. Hope was briefly alive again when Guy Gerard, who was one of their employees, went on to form Bergger. But nothing from Bergger was anywhere near the original Brilliant.

If I ever manage to finally retire, I have this sort of interior dream that I will find the right paper base and learn how to coat emulsions on it to try and replicate that experience.
 
I have a Zone VI 5x4 camera but it's a pain trying to find a lens board that fits. It's a non-standard size.
 
Nas said:
I have a Zone VI 5x4 camera but it's a pain trying to find a lens board that fits. It's a non-standard size.
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Really? I thought they were all 4x4. At least that's what my Wisner Technical Field uses and I thought the Zone VI was the same (but never actually checked).

In any case, there is a guy here in the States 3d printing them. Dunno if he ships to the UK, but:

www.ebay.com

Zone VI 6 4x5 Camera Flat Lens Board all Sizes Copal Compu Ilex 00 0 1 2 3 4 | eBay

Flat Lens Board for Zone VI 4X5 View camera 102x102mm board This is a High quality 3D Printed Lens Board available in all sizes. The lens board is light-tight and has bees tested on a camera. The material used is PETG, one of the strongest 3D printing material with high temperature and...
www.ebay.com

If you are slightly handy (or know someone who is), making one isn't really all that hard.

You might also check with Richard Ritter at https://www.lg4mat.net/. He worked for Zone VI and restores and maintains these cameras as well as many others.
 
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Now that I look at it, that ebay seller may well be in the UK. He cites a VAT number and says he's shipping from "outside the US".

It's worth noting that the Zone VI 10x8 camera may well have weird lens board sizes, I've no idea, if that's what you have.

In that case, Richard Ritter would be your best bet (or a local woodworking friend).
 
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thronobulax said:
Now that I look at it, that ebay seller may well be in the UK. He cites a VAT number and says he's shipping from "outside the US".

It's worth noting that the Zone VI 10x8 camera may well have weird lens board sizes, I've no idea, if that's what you have.

In that case, Richard Ritter would be your best bet (or a local woodworking friend).
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They are in Oderzo, Italy, and the seller states quite clearly "Does not ship to United Kingdom."
 
I have a Zone IV 5x4 camera and I was astonished to find that the lensboard was some random size. It’s slightly larger than the almost universal Linhof pattern. Rather than sourcing a new set of lensboards, which would have made those lenses useless for my other cameras, I made an adaptor. It’s a sheet of very thin brass (shim brass) with a narrow raised edge to fit Linhof. Had the ZoneVI standard had a smaller opening, I’d have had to rout it out to size.
IMG_0187.jpeg
 
David M said:
I have a Zone IV 5x4 camera and I was astonished to find that the lensboard was some random size. It’s slightly larger than the almost universal Linhof pattern. Rather than sourcing a new set of lensboards, which would have made those lenses useless for my other cameras, I made an adaptor. It’s a sheet of very thin brass (shim brass) with a narrow raised edge to fit Linhof. Had the ZoneVI standard had a smaller opening, I’d have had to rout it out to size.
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Looking at your adapter, I realised the Zone VI appear to use a standard size lens board, it's the same size as pre- & Anniversary Speed Graphics and MPP Micro Technical cameras MkIII - Mk VII.

Ian
 
thronobulax said:
The original graded paper was hands down the finest paper I ever printed on.

I had hoped that when Picker moved into VC, he'd find a way to have multi-spectrum emulsions laid down on Guilleminot's papers. Sadly that was not to be. The French company went under.
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Best is subjective to personal preference, but I will take your word that it was an excellent paper.
 
The chief chemist from Guilleminot, Guy Gerard, was a founder of Bergger in 1995, and worked with Forte to manufacture a high quality B&W FB VC paper, sold as Forte Polywarmtone, Bergger Warmtone, Classic Arts/Adox Polywarmtone. The final coating runs of papers * films went to Fotoimpex/Adox.

Personally, I found Poluwarmtone to be the best FB VC warm-tone paper I've ever used. I still have a little left. I bought a lot from the last coating run.

Ian
 
Was on a trip to visit his shop years ago whilst visiting Vermont. Never got there there unfortunately due to an adverse reaction to a massive steak the day before! Had a look at a Zone vi 5x4 a short while ago but plumped for the Toyo 45A instead.
 
Keith tapscott. said:
Best is subjective to personal preference, but I will take your word that it was an excellent paper.
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Indeed. It was the best I ever used but I don't think it makes it the best ever. I rather think there is no best overall. I do miss some of the Agfa papers as well and the Kodak Ektalure surfaces. But with time, good memories always get better than they really were ;)
 
“Best” is always Best for… something. People’s printing styles differ as much as photographers do.
 
David M said:
I have a Zone IV 5x4 camera and I was astonished to find that the lensboard was some random size. It’s slightly larger than the almost universal Linhof pattern. Rather than sourcing a new set of lensboards, which would have made those lenses useless for my other cameras, I made an adaptor. It’s a sheet of very thin brass (shim brass) with a narrow raised edge to fit Linhof. Had the ZoneVI standard had a smaller opening, I’d have had to rout it out to size.
View attachment 4903
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That’s a very clever adaptor. I have a 5x4 camera like yours. To be honest I’ve got others I much prefer using and I’ll probably sell mine at some point but it’s a shame it doesn’t work natively with Linhof/Wista panels which most of my lenses are on.
 
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