Author Topic: Harman Titan Pinhole. (Read 15465 times)

LT · « **on:** October 28, 2011, 12:29:44 PM »

Hi All -

Has anyone managed to get one of these? Ilford tell me that the first batch to be produced has completely sold out from the factory in under a week! They won't have any more made for a while as they are virtually handmade (or hand-constructed at least) for them.

There is some news that a few might still be available from third party sellers, although I called several suppliers and all of whom told they had sold out before they had even got them in stock!

Anyhow, I've managed to get a demo model on short loan from Ilford to review. I'll get a video review done in the next week or so and post it up as a video podcast. It might be worth hanging around for that before you commit - and given the length of time it looks like it will be before they are available for sale again, it looks like you will have to anyway

CarlRadford · « **Reply #1 on:** October 28, 2011, 12:37:20 PM »

I've not gone for one yet. I know Paul Gallagher was an initial reviewer/tester for them and was very impressed. I am intereted in the pihole which they are saying produces pretty sharp images due to the way it has been made.

Ed Wenn · « **Reply #2 on:** October 28, 2011, 01:10:54 PM »

The latest AG Photographic newsletter says they have them for sale. I'm guessing you'll already have tried Matt, but just mentioned it in case you haven't.

I very much like the sound of a new video podcast. Go Leon! I'll contact you offline about file formats and the like, but this is great news.

Suzi Livingstone · « **Reply #3 on:** October 28, 2011, 03:44:37 PM »

I want one.

DaveMiller · « **Reply #4 on:** October 28, 2011, 04:03:05 PM »

Try eBay:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ilford-Harman-TiTAN-5x4-Pinhole-Camera-/400252950058?pt=UK_Film_Cameras&hash=item5d30ef562a

LT · « **Reply #5 on:** October 28, 2011, 04:06:25 PM »

Quote from: DaveMiller on October 28, 2011, 04:03:05 PM

Try eBay:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ilford-Harman-TiTAN-5x4-Pinhole-Camera-/400252950058?pt=UK_Film_Cameras&hash=item5d30ef562a

Ahh - so Process Supplies clearly have at least one left. I just heard from Metro Imaging that they may have one also.

Diane Peterson · « **Reply #6 on:** October 28, 2011, 05:55:00 PM »

Darn, guess I won't be able to pick one up while in the U.K.....was really hoping to bring back with me!

Abdul Hye · « **Reply #7 on:** October 29, 2011, 02:38:09 AM »

I believe Silver Print have them in stock.

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

Sandeha Lynch · « **Reply #8 on:** October 29, 2011, 07:33:17 AM »

Or you could build your own multitasker ...

With 4x5 sharpness isn't much of an issue.

Message me with your email addy if you'd like illustrated instructions to build one.

Phil Bebbington · « **Reply #9 on:** October 29, 2011, 10:08:13 AM »

Sandeha, great work. Should I assume that all instructions are accompanied with a bottle of Merlot

Sandeha Lynch · « **Reply #10 on:** October 29, 2011, 10:17:25 AM »

Camera making is thirsty work - the Merlot was meant to be a hint.

LT · « **Reply #11 on:** October 29, 2011, 11:51:23 AM »

Quote from: ctrlclick00 on October 29, 2011, 02:38:09 AM

I believe Silver Print have them in stock.

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

I think they may have, but it's definitely worth asking them before you buy, otherwise you'll have paid for something with a very long delivery time!

I got mine today from Metro Imaging. I am utterly impressed so far, but the proof of the pudding is in the exposure as they say!

DaveMiller · « **Reply #12 on:** October 29, 2011, 06:48:01 PM »

I thought pinhole was supposed to be cheap and fun; Blue Peter stuff in fact. The trend seems to be to make it as complicated as possible; I suppose the next step will be for them to market a lens to go with it.

Abdul Hye · « **Reply #13 on:** October 29, 2011, 09:45:15 PM »

I am interested in it but at £150 plus whatever a film carrier cost, I’d rather wait for some in depth reviews.

Francois · « **Reply #14 on:** October 29, 2011, 09:48:01 PM »

Quote from: DaveMiller on October 29, 2011, 06:48:01 PM

I suppose the next step will be for them to market a lens to go with it.

Actually, it's already in the Ilford plans... just listen to the last podcast (I think it's there).

Ilford wants to use the Pinhole as a base to build a complete modular system with more advanced features with time.

More pinholes, more cones, lenses and everything you can imagine... it is still a 4x5 frame after all!

LT · « **Reply #15 on:** October 29, 2011, 09:53:31 PM »

The £150 is a bit misleading as there is about £30 worth of film and paper included with the kit - but you are right, £120 is more than a Zero Image 5x4 so it is on the pricey side.

I have the camera now, so stay tuned for an up-and-coming video podcast review.

Jack Johnson · « **Reply #16 on:** October 29, 2011, 10:38:28 PM »

Quote from: leon taylor on October 29, 2011, 09:53:31 PM

I have the camera now, so stay tuned for an up-and-coming video podcast review.

Holding my breath. Really.

Miles · « **Reply #17 on:** October 29, 2011, 10:48:01 PM »

Not tried LF, so I'll need a back or two as well.

Zero's aren't home grown, I love mine, but these things are "local"

so I think I'll take a punt. Christmas is round the corner after all.

Having it as a kit with paper, film and the promise of it being a modula platform are al really nice touches.

DaveMiller · « **Reply #18 on:** October 30, 2011, 08:06:40 AM »

Quote from: Francois on October 29, 2011, 09:48:01 PM

Quote from: DaveMiller on October 29, 2011, 06:48:01 PM
I suppose the next step will be for them to market a lens to go with it.
Actually, it's already in the Ilford plans... just listen to the last podcast (I think it's there).

Ilford wants to use the Pinhole as a base to build a complete modular system with more advanced features with time.

More pinholes, more cones, lenses and everything you can imagine... it is still a 4x5 frame after all!

Anyone that goes down that route will have to be plain daft as it must be cheaper in the long run to buy a second-hand camera, with or without a pinhole; but I guess marketing hype will win the day.

DaveMiller · « **Reply #19 on:** October 30, 2011, 08:10:44 AM »

Quote from: ctrlclick00 on October 29, 2011, 09:45:15 PM

I am interested in it but at £150 plus whatever a film carrier cost, I’d rather wait for some in depth reviews.

Double dark slides are available second-hand for about £10 each from dealers, but cheaper on eBay. AG Photographic are listing new ones at about £30 http://www.ag-photographic.co.uk/pinhole-cameras-398-c.asp each.

LT · « **Reply #20 on:** October 30, 2011, 09:07:16 AM »

if you phone around some of the less obvious used shops (try looking through the sites listed here - especially by clicking on "used camera specialists" under the heading "Camera Shops of the United Kingdom") you might find a better deal. I managed to get 12 DDS for £20 last year. they were old and a bit grubby, but all bar 2 worked.

DaveMiller · « **Reply #21 on:** October 31, 2011, 08:01:31 AM »

Quote from: DaveMiller on October 30, 2011, 08:10:44 AM

Quote from: ctrlclick00 on October 29, 2011, 09:45:15 PM
I am interested in it but at £150 plus whatever a film carrier cost, I’d rather wait for some in depth reviews.

Double dark slides are available second-hand for about £10 each from dealers, but cheaper on eBay. AG Photographic are listing new ones at about £30 http://www.ag-photographic.co.uk/pinhole-cameras-398-c.asp each.

I noticed that they are now listing a package http://www.ag-photographic.co.uk/ilford-harman-titan-pinhole-camera--5x4-film-holder-2712-p.aspfor £175 which should aid the Christmas present buyers.

samantha · « **Reply #22 on:** November 01, 2011, 09:07:22 AM »

I'm hugely conflicted about these. Ever since I heard the podcast, I've been dying to see one and see the results. But like Dave says, isn't pinhole supposed to be more DIY? I feel it loses something when it becomes so manufactured.

However, I suspect if I had the money to spare right now that I'd have snapped one up out of curiosity and thrown my homemade-pinhole-principles out the window.

Sandeha - I'm really interested in your self-building skills. Just been looking at your Large Format cameras on your website. I've had in mind for a while that I want to build a basic LF, but it would be very very basic - almost pinhole basic - as I don't have your woodwork and metal work skills.

I recently read about a guy who's been making his own 8 x 10 cameras for wet plate collodion work, and that really gets me excited. Anyone else got any experience in this department?

Sandeha Lynch · « **Reply #23 on:** November 01, 2011, 07:55:27 PM »

Quote from: samantha on November 01, 2011, 09:07:22 AM

Sandeha - I'm really interested in your self-building skills. Just been looking at your Large Format cameras on your website. I've had in mind for a while that I want to build a basic LF, but it would be very very basic - almost pinhole basic - as I don't have your woodwork and metal work skills.

Samantha, the Neretta is not difficult to build if you can find a craft shop with readycut lengths and sheets of suitable wood. Then it's largely a case of careful cutting and gluing, though you need to already have a 4x5 film holder to build it around. Adding a tripod mount is probably the most complicated part of it.

LT · « **Reply #24 on:** November 02, 2011, 09:38:14 AM »

Quote from: DaveMiller on October 29, 2011, 06:48:01 PM

I thought pinhole was supposed to be cheap and fun; Blue Peter stuff in fact.

Quote from: samantha on November 01, 2011, 09:07:22 AM

But like Dave says, isn't pinhole supposed to be more DIY? I feel it loses something when it becomes so manufactured.

I'm not sure pinhole is supposed to be about anything in particular. Zeroimage have been making premium quality pinhole cameras for some time now. As have Leonardo Cameras and Pinhole Solutions So it's not a new idea to have a quality product made specifically for pinhole photography. Martha Casanave's pinhole pics, for me at least, show how seriously pinhole can be taken - it seems that she uses a 5x4 camera with a pinhole on the front rather than a dedicated pinhole camera though.

But I do agree that it's quite a step to go from match-box or tin box cameras with holes in squares of coke cans to a £130 piece of gear with a laser-drilled precision pinhole!

Francois · « **Reply #25 on:** November 02, 2011, 02:30:55 PM »

Somehow, there's something I always found a bit funny about high tech commercial pinholes... like if it was a bit of an oxymoron... or something like that which I don't have the right word in my head right now...

Jack Johnson · « **Reply #26 on:** November 03, 2011, 05:01:31 AM »

Quote from: Jack Johnson on October 29, 2011, 10:38:28 PM

Quote from: leon taylor on October 29, 2011, 09:53:31 PM
I have the camera now, so stay tuned for an up-and-coming video podcast review.

Holding my breath. Really.

*gasp*

Video yet?

Chris A Fraser · « **Reply #27 on:** November 04, 2011, 11:04:23 AM »

Not the most exciting video..... but

ILFORD Pinhole Photography Kit

LT · « **Reply #28 on:** November 04, 2011, 11:17:19 AM »

~~buggerations - someone has beaten me to it!~~

EDIT: Ahh - it is Harman's own video. that's ok then

mickld · « **Reply #29 on:** November 04, 2011, 01:20:58 PM »

That whets the appetite all right. I keep flip-flopping about 4x5 photography. A pinhole camera that produces a relatively sharp image might be just the thing for me. I'm not so keen on blurry pinhole images, so if this produces acceptably sharp images it would justify the high price - for me.

Can't wait to see some example pictures.

Karl · « **Reply #30 on:** November 04, 2011, 01:24:38 PM »

a tenuous link and not worth it's own thread but I've just ordered one of these MOD 54 developing units to go in the Paterson tank. I'll let people know how it performs. It seems to be a great idea and would open up 5x4 development to more people. Other methods I've tried have either been messy or destructive. I admit I've done very little but this might open things up a bit. Report to follow.
Would also work for positive film development if you don't have full darkroom/enlarger available.

Phil Bebbington · « **Reply #31 on:** November 04, 2011, 04:05:02 PM »

Well, I'm excited! I'm not often excited

LT · « **Reply #32 on:** November 13, 2011, 06:09:07 PM »

Well - despite my best intentions, I've had to wait until today for the rarest of occasions to take place:

1. a day off; and,
2. acceptable weather.

It's been miserable around here since I got the camera - thick fog sitting at about 100 feet above the ground, making the sky deeply dark, featureless and damp. Seeing that this camera has a 75 mm equivalent focal length (about 20mm in 35mm film) I figured there was going to be a LOT of sky in these pics, so I needed something there, even if it was mostly con trails.

So, I've shot the frames, shot the video (thanks Mrs Leon) now need a few days to dev, scan and fiddle with the pics, and sort out he video editing. I guestimate a video podcast by next weekend (fingers x'd).

it was a joy to use by the way

Phil Bebbington · « **Reply #33 on:** November 13, 2011, 07:24:07 PM »

I'm still very excited!

Ed Wenn · « **Reply #34 on:** November 13, 2011, 09:00:05 PM »

I can feel it from here, Phil.

moominsean · « **Reply #35 on:** November 13, 2011, 09:34:13 PM »

get a room, you two.

Francois · « **Reply #36 on:** November 13, 2011, 09:56:07 PM »

Well... doesn't looking at new gear get you all worked-up?

Nigel · « **Reply #37 on:** November 14, 2011, 08:57:39 AM »

It does look very well designed and manufactured, for me the option of various lenses is more interesting than the pinhole. I do OK with my own homemade pinhole cameras, but to have something I could switch lenses on would be really interesting.

All I need then is someone nearby with the darkroom skills for my direct positive paper ............

Roger Thoms · « **Reply #38 on:** December 04, 2011, 02:23:44 AM »

Yep just got word from Rob at Big Camera Workshops in Canada that he is shipping my Titan on Monday. So add me to the excited list. Last thing in the world I should be buying, but to late now, so I might as well enjoy it. Yeah I know that I could build one (and actually have built several) but the Titan just looked cool. Also helped that my girlfriend thought that we should get one, nothing like having a partner in crime.

Roger

LT · « **Reply #39 on:** December 04, 2011, 11:09:17 AM »

Quote from: rtbadman on December 04, 2011, 02:23:44 AM

... Also helped that my girlfriend thought that we should get one, nothing like having a partner in crime.

It's always good when the significant other is in agreement with new toy acquisition

Francois · « **Reply #40 on:** December 04, 2011, 03:01:04 PM »

Camera makers should think about this and make his & hers outfits...

Phil Bebbington · « **Reply #41 on:** December 04, 2011, 04:56:35 PM »

I've explained to Jan that if she doesn't let me buy cameras then gone will be those hours sat in a hot car whilst I disappear. No longer will she get the opportunity to stand in dark, derelict houses infested with mosquitoes and her being the main course, unable to swat them because she is holding a stopwatch, lens cap, exposure meter and anything else that I hand to her.

When I put that to her she always lets be buy what I want

Jack Johnson · « **Reply #42 on:** December 31, 2011, 12:33:20 AM »

Anyone try a rollback on the Harman Titan Pinhole yet? Just for holiday kicks.

Jack Johnson · « **Reply #43 on:** December 31, 2011, 07:40:10 AM »

Quote from: Jack Johnson on December 31, 2011, 12:33:20 AM

Anyone try a rollback on the Harman Titan Pinhole yet? Just for holiday kicks.

...or maybe a Fuji PA-145 holder?

LT · « **Reply #44 on:** December 31, 2011, 09:00:13 AM »

Jack - Unless 5x4 roll film backs are the exact width of a standard "fidelity" type DDS, they won't fit without some major modification and hacking - same with the instant film backs. The camera doesn't have a sprung back.