Rangefinder Magazine
May 2002

Problems and Soluitions

Please accompany your questions with a self-addressed stamped envelope if you wish an immediate reply. Alternatively, you can e-mail me at: bhurter@rfpublishing.com.

From: Tim Weaver
Olsen’s Cameras, Etc.
tawphoto@cyberback.com

Do you know of anyone I could contact to get an Ascor power pack repaired or acquire parts?

You might try Ted Wills, TW Technical, 514-2 California Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15202; (412) 766-1669. My files indicate that this company still works on Ascors.

From: Larry Dreiling
lwrd@earthlink.net
I will be photographing a wedding in upstate New York this summer and would like to find a professional lab in the vicinity so I can avoid mailing film. The wedding will take place in Corning, NY. Are there any labs in the area? How about Syracuse?

You might try contacting the Association of Professional Color Imagers (APCI), 3000 Picture Place, Jackson, MI 49201; (517) 788-8146; e-mail: APCI@pmai.org; web site: www.pmai.org/sections/apcl.htm. You can contact them and ask for a member lab in upstate New York. They can even search their database by lab services so that they come up with exactly the lab you need.

From: Ron Hildebrand
ron@hilstudio.com
Thanks for publishing a fine photography magazine of venerable lineage! I wanted to remark on the article on Profoto softboxes by Stan Sholik as being excellent and quite in-depth.

However, a statement made within needs correction: Stan remarks that the Profotos are “noticeably thinner than those of all but one other line.”

While the depth dimensions of the Profotos are not mentioned, it would be difficult to beat the slim lines of either the Chimera or the Calumet Illuma, which is equally as thin as both the Profoto and Chimera. The Illuma is designed by Gary Register, who is the designer and owner of Plume Ltd. softboxes. Plume also makes the Wafer softbox, which is still another slim profile box!

Therefore, there are actually at least four brands of thin softboxes, all nearly equal in depth vs. length x width ratio.

And lastly, don’t forget that the Larson boxes have always been of thinner profile than most standard boxes, although they may not be as thin as those listed above.

Thanks for your comments. As always, they’re much appreciated.

From: G. Michael Clark
clarkgmorph@utk.edu
Geological Sciences
University of Tennessee at Knoxville
I am searching for a lab that will make 35 mm superslides with little or no cropping from 6x6 (actually 56x56mm) Hasselblad color transparencies. Also, where can I find slide mounts for 35 mm superslides, preferably the Anti-Newton glass mounts?

Regarding super slides try contacting the Association of Professional Color Imagers (APCI), 3000 Picture Place, Jackson, MI 49201; (517) 788-8146; e-mail: APCI@pmai.org; web site: www.pmai.org/
sections/apcl.htm. They can give you the name of labs specializing in that service.

Two companies specializing in Anti-Newton ring glass slide mounts are Wess Plastic and Gepe. Wess mounts can be ordered through Wess Plastic Inc., 70 Commerce Dr., Hauppauge, NY 11788-36; (631) 231-6300; www.wessplastic.com. Gepe slide mounts can be ordered through HP Marketing Corp., P.O. Box 715, Pine Brook, NJ 07058; (973) 808-9010, fax (973) 808-9004 e-mail: info@hpmarketingcorp.com; www.hpmarketingcorp.com.

From: Kirsten Milliken
redhot@maine.rr.com
I am looking for oversized props for a photography studio. These would include such “fun” items as large sports equipment, moon, stars, balls, etc. with lots of color. Any idea where I might find items like these?

Try contacting Think Big!, 390 W. Broadway, New York, NY 10012; (212) 995-7300. This company sells everyday objects, in realistic detail; but larger than life. Catalogs are available. Another good source is online: http://www.greatbigstuff.com.