Re: fisheye lens for medium format camera / answer to questions

[CiramaVentures@xxxxxxx]

Dear Gene,

I hadn't thought about selling my fisheye camera until I read all the 
e-mails.  I designed and built this camera from a WWII aerial strike camera 
(K-25).  As I remember, it has a large focal plain shutter, with several 
speeds, plus B.  As for the gyro; I have always used low speed (10,000 rpm) 
24 vt gyro's with heavy balls because they come up in 30sec. as compared to a 
Kenyon Gyro which takes 10 min.  The camera was designed to shoot down on 
cities and will produce an image which will enlarge to six foot dia., and 
show people at 800 foot alt. (if serious I could show sample images)  The 
vacuum is required because the camera is pointed down and the film will fall 
down otherwise. (Not to say this camera couldn't be used for other things, 
like church's.)  The camera weights 25 lb. and is suspended by a 8 foot cord. 
 I also have some amount of frozen film, to be determined if anyone has 
interest.  As for the price I would like to see what interest I can generate, 
as I see no need to get rid of it unless I can make enough to cover 
development.  Please note there isn't a lens, because (how can I say this) . 
. . I dropped it. Oops.  As for the 30mm Zeiss (Hasselblad); I compared it to 
all the other lenses you people have been talking about, and if you are 
serious be aware the 30mm is a vastly better lens.  It will perform better at 
F3.5 then any of the others at F8.  If someone wanted to shoot city fisheyes 
this would be the camera, I myself have gone in other directions, and if no 
one wants it I will make it over with a more conventional lens (which you 
could also do.)  As for the 3 frame per sec. shooting seed; when working from 
a helicopter the motor driven aspect of this camera comes into play because 
of all the other things that are happening.  The camera can also be operated 
(single shot) by a hand crank.

Michael