SHEN HAO DAYI

FILM MAGAZINE: SH617 Film Magazine

Because I enjoy the 6×17 panoramic format, I tried the Shen Hao 6×17 film magazine (SH617) after I regrettably sold off my Fotoman 617 MKII-L camera system.

Attaching the SH617 film magazine to a 4×5 camera moves the film plane further behind the camera’s ground glass. I never measured it, but imagine your ground glass is now about an inch or more closer to you than usual. The SH617 adds to the camera’s weight and girth once it is attached to the camera’s graflock back and changes the focal perspective to a 5×7 format. The lenses you may already be using with your 4×5 camera may not work for this image circle requirement, but remember you are shooting in the 6×17 cm ratio, not 5×7 inch.

Check before purchasing, as it is a box attached to the rear of a camera and is not the same as shooting with a camera designed for the 5×7 format from the ground up.

There is more to be concerned with than just the image circle since the front and rear standards are specific to the 4×5 format (assuming your camera is a 4×5 camera only). Attaching the box to the rear standard causes some visual obstruction looking forward. If your camera is similar to the Wisner 5×7 Technical Field camera I once owned, you may not experience this problem using the SH617 with an attachable 4×5 back onto a 5×7 camera.

In the end, I decided the SH617 was not for me. The magazine operates fine as long as you understand it is a “bare essential” type of gear with no automation whatsoever, and you need to practice with practice film before you go out in the field to shoot with it.

I give it a yes because the images I shot with this back matched the composition on the ground glass and were in sharp focus. The fact it was too much for me to carry and set up should not take away from its ability to produce 6×17 images nicely if you do not mind all the baggage it comes with.

I sold the SH617 because of the bulk and weight it added to my setup and the required time to attach it to the camera and focus on the less-than-desirable ground glass. Ultimately, it became too much of a hassle to commit to, so I returned to using my Techno Rollex 6×12 magazine.

Someday, I hope to acquire a 6×17 dedicated field camera like one of these Shen Hao 6×17 field cameras. The SH617 is a reasonable option for photographers who want to shoot 6×17 on 120 film and cannot afford a 6×17 camera as long as they keep their lens selection to a minimum and understand the SH617’s limitations.

To verify the results, I exposed two rolls of film in the landscape using my normal working apertures of f/11, f/16, and f/22. One roll was focused on the ground glass, while the second relied on the lens distance scale and the hyperfocal technique I have used successfully for decades. Every ground glass image was critically sharp. Every hyperfocal image was out of focus. At that point I knew the lens cone had not been manufactured to the correct specification.

I contacted the seller and explained the problem. Their response was that every cone was made the same, with only the lens mounting hole being customized. They offered to modify my cone “somehow,” but would not manufacture a new one to the proper specifications. Since they clearly did not understand the issue withthe inaccurate distance scale, I requested a refund. The seller insisted I pay return shipping and fees even though the product was defective. After eBay and PayPal stepped in, I eventually received a full refund of more than $1,800.

Unfortunately, this was not my first experience with sellers who appeared unfamiliar with the equipment they were offering. In an earlier transaction involving an Ebony viewing bellows, I was repeatedly told the item pictured would not fit my camera, despite providing photographs and documentation showing that it would. That sale ended before I made the purchase.

Because of these experiences, I cannot recommend this seller. The camera itself was well made, and I appreciated the removable film back, but the incorrectly manufactured lens cone prevented me from using the hyperfocal focusing technique that has served me reliably for decades. If you purchase one of these cameras, I strongly recommend verifying the accuracy of the distance scale before the return period expires.

When I return to 6×17 photography, it will likely be with a field camera such as the Shen Hao or another Fotoman 6×17 if I can find one in excellent condition. I never had a single problem using the Fotoman with hyperfocal focusing, and I still regret selling that camera.

FILM MAGAZINE: DA YI 6×12 Film Magazine

The Da Yi film magazine produces sharp images, but it is by far the most challenging film magazine I have ever loaded and unloaded, and I have had many different film magazines. I sent the manufacturer a message requesting loading instructions and hoped to hear back because something seems wrong, but no response was received.

I feared I may have damaged my first roll because the take-up spool was not latching onto the spool nut and moving around—I had never seen that before in a film magazine. Then, when unloading the magazine, I could not get the take-up spool out even though it was flopping around! But the film came out just fine, and below is an image from the first roll.