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Rangefinder Magazine
February 2004

Problems & Solutions

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: Richard Franklin
rgfno10@yahoo.com
I am looking into buying a mid-sized photo lab in the Michigan area. I am somewhat worried that labs such as this could be on the way out, with the advance of digital photography. This lab deals mainly with professional photographers. The lab is equipped to handle digital processing. I was wondering if you could give me your opinion as to what you see for the photo lab market in the future.

Any help you can provide me with would be greatly appreciated. If you are in need of any more information about the lab please let me know. Thank you for your time.

It might be helpful to know what equipment the lab has already installed, but the fact that you say it is equipped for digital processing is a good sign. True enough, many labs have gone under or been swallowed up because of the advent of digital. But many labs that have upgraded to handle digital files are thriving. You should look at the price and service lists of some of the major labs that handle digital files and see if you would be able to compete with them. Also, I would check the lab’s records to see if their customer base has eroded and if so, by how much. Personally, I think labs represent a good business opportunity, especially since many photographers are beginning to realize that the workflow and output issues are huge and extremely time consuming. Let us know what you decide to do.

From: Jerry Hahn
jhahn_studio@geneseo.net
I would like to find a source for purchasing a “ready-made” threaded filter adapter to allow me to use (for instance) 72mm threaded filters on my 50mm Hasselblad Distagon lens. I have a number of 72mm filters, including a polarizer, that I use on a couple of Nikkor lenses and would like to double up by using them on the “unique” 63mm inside thread on the 50mm Distagon lens. The hood for the Distagon will retain Series 8 (62.5mm, I think) filters, but these are rather difficult to find and probably an unnecessary expense. Of course, I could purchase the rather expensive HB filters. I have tried Kirk, with no offer to even quote a price for a custom-made adapter and have checked with B&H, Calumet, etc. I have successfully (for some years), used an inside bayonet adapter to 52mm screw thread for adapting 52mm or larger filters (with step-ups) to the “normal” 80mm and the 150mm Hasselblad lenses. Any help you can give me will be appreciated.

I did some digging on the Internet and apparently the filters you need are commonly referred to as Series 63. They are the drop-in kind, held in place by a filter retaining ring or lens shade, which you apparently have. Someone else on the same message board said that both the filter retaining ring and a Series 63 to Bay 50 adapter are available at KEH Camera Brokers, 2310 Marietta Blvd. N.W., Atlanta, GA 30318; (404) 892-5522 or www.KEH.com/.