How the L45S has Helped my Work:
An interview with photographer Alban Christ

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Feedback on the L45S from owners and non owner users

ARTHUR ELGORT

We are proud to welcome the following

luminaries to our long list of L45s owners;

DAVID BAILEY
http://www.pdngallery.com/legends/bailey/intro.shtml
RAYMOND DEPARDON
http://photography.about.com/library/dop/bldop_rdepar.htm
BRYAN ADAMS
http://www.temple.edu/photo/photographers/adamsb/adamsbio.html

"GENIE." (genius in german) HELMUT NEWTON

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COLM FEORE WITH HIS L45s ON SET IN ROME

"I love the bigger Polaroid’s"
Peter Beard

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"Wow, incredible, I can’t believe you made that camera!"
Mario Testino

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Max Vadukul

Max Vadukul

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"The smartest thing I have seen in a long time."
Patrick Demarchelier

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"Sweet"
Bruce Weber

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I love my camera, I use it a lot.
Henry Leutweiler, NYC

"I love my camera."
Paul Gillmore, first assistant to Annie Leibovitz

"My clients freak out when they see the big polaroid’s, I love my camera"
Gerald Forster

"I love my camera"
Alex Chatelain, NYC

Interview: STEPHEN M. SCHAUB

WL: Stephen, tell me about your Haiku Series.

SS: In the Haiku Series photographs I work with
instant color positives which combine traditional and
digital technologies to create an artwork that is a
meditation on the emotional energies of the original
subject.

These works are the logical successor to my series and
publication Through a Glass Darkly, (2004) and
continue my visual exploration of "unprocessed
emotion" and the "joy of imperfection" through
distinctive hybrid technologies of my own development.

Pointillist-like, each work's impression differs
radically depending on viewing perspective. Round
pebbles of chemistry are made visible through
enlargement, transforming color into shape and
subject. The use of rare, translucent Japanese Gampi
papers completes the overall effect, causing each
print to radiate a glow as if illuminated from within.

My Haiku Series prints are offered in a limited
edition of three prints, each finished with a custom,
black lacquer frame. Additionally, select Haiku
images are also offered as Japanese style Shoji
Screens in an edition of one.

I'm happy to say they've been getting a terrific
reception from both the media and general public.

WL: Do you shoot using the ground glass or the
rangefinder?

SS: Due to its benefits of both speed and accuracy, I
shoot almost exclusively using the rangefinder. Its
focus is very accurate for most of my works, however,
I do carry the ground glass with me for extreme
close-up work.

WL: I'm curious to know how incorporating the Panther
Noir Royale into your work has affected you as an
artist?

SS: Coming from a background first in large format,
later in digital, and culminating in hybrid
photographic processes which combine both, I
appreciate this camera's ability to cover all the
bases: large format image quality coupled with the
ease of handling of a small format camera.
Additionally, because it is custom built, I was able
to have the camera finished with special options
specific to my particular artworks and style of
working. This is very important to me as I choose
equipment that works effortlessly, what I describe as
"transparent technology"...I never want the technology
to get in the way of a great shot, and this camera
never does.

WL: What other cameras have you used in the past and
how do they compare?

SS: My film systems have varied over the years from
4"x5" and 4"x10" view camera to 6x12cm and 6x17cm
panoramic systems. My digital systems have been as
varied as my film systems including high resolution
digital backs (16 MP) to the latest professional SLR
technology..but I've always said, you have to use the
right camera for the subject and always fundamental
to me was image quality and how the camera fit my
shooting style. All of my artworks benefit from
larger negative or positive in terms of scan quality
and yet I have shed the bulk of traditional large
format systems- so with the Panther Noir Royale I'm
getting the best of both worlds.

WL: How would you summarize the improvement to your
career from using the camera?

SS: In a nutshell I'd say that my career has improved
due to the simplification and the streamlining of my
process. That is to say, this one camera fits a wide
gamut of needs from my hybrid artworks to portraits to
landscape and architecture, and it works in film or
digital depending on my or my clients needs. You can't
ask for more than that from a camera.

Aditional Interviews:

http://www.imaginginfo.com/article/article.jsp?id=1390&siteSection=25

 

Dear William,

Greetings.In answer to your question about which was my role in the movie "Paycheck" ,I play John Wolfe(executive assistant with guns).I'm Aaron Eckart's right hand man.I spend the entire film chasing,but never quite catching Ben A..Check out Imdb.com for a more comprehensive list. I've just returned from Rome where I was playing "Julius Ceasar"in ABC's mini-
series "Empire".I brought the Littman,and as always,it was a huge hit. The Camera never fails to draw attention and praise.I often ended up taking snaps of total strangers who'd admiredit-I evenhave a pretty good shot of me made up as "Ceasar"with bleeding wounds, explaining the camera to a gang of toga-clad senators-taken by a local photog in the tiny town of Nepi where we were shooting.If I can get it scanned I'll send it along for a laugh. I can't tell you what delight the Camera has brought me,it is simply a joy to use and a delight to own.By the by,congratulations on the new models.They all look very exciting and, of course,very tempting.

Warmest regards, Colm Feore Actor/ photographer.

Hello William Littman,

The Pathfinder has been shipped out. I'm happy to know it will be put to good use, eventually to be a Littman 45 single. I purchased one of your cameras at the end of last year and cracked up when I saw your name as the buyer. By the way, I just have to let you know that I love your camera over any other I own. It is simply the best!

Joanne Arnett

William,

Years ago I worked with a Speed Graphic. Your 45 Single distills everything I liked about the Graphic, including the limitations and the funk, down a great stripped-down tool. I am mainly a TV cameraman in conflict zones these days, so I find making pictures with your camera a useful way of slowing down (at least from a TV camera) yet remaining responsive very helpful for me. I love the way a subject who is aware the camera addresses me. I guess its the formality, but off piste.

Fred Scott
London

Dear William Littman,

thank you very much for your camera.
Works very well.

Helge Skodvin, Norway

original message;
Ciao William , scusa se non ti ho risposto fino ad ora ma non avevo la
possibilità di usare internet.

La macchina è arrivata , è meravigliosa la sto usando già molto e
trovo che sia precisamente quello che cercavo , sono felice.

Presto se ti fa piacere ti manderò degli scatti che sto facendo ,
intanto ti saluto e ti ringrazio sperando di conoscerti presto .
translation;
Hi William ;
The camera has arrived and it is marvelous, I am using it a lot already and I find that It was precisely what I was looking for, I am Happy.
I will be sending you some pictures , in the meantime I thank you and hope to meet you soon.

PAOLO LECCA ROME ITALY

Hello William,

I love this camera! It is such a pleasure to use something that reminds me of why I chose to be a photographer in the first place.

When you sent it you asked me to let you know how the new optics were. It took a few shots for me to remember to pull my eye a bit back from the viewfinder, but once I did, wow. It works beautifully! And the rangefinder is spot on.

Thank you for creating such a wonderful camera.

Joanne Arnett on the L45s II

Alejandro Cabrera (Spain's Top fashion and advertising photographer)comments on his new L45s II 127mm and 150mm cameras;

"William I can finaly take 4x5 pictures without limitations, wonderful
cameras indeed!!, the 127mm is a perfect basic camera, but I like the 150
apo L the most as it is perfect for portraits.
Congratulations!!, a genius idea, which I have fully embraced!
Warm regards from Madrid"

A.C.

Hi William,

The camera is great and am really enjoying shooting
and getting accustomed to it.Hope all goes well for you.

All the best,

Michael JN Bowles ( Australian photographer in NY)

Dear sirs,

my name is gregor toerzs and I've just purchased a used (6month old)
littman45.
I love it, being a 'from the hip' kind of guy. doing handheld portraits
with a super d. /380mm.

Hello Mr.Littman,
Thank you very much for the camera, I use it almost every shoot. I have use it for fashion editorial and portrait, and it works really well especially when I shoot the model with free angle with very fast move. I always wanted to shoot this snap shot type of framing with the large format camera. I also own Linhof but now I use new L45sII instead. I could shoot L45sII so naturally from the first shoot. Worth waiting for.

I use Leica for 35mm and L45sII just feel the same when shooting. I didn't realized until you mentioned that I can focus and frame in the same
finder. Wow! so that was the secret, I can make a snap shot so naturally.
Thank you again.

Shingo Wakagi JAPAN

Hello William,

The camera you made for me is performing flawlessly. I am enjoying it more than any camera I own. Hope all is well my friend.

Michael

Michael J. Kravit, AIA
Architect/Photographer/ L45s II

Tony Goodyear shares his comments about his new L45sII on his first shoot;
 
"William,I really appreciate your e-mail. I too am an inventor and have spent lots of money on patents and taken ten years to bring my product to the market. (The engineering is the easy part - the politics the hard part).
Finally picked up my camera this week from Ray, went into B & H where you have a good friend Andrew in the large format department and speaks highly of your camera. Bought a Toyo focussing hood, Fuji 4 x 5 pack film holder, The 405 Polaroid and a Horseman 6 x 7 back. (I have the sheet film and Readyload at home.)

So this weekend have been enjoying myself in NY city and fortunately found a processing shop a door from my hotel who can handle medium format processing in half an hour. (No good trying to take film in aeroplanes these days).
 
Firstly using the camera is really nice. Its light and surprisingly unobtrusive for today's skitsy society. Easy to handle, open and set up. Probably the easiest of all 4 X 5 cameras I've used (Use to work with a SpeedGraphic in my last life and compared with the Linhoff - well!). You are quite correct - spontaneity at your finder tips. Just like a MF or 35mm rangefinder camera. That's the real beauty. A 4 x 5 camera that is truly hand holdable. No tripod, no messing around. Just shoot. Interestingly many people walked up to me asking to see the camera.
 
Viewing the image away from the viewfinder needs a mental adjustment. After shooting 30 to 40 pics suddenly all fell into place and it became quite natural and very comfortable. No problems with the viewfinder.
 
I am very aware of how difficult it is to get an idea turned into a real life product and know just how easily people jump to criticisms. You have made a meaningful contribution to photography and recognised or not those using your camera know this to be the case. Maybe we are all fighting a loosing battle against digital but while we can we should stick together.
 
kind regards and keep going"
 
Tony Goodyer London UK while on location in NYC

Dear All,
 William Littman 45 Single, is a superb camera. I use it professionally and I am having a lot of fun with it.  You think it is to expensive, to green, to blonde and to skinny... don't buy it. It is not meant to please every one. I guess people like Bruce Weber, Patrick Demarchelier and other's think it is good enough, well that should be sufficient... I can assure you, this camera will make your life easy, it is a big rangefinder Leica with a single lens... indeed there are many other camera's out there, enjoy them all, have fun, take good pictures and have a little bit of respect for somebody, who after 9/11 started a new business, successfully and created something that Polaroid never was able to pull...The camera I purchased from William, is with me on assignment, every other week at least... it works perfectly well and finally, I hope to be buying another one sometime soon...Again and for the last time, William delivered the camera on time, we had a very pleasent chat...
Best to all. Henry Leutwyler NYC
 
--When I decided I wanted to use 4x5 as a photojournalism, my research to find the right camera began. While you can research online, until you pick up the camera and hold it in you hand, you really don't know if it's right. When I realized that some field 4x5 cameras were also rangefinders, I got very excited. Having worked behind ground glass was wonderful for landscapes and features, but for capturing people, I always found that the best "moment" would happen as I was loading the film, or removing the holder. It's very hard for non celebrities to be spontaneous on cue!
 
I first picked up a Linholf , while it offered me a rangefinder 4x5, the camera was extremely heavy and I found it awkward to look through through one viewfinder to focus and then move my eye to another viewfinder to frame the picture. Infact this is the problem with all of the other 4x5 cameras I looked at. The Linholf, Speed Graphic, and even Wista, all required focusing in one viewfinder, and framing from another. The Littman was the only camera that offered me the ease of one viewfinder with both focusing and with the parallax correction for framing.

On top of that, the Littman was lightweight and compact. As a woman with small hands, being able to comfortably support the camera was a factor for me. After holding the Littman, I knew it was the best camera for me!
Lightweight, compact, with focusing and parallax correction through one viewfinder, gave me the ability to be mobile and compact. Shooting in photojournalism situations, you need mobility and reactivity. That's why Linholf's, Speed Graphics and other field 4x5 camera's were eventually replaced by 35mm cameras. The Littman allows a photojournalist all the convenience of 35mm, all those things you look for-lightweight, mobile and reactive-but the greater creative benefits of shooting 4x5. For me, this is what has opened up a whole new creative stream.
Beth Keiser NYC (comments about her experience with The L45s1)

When Beth received her new L45s II her response was;
"I agree that the new finder is much better than in the first model." Brighter, clearer lines better contrast in the rf and easier overall."

 

SOME OWNER COMMENTS:

Dear Mr. Littman, This morning I went shooting with a my good friend Jeff Segar. At the end of the shoot, Jeff pulled out the coolest looking 4x5 camera I had ever seen. I had to use it! It was 8 am and the only person around was a woman police officer. I quickly loaded a sheet of 4x5 Polaroid and convinced her to let me take her picture. I have not had this much fun in a long time. Congratulations on a great camera!
Michael J. Kravit, Delray Beach, Florida

Hello! My name is Pavel Ulianov I'm from Russia. I think I am a single owner of Littman 45 in Russia. I bought it from previous owner, (I'm a designer and engineer of optical systems). I’ve read all chapters of your site before I wrote first message. I think that you made main important think - you have shown the direction of developing LF cameras to the world.
Pavel Ulianov, Russia

Hello Mr. Littman, I am fortunate enough to own one of your cameras, in fact I recived it this morning. I just want to let you know that I'm very pleased.
Piyatat Hematat, Photography Student, London, UK

Hello Mr. Littman, Now that I have had time to use the 45 Single I am in love with it. I have made images with it that no other camera I have ever used could capture with such detail and resolution. The range finder makes it almost as convenient as a Leica. The handling of the 45 Single is surprisingly fast with its light weight and quick focusing. I have shot so many street portraits with the Single that would not be possible with a routine 4x5 camera. I was at an air show last weekend and while I originally was shooting the skydivers with my Nikon F5, I decided to pull out the 45 Single and see what I could do. I was able to get these fast moving subjects, with the camera held by hand and vertical. The attached image is one from last weekend's air show. No other 4x5 on this planet would have captured this image on film. Your camera is the best thing ever to come along for the moving photographer who wants the best possible image. Great job!!! I plan on buying another by years end; maybe with a 150 mm lens, although the Tessar I have is a great piece of glass that performs wonders. The other image I have sent along is one taken with available light, handheld with this tessar lens. 
Henry Hill, CO

William, I’m very happy with the camera
Christophe Rouxel, France

William, I love the camera, I’m shooting landscapes, still life and portraits.
Jesse Harris, NYC

Hi - The camera has worked well when I have had the opportunity to use it. I am interested in the Grafmatic 6 sheet holder??
Rodney Charters, CA

I was originally introduced to the Littman 45 camera through the American Photography magazine article last year and decided after reading the reports and seeing some of the pictures that this is what I have been looking for. A few years ago I actually bought a Graphlex 4x5 camera to take large format street photographs but it never worked out because the camera is heavy, bulky and conspicuous in public places. I ordered a Littman 45 through William Littman in November, 2002 and received it in less than the 60 days advertised. Right now it is the only camera I have been using for my personal photography, it is everything I wanted in a hand-hold able 4x5
Bob Mosher, Arlington, VA

Thank you, I miss NY. The 45 Single is great.
Hans Karlsson, Sweden

Hello William, how are you doing? It's Monday night and I just got home from today’s shoot. We used your camera and it worked great. The Director loved it and is very happy with his purchase. Thank you again for everything.
J. C. Dektor Films, Hollywood, CA

William, I purchased a 45 w/ the 127 on it about a year ago. I shoot mostly action, but the 45 has replaced all others in my lifestyle and portraiture.
Chris Owen, OR

Dear William, Hi long time no talk, it's fantastic that your camera is doing so well, the more I use mine the less that comes as a surprise to me as it is a fantastic tool yielding such an incredible quality image. So much so that I want another one.
Tom Craig, London, UK

I love the camera. I shot some fantastic images in Hawaii from a helicopter. I am thoroughly engaged.
Mike Toth, MA

Upon receipt of his camera Alban Christ, NYC wrote...
Hi William.How are you??? I want to thank you again for what you did, this camera is a pleasure and genius thinking.
A year later he wrote...
Hi William, It’s nice to hear from you. I will be ready this summer to order a new 4x5. I will keep you posted. Talk to you later.
Alban Christ, NYC

From Steven Jaspal in ref to his L45s 135mm body...
Subject: Wow. I am speechless: This morning I went and shot some windsurfers getting ready at daybreak using your camera. I was moving around like I had my Pentax 67 with me, incredible!! Shot a cartridge of 8 sheets using the Fuji Quickchange cartridge system (these are a perfect match for your camera). Just developed the film and I am blown away. I know a good thing when I see it. I will be spending a few months in India next year so I am going to need a backup. The version with the standard Rodenstock-Ysarex 127
When he received the second camera he wrote...
Hi William, The camera arrived today and has tested well. I have fallen in love with this 127 lens, I love the feel it gives to a picture.
Steven Jaspal, UK

William; I now use only your camera for all my work, and I would like a second one as a backup.
Jean Pierre Khazem, Paris, FR

Camera is a wonderful piece of art – It worked out great at the olympics – Thanks again for getting it to me by the opening ceremony.
Scott Duncan, IA

I´m also thinking of ordering an extra camera now.
Patrik Sehlstedt, Sweden

Subject: Some camera – William, that thing is great. Thanx !!
Peter Ginter, Hamburg, Germany

Dear William, how are you? I will pass this message to my boss and he like so much your camera. Thank you so much. Keep in touch,
Janet, Hong Kong, China

William, The first time I used it, everything worked great. I'll send you some tearsheets after publication.
Nat Butler (NBA), NJ

Dear William I am writing you to tell you what a wonderful job you have done with the camera the range finder specifically calibrated i got very sharp tranies and i am really exited on using it to shoot all my work from now on thank you again for giving us photographers such a wonderful and useful camera.
Bengy Toda, Phillipines

Hello William! Thanks for keeping me in mind. I have just started using my camera. it's great! I hope you sell tons of them. Have a great 2003, William!
Sonny Williams, Atlanta

Hey William, sorry I lost contact with you but i have just been going non-stop. I love the camera and am really happy with everything I have produced so far and I am actually trying to use it more than my other equipment. Take care and I'll stay in contact, Peace.
Jack Thompson, Houston, TX

William, Since I got the Littman 45 Single, last year that is all I use for my work.
Xavier Muniz, Photographer and former assistant to Annie Leibovitz.

"The smartest thing I have seen in a long time."
Patrick Demarchelier

"Sweet"
Bruce Weber

I love my camera, I use it a lot.
Henry Leutweiler, NYC

"I love my camera."
Paul Gillmore, first assistant to Annie Leibovitz

"My clients freak out when they see the big polaroid’s, I love my camera"
Gerald Forster

"I love my camera"
Alex Chatelain, NYC

Bob Thomas comments on his first L45S: Dear Bill, I had a particularly successful shoot with one of your cameras last week. It was a set up shot of a soccer goalkeeper in action. I am so pleased with the results that I wanted to let you know what a brilliant camera it is (although you already know that). As a result of this success, shot on fuji provia single shot sheets using the polaroid film holder, I now want to obtain some 'real film backs' to enable me to use other emulsions that may not be available in single shot form. Please can you give me any advice on this? Can you supply these film backs/holders?
Six Months Later Bob Wrote:
Hi William, Many thanks for your email. I continue to use the 45 single for my sports work, among other things, and it continues to produce the 'wow' factor! I had been thinking about getting a spare camera, so your message was timely. I would like to order one 45SSWRF100% APOS150 and one 45SSWRF100% YSAR127. I think that's $5,300. Please let me have your bank details and I'll arrange payment. Before you finally stop making these things I'll probably want to re-equip again in about 18 months.
Bob Thomas, Overtone, UK

COMMENTS BY OTHER TOP PHOTOGRAPHERS
WHO SAW THE CAMERA:

William; Bravo!
Max Vadukul (not an owner)

"Wow, incredible, I can’t believe you made that camera!"
Mario Testino (not an owner)

William, it is really well balanced!
Nicholas Nixon, the man who invented a method to shoot 8x10 hand held and does not need a finder to shoot! (not an owner)

"I love the bigger Polaroid’s"
Peter Beard (when I assisted him on the set of the movie Driven)

WHO SHOULD BUY IT?

a) Professional photographers and dedicated amateurs...

...who seek a high performance tool and have the willingness to be adventurous recognizing that in photography few roads are left un traveled, and this camera therefore offers an exciting alternative to digital  or medium format, with a cost no larger than a medium format and when using Schneider lenses and 4x5 film produces results which still exceed anything that can be done on a digital camera at a minute fraction of the cost of a top digital system. Remember that this is at the top of its class in what refers to convenience  with optimum reliability established and therefore should be compared to the results which are applicable and not because it utilizes parts of Polaroid pathfinder cameras to have achieved the  low weight of 3.5 pounds and always as a professional tool aimed at the highest resolution possible made for the top players in the imaging industry, or those who intend to compete in that circle and those who wish for their own enjoyment and satisfaction to obtain such results in the production of their art, the 45 Single also accepts digital backs which can be mounted on a 4x5 camera and in doing so fallout can be mimicked better than on a digital system with internal lens focusing. It also shoots all films 4x5 and Polaroid, shoots all formats of 120 roll film up to 6x12, as well as 3 1/4 and any format you may want on a 4x5 film through the use of masks.

b) Collectors

 
WHAT WE OFFER

We clearly state that this is not presented marketed or sold as a consumer product, as Popular Photography declared it to be the most responsive large format camera yet in December of 2002, and many other top publications and top photographers have declared it to be worth it, not because its a Polaroid camera with a 4x5 back on it, but because it has been established that a single window rangefinder 4x5 camera has to have all the improvements which we make to it under the classification of "necessary modifications" and which must be present simultaneously for a single window rangefinder  4x5 camera to "work," as documented in our Patent applications.
We stand by our one (1) year warranty although it has rarely been needed, we assure that we will grant you personalized answers you may have to the basic operation instructions.
We do not offer consulting on photography itself or related support.

WHO SHOULD CONSIDER IT

It was designed for added convenience for  proficient photographers to fill a gap that existed in convenience related issues for this format, and its conveniences are its merit yet clearly the technical results do not exceed what you could obtain by putting an identical lens on a non event camera and focusing and composing through ground glass, or using another rf camera that doesn't have either accurate  parallax correction or combined viewfinder rangefinder. With that said, it would take precious time to prepare just one shot , and the moment is lost, it is intended for those who have suffered from having to focus thru one window and  crop thru another or those who had to depend on a tripod and use ground glass in which  case  neither the subject or the shooter can move.  The Littman 45 Single is another story as the spontaneity which is possible from the freedom offered. In that while you move and the subjects move you can stay accurately composed and focused perfectly while you pay attention to creativity and not hardware, weight and fear that you have to stop down the lens because the Rf is flaky, so it warrants the expenditure by those professionals and dedicated amateurs who seek these conveniences.

When we brag about its conveniences we assure you that it is the most convenient hand held 4x5 ever, not intended to be a field camera but a 4x5 snapshot camera which operates much like a Leica 35mm and weighs no more than a Nikon with a motor drive and booster, yet less convenient obviously than a 35mm camera. That is why not being able to afford producing them in the hopes that clients will like them, we attempt, without prejudice, to focus on those clients for whom it is a welcome advantage. Our customers should either understand what they are buying because they are experienced, or if they aren‚t, have the willingness to work around a new way of photographing on their own time and effort to conquer this new way of photographing that we are introducing here, knowing that there is an obvious risk that this being somewhat of a virgin territory the willingness to work around it is crucial, and that beyond the fact that it is the most convenient  as a large format, that is all it is, and it will not work around you, none do, we just want to make sure you succeed and we give you that tip based on 20 years experience as a fashion photographer.

Intended for those who get well recognized for their efforts or those which in valuing their efforts choose to invest in the effort to try something new as Bruce Weber put it quite well in the November 2001 issue of American Photo: "...you have to have the willingness to work around it."

If you are seeking a new frontier you found it. And if you have the willingness to work around it you should consider it.

All orders are considered Final sale from the moment they are placed. All assurances/promissory communications by email that an order will be placed within a specified time period are considered as a contractual promissory note to our company.