john_kasaian4

<p>Strap wrench. You'll want the little one. Harbor Freight has them cheap. Some times you can find them on the 99-cent table at an Ace Hardware store. get the 2-pack.<br> E-Z-Ox is good for unfreezing threads. You can find that at gun shops.</p>

<p>How much are you planning to spend on this?</p>

<p>Bill, nearly all my shooting is done with an 8x10 these days. I also have 5x7 and a 12x20 camera. I'm just trying to cut down on some distractions. My GVII is safely in it's case with a stack of holders, waiting to be recalled to service along with an Omega D-II for<em> if</em> and <em>when.</em><br> It would be much harder to give up the 12x20.<em><br /></em></p>

<p>For now I'm keeping the GVII, D-II with a 135 Omegaron, a 162mm Wollensak Velostigmat, 6 Riteway film holders and a set of 5x7 trays.</p>

<p>I haven't shot 4x5 in many, many years.<br /> I actually have a pretty nice kit---likely not worth much but I figured if I get too old to lug around the 8x10 I'd still be in the game with the 4x5.<br /> I don't think I'd miss not being able to afford color, but I can still shoot color film in smaller formats and if need be I have 4x5 reducing backs for the 8x10 & 5x7. Keeping back a few holders and a lens won't take up much space--I may even have a spare lens board for the 'dorff.<br /> It is the <em>getting the too old to haul around an 8x10</em> part that concerns me the most.<br /> Then again someone else could put this stuff to better use than collecting dust in storage<br /> Thoughts, suggestions or guidance?</p>

<p>Exercise it a few times---does it fire? Do the f-stops open up and stop down? If so I'd say it's worth $12. It looks like there is a lens in situ, but exactly what kind of lens or which format it will cover, I have no idea.<br> I have 159mm WA Velostigmat which covers 8x10 in a very tiny Alphax.<br> Alphax is a good shutter. Have fun with it!</p>

<p>If you're new to large format I suggest saving money with a used Calumet 400 or Graphic View II---certainly not more the $150 cost. get a good tripod (again used---because they are better than the current import) TiltAll made in the USA---not more than $90. There are excellent modern lenses in the 210mm range that go begging for $200. So $500 (less actually) will get you a monorail capable of everything a high dollar camera can do.<br> If you like large format photography you can upgrade your kit as needed. If the relationship is fleeting, you can sell it for what you pad for it <em>and in the mean time you won't be out a ton of $$.</em></p>

<p>Do you have any large format photography projects planned for the spring and summer?<br> How are you prepping for them? CLA'd a shutter? Order a box of film? Poured over some road maps?</p>

<p>Of course you could get your supply of empty Crown Royal bags the old fashioned way, LOL!</p>

<p> ...and not from a camera store! What stuff you use from the market, drug store or discount big box?<br> Post 'em here.<br> I have several Betty Crocker mixing cups (from Walmart, IIRC) that serve as small graduates for mixing chemicals. Also in the dark room I store my stock solutions in amber glass Robetussin gallon jugs I got for free from a pharmacy. In my car trunk I'll keep both a white and a black shower curtain for isolating the back ground, softening the light, protection against rain, or even an emergency dark cloth. The Philips bit on a Swiss Army knife has come in handy on more than one occasion for tightening hardware. On short hikes I'll carry my camera kit in an Army Surplus store bought canvas 5 gallon water cooler bag which is padded as well. as insulated (and doesn't look like a camera bag!) 8x10 film holders are kept protected from dust in the big Brawny plastic zip lock bags from the market.<br> So, what have you got going on?</p>

<p>Oops! Double post.</p>

<p>The Kodak 2D, Ansco Universal, and Burk & James are likely the lowest priced woodies you'll find and are very capable cameras. Leaky bellows will cost you $$ so be careful checking them out.<br> You'll need a tripod that can support the weight. You might find an old surveyor's that you can rig up with a 1/4-20 thread.<br> You'll need film holders---at least 3, Figure $50 a piece for used.<br> A focusing cloth, which is pretty basic---even a back sweat shirt will work in a pinch.<br> A focusing loupe (the ubiquitous 9x Agfa works)<br> A light meter, unless your good at eyeballing the light.<br> You'll want a shuttered lens mounted on a lens board. With wood camers, you can make your own lens board (or encourage the local high school wood shop teacher with a box of Krispy Cremes to make you a couple!) Look for 9-1/2" (240mm) to 14" (360mm) for a "normal" lens that will cover 8x10. Wollensak triple convertibles are way underpriced for a versatility they offer.<br> Probably the first thing you should get is a good book---Simmons <em>Using The View Camera </em>will explain all you need to know.</p>

<p>One good thing about the price of 8x10 film---it motivates a guy to be very careful!</p>

<p>Anyone here takes a LF out in the snow on skis or snow shoes?<br> I shoot two "snow cameras"---a 5x7 Speed Graphic and a Gowland 8x10 Aerial. Both handheld unless I take a small Tilt-all along---sinking the legs into the snow helps add stability a Tilt-all needs with larger cameras. I use a Jan Sport Equinox day pack to hold the 5x7 and film holders, or if I'm shooting the Gowland, just the film holders. The Gowland I have to hand carry since it's too awkward to fit in a pack, so learning to ski without poles is necessary (fortunately I learned at a ski instructor's course!)<br> It adds an interesting element to large format photography---most ski areas offer dramatic mountain vistas and when the atmosphere is doing it's thing, wow! You can't hardly not get "keepers."</p>

<p>Tri-X & D-76 to start with.<br> Why?<br> You already know it, so with a little refresher you should get outstanding negatives.<br> If you don't <em>need the speed</em> and have a tripod give FP-4+ a try (in D-76 or the Ilford equivalent)</p> <p> </p>