New owner of 4x5 Shen Hao: book recommendations?

[kim yee]

I just bought my first Large format camera today, a 4x5 Shen Hao TZ45-IIA, and I want to know is there any

book from which I can learn all about LF photography?

 

Please advise... Thank you...

[spodzone]

<p>The usual recommendation here is <a href="http://amazon.com/Using-View-Camera-Steve-Simmons/sim/0817463534/2?ie=UTF8&pf=3">using the view camera</a> by Sommons.</p>

 

<p>Personally I'd recommend you spend a long time perusing <a href="http://www.largeformatphotography.info/">LFphoto.info</a> and most importantly, PLAY with it. Isn't the Shen just lovely? ;) </p>

[jtk]

You might also find old Linhof books in the back of a used book store. There's little new under the Sun, in terms of large format.

[brucecahn]

By Sommons did you mean Steve Simmons? He also publishes a helpful magazine called View Camera. 1 800 894 8439 for info or subscription, or for the book.

[michael_briggs2]

A book is an excellent idea.

 

Here are some past discussions with recommendations, and some descriptions of the recommended books:

 

 

"recommend a book for 8x10 camera" (but the books really don't depend on format size) at http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00Dj6m

 

"Book Recommendation Requested" at http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00CefO

 

"View camera recommendations? (and books, too)" at http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00KPq8

[david_schwartz6]

Simmons' book is wonderful. Kodak also publishes a book called Photography with Large Format Cameras. Finally, Ansel Adam's book The Camera. Can't go wrong with any of these.

[paul h]

Also look in to Jack Dykinga's book, 'Large Format Nature Photography'. It's more basic than Simmons' but still a good easy read. Movements are explained very well with lots of pictures. There is a book by Leslie Strobel (I think that's right), it is very technical and a lot thicker than the others but for information you can't go wrong with it, sorry I can't remember the title.

 

Also try this link, lots of good info here:

 

http://www.largeformatphotography.info/

 

Enjoy your new camera.

 

Paul

[gene_aker2]

Take a look Ansel Adam's classic series. One is called The Camera and Lens. Not much has changed since its publication in 1970.

He includes pictures that depict the effects of various movements.

View Camera magazine always offers many helpful articles on large format. Enjoy the cmaera.

[pvp]

Leslie Stroebel's <U>View Camera Technique</U> is the tome most often referred to as the LF bible. If it doesn't have the answer, you've probably asked the wrong question.<P>

 

Steve Simmon's <U>Using the View Camera</U> is somewhat less technical and much more readable, IMO. A must-have for any serious LF fotog's library.<P>

 

Ansel Adams <U>The Camera</U> is a bit more general (not just view cameras) but is required reading also, IMO.<P>

 

Seldom mentioned in these threads, for reasons I don't grok, are the online materials by Harold Merklinger; index page with many items can be found at <a href="http://www.trenholm.org/hmmerk/HMArtls.html">this link.</a> Film size notwithstanding, the biggest <I>difference</I> in [most] large format cameras, vs. most small format cameras, is the ability to change the geometric relationships of the lens, film and subject -- AKA, camera movements. Merklinger has several Quicktime movies that graphically illustrate the effects of various camera movements. If you're a visual learner (what photographer isn't?) you may find them a boon to understanding what all those new knobs actually do, without drowning in the mathematical equations.

[david_schwartz6]

Alan - wow, thank you for these web links -- I have been working with LF cameras for 15 years, and was unaware of them!

[35mmdelux]

Yee Kim - Nothing beats actually using the camera. I read up on mine but it wasn't until I started using it that the movements began to make sense. Just remember to have patience. Enjoy.