ron_whitaker

Hello fellow Large Formatters! Has any out there (or any acquaintances of yours) had any experience purchasing photo equipment off of EBAY.COM? I go there frequently and see some pretty nice photo equipment for sale, but was wondering about any experiences -- good or bad.

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Something I've been wondering about is that the bidding basically becomes a do-or-die bidding contest so that whoever ends up getting the item gets it, but at a ridiculous price.

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Thanks in advance.

I highly suggest (if you can) that you attend the Beyond the Zone

System workshop taught by Phil Davis. I attended the workshop this

past July down in Flagstaff, AZ. It was incredible! You learn by

actually DOING, not just hearing about it. You test the film and

paper you plan on using with a densitometer and learn about film and

paper curves. Again, you will learn by DOING. If you decide to go to

on of the workshops, read Phil's book "Beyond the Zone System." It

helps, though, if you're like me, you'll have to read it several

times before to understand (or at least try!) the material.

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I needed to add that if you're interested in the BTZS workshop, go to

www.darkroom-innovations.com and contact Fred. They're the

photography-related company down in Phoenix that puts on the workshop.

I highly suggest (if you can) that you attend the Beyond the Zone

System workshop taught by Phil Davis. I attended the workshop this

past July down in Flagstaff, AZ. It was incredible! You learn by

actually DOING, not just hearing about it. You test the film and

paper you plan on using with a densitometer and learn about film and

paper curves. Again, you will learn by DOING. If you decide to go to

on of the workshops, read Phil's book "Beyond the Zone System." It

helps, though, if you're like me, you'll have to read it several

times before to understand (or at least try!) the material.

I am in the market for a good used monorail 8x10 camera. Does anyone

have any suggestions for a good brand? I don't have a ton of money to spend, but I do want to get the best that I can afford for now.

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Also, where's a good place to get one?

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Thanks for any suggestions/help.

I am considering purchasing a large format 8x10

monorail camera. I have a couple of questions.

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1. Does any fellow large format photographer know

of any good dealers (mail order) where I can

get good prices on 8x10 film, particularly

Kodak TMX 400?

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2. I realize that on an 8x10, most do not come

with revolving backs. Is the only way to

change from vertical to horizontal format

going to be to rotate the entire camera

on the tripod head?

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3. Which brings me to my last question, what is

a good geared tripod head that someone could

recommend? Is a geared head a good way to go,

or are there other tripod heads that you

might recommend? Concerning tripods, what

is a good tripod? I'm only familiar with

Bogen because that's what I currently have.

But I would like to get another tripod with

a geared rise. Should I stick with Bogen or

should I get a Gitzo or Ries?

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Thanks for your help and suggestions!

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Ron

I am new to LF photography, but want (and need!)

to do it because I plan to get into alternative

processes.

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One question I have is, what is a good 4x5 camera

to start with? (One that I won't outgrow too soon

and one that's well-made, etc)

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Can someone also explain some of the basics of LF

photography to me, like what is monorail? what is

geared "something" on the camera?

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Thanks!

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Ron Whitaker