dan_bramley

Talk to Rod at Photomark in Phoenix (they have a web page). I live in the area and am in the store often. Bought a 4X5 F field and an 8X10 metric over the counter... After I got to try it out in the store!! He is a wealth of arca information and has conections. It is likely he will have it in stock.

 

Dan

Be greatful for what we have, it could be much worse.

I can't really say that the metric is really worth it. Geared rise is not that big of a deal to me, dispite the fact that I do use it quite a bit. The reason I bought the metric was that it came with orbix (not typical) for a very reasonable price. I was able to get it over the counter with the orbix for just about B&H's price. My 4X5 is a F field and I have no troubles with the manual rise.

 

Dan

I bought the 8X10 metric (same as classic as far as the optical bench is concerned) then replaced the back rail with a much shorter rail ~5". When I am done shooting I put both standards on this short piece of rail and take the optical bench apart. Quick and very compact without the instability of the folding rail.

 

Dan

Thanks guys, I am aware of the conversion kit and am leaning twards that option. I was thinking of what advantage I might have in having two complete cameras. Resale or if a friend or family gets into this hobby and wants to go along. Since I have no experience with other brands I was just wondering if Arca is truely to best or it it true that it is only the lens that matters as long as you have a light tight box on the back.

 

Thanks,

 

Dan

Everything I have read has been great advice. I use an Arca Swiss and after using other equipment would never go back. It is very smooth and you'll have geared movements. However, I think it is sound advice to go used and try the format out first. I did and loved it so much I spent the big $$$. However, if it does not work out like you planned you can sell on e-bay and be out very little. I also second the advice on the Gitzo 1325. Very sturdy under 4X5.

I read this forum everyday and have enjoyed the education I have

recieved. A question for those of you who have more experience than

I. I started out in large format with a Walker Titan. Nice camera

but ended up switching to an Arca Swiss F field (in 4X5). I feel

like I am ready to try some 8X10 work, mostly landscapes for the

purpose of contact printing and maybe some Pl/Pt printing. I have my

eye on the Arca Swiss F metric, (I have a great deal on a new one)

however, it is oh so expensive. Whould I be better off with another

less expensive field type camera? I have no experience with any

other cameras besides tho two I have mentioned. I would like a rock

solid camera that will not move focus etc while loading film. I know

this is a personal problem that I must eventually decide for myself

but any advice is welcome. Go cheap and buy lots of film or lay it

out for a better camera?

 

Thanks,

 

Dan

I remember the feeling. Every time I get a box of film back I feel the same excitement. Every time I get film back I also learn something and through that you will get even better photo each time you are out.

Dan

Colin,

 

See my reply to a question posted by Robert Kennedy on 12/26/02. I describe my backpack setup and there is a photo of the contents.

 

Dan

I recently have been reading Jack Dykinga's book on large format

photography and in the last chapter he discusses submitting photos

and has a nice 8X10 envelope type of a container with a clear plastic

window in the center to display the slide. Does anyone know where

one can obtain such a "folder" or what ever one might want to call

this? It looks like a great way to store the slides and you could

keep all of the information, including caption, on the boarder of

the "folder". Thanks, any information would be appreciated.

 

Dan

Robert,

 

I am an avid backpacker and have been lucky enough to take my camera with me on most of my trips. I have an Arca-Swiss field and like so many of my fellow LF friends I have a lot of gadgets. It is heavy!!! The comfort of a good backpack is invaluable to me. I used a top loading North face pack for years, it was a pain to shoot while on the trail because you had to unload everything to get to the camera on the bottom. Took lots of time and I had to really hoof it to catch up to my less than patient companions. I recently moved to a pannel loading pack. I got a Gregory Wind River pack. I then found a plastic bin (for storage) that would fill the inner pack compartment. Two layers of 4 inch foam and I can safely carry my camera, 2 boxes quick loads, filters, etc, etc. What is nice is I have 3 of these plastic containers, whip one out and replace it with the other with medium format gear. When I'm done I put a lid on top and stack them in the closet. Works great for me because the pack is very comfortable and can be sinched (spelling?) down very small if you are only carring minimal gear. It is nice, now I can drop the pack on the ground, open the pannel and have all of my gear right there, just pull out what I need and rest can stay in the pack. Much faster.<div></div>

I am currently using a Gitzo 1325 and an Arca Swiss F field camera.

When using 300mm or longer lenses the setup becomes uncomfortably

unstable. Is there a commercial arm or clamp type product that I can

attach to the tripod and to the back of the monorail? Specific

brands and any preferences in particular would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thank you,

 

Dan

I am fairly new to large format photography and picked up this lens

when I bought the used camera. It doesn't really seem to fit in my

personal view of landscape photography. I was thinking of maybe SA

58XL, SA 75mm, SA 150XL and Nikon 300 f9. When I inquired about

getting rid of it a dealer (who I respect and trust) told me that

they are not making that lens anymore and that it is a very good

lens. Therefore, he recomended I hold onto it. Can someone offer me

some advice on the sharpness and overall quality of this lens. Much

thanks to all write here, it has been a great sorce of information

and inspiration.

 

Dan

I have no experience with roll film backs however, I have never gotten a sharp image with some polaroid films (polacolor PRO 100 for example) If this is your case you might try Polapan PRO 100 (black and white) No change in the camera just using these two films with 545i back made a substansial difference in sharpness of side by side images.

This my be a silly question, but then again I can use all of the help

I can get. I seem to have recently misplaced my custom made

darkcloth and am considering a tube type like the BTZS cloth. My

question is how do you use your loupe with one end of the tube

connected to the camera and the other connected to your head?

I took my 4X5 down the grand canyon and got 4 useable pictures because I was so confussed about the subject. I assume that you are using slide film and nothing looks good if your highlights are washed out, so lewis kemper gave me this solid advice. Place the hottest part of your image in zone 6 3/4 to zone 7 and pray for the shadows. I have been very close using this method.