peter_yee

I would have to say get the camera the camera repairman has offered. Its not really starting cheap if you consider other items you need to get. You still need a lens and support items such as film holders, tripod, and so on. If you like the format, this entry camera will give you a very good idea what you want to buy next. For an introduction to using the camera movements, I would suggest reading Steve Simmons' book "Using the View Camera". It has a nice introduction into how and why of using movements.

 

The 200-250 mm lens would be very much like your 50mm on the 6x6 camera. However, you can't just buy any lens. The larger formats like 8x10 needs a large image circle from a lens to insure coverage of the picture or else you will get vignetting. The large lormat format photography website at http://www.largeformatphotography.info/ has a nice section detailing old and new large format lens. You might find this helpful in choosing a lens.

I also have very good experience in dealing with Jim at Midwest. I would also advise calling him directly instead of buying off the website. He have lots items that are not listed on the website that you may prefer.

To realize the advantage of using 8x10 format you need to make contact prints rather than enlargements. I use an 8x10 camera, and make only contact prints because its resolution cannot be matched by any digital printers. The downside to the 8x10 camera is that its a bigger pain to use than the 4x5. Its is much bigger and heavier to carry around, longer to setup, longer to adjust, film more expensive, etc. Despite the disadvantages I prefer the 8x10 over the 4x5 solely because of the results.

 

And yes, film for it will be around 10 years from now. If not, you can still use plain b&w paper as a paper negative instead of film. Or even go back making your own wet glass plates like the early photographer.

David-

You might want to wait till you get your equipment before making a judgement about the loupe. I am near-sighted and found that is an advantage. Without glasses on, I can get close enough to the groundglass and focus without any problem. So I don't bother with a loupe for the 4x5 or 8x10 cameras I have.

The problem is the Sinar uses a lens board that is larger than most 4x5 field camera lens board. The most popular size for field camera is the Linhof Technika type board. Toyo uses their own board. Wista and Horseman 4x5 field cameras I think uses the Technika boards.

One solution is mount all your lens on the smaller board. Then get an adapter lense board for your Sinar camera to take the smaller boards.

 

You can talk to Jeff at Badger Graphics or Jim at Midwest Photoexchange to see what options you might have for using your lenses.

There are several. The Ebony, Wista, and Shen-Hao use Sinar boards as standard. The new Canham cameras will too. Also, some such as Richard Ritter will build their camera to take the Sinar board as an option.

Also consider keh.com

Jennifer-

You already have a lot of good advice. Here is my suggestion check out the website for View Camera Magazine, http://www.viewcamera.com/

Under the free articles section, there is a reprint of an article comparing low end 4x5 cameras for under 1200 dollars (in 2005 dollars).

It really depends on the coverage of the lens. Large format lens usually have a specification called image circle. That is the diameter of the image that is projected on to the film plane when the lens is in focus, the object is at infinity, and at a specific aperature (usually F22). The image circle can get larger with smaller aperature, but how much will vary with the lens design. For 8x10 you are looking for a lens with an image circle of at least 312 millimeters or about 12 inches. If you are using movements with the camera (i.e, rise, fall, etc.) you need larger than minimum image circle. At the large format camera website -

 

http://www.largeformatphotography.info/lenses/

 

-you can find a table of larger format lens for different large formats.

I also happen to like Hedgecoe books as an introduction to photography. The best part for me, is he usually give detailed information on each picture he took (camera setting, lens, film, etc.). The information are a nice starting point for me to learn about use of camera settings in taking pictures. I experimented from that point to get want the settings I like to use.

Nothing is wrong with using the 8x10. If you like its results and enjoy using it, keep on using it and ignore your co-workers.

 

I love my 8x10. Only problem is you eventually will want to try something bigger and bigger and ... :).

An alternative to 18 year old son, is bring out the son's old baby carriage. As long as you are on a paved surface, its lot easier to push the carriage than carry a backpack... :)

Before you buy, I suggest you go do some reading about large format photography. Its quite different from using a medium format. You can do a search on this site for information. Also the large format photography and the View Camera Magazine websites have lots of information for starting out in large format photography. Answering your specific questions-

 

1- Cambo and Sinar will work. However, they are heavy and really geared toward use in a studio. Field cameras as others have mentioned, are more useful for outdoor work.

 

2- Lens table, I normally think of in terms of a 35 mmm camera and convert from there. The rule I use for myself is a 4x5 camera lens is about 3.5 times the size of a 35mm camera lens to achieve a similar field of view, and a 8x10 camera lens as about 7 times.

 

3. The copal is a shutter brand use on most current large format lens. The number 0, 1 and 3 refers to the hole size required for the lensboard. Usually lensboard come drilled for one those sizes. A recessed lens board, is a special lens board designed for use with wide angle lens on viewcameras whose bellows might not be short enough for the lens.

Hello Ross-

 

Welcome to the world of large format. If you checkout View Camera magazine site, viewcamera.com, under the free article sessions there is article on 4x5 camera which makes a comparision of three of the models you have asked about. Also check out the large format photography site and its forum on cameras.

 

I have a Shen-Hao 4x5 and I would not hesitate recommend buying a Shen-Hao. Its well made camera. It has a plenty of movements to use.

I would suggest you try talking to Jim at Midwest Photo Exchange http://www.mpex.com/ . He can help you put together an LF system. You can get film from a number of places online, including View Camera Store, Badger Graphics Sales, B&H, Freestyle, to name a few.

I use a small bathroom for a darkroom since I don't have a basement. I shoot with a 8x10 camera so I only make contact prints. That eliminates the need for an enlarger.

Pentax announce a P645D to come out in 2007. Pentax produces adapters for P67 lenses to work on the P645 series body.

Pico, go find a copy of Minor White's "Mirrors, Messages, and Manifestations". White does what you are describing with his Sequence series of pictures.

It is possible, you look at the example of large format cameras. There, the film holder for 4x5, 8x10, 11x14 (digital SLR equivalent would be the sensor and the associated electronics) has an ANSI standard. Manufacturers of film holder can make a holder as cheap or expensive as they want as long as the film holder meets the specified standard. The digital equivalent would be the sensor will fit within a certain size. The support electronics will have a specified battery power, input/output ports, specified data structure etc.

 

The lens mount sizes for large format and the operating shutters are basically standardized (or similar enough so simple adaption is possible), so a newer lens from Fuji, Nikon, Rodenstock, Schneider will work as well as older lens or even ancient lens such as Kodak, Zeiss, etc, will work, on most new or more old models of large format.

For the digital SLR equivalent, you probably go with an existing lens mount whose patent or copyright have expired (Such as the M42 mount, Nikon manual F mount, Canon FD mount (?). That way a whole range of lens will be available. Sadly, no autofocus and probably tied up in patents.

 

In the large format camera, the camera body is then left to the imagination of the manufacturer as long as the lens and film holder fits.

 

As a result there is incredible number of large format camera makers, ranging from ones who only sells you drawings, or complete do it yourself kits, to very expensive high end cameras manufactures.

Fastest lens I know of are usually for rangefinders. Leica 50mm Noctilux-M for the Leica M and the Canon 50mm F.95 (yes .95 not 1) for the Canon 7 screw mount rangefinder.

My suggestion is go get yourself the 350D, and a 28mm F2.8 lens for the camera as a starter. Also get a good book on photography and check out the education forum on this site for online courses-

 

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a?topic_id=1981&category=Online+Courses

 

And enjoy yourself.

Hi Larry-

I stumbled into the large format camera by accident. I was looking for a tilt shift lens for my 35mm and discovered that a used 4x5 camera setup was cheaper than a tilt shift lens. Once I bought the 4x5 camera, I was hooked. Now I have a 8x10 camera and thinking about exploring ultra large format in the future.

 

What part of Indiana do you live? I am in the NE section. If you are reasonably close, I can show you my 8x10 and 4x5 field cameras.

In addition to the sources suggested above I would recommend you try the free archives at the View Camera magazine- http://www.viewcamera.com/archives.html

There are a couple articles that might be helpful. If you haven't read any books on large format photography, look at the following book recommendations at

http://www.largeformatphotography.info/books/general.html

and in this thread-

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00CefO&tag=

 

 

I would suggest starting with a low cost 4x5 field camera that uses a Linhof Technika IV/V type lensboard and get a polariod 545 back instead of a regular film holder. The polaroid allows you to learn to use the camera worrying about film and the associated headaches. The lensboard recommendation is a personal perference because its widely available, cheap and can be used on many view camera model from 4x5 size on up.

Craig-

 

A great list! Anyway here is a few more you can add to your list of camera makers.

 

R.H. Phillips and Sons. He does not have an internet. See their review at

 

http://www.largeformatphotography.info/phillips.html

 

 

Fotoman- actually a large format point and shoot. See their info at

Badger Graphics Sales at:

 

http://www.badgergraphic.com/

 

Fatif- is an italian company who does make a line of large format cameras. Their site is basically in italian and may be found at

 

http://www.fatif.com/

 

Star Camera Company- makes "antique" type large format cameras and adapters for wet plate photograpy-

 

http://www.geocities.com/starcameracompany/

 

 

Richard Ritter- He is better known for repairing view cameras and is planning to build ultra-large format cameras.

I basically agreed with Robert. The my change to his list, I prefer the 28 F2.8 (cheaper) instead of the 24 and add the 75-300 non-IS version. The latter is a decent but not great telephoto lens for the price and will get you a longer reach when needed.