First Large Format Camera

[ntenny]

I started with a Crown Graphic many years ago, and many cameras later I still think a press camera was a good starting point. It is limited in movement, but really gets you started without too much fuss. Since you talked about street and outdoor landscape, I will try to avoid monorail for the time being. They will come later, when you really have the need.

Any press camera will do, even very old Graflex Press, Speed, Buschman Press, Linhof (I/II/III), MPP. Ideally you can find a local deal that includes everything for you to get started (camera, lens, film holders, etc).

I tend to agree with this. My only 4x5 is a Pacemaker Speed Graphic (I have a couple of 5x7 field cameras), and I mainly use it for casual landscapes and the occasional family snapshot; for those uses I think a monorail would be impractical and all the extra movements unnecessary, and it’s nice to be able to get away with shooting handheld.

-NT

 

[lowleft]

I have a Pacemaker Speed Graphic because it can be used as a hand held camera as well as a field camera. The focal plane shutter is a great alternative from the lens shutter.

Yeah if I could find a decently priced one I would totally take it! It just seems to be tough these days to find one that's not in bad condition, needing repair or anything like that.

 

[tcolgate]

Yes - a bit of sand paper and it was done in 5 minutes.

Nice. I have some thin sticky back light seal foam. That might do a good job too. Thanks for the idea!

 

[lowleft]

I have had my Intrepid 4x5 MkV since late 2022. Even though it is not the most elegant camera out there, it has never failed me. The only thing I have done with it is to rub the underside of the clamp for the front standard so that it is more firmly fixed to the bottom plate without the use of too much force on the fixing bolt. I do not use very heavy lenses. A fuji 250mm, f 6.3, being the largest.

Yeah the intrepids look really nice, I know they're a bit of a decisive topic though. I definitely thought with that price they came with the lens shown in the pictures at BH Photo, but unfortunately they do not.

 

[Paul Howell]

I would think about a Crown, Speed, or Busch Press. Of the to Graphic bodies the Crown is much lighter. When shooting street don't bother with the rangefinder, zone focus and use sunny 16 for exposure. You don’t need a tripod, these cameras were designed to be hand held, when hiking I do use a monopod. The Cowns and Speeds came with either a 127mm or 135 as the normal lens as the practice was to shoot wide then crop for the final image. Sometimes you can find a Crown or Speed with 152 as normal as well. Film, I would use Foma 400 or ILfod HP5. If you want a better camera, the Graphic Super, or Super Graphic, revolving back, there are cams for different lens, good rangefinder and more movement than a Crown or Speed. For even more money a Horseman or Linhoff.

I have used both my Speed and Crown for street photography, but for speed and economy of film, I now use my Mamiya Universal, I can use either the 6X7 or 6X9 back, the 100 lens or for wide the 65mm.

 

[Ian Grant]

Nowadays, I personally wouldn't even think of trying to use a Crown/Speed Graphic hand-held using the rangefinder unless it was *known* to be properly set up & calibrated ...many of them have been cobbled together from a mish-mash of parts by well-meaning amateurs since the early 1970's, when the newest ones left the showroom. YMMV.

With a Crown, Speed, or Super Graphic I can compose & focus on the GG screen, stop down, close and cock shutter, add the DDS, pull out the dark-slide, in less time than it takes to write this. It takes under 30 seconds, it becomes second nature.

Why bother with a Rangefinder, as long as you have a modern bright GG focus screen, and a fresnel. The other advantage is this way of working works if you change lenses, or even use a bit of front tilt or swing, or rise/fall, the wire frame just moves with the lens, and I've been surprised how accurately and tightly I've been able to compose hand-held.

Ian

 

[RalphLambrecht]

I am finally getting around to selecting a LF camera but don't want to spend too much it case it turns out it's not for me. I have been searching for a decent Speed/Crown Graphic but most in good condition aren't much cheaper than a new Intrepid 4x5. I'm looking at doing some random street stuff (not my strong suit but it's fun sometimes) and landscape/middle of nowhere abandoned roads type stuff. I might have to haul it around a bit, but not too far.

1. Is it worth sticking with a field camera if I'm not going more than a mile on foot?

2. There's an Omega 45D locally, how do those usually hold up?

3. My tripod is the Promaster XC-M 528CK, would this be sturdy enough for a monorail 4x5?

4. The 3D printed 4x5 cameras are definitely interesting but unsure how well they actually hold up. Does anyone have experience with these?

I found the field camera to be the most versatile and much easier to haul than monorails. not familiar with that tripod. A 4x5 is a format that makes beautiful, precious contact images. Framed in a larger frame, they look extremely valuable and exquisite.

 

[lowleft]

With a Crown, Speed, or Super Graphic I can compose & focus on the GG screen, stop down, close and cock shutter, add the DDS, pull out the dark-slide, in less time than it takes to write this. It takes under 30 seconds, it becomes second nature.

Why bother with a Rangefinder, as long as you have a modern bright GG focus screen, and a fresnel. The other advantage is this way of working works if you change lenses, or even use a bit of front tilt or swing, or rise/fall, the wire frame just moves with the lens, and I've been surprised how accurately and tightly I've been able to compose hand-held.

Ian

What is the GG screen + Fresnel providing to make it easier? I've seen the fresnel mentioned a few times but not sure what it does exactly

 

[lowleft]

I found the field camera to be the most versatile and much easier to haul than monorails. not familiar with that tripod. A 4x5 is a format that makes beautiful, precious contact images. Framed in a larger frame, they look extremely valuable and exquisite.

Yeah contact prints would be so cool! I really want to do that with glass plates too sometime.

 

[lowleft]

Ok so I am ready to drop some hard earned money on wasting sheet film and eventually shattering some glass. Just not sure which camera would be best to do this with as I have found a couple options after talking to everyone (and I appreciate the input!). I am mostly doing landscape (rarely doing long hikes now with a young kid at tagging along everywhere, mostly from the side of the road or up a short trail/walk) and whatever random stuff I see driving around town or out in the countryside. So I know a field camera is more ideal, but I think I may have found a monorail that's smaller and capable enough. Some of the monos I was looking at were much bigger than the product pictures online made them look. And a few people have mentioned medium format, I already have a Bronica GS-1 so I am covered there for more intense and longer hikes.

1. Speed Graphic with a 127mm f4.7 lens, some film backs, a few sheets of HP5 and a maybe working 6x9 back (he never used 120 film to test) at $250. Plenty of money for more film, dev tank and a negative holder to see how trashed my photos are.

2. Linof Technika III with a 150mm f4.5, shutter speeds sound correct with no obvious sticking but haven't been officially timed. $350

3. Horseman LX with no lens and 3 film backs. I know this is a monorail, but I have read people taking this brand out in the field a bit too. Not sure about this particular model though. Looks good and clean and is US based so cheaper shipping. $390, but need lens so less money for accessorizing the camera and myself.

4. Intrepid 4x5 Mk4 with several film backs, no lens. From a person I know online who doesn't use it anymore. More compact than the Horseman, more movement than the field cameras, but Intrepid. I can probably overcome the issues with them, but I do recognize they are there.

I know there are more movement limitations on the field cameras which is why I was also looking at the Horseman and Intrepid. I don't mind packing stuff around, used to carry a ton of stuff on my back in the army and I won't be going near as far either. I just am not sure what the right balance of these cameras would be for me. I do a bit of traveling via planes, so if I can manage to pack it and not have the wife kill me (sorry horseman, probably staying home) that'd be awesome. Otherwise they'll all fit in the car just fine.

 

[blee1996]

If I were you, I will jump on the Linhof III and start wasting film. Enough movement to begin with, built like a tank but not too heavy.

 

[tcolgate]

2. Linof Technika III with a 150mm f4.5, shutter speeds sound correct with no obvious sticking but haven't been officially timed. $350

If you're considering a linhof, then, depending where you are, an MPP Mk7 might be a good option. Very rugged, and cheaper. (the extra front movement on the Mk8 are nice, but the lens boards are a PITA to find, though there are 3d print options).

 

[Ian Grant]

What is the GG screen + Fresnel providing to make it easier? I've seen the fresnel mentioned a few times but not sure what it does exactly

The original Graflex Ground Glass focus screens are quite coarse & dim, a new screen gives you effectively around 2 stops extra brightness, bit plain screens are a bit directional, so bright at the centre, dimmer at the edges, you need to move your head to see the edges better, A fresnel is a lens which just bends the light giving a more even overall brightness. Super Graphis all came with a fresnel, under the GG focus screen.

Many later Speed & Crown Graphics came with a fresnel, again under the focus screen. Those that don't can be fitted with one, here it gets a touch complex they go on the outside (eye side) of the GG screen.

A combined new GG screen & fresnel is around 3 stops brighter overall than just a plain original Graflex screen, this makes focussing very much easier, particularly when working hand held with just a focus hood.

Ian

 

[Rayt]

The first LF shouldn’t be such a pain in the arse that would discourage a beginner from sticking with it. I would recommend something easy like a Horseman 45FA something with a decent screen. After a few hundred sheets the new user will know exactly what s/he needs from a LF in terms of bellow length, wide angle limitations and movements. This is not something anyone can know from reading but has to go out and do it. People hardly ever stick with their first camera.

 

[AnselMortensen]

The first LF shouldn’t be such a pain in the arse that would discourage a beginner from sticking with it. I would recommend something easy like a Horseman 45FA something with a decent screen. After a few hundred sheets the new user will know exactly what s/he needs from a LF in terms of bellow length, wide angle limitations and movements. This is not something anyone can know from reading but has to go out and do it. People hardly ever stick with their first camera.

This!
Absolutely.

 

[blee1996]

The first LF shouldn’t be such a pain in the arse that would discourage a beginner from sticking with it. I would recommend something easy like a Horseman 45FA something with a decent screen. After a few hundred sheets the new user will know exactly what s/he needs from a LF in terms of bellow length, wide angle limitations and movements. This is not something anyone can know from reading but has to go out and do it. People hardly ever stick with their first camera.

I also strongly support this. Forget about buying right once and live happily ever after. Like first house and first girlfriend, you never know what you wanted until you get into it. And the replacement cost for large format camera is almost zero, thankfully.

 

[nosmok]

"1. Speed Graphic with a 127mm f4.7 lens, some film backs, a few sheets of HP5 and a maybe working 6x9 back (he never used 120 film to test) at $250. Plenty of money for more film, dev tank and a negative holder to see how trashed my photos are...."

I'm old, so take this with a grain of salt, BUT-- I'd wait on a Crown Graphic over a Speed unless you plan on using weirdo barrel lenses and need the built in shutter (I have both, the Speed only for the latter). The Speed weighs more, doesn't focus as wide a lens as the Crown, and the FP shutter is one more failure point if you're trying to shoot a quick once-in-a-lifetime shot (ask me how I know). Those extras-- film, roll back, lens (esp. if it's the 127mm Ektar) might make it worth it if you're tight on cash though.