Michael Stubbs
Member
Hi all.
I'm about to switch to large format and have a bit of a basic question, which is why I signed up to this forum.
I'm pretty much all set to get a 5x4 setup for shooting colour and black and white. I plan to develop my own black and white film and eventually setup a proper darkroom to print my own black and white stuff at large sizes.
Obviously 10x8 neagtives are going to hold more information than 5x4. My question is, at a maximum size of 50" on the long size, black and white, printed optically in a darkroom, will the difference be profound? I'm quite sure there'll be a difference, but will it be the difference between a grainy/fuzzy print and a sharp, detailed one?
I would mostly expect to be printing at smaller sizes than this, but I want the ability to go big should I wish.
If anyone has any experience of going that big, as opposed to the theory of going that big, I'd be very grateful for your input.
Frankly if a 5x4 will enlarge well to that size I'd rather not pay 4x the camera, film, paper and chemical costs!!
Oh just so you know my subject matter - English landscapes, pin sharp focus front to back.
Thanks.
Michael
I'm about to switch to large format and have a bit of a basic question, which is why I signed up to this forum.
I'm pretty much all set to get a 5x4 setup for shooting colour and black and white. I plan to develop my own black and white film and eventually setup a proper darkroom to print my own black and white stuff at large sizes.
Obviously 10x8 neagtives are going to hold more information than 5x4. My question is, at a maximum size of 50" on the long size, black and white, printed optically in a darkroom, will the difference be profound? I'm quite sure there'll be a difference, but will it be the difference between a grainy/fuzzy print and a sharp, detailed one?
I would mostly expect to be printing at smaller sizes than this, but I want the ability to go big should I wish.
If anyone has any experience of going that big, as opposed to the theory of going that big, I'd be very grateful for your input.
Frankly if a 5x4 will enlarge well to that size I'd rather not pay 4x the camera, film, paper and chemical costs!!
Oh just so you know my subject matter - English landscapes, pin sharp focus front to back.
Thanks.
Michael