3rd time not quite a charm

[egdinger]

Well the first two times I went out with my 4x5, I didn't get the photos. Kind of bummed me out too, it was what may have been a once in a life time event.

So you know how they say 3rd times a charm, well I guess it ain't so in large format . Taking the photos went mostly fine, except for pulling the dark slide before closing the shutter. But in devolping, I pulled the lid off my unicolor drum in bright light, while it was full of devolper. I'm sure you can immagine what I was thinking, but I quickly grabbed the tray of stop bath sitting next to me and dumped it in the drum and hit the light switch.

The negative turned out mostly fine, a few spots of uneven devolpment, but over better than you would think.

Ah well, It's just so much fun using LF, I even had a guy come up to me and ask if I was a press photographer. Anyone have any good recomendations for an inexpensive light meter?

 

[Peter Schrager]

meter

Weston Master V on Epay
Peter

 

[scootermm]

egdinger
I just did a quick search on ebay and found a few pretty affordable spot meters if you are interested....
Dead Link Removed

 

[MurrayMinchin]

Ahhh...your post takes me back...welcome aboard APUG by the way

When my 4x5 arrived in the mail from Zone VI over 20 years ago, I had never seen, let alone touched a large format camera before. I had to read the instructions on how to open and set it up. Then came the total confusion trying to load film holders in a changing bag for the first time. Of course it got really out of control while developing my first negatives in trays on my parents laundry room floor, counting out the seconds by watching my Mom's digital watch flash out the seconds...ever try to count 330 faint green blips, agitate every 6 of them, and not loose track of the count?

Keep us posted...there are so many things to learn, and its all worth it!!!!!!

Murray

 

[Poco]

"Taking the photos went mostly fine, except for pulling the dark slide before closing the shutter."

Have faith, it'll all become so much easier over time. The first time I used LF I was coming from 35mm SLR auto everything and I had to make out a check list of all the steps to make an expsure: open wide, focus, close down, close shutter, insert film holder, etc... Now it's all second nature to me and I can't for the life of me figure out what I found so difficult.

 

[Jim_in_Kyiv]

Light meter - I use one of those new-fangled filmless things from Nikon. Or a Weston Master III when the 5700's battery dies and I want to go anyway.

Welcome to LF! I've had dark slides fly out of my hand and into the Atlantic, and then there's the perfect shot at a Shuttle launch - except that the film was in backwards. Don't worry, it can only get better...

 

[John Kasaian]

Hey stuff like that happens---its how we learn. The old Westons are fine meters and quite cheap but all the ones I've gotten of eBay need work---PhotoLightMetric in Hollywood does excellent work and has quick turn arounds but then it'll cost youwhich isn't a bad deal since you got the thing for a couple of bucks in the first place, right? The ones made in England are hands down the best as they have ASA numbers and so are easier to use (less mentqal gymnastics) I haven't heard many (any) good things about the newer ones that were made in Japan so beware. There are also Weston Ranger 9 spotmeters floating about that were converted to use silver watch batteries. These are good deals if $80-90 for a fine spot meter is considered a good deal (I think it is) The bottom of the line sekonic and gossens are also nice, simple and cheap meters that are easy to use (I'd rather be out shooting than studying a manual about wunder-meters that also plot lunar spaceflights, microwave popcorn and handicap the PGA among other things)

Anyway, sounds like a great start! Don't get discouraged!

 

[wildbill]

Don't forget about the Minolta F. Very reliable 1 deg. spotmeter and gives readings in the viewfinder. Also can be calibrated yourself against another meter.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Minolta-spotmet...ryZ88669QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[Troy Ammons]

It takes time. When I first started shooting 4x5 a couple of years ago, I was so confused I could not tie my shoes. And this coming from an OM1 shooter years ago and I used to do wet prints.

Finally I had to make sort of a check list to get by for a while. There are a lot of steps to shooting LF.

One thing that kept me from burning film is after I focus, i always set the lens and cock and fire it a couple of times before i insert the film holder, just to sort of get into the rhythm.

 

[egdinger]

Thanks for the warm welcome. It does have a steep learning curve, and this is coming from some one who has delt with 80 year old kodak folders(roll film)! I can't immagine coming into this from whiz bang do every thing 35mm's. A check list would be a good thing. And thanks for the meter recomedations, I'll look into those westons.

And another question, is a large format lens, a large format lens. I mean if a lens has enough coverage and fits the camera, it doesn't matter if I'm shooting it on a 4x5, 8x10, etc?

 

[John Kasaian]

If the lens has the coverage to fit whatever format you're shooting, the next issues that come to mind are
1) Does your camera have long(or short bag) bellows to allow you to focus?
2) Will the lens fit your camera's lensboard?
3) Will your front standard support the lens (if it happens to be a big heavy piece o' glass?)

Cheers!