Advice on LF fashion/portrait camera

[David H. Bebbington]

I would love to know what makes a good portrait camera?

For me, the most desirable feature of a portrait camera is a facility for viewing a large image of the subject at the moment of exposure, which is why twin-lens reflexes (Rollei, Mamiyaflex) were popular for so long - conventional wisdom now says that these cameras are difficult to use because of parallax problems, but their suitability for portraiture far outweighs this. If you can view at the moment of exposure, you know whether you have an eyeblink or not and don't need to shoot so many frames - similarly, you know that the subject is in focus, which is the big problem with view camera portraiture - subject moving between focusing and exposure, hence all the weird head clamps and other contraptions of the past!

 

[df cardwell]

I might be silly for asking this question, but what makes a camera better for portraits than others? I use a zone vi 4x5 and a B&J 8x10 for portraits and think both work fine. I can't imagine why any other cameras would work better or worse? aside from length of bellows? I would love to know what makes a good portrait camera? CoreyPS. Isn't the camera basically a box to attach a lens?

A portrait camera is EXACTLY a box attached to a lens.

If you are doing fashion, i.e. portraiture that moves, you need a box that is portable and has basic movements that can be managed quickly without disturbing the camera.

A small camera is portable, good, but often one must be very careful using the movements so you don't move the whole camera. The smaller the knobs, the quicker the gearing, the harder to make fine movements without taking one's attention from the model. When you consider how much money a real model is paid, how much money a fashion shoot costs, and how much stress you are under, lovely little field cameras can be well hated on a shoot.

Think about having to shoot 12 different scenes in 10 minutes. Think about being 5'8 and shooting a 6 foot model. [ Gowlandflex= Death by ladder ]Imagine you have a single assistant to hold a reflector, and possibly handing you the film. Worry about makeup, loose hair, and the guy down the alley watching you in a menacing way.

Now, imagine using a cute little boutique 4x5 camera and how the big darkcloth fastens to the frame and hangs into the groundglass. How hard can you pull on the darkcloth before you displace the back standard ? Can you load film without getting it caught in the dark cloth ? Does the darkcloth always flip up over the lens when you're in a hurry ?

How long are your fingers ? Does loading the film quickly ( read: fast ) shake the camera ? Do you hit the front rail, or loosen a lock when you reach around the camera to cock the shutter ?

Cameras like the 8x10 Deardorff and 4x5 COLOR Linhof are well suited to this chaos. So is a Crown Graphic. So are the old Calumet 8x10s.

 

[GraemeMitchell]

Yes, for me it is mostly what df cardwell mentions, something that is FAST to use (mind you, this is relative given the format), and something very durable and not prone to quirkiness. It just tends to be more hectic in dealing with people than, say, with landscapes or etc, so it's nice to have a capable camera that can stay out of the way...but at the same time, I do enjoy some movements when I want them. This is alliIn regards to intense days shoot, not a casual family portrait. Of course, the viewing capabilities of a TLR and SLR are nice too, but by no means necessary (this I think will depends more on a photogs personal shooting style).

I've yet to get a camera, and I'm kind of sitting on it now since I'm in the middle of moving. I appreciate all the ideas though. The Linhof color is actually close to my original ideal, so I'm keeping my eyes out for them on the used market...that or a deardorf of some kind.

As usual you guys are super cool,

Best,
GM

 

[boyooso]

Wow, I never thought about those things or options. I do shoot portraits with my cumbersome cameras, however I always worked within the limitations of a non mobile camera and subject.

Thank You for answering my questions!

Thanks!

Core

 

[GraemeMitchell]

This thread is ancient by cyber standards, but as an update: I found a Linhof Color (just the camera I was looking for) with a nikkor 210 5.6 for $500. All apparantly in excellent shape. So I got it. I'm just excited to be up and shooting 4x5 again.

 

[ouyang]

congrats! Post some stuff when you start shooting!

Cheers,

Onno

 

[GraemeMitchell]

Okay, just a follow up. The Linhof Color is killer. Had to get the bellows replaced, but that was no biggy. The one thing that bugs me (I'm not sure how to explain this) that the focus fine tune knob and the larger rear standard lock down knob are attached...so when I go to crank the big knob before shooting, the focus shift a hair. I've just got use to holding the small knob while tightening the large one. It doesn't sound like a big deal, but it makes my nerves bad when wide open and shooting people really fast.

Great little camera though, and built like a tank. Thanks fo the tip.

I'd attach a pic from the first shoot I did with it, but I don't know how to upload it here. Oh, there is one on my site www.graememitchell.com. It's the first pic in portfolio 3. For those who are curious. Says more for TXP than it does for the camera though.