Beginner looking at simple large format cameras. (Box? Fixed lens?)

[Paul Howell]

Over the past decade stock has dwindled and prices have gone up. The only reason I paid $50 in 1986 for my Brand was it came with a Kodak Ektar 150, I use to see Graphic View going for like $75, those days are over. A project Speed or Crown now run $200, which might need a new bellows. Not sure the number of companies that still makes LF gear, and does any one make lens and shutters?

 

[removed account4]

does any one make lens and shutters

IDK. I think copal still makes the #1 Packard still makes Packard shutters ( but I could be wrong, )
as for lenses. not really sure. I think the last batch of new lenses were from a handful of years ago
petzval made by lomo ( Kickstarter'ed) , the soft focus lens that cooke resurrected and the fine art xxl lenses that Schneider made( tele? and triple convertible? )
from all reports the new lenses were something to behold .. but to be honest that's just what I've read

 

[Paul Howell]

I think there be some new old stock, other than that, used lens, used bodies. In terms of a project camera, beat up Speed, strip all the leatherit covering, sand to bare wood and teat with stain and oil for tropical look Lens on the cheap, most speeds came with either a 127 or 135, my 1952 Montgomery Wards photo catalog list options including a 150 and 180, special order. I dont think that I have seen any on Ebay. The lens were matched to the rangefinder, I replaced the 135 on my Crown with a Zeiss, got lucky that the Zeiss matched the rangefinder. There were diagrams on the Graphic forum for making the following arms for various focal lengths. But vague memory that needed to be top model rangefinder.

 

[Candlejack]

ilex wollensak optar kodak. look for something old like from the 40s-50s
but be warned no matter what lens you buy its going to be need to be sent out
for a Clean Lube Adjust ( CLA ) so add that into your budget.. ( anywhere between 75 and 150$ )
or since you are going for long X-ray or lith film exposures maybe look for enlarger lenses//
or make your own using the front lens from a junk folder or box camera, binoculars, magnifying glass
anything you might see lying around some of the junk lenses throw a large enough image circle that it works head on without movements...
you can also get Plano convex lenses for cheep at anchor optical or Edmond scientific of specific focal length and make your own lens, super easy super cheep

… or one nicked off of one of these. The B&L RapidRectilinear works great even with color film.

https://camerapedia.fandom.com/wiki/No._3A_Folding_Pocket_Kodak

There are many options if one is truly interested in learning, both, the options and the associated risks/opportunities of each.

It seems futile to repeat this but… a reading of Adams’ “The Camera”…

Yup, I need to get a copy of that book. I believe there are 3 books he wrote? Yall would obviously know which ones to recommend.

 

[Candlejack]

After shooting medium format and 35 mm for over 30 years, I had the urge to buy 4x 5 because I was bored at the beginning of covid. After spending thousands, I'm wondering why I did it. Why do you want to use 4x5?

Im looking at 4x5 mainly because of the size of the negative. Im creating alt contact prints.

Ive been using 120, 616, 620 for it, as well as 4x5 pinhole. I guess I just like that old alt process look from toned cyanotypes and van dykes? When I paint or look at painting I enjoy what was produced during that time period as well?

 

[Dan Fromm]

IDK. I think copal still makes the #1 Packard still makes Packard shutters ( but I could be wrong, )

Packard, si. Copal, no.

 

[unityofsaints]

landscape and building photos

I think going with a camera that doesn't have plane-of-focus adjustment is a false economy here. I would strongly suggest getting an intrepid 4x5" and one lens. That way you can treat it as a fixed lens box camera by just never swapping lenses and never applying movements. Once you have that worked out you have the luxury of changing those things without changing cameras. At 280 GBP for a new camera you can't go wrong. Landscape and architectural photograpy are prime examples of photography styles that benefit greatly from tilt and swing, even if that may be overwhelming at the beginning I think it would be a mistake to lock yourself out of that completely from the get-go.

 

[tih]

Yup, I need to get a copy of [The Camera]. I believe there are 3 books he wrote? Yall would obviously know which ones to recommend.

The Ansel Adams books are great, and highly recommended. As for other useful books, you might glance back at that answer you got from Dan Fromm, and didn't want to read; there's a good list there. (Looking back at it, I can see how you could be offended by the way he started the message; he was being funny, but in a way that presupposed that the reader had enough experience with the variety of LF gear to get the joke.)

From Dan's list, I can personally recommend (in addition to Adams's books), the Simmons and Stroebel volumes. The former is a very good introduction, while the latter is perhaps more for those who really want to go in-depth with the technical details, and the theory of the view camera. Stroebel covers everything, and does it extremely well.

 

[removed account4]

Packard, si. Copal, no.

ah thanks Dan!

 

[Donald Qualls]

Yup, I need to get a copy of that book. I believe there are 3 books he wrote? Yall would obviously know which ones to recommend.

Yes. Those would be The Camera, covering large format (mostly, but much of the core is applicable to any film size) setup, focusing, exposure setting (including the exposure portion of the Zone System), and movements (why and how); The Negative covering development of the exposed film, how to test for Zone System characteristics and "expansion" or "contraction" (contrast control via development changes), some in the back about developers and fixers and things related to them; and The Print covering pretty much everything about printing to silver gelatin, graded and multi-contrast (including split filtering), Zone printing, fine contrast control and tone control via developer choice, dodging and burning, test strips, etc. I probably read the pre-1970 edition of these five times between 1970 and 1980. Strangely, there wasn't much further advancement in film after the last edition came out, despite another twenty years before digital took over the professional world; films did change a little, but not in ways that mattered to the core techniques or the Zone System.

There are more succinct books that cover some of this material, but I don't know of any other book or book series on film photography that's this complete.

 

[Dan Fromm]

There are more succinct books that cover some of this material, but I don't know of any other book or book series on film photography that's this complete.

Donald, are you acquainted with A. A. Blaker's book Field Photography. For my money -- I used to give it to friends who were starting out -- it is the best book for learning to think like a photographer.

 

[Donald Qualls]

Unless it's one of the other twenty or so photography books I read back in the early 1970s, no, I don't know that one. Ansel covers some about subject selection and composition in The Camera as well as visualization spread over all three of his books, but it's a subject that could certainly benefit a new photographer by being all in one place.

 

[BrianShaw]

In this case the only Adams book I’d recommend is “The Camera”… the others are way outside the OP’s areas of interest… and can be excessively overwhelming.

Blaker… a really good photography author who is often forgotten. I borrowed a copy of his “Art and Technique” from someone about 40 years ago (it seems) but can’t recall who. So it’s still on my shelf awaiting return. In the meantime I still find it useful at times.

https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/photography-art-technique/author/alfred-blaker/

 

[Candlejack]

So as I look around and read articles. (And yalls suggestions and for books) Im beginning to ask this question.

Monorail vs press camera. Im reading the pros and cons and realize I can probably find them for around the same price range that im looking. (And also recieving offers for both)

Did any of you go press camera and upgrade to a monorail? Did any go to monorail then drop down to press camera?

It seems portability vs limited adjustmentd is the pro of the press. (And potential lens size restrictions)

While completely control over adjustments vs portability is the issue with monorails.

Im sure some of you mentioned it earlier, but i may have missed it or it may not have clicked.

 

[BrianShaw]

Did any go to monorail then drop down to press camera?

I stopped reading at this sentence. LMFAO

Why do folks, especially those who don't know better, use denigrating terms like "drop down" or falsely-flattering terms like "step up"?

But to answer the question... I did. But it was because they both serve different purposes. As you figured out, press camera offers portability and hand-holdability. Monorail (and other view cameras) offer movements and, generally, longer bellows.

 

[Candlejack]

I stopped reading at this sentence. LMFAO

Why do folks, especially those who don't know better, use denigrating terms like "drop down" or falsely-flattering terms like "step up"?

But to answer the question... I did. But it was because they both serve different purposes. As you figured out, press camera offers portability and hand-holdability. Monorail (and other view cameras) offer movements and, generally, longer bellows.

Brian. There was no need for that.

I stopped reading at this sentence. LMFAO

Why do folks, especially those who don't know better, use denigrating terms like "drop down" or falsely-flattering terms like "step up"?

But to answer the question... I did. But it was because they both serve different purposes. As you figured out, press camera offers portability and hand-holdability. Monorail (and other view cameras) offer movements and, generally, longer bellows.

I can see this forum aint for me. Lmao

 

[BrianShaw]

Aw, c'mon... don't be like that...

 

[BradS]

The press camera, specifically the 4x5 Graflex Crown Graphic, is often said to be a good place to start but it is also a fantastic choice for those types for which it was specifically designed and so, for that type of photography, it is also a great place to end up. It is pretty perfect for travel, hiking, adventure, reportage, documentary, etc. I took a 4x5 Crown Graphic to the Galapagos. That was my only camera...it was GREAT! Hand held, portable, range finder focused, rugged, quick, light weight and of course, makes fantastic big negatives and chromes.

Brian. There was no need for that. I can see this forum aint for me.

He held up a mirror so that you could see yourself.

 

[Candlejack]

The press camera, specifically the 4x5 Graflex Crown Graphic, is often said to be a good place to start but it is also a fantastic choice for those types for which it was specifically designed and so, for that type of photography, it is also a great place to end up. It is pretty perfect for travel, hiking, adventure, reportage, documentary, etc. I took a 4x5 Crown Graphic to the Galapagos. That was my only camera...it was GREAT! Hand held, portable, range finder focused, rugged, quick, light weight and of course, makes fantastic big negatives and chromes.




He held up a mirror so that you could see yourself.

Obviously i dont fit on here. Thank you. Yall take care.

 

[BrianShaw]

Sorry that you feel the need to go... especially since its about petty nonsense that you dish can out and then can't take, as a bit of ribbing, yourself. Please reconsider and stay. If you are interested in film cameras then you belong!

 

[Candlejack]

Sorry that you feel the need to go... especially since its about petty nonsense that you dish can out and then can't take, as a bit of ribbing, yourself. Please reconsider and stay. If you are interested in film cameras then you belong!

Im sorry, but i havent dished anything out. It started with that one gentleman being rude and others saying that was his typical behavior. And my reaction to not wanting to interact with someone and blocking that person kept getting thrown back in my face. Im trying to learn and understand.. but yall feel the need to keep going back to that.
Thanks a bunch.

 

[BrianShaw]

So, perhaps, there is one more part to your learning: press cameras are not a "step down" from a view camera; they offer different capabilities. That was the message before all of the butthurt. Your welcome.

 

[Candlejack]

So, perhaps, there is one more part to your learning: press cameras are not a "step down" from a view camera. That was the message before all of the butthurt. Your welcome.

.. and yet you continue.

 

[BrianShaw]

.. and yet you continue.

No, I'm done. Good luck in your future photographic ventures. Bye.

 

[Dan Fromm]

Im sorry, but i havent dished anything out. It started with that one gentleman being rude and others saying that was his typical behavior. And my reaction to not wanting to interact with someone and blocking that person kept getting thrown back in my face. Im trying to learn and understand.. but yall feel the need to keep going back to that.
Thanks a bunch.

Sorry to have offended. Who posts in a public forum must expect responses that don't please.

I'll say it again, whatever you do will be wrong. This is more-or-less everyone's experience with the first LF camera obtained.

You, sir, were and are extremely rude. You've just done it again to Mr. Shaw.