Cost for entry into LF

Ole said:

No, with the exception of the two Brits (Gandolfi's) they're all centrimetric. 6.5x9, 9x12, 13x18, 18x24, 24x30, 30x40.

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Yes, but if they accept standardized film holders (and I know you have cameras that don't) then external dimensions of film holders come in 'families' and can be interchanged in the same camera:

Very small: 6,5x9cm, 2-1/4 x 3-1/4 inch, 2-1/2 x 3-1/2 inch

Small: 9x12cm, 5x4 inch

Medium: 13x18cm, 5x7 inch, half plate (4-3/4 x 6-1/2)

Large: 18x24cm, 8x10 inch.

I have very recently done the same jump from MF to (kind of) LF. This is cheating a bit since I plan on continuing to shoot mostly 6x7 with for while but anyway.

Items:
Ebony RSW45 £750 (ebay)
Ebony 4x5  6x9 format reducer $375 (Badger) – fits RB67 backs
Schneider 110mm XL £720 (Ffords) – mint condition
77mm Nikon NC filter £28 (ebay) – a lens that pricy needs protection!
67 – 77mm step up ring £2.50 (ebay)
RRS B25 QR plate £27 (ebay)
Fuji quickload holder $115 (Badger)
Silvisti loupe £60 (can’t remember)
Lens board $39 (Badger)

Total: £1905 (inc VAT and import duty)


Already had:
Gitzo 1325
Acratech ultimate ballhead
Lowepro mini trekker AW
Lots of B+W 77mm filters
2 RB67 120 backs
Stuff to dev 120
My fleece seems to make makes a great dark cloth

Need:
BTZS tubes
Trays
Nikon 65mm
Fuji 150mm
Cambo Reflex Viewing Hood (£225!!)
Horseman 6x12 back (eventually)


This may look like a strange setup to many of you but after using my RB for 2 years I knew what I was after: tilt and rise movements!! simple and fast to set up, low depreciation, the option to shoot 4x5, usable with RB67 backs and a ballhead.

This could have been done *much* cheaper, especially since the lens choice is a total overkill but given the rave reviews with it for 4x5, the demand 6x7 puts on LF lenses, and rarity on the second hand market I went for it. It makes a good wide in 4x5 and a nice normal lens for 6x7. Oh, the whole setup is also about 1/2 the weight of my RB despite being 4x5

Cost of move to 4x5

I saw this thread and since I recently got into 4x5 I thought I would add up my costs while I still remember:

Horseman FA: $1000 e-bay
21 Film Holders: $125 e-bay
Jobo Expert Drum: $300 Freestyle
50 Sheets TMX: $50 Local
4x5 Print File Pages : $25 Local
150mm Schneider Componon-S Enlarging Lens : $60 e-bay
42mm Lens mount to attach above lens to enlarger : $40 KBH photographic
Plastic 4x5 tray for the photo-flo : $2 e-bay
24 small surgical hemostats for hanging to dry :$24 e-bay
12 more hooks for the drying cabinet and a board to make 2 levels so I can dry 20 negs at a time: $15 Home Depot

= $1646 USD

Already had:

Darkroom
Sensitometer
Densitometer
Jobo CPP/Lift
Chemicals for processing T-max
Horseman 120mm lens with 160 mm circle already on 8x8 board
Lens Hood
4x5 enlarger/masks/D-size carrier/4x5 diffuser
Tripod
Light Meter
Shutter release cable
Camera Bag to hold camera
Changing Tent
Laser to align front standard to rear

Came in the mail today:

Fujinon 150mm late EBC coated model with black shutter: $300 I don't count this a start up cost because the extra movements available with this lens will entertain me for a few weeks, but will only use them in about 20% of shots. I know because my 105 SUPER Horseman for the 6x9 has miles of movement on the Horseman 6x9 camera and I my shooting style does not really need all that movement.

Never Ending Want List:

90mm F8 lens
Horseman Loupe
Horseman Zoom Viewfinder
Horseman 6x12 back
Pola. Back
Horseman 8x10 view camera
8x10 Enlarger, lens..etc......

m_liddell said:

I have very recently done the same jump from MF to (kind of) LF. This is cheating a bit since I plan on continuing to shoot mostly 6x7 with for while but anyway.

Ebony 4x5  6x9 format reducer $375 (Badger) – fits RB67 backs

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It ain't cheating. Some days the 4x5 Speed comes out, some days the 5x7 B&J is used, occasionally when I go down to Monterey CA, I will break out the 3x4 rb Graflex, some days the rb67 is used, some days I want to shoot square so the C220 is in my hands. Some days I want to travel light, so it's a Nettar 6x6 with a Luna Pro.

Occasionally, I even git down into 135 land. You might find me with my Zorki 1 around my neck, I even use the FM2 on trips.

I am wondering about the format reducer. Is that just for swings and tilts?

I have used my rb backs on my 2x3 Speed and have tried the 2x3 Graphmatic on my rb67. Neat.

So you are not cheating. You grow into the format of your choice. Me, I am just fickle.

tim in san jose

argus said:

I hardly use a loupe on 4x5" and never on the bigger formats.

G

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You must not have hit middle age yet...

Ed

My cost to get back into cut film Photograph. Replace the camera wife sold $150 for a GraficView with case and 2 film holders, Various film backs $50.00, Stole lens and shutter form broken 3 x 4 speed graphic. There way under $500.00 all purchase of ebay.

I think you did well with your selections. You will not be hampered with limitations of poor equipment, and it looks like a system you will be able to grow with. Well done!

Looks like a good working set-up, Chuck!

Now it will just be a matter of using it and getting into the work flow of LF. Every type of 4x5 camera have their pros and cons...and one learns how to deal with a camera's weaker points, and enjoy and take advantage of its strengths.

I bought my present 4x5 and lens new (from Calumet) in about 1984 for $220 and $230 respectively...a Gowland PocketView (two 6" rails) and a Caltar-IIN 150mm. Camera, with the lens, weighs about 2.5 pounds. A major investment for me at the time....but I had a goal that need this equipment.

The PocketView/Caltar replaced a Raja 4x5 (a direct "Deardorf Special" copy) and 210mm f6.3 lens that I bought as a kit new four years earlier for $525. The Raja and big glass were too heavy, bulky and unreliable (the camera, not the glass) for what I found I needed (backpacking, extended bicycle touring).

So what works well now, might not fit your needs in a few years time. But what is nice is that the equipment is so mix-and-match. One might buy a different style of 4x5, but all the other equipment will work, generally speaking, with the new camera (film holders, meter, pod, lenses, et al). Even my older Raja saw new productive life as a 5x7 -- I got a Deardorf 5x7 back and it fit right on, right on! I enjoyed that format, so that worked out well.

Enjoy!

Vaughn

m_liddell said:

I have very recently done the same jump from MF to (kind of) LF. This is cheating a bit since I plan on continuing to shoot mostly 6x7 with for while but anyway.



Need:
BTZS tubes
Trays
Nikon 65mm
Fuji 150mm
Cambo Reflex Viewing Hood (£225!!)
Horseman 6x12 back (eventually)

Click to expand...

I saw a cambo reflex viewer yesterday on ebay. Don't know the price.
Michael

I just got into it
4X5 Tachihara in 1520 case with
Caltar 150 5.6 and 90 4.5
Polaroid 545i
11 Elites
Handful of 55 film
$500 through craigslist.
Couldn't pass that up.

Since then
taken f8 (or f16 with lens hood) meniscus from 3A horizontal -free
taken f8 meniscus from 2c Brownie that covers 4x5 but haven't photographed with it yet -free
I wanted something more Diana-like and this is certainly soft/crappy

210 f8 JML process lens/mint $25
3 lensboards, caps, and hoods made out of scrap wood, felt, tape rolls and peanut butter lids -free
Dark cloth "hood" $4 and attached to Tachi with velcro
Ilford paper 5x7 and 8x10 $20 local Ebay
+10 loupe made from Polaroid close-up lenses -free

had prior to LF
Xtol and all other chemistry
40oz and 1/2 gal amber Bud bottles scrounged from a friends antique/thrift store -free
Dasani bottles
and various cork stopped liquor bottles -I don't drink

My current Xtol has lasted since Feb. '06 with no special storage considerations besides darkness

Gossen profisix
releases
Tripod












100 sheets 20 year old Tmax $30 on ebay