Cost to get into 4x5?

jp80874 · Apr 2, 2006

I don't see mention so far of the caution given to beginning fishermen and sheet film users. 4x5 is just a taste of the next plateau. 8x10 looked sooo good after a year of 4x5. 7x17 to 12x20 look spectacular now. Then of course I gather there are 20x24s you can rent that come with a studio and a technician. The taste of the next delicacy becomes the standard to which you aspire.

At least in fishing I know I am safe. The willow tree at the edge of the pond has all my lures. Run with 4x5 and enjoy.

John Powers

Curt · Apr 2, 2006

The real cost is when you like it so much you have to move right up to 8x10 and above... or 10x8 as some say.

cdholden · Apr 2, 2006

jp80874 said:
At least in fishing I know I am safe. The willow tree at the edge of the pond has all my lures. Run with 4x5 and enjoy.

John Powers

The 4x5 is equal to pond fishing. Sounds to me like you need to check out deep sea fishing! =]
Chris

rbarker · Apr 2, 2006

FWIW, I think the "apparent" cost of getting into LF is really tied to the budget. It can be done for a couple of hundred dollars, or a few thousand. Just depends on your budget . . . and your expectations or objectives.

The real cost, of course, is something different entirely - your soul. Once you're in Hotel Photographica, you can check out, but you can never leave.

(Apologies to The Eagles.)

Papa Tango · Apr 2, 2006

I second the press camera route as a reasonable way to get in the door. The Busch Pressman D can be had for a couple hundred bucks, and a Graflex Super Graphic or Pacemaker Crown for about $300+. As you grow, you can keep it or get your money back on eBay.

Rails can be gotten into cheap as well. Keep your eye out for a Burke & James "Grover" or a Cambo rig. Cost, $150-250 depending on lens (has one or not...). The Toyo CX is a little higher end beginner rail in more modern and versatile design, and again bargains are out there in the $200+ range. It's the lenses that will get you!!!

Getting in cheap is easy. It's nearly impossible to stay there. Lenses, light meters, filters, all the stuff mounts up slowly. Then we get to an enlarger that will handle 4x5, more lenses for that, and the old retirement fund slowly dwindles

Per bellows repairs, one great method is to use the "plasti-dip" that is sold at larger hardware stores. Made to cover tool handles and such, it can be diluted slightly with xylene or "Goof-Off" and touched into corners and folds. It remains flexible, penetrates well into materials, and is available in black and red. Properly done (with the bellows fully extended) it can be difficult to see the repairs. Several overlying coats are often required.

Good luck, and have fun!

jp80874 · Apr 2, 2006

cdholden said:
The 4x5 is equal to pond fishing. Sounds to me like you need to check out deep sea fishing! =]
Chris

Oh I have. Fortunately it was all paid for by my employers for having won sales contests. Thank God there is not room for a 40 something Rybovich in our half acre pond. We brought a shark up to the side of the boat. Relative to the cockpit it appeared to be about 13 feet. We decided bass were big enough and asked it to go away. The willow will remain my challenge.

John Powers

jp80874 · Apr 2, 2006

There is a 4x5 Omega rail camera for $250 on the Azo form.
Dead Link Removed

I have no connection with the seller, nor have I seen the camera.

John Powers

jolefler · Apr 3, 2006

FWIW, I've been rebuilding old woodies very inexpensively. My cam of choice is the Kodak 2d in 5x7. My personal favorite is a 5x7 2d with homemade bag bellows (which I make, using a 4 panel pattern) and 4x5 back. It's range is from a 90mm (have to use a recessed board) to a full draw of about 210mm. Mostly I use a 135mm on it, and with that it's a solid basic performer. Front movement is limited to rise only, and rear movement are small at best. No shift at either end. The other drawback is that the older woodies don't lock down very securely. Just be patient and careful when shooting. On the plus side, they're compact when folded and not that heavy, definately inexpensive! I believe with a new bellows, new oil finish and a 135 Tessar in Compur, I have less than $150 in it.....and it delivers solid B&W negs. It's also very handsome and draws comment from everyone when in use.

I have a few older woodies in need of restoration, if you're interested in going that route.

Ronst · Apr 7, 2006

4x5-fly rod

P.S. If any of you have a old 4x5 that's just laying around I'm a custom fly rod builder & would be willing to trade. Just a thought even though maybe a ridiculous one at that![/QUOTE]

I have an old speed graphic with lensboard--that is in okay shape--you would still need to purchase a lens --if your interested at all in some kind of a trade--email me at rs7trout@aol.com

Brad Bireley · Apr 7, 2006

I have made a deal to trade for a Burke & James press camera. Thanks for all of the advice.
I have a felling that this(LF photography) will be like fly fishing. Can't just have only 1 fly rod!
I hope everyone does not get tired of all my questions to come!
Brad

monomon · Apr 7, 2006

I have just started (last month) with LF, and also needed to do it on a tight budget.

I got a Crown Graphic body and a separate 120mm Zeiss Jena tessar lens, and the combination works very well for straight shots.

The big drawback with lots of 'press' lenses is that they weren't designed to be used with any camera movements, so you can't benefit from one of the most important aspects of LF in landscape photography - forward tilt.

I also got a Nikkor 135mm, which is a good lens for the Crown Graphic, because it is small and light, has sufficient coverage for all of the Graphics movements and can be stored within the camera body.

The movements on the Graphic are plenty for landscape photography, and the effects of forward tilt have to be seen to be believed.

Modern lenses in the 135-150mm bracket seem to be the cheapest, and also the sharpest by many accounts.

So my advice is to buy a good standard lens so that you can use movements - good luck.

Ian Grant · Apr 7, 2006

Brad Bireley said:
What the least expensive way to get into a 4x5 camera?

Either watch, make notes then utilise the "auction" site - bidding carefully at the last moment, or watch forum posts and the classified ads here. I do both !

Here preferably and let a % go to support this site. I've just bought a 5"x4" outfit today via this site for an very reasonable price for my 20yr old niece. In my case the seller actually said he'd like the equipment to go to a a new convert to LF.

Ian

vet173 · Apr 7, 2006

monomon said:
The big drawback with lots of 'press' lenses is that they weren't designed to be used with any camera movements, so you can't benefit from one of the most important aspects of LF in landscape photography - forward tilt.

Drop the bed, raise the lens, and you have front tilt.

monomon · Apr 7, 2006

vet173 said:
Drop the bed, raise the lens, and you have front tilt.

That is correct, but my point was that if you use a standard 'press' lens you will find that many of the movements can't be covered on the groundglass.

My Crown had the front standard reversed by a previous owner. After a couple of weeks I found out more about the drop-bed, and the reason why Graflex designed the front standard to tilt back, I re-reversed it 'back to normal'.

Cost to get into 4x5?

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