Do you still use Large Format or have you moved on?

[RobC]

I'm just curious if you have ever dabbled in Large Format and whether you have stuck with it or moved back or on to something else, so here's a little Poll

 

[hoffy]

Dabbled, thought it wasn't for me, but came back to give it another try.

 

[Rick A]

Actually abandoning smaller formats and staying with LF.

 

[Ian Grant]

Have used LF since 1976 initially for work but since 1986 have use LF for almost all my personal work, I largely abandoned 35mm about 15 years ago but replaced it with TLRs ten years ago.

Initially I only used 5x4 but around 2002 began using 10x8 as well and this year I've started using 7x5. So very much an LF worker still.

Ian

 

[JPJackson]

Strictly LF (5x7) now.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

LF never gave me the quality jump I was hoping for so I went back to MF and stuck with that

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

I primarily use 35mm and 6x6 for my work, but have a 5x7 lying around that I always intend to use, but very rarely get around to doing. I used to own a few 4x5 cameras too, but the work flow was never a reward for me; it always just felt like a lot more work. One thing that speaks for roll film where I live, particularly in the winter, is dust. It gets so dry and the atmosphere is full of static electricity. Sheet film appears to be dust magnets, and I always end up with way too many dust spots on my negs that when I enlarge the negatives I end up with hours of spotting. With roll film I get a couple of spots to do per print, with sheet film it's literally dozens in the summer and hundreds in the winter. Too much trouble. I wish there were ready loads still available. And I could afford them.

So I guess I never really started large format; only shot a few hundred sheets. But I never really stopped either, so if I voted in your poll I'd pick 'Other' if there were such an option.

 

[winger]

I still consider myself a beginner with LF, but I do enjoy it. I only have 4x5 cameras so far, but I do have 5x7 and 8x10 holders. Someday I hope to go larger. Maybe.
I like being able to make contact prints that are a reasonable print size. LF lends itself well to alt stuff.

 

[Bob Carnie]

I only use 4x5 and 8x10 - studio still life only

I do not think I will ever go back to smaller format unless its for happy snaps.

when I started out in photography I never would use large format and thought I never move in this direction.

 

[Roger Cole]

Yes. I use 4x5 as well as 120 and 35mm.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk and 100% recycled electrons - because I care.

 

[peter k.]

3x4 & 4x5 and rarely some 9x12 ~ but only in B&W

 

[DannL.]

About ten years ago I found a box of wooden 8x10 holders in a thrift store. I recall paying a dollar each for them. I then went to town building my first 8x10 camera to fit the holders. Eventually I built three cameras and was very satisfied with the process and results. Today I use original plate cameras (4x5, half-plate, 5x7, 8x10) which can all accommodate film holders. All of the cameras are more than 100 years old. There's something about using a camera made of wood, brass & glass. Add the history behind a camera, it's an interesting mix.

 

[Alan W]

I'm not patient enough for LF anymore.One shot at a time,upside down composing and focusing,the anger of dust spots,hard to develop,mixing bulk lots of chemistry etc etc.I discovered that MF is fine for me,as I rarely make a print over 11x14.I do still have an old speed graphic,though.Just in case.

 

[DWThomas]

I acquired a B&J Press 4x5 circa 1963 to photo reduce line art for photoetching efforts. Needless to say, I couldn't help trying some straight photography with it, but got away from it pretty much after the early 1970s. I still have it, and I do in fact shoot 4x5 and 8x10 for pinhole work, but I've settled on medium format as my goto film medium. MF camera and darkroom gear is smaller but still provides some advantage over smaller formats -- my "Goldilocks" medium -- not too big, not too small -- ju-u-st right!.

 

[ic-racer]

I use film of all sizes, as long as it is still available. I can't see myself developing a prejudice against any certain size, big or small.

 

[Old_Dick]

4x5 mostly. I'm getting old, 67 and my psoriatic arthritis just keeps getting worse, even with meds. May have to go back to MF which I enjoy also. On a side note, I still get a thrill of watching an image come up in a tray of developer, I feel like I did something.

 

[removed account4]

like ic-racer
i use lots of different formats, large and small ...
( and when film is unavailable , i will coat my own glass and paper )

 

[Molli]

I've been very generously loaned a Calumet 4x5 from Mr. Mick Fagan I also made a half plate camera which I've had a bit of a play with but it still needs a lot of work. So, just now I'd have to say I'm a dabbler. I use 35mm for photographing children and other candid shots that need the ability to move about freely and quickly and medium format for pretty much everything else. So far I've only used the 4x5 a few times - an indoors test shot and some coastline scenery stuff. I'm hoping to stick with it and get outside more once it gets a little warmer at dawn.

 

[ajmiller]

I dabbled on and off for about 5 years then started using my Wista 45DX regularly. Glad I stuck with it now. I still use the Mamiya C330s when I want to spray and pray!!

 

[BetterSense]

What killed it for me was dust. My MF negs aren't as good, but at least they are clean. If I could still get quick loads, I would shoot a lot more 4x5. No sense in paying 10 bucks a pop to develop and process 4x5 velvia if 20% of them are going to have dust spots.

Tried 6x9 view cameras so I could use roll film. ..cute, but too fiddly for my big hands.

I have considered 8x10...contact printable, and dust spots probably less visible.

 

[wilper]

I got in to film analog photography three years ago, stepped up to medium format after a couple of months, got a 4x5 within the year. But I didn't take many pictures with it, it was so expensive to use.

Now that I have started cutting down X-Ray film I'd say I use LF and MF about the same, and some 35mm every once in a while to keep the cameras from gumming up.

 

[dasBlute]

Though I shoot plenty of MF with my Rolleiflex, LF still rocks for me: 4x5 and 5x7 using b&w kodak film; 8x10 pinhole using RC paper and film negatives; all processed at home and wet printed.

 

[JackRosa]

Have tried 35mm, MF, 4x5 and 8x10 and -for me - 8x10 is the definite winner!

 

[Richard Man]

I shot 80+ sheets of 4x5 in the last 2 months. Does that count?

 

[Sirius Glass]

I use 135, 120 and 4"x5" formats.