Film Orientation

John Bartley · Apr 6, 2005

I have been looking at 8x10 field cameras with an eye to buying one for hobby use. I see that "most" of what I have looked at has the film holders in a "portrait" orientation. I don't see any easy way to change the orientation to "landscape" on most of these.

1) Is this common on field cameras (having a portrait orientation of the film holders)?

2) What sort of problems/frustrations does it cause?

3) Are there any solutions (if it is indeed a problem)?

cheers and thanks

Robert Hall · Apr 6, 2005

Most backs rotate, but that not withstanding, you could just hold it sideways!

colrehogan · Apr 6, 2005

I don't think there is a problem. The camera back can be oriented in either a portrait or a landscape format, and the film holders would then fit this way when you inserted them into the back. In other words, it's the back which determines the film orientation, not the holder.

David A. Goldfarb · Apr 6, 2005

Usually the back either revolves in place or comes off and can be repositioned. A few cameras like the Gowland PocketView have a different mechanism--in this case the whole back, bellows, and lensboard frame rotate (a little cumbersome, but you can learn to do it reasonably quickly). Some very old portrait cameras may have fixed vertical backs.

Deckled Edge · Apr 6, 2005

John,
You must have missed something. To my knowledge, all 8x10 cameras have a provision to switch the back position from portrait to landscape--usually with the film holder coming in on the right. For all technical and field cameras from the last 95 years, this takes the form of pins on the back with clips on the rear standard to hold the back in one of two (conceivably 3) positions.
If you want to noodle around with an 8x10, let me suggest a Kodak D2. They are available weekly on e-Bay and are fairly cheap. Once you get hooked, you can save up for a Deardorff, and from there you will be a blazing wild-eyed fanatic.

John Bartley · Apr 6, 2005

Deckled Edge said:
John,
You must have missed something. To my knowledge, all 8x10 cameras have a provision to switch the back position from portrait to landscape--usually with the film holder coming in on the right. For all technical and field cameras from the last 95 years, this takes the form of pins on the back with clips on the rear standard to hold the back in one of two (conceivably 3) positions.
If you want to noodle around with an 8x10, let me suggest a Kodak D2. They are available weekly on e-Bay and are fairly cheap. Once you get hooked, you can save up for a Deardorff, and from there you will be a blazing wild-eyed fanatic.

Thank you to all for the replies.

Glen,

I got a good chuckle from your reply - thank you. The idea of me being a wild-eyed fanatic made me laugh out loud (check my signature). The last time I was wild-eyed (and I remember it well) was when I did my first spin in a Cessna. I can't (won't) afford aerobatics training, but I'm sure I could go off the deep end for that.

Anyway....I'm glad for the help of all of you in reassuring me that the backs can be turned. Being of a mechanical background, I thought it must be so, but couldn't see anything in the "for-sale" descriptions that confirmed it.

I have been offered a Kodak at a very good price, but being another one who hires his own drummer to march to, I have my heart set on an Agfa Ansco 8x10, either a commercial or universal model.

cheers and thank

TracyStorer · Apr 6, 2005

We're talking about "vertical" and "horizontal" here, right?

John Bartley · Apr 6, 2005

TracyStorer said:
We're talking about "vertical" and "horizontal" here, right?

Hi Tracy,

I think so. I'm asking about the orientation of the camera back, the part that holds the ground glass and the film holder.

I've always thought of "portrait" as being taller (vertical) than it is wide (horizontal).

Did I answer the right question ?

TracyStorer · Apr 6, 2005

Hi John,
as other posters have replied, MOST LF cameras have removable backs which can be oriented either way, but there are cameras built around one fixed film orientation to save weight/size, etc.
My post on "Portrait/Landscape vs vertical/horizontal" was a BIT tongue in cheek, but is a pet peeve of mine. As an "Analog User" I prefer the terms I grew up on which actually describe the position.
"Portrait" and "Landscape" seem to have appeared in photo jargon along with desktop computer printers from HP and Epson.

mark · Apr 6, 2005

TracyStorer said:
Hi John,
as other posters have replied, MOST LF cameras have removable backs which can be oriented either way, but there are cameras built around one fixed film orientation to save weight/size, etc.
My post on "Portrait/Landscape vs vertical/horizontal" was a BIT tongue in cheek, but is a pet peeve of mine. As an "Analog User" I prefer the terms I grew up on which actually describe the position.
"Portrait" and "Landscape" seem to have appeared in photo jargon along with desktop computer printers from HP and Epson.

Actually portrait and landcape orientations have been around for many more years than computers, either way it is not important.

John,

The cameras you were looking at in your other threads like the 2d all have backs that can be taken off and rotated. They attach at the top of the rear standard with pins. A pretty easy set up. Like I said I was very tempted by the 8x10 2d.

Dave Parker · Apr 6, 2005

Portrait and landscape was actually first coined in publication with the Haynes party that surveyed Yellowstone National Park in the US, which was in the 1860's and 1870's.

So the terms have been around far longer than any computer.

They spoke of taking pictures of old Faithful in the verticle portrait orientation and taking pictures of the Lamar valley in the horizontal landscape orientation to capture the granduer of the valley.

History Lesson over.

Dave

TracyStorer · Apr 6, 2005

Dave,
thanks for that bit of info, very interesting. I mind it much less now. I really had not heard it used (much, if at all) until recently, and have spent much of the last 25 years working in the field/industry. (both fine art and commercial)
Cheers,
Tracy

John Bartley · Apr 6, 2005

mark said:
John,
The cameras you were looking at in your other threads like the 2d all have backs that can be taken off and rotated. They attach at the top of the rear standard with pins. A pretty easy set up. Like I said I was very tempted by the 8x10 2d.

Hi Mark,

Thank you for the confirmation of the method of changing the orientation. The replies in this thread have eased my mind.
I can understand your temptation. The 2D (a very nice looking unit) is running a close second on my list of choices for an 8x10 field camera kit.

cheers eh

wfwhitaker · Apr 7, 2005

So, if I go photographing in the Castro, do I have to change my orientation?

John Bartley · Apr 7, 2005

wfwhitaker said:
So, if I go photographing in the Castro, do I have to change my orientation?

I don't think so Will. We'll luv ya' anyway...whatever your orientation is.

Film Orientation

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