Format regret..?

RalphLambrecht · Sep 7, 2014

ToddB said:
Hey guys,

Last friday I was on my home from work and always I have my trusty cameras. Typically in August and September the skies on New Mexico have these dramatic clouds and skies. I decided to pull over to this cemetery that i pass everyday. Everything was in place. I shot with my Canon QL17 GIII, I pulled off some amazing shots. I've been having a slight case of regret in regards of I should of shot with MF to really exploit it. Have you ever had regret on the choice of format. Below is one a several image from that stop. I'm still pleased, and confidant that I can print a a nice 8x10 or even a 11x14 print and have something nice to frame.

great shot !CONGRATS,YES, I HAVE SOME REGRETSabout putting so much money into LF(4x5)my MF equipment is just as capable of creating large prints and a ton more flexible35mm does not satisfy m hunger for image quality but MFis all I needI would recommend for anyone getting into analog to start with 35mm for a while and then getting into MF.not sure if that's true for digital as well:confused:

mopar_guy · Sep 7, 2014

Format Regret...Yes!

I was once trying to get some snapshots of our granddaughter playing. I was trying to use my2-1/4x3-1/4 speed graphic and a whole roll of 120 turned out to be out of focus. The little kid can just move too fast. I was wishing that I had a 35mm SLR.

moltogordo · Sep 7, 2014

mopar_guy said:
I was once trying to get some snapshots of our granddaughter playing. I was trying to use my2-1/4x3-1/4 speed graphic and a whole roll of 120 turned out to be out of focus. The little kid can just move too fast. I was wishing that I had a 35mm SLR.

Oh, you betcha! Looks like Ralph above has been similarly bitten, as have I. A large format camera is the worst possible scenario for spontaneous creativity!

I had a couple of great opportunities slip by because all I had in my car was a monorail. And like Ralph, I think the medium format is the way to go for a lot of things and for years a Mamiya C330 and a Yashica 44 were my mainstays. I finally bought a Pentax 645, and I could have lived with that for the rest of my days. It was actually lighter and more compact than my Nikon F3 with a motor drive!

Todd was LUCKY to have a manageable camera on hand, eh??

ToddB · Sep 8, 2014

Thanks guys.. I did pull off a really nice print yesterday that I'm proud of. Came out pretty much like scan.

Todd

erikg · Sep 8, 2014

I've had far more regrets with how I've shot something than with what I've shot it with. Sometimes you can only do so much.

ntenny · Sep 8, 2014

As others have said, if I'd come home with that image I'd be just plain happy with it and format be damned. The itty-bitty little negative might limit how large you can print it comfortably, but it seems like an image that will work well in a medium-sized print too.

Once in a while I've had that experience of saying "dang, I wish I had a view camera for this", but there it is---you just can't be ready for everything all the time and I try not to worry about it. I bet Niepce would have loved to have a Master Technika and a holder of TMX to shoot those rooftops with, but I'm glad he didn't pass up the shot for lack of them.

-NT

Format regret..?

RalphLambrecht

mopar_guy

moltogordo

ToddB

erikg

ntenny

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