Holy crap, this is great!

[PeterB]

Why didn't anyone try and talk me into this sooner? You people were holding out on me. I've NEVER had an easier time focusing anything in my life. The glass is so huge and so clear

Stephanie, I have tried my best to understand the specifics of your excitement so I can get excited too.... I promise that I read this entire thread and then skimmed the topics of your past posts but I can't find any specifics....
So I need to know, are you comparing your Crown Graphic focussing experience (i.e. easy, huge and clear) to another MF camera ? Or, are you comparing your focussing experience to 35mm cameras ?

regards
Peter

 

[Soeren]

Stephanie
Dont' resist, it's futile and it hurts so. I tried it but eventually gave in and now Im happy. Once you let the LF bug rule your live everything is so easy and only one thing matters, an even larger format.
Youll be so releaved and the hurting is over once you are here. Give in give in give in, resistance is futile.
Come to us.
Kind regards

 

[haziz]

But...I like food...

4x5 is interesting enough while I'm learning. I love the camera. It has just the kind of rugged outside, beautiful mechanically loveliness that I have to have in my cameras. I took a quick photo of my daughter and I'm going to develop it soon...just wish I could print it after drying. Paper will be coming next week sometime.

4x5 is convenient and is probably not much more difficult than 35 mm or MF. The cameras are often as light as a heavy automated 35 mm camera. The film can be developed in a daylight tank (I highly recommend the HP Combi tank). A 4x5 capable enlarger can be had for a song and does not occupy much more space than a MF enlarger. One thing to note with larger formats is not just the size weight and bulk of the camera but also the size and weight of the holders, the cost of the film and with more oddball sizes (like my 7x17) with the intermittent availability of film and the need to plan ahead film purchases and to then stockpile several hundred dollars worth of film. I have had the 7x17 for close to 2 years and have shot about 20 sheets but have yet to develop any of the film despite purchasing the BTZS 7x17 tubes. The thought of spending a few hours on my knees rolling the BTZS tubes in the bottom of my bathtub just does not seem very appealing. At one point I had made the conscious decision to use 5x7 as my primary format, and while I have a 5x7 capable enlarger, I just find it easier to do 4x5 since I prefer developing in a daylight tank over tray development.

I may shoot larger formats more if I was doing contact prints with alternative processes but since I enlarge and silver print and almost never print bigger than 11x14 the larger negative does not contribute much. In addition to my 4x5, I have 5x7, 4x10, 8x10 and 7x17 mostly as a manifestation of severe terminal GAS, but it will be my 4x5 camera that I take with me to Colorado for the Foto3 (sorry the Foto1/View Camera) conference. I really should set up a better darkroom in my basement which would allow me to use my bigger toys more conveniently, but I have been saying that for 3-4 years and have yet to do anything about it.

I am not discouraging anyone from going larger but my advice is to to stick to the 4x5 for now until you have mastered it and have gone beyond the initial love affair with a new toy. Then you can think about anything else. I would also try to handle or lug around a friend's larger camera preferably for a few days before going any bigger. Just some food for thought. Of course, I never followed my own advice regarding any of this.:rolleyes:

Sorry for rambling. I guess some of this is subconsciously directed at myself.

Thanks.

Sincerely,

Hany.

 

[Jordan.K]

Stephanie,
That is great that you made the move to 4x5! Being able to raise and lower the lens was enough to get me hooked on large format cameras. Of course at the beginning you will make a few mistakes, but remember to take your time with each photograph you make. There are certain things you HAVE to remember to even make an exposure. In a very short time you'll be staring at the most beautiful prints you could imagine made from some damn sweet negatives!

 

[papagene]

Hany... you have GAS???!!!! Nah, I don't believe that for a moment. Wait a minute, I didn't know that you had a 7x17!! You are keeping secrets from us.

gene

 

[haziz]

Hany... you have GAS???!!!! Nah, I don't believe that for a moment. Wait a minute, I didn't know that you had a 7x17!! You are keeping secrets from us.

gene

Yes, I am afraid a terminal case of GAS. I had picked up a Sinar F (not sure if it is an F1 or F2 or more likely a hybrid) at the Boston Photographica show 3 years ago and when Richard Ritter was ramping up his 7x17 production I asked him to mod the camera back. I also used his 7x17 (recommended) many moons ago while he was bolting FrankenSinar together (thanks Kerry for the inspiration). It is horizontal only unless I flip the tripod head to the side. I just have to develop the film and print!:rolleyes:

Sincerely,

Hany.

 

[Stephanie Brim]

I'm getting fabric for a dark cloth today. Adam's changing the oil in Ye Olde Vehicle, then I'll be heading to the nearest place (20 miles) to get to a fabric store. I think I'll pick up some black and white cotton for now...I'll worry about rain proofing myself later.

 

[Lee L]

I'm getting fabric for a dark cloth today. Adam's changing the oil in Ye Olde Vehicle, then I'll be heading to the nearest place (20 miles) to get to a fabric store. I think I'll pick up some black and white cotton for now...I'll worry about rain proofing myself later.

Stop by the tackle shop while you're out and get yourself some small fishing weights to sew into the corners. Heavy enough to weight the cloth in the breeze a bit, but not enough to crack a lens or ground glass in a stiff wind.

Lee

 

[papagene]

Hany... I would love to see FrankenSinar sometime. Maybe on a Quabbin outing.

gene

 

[kram]

Have fun with the 'death camera'!!! My wife called it that and I thought she was reffering to it being very old and had no place in the modern world. However, she calls it the 'death camera' because in westerns, the photographer gets his (it's alway a he in westerns) big view camera to photograph the dead 'bad guy' in his coffin!!!