Large format pre-shots

[narsuitus]

What are you using to perform pre-shots to make sure your exposure and composition are correct?

 

[JLMoore3]

What are you using to perform pre-shots to make sure your exposure and composition are correct?

Polaroid film!

 

[Dave Parker]

Polaroid Back, been around for years...

Dave

 

[Donald Miller]

I haven't used a Polaroid exposure in years. I used them in studio with strobes but I know the film and developer well enough now to dispense with them.

If I were shooting color transparency, I would be using Polaroids.

 

[PeterDendrinos]

Dito "Polaroid film!"

Pete

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I don't do it that often, but when I do, it's Polaroid.

 

[blaze-on]

Polaroid here as well. Then I take the print, tape it to the film holder and write on it the exposure, date and time. Helps me keep track. If I take two shots (same exposure) I process the side without polaroid taped to it first.

 

[matt miller]

I don't know that there are other options aside from polaroid. Are there?

 

[Dave Parker]

25K digi backs are an option, But not for me!!!!

LOL

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Some people use some kind of expensive electric Lite-Brite thing that fits on the back of a LF camera and plugs into the wall, but we don't talk about that here.

For formats not amenable to Polaroid, some people have done things like using monobath development for quick proofing or B&W to proof color. This was a common technique at one time in furniture studios, where they would shoot room setups in 11x14".

 

[BradS]

Polaroid here as well. Then I take the print, tape it to the film holder and write on it the exposure, date and time. Helps me keep track. If I take two shots (same exposure) I process the side without polaroid taped to it first.

That's an excellent system. Knowing my proclivity to expand the envelope on Murphy's Law, I'd end up with the polaroid in the tank....
Thanks for the tip.

 

[bobfowler]

I don't shoot much 4X5 Polaroid. Instead, I keep a lot of Fujiroid 3x4 packs handy and use them in a 405 holder. I use far more Fujiroid in the Polanoid back for my Bronicas than with the 4X5 cameras.

 

[KenM]

Some people use some kind of expensive electric Lite-Brite thing that fits on the back of a LF camera...

I love it! Great line David!

 

[ouyang]

WEll I have a related question:


I have a cambo sc and wanted to get a polaroid back, I got a polaroid 545 land film polaroid back. But it doesn't fit! What kind of back do I need to shoot sheet film polas?

Kind regards,

Onno

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I think this is a known problem with Cambo backs. If I remember correctly, they have a metal protrusion that is part of a mechanism that holds a release cable that attaches to a Sinar-style auto-diaphragm shutter. The idea is that you can focus and meter through the back at full aperture, insert the filmholder, and the lens automatically stops down by pressing the release. If you don't use this system, some people just grind off that obstruction.

 

[ouyang]

Hmm, that's not it though I think.. the slot is simply not big enough for the holder....
the pola-holder is about an inch larger...

 

[Dave Parker]

An inch longer or an inch wider?

The standard 545 holder is the same wide as the 4x5 film holder.

Dave

 

[ouyang]

wider. It won't fit at all.. Ok so which holder should I get?
for sheets.

 

[Dave Parker]

Sure you did not get an older 545 that was made for the graflex back, the graflex back is wider than a standard 4x5 they are rare, but I see one pop up every once in a while, the standard 545 or 545i back should fit any camera that takes standard 4x5 holders.

Dave

 

[PCGraflex]

I tried using paranoid but gave it up as my confidence built up. I thought it was a waste and at 2 bucks a pop, it wasn't really helping much. I figgured that I might as well bracket since I process my B\W anyway. Sometimes I shoot M\F along with the 4x5 if on the pod and process that first. However, I still woudl like to use it from time to time but it's so damn spendy.

 

[bobfowler]

I tried using paranoid but gave it up as my confidence built up. I thought it was a waste and at 2 bucks a pop, it wasn't really helping much. I figgured that I might as well bracket since I process my B\W anyway. Sometimes I shoot M\F along with the 4x5 if on the pod and process that first. However, I still woudl like to use it from time to time but it's so damn spendy.

Spendy it may be, but when you're shooting 'chromes for a client, it's the fastest way I know to get a warm fuzzy feeling that you did your job right...

 

[Dave Parker]

Spendy it may be, but when you're shooting 'chromes for a client, it's the fastest way I know to get a warm fuzzy feeling that you did your job right...

I heard that, when shooting for a client, the $2.00 a pop, is well worth the price...

Dave

 

[narsuitus]

Eleven years ago, most large format shooters were using Polaroid film to perform pre-shots to make sure exposures and compositions were correct. Is this still true?

 

[Ron789]

Where do you guys get Polaroid 4x5 film for $2 a pop? The only current offering that I've been able to find is New55, at 75 Euro ($88) for a 5-pack, i.e. $17 per pop.

 

[gone]

Two things. In 2016, how many people are shooting LF chromes for clients? And if it's THAT important and you know nothing about your equipment or the lighting (or something), just make 2-3 exposures. 4x5 is not all that expensive, and if you figure what the cost of 4x5 or larger instant film is.....