Looking for large format negative

arcimboldo · Nov 2, 2012

hi,
i was looking for a large format negative in order to get a feeling for the quality and richness of details and tones. if somebody has one sheet left i would be happy about it.
kind regards, a.

Len Middleton · Nov 2, 2012

Large Format Negatives:

1. Film is expensive and sometimes hard to get locally.
2. The equipment is heavy.
3. You are expected to be old and have a beard, or if of the other gender... (no, I am not going there)
4. Need to learn a whole bunch of new things.

That should be a good start, and I am sure others can add to the negatives...

E. von Hoegh · Nov 2, 2012

arcimboldo said:
hi,
i was looking for a large format negative in order to get a feeling for the quality and richness of details and tones. if somebody has one sheet left i would be happy about it.
kind regards, a.

You won't get any feeling for 'the quality and richness of details and tones' from a negative, what you want is a print; a print made from a good negative by an experienced printer. Producing such a print takes time, resources, and effort.

Oh yes, here's a negative - LF photographers are a contentious bunch.

Edit - Your posts will be taken more seriously if you bother to capitalise what should be capitalised.

Ian Grant · Nov 2, 2012

As has been said you need to see prints from LF negatives, it's the degree of enlargement taht's critical. Remember that a 10x8 print from a 5x4 negative is roughly eqivalent to enlarging a 35mm neg to half post card size.

In practice an LF negative just looks like a 35mm neg or 120 negative of the same type except it has a larger area.

Ian

dpurdy · Nov 2, 2012

If you are looking for a printable negative that you can print yourself to see if the quality is worth the effort and expense, I have a quite a lot of rejects that I would be happy to send you to play with. I can find something that is proper density and in focus but rejected due to boring composition or something. 8x10 or 4x5. Let me know.
Dennis

Len Middleton · Nov 2, 2012

On a more serious note... :confused:

If you want to seriously evaluate if it is worth the effort, then you should experience it end to end.

The process will greatly slow you down, even relative to medium format. And that can change the way you look at things.

Due to the speed and cost per exposure, you are likely to shoot much less, but your standards of what are acceptable and what are not are likely to change i.e. see post 5 above with Dennis's offer.

Even if you determine the print quality is what you want, you should experience the effort involved to ensure you are prepared to pay the price.

A couple options are:
1. To find a local college or LF workshop to learn and experience it without the expense of buying the equipment.
2. Provide some indication of where you are located and see if someone nearby would be willing to take you out with them. Many LF photographers would consider that, after all the equipment is heavy (see item 2 in post 2).

Something else to consider...

E. von Hoegh · Nov 2, 2012

The OP may not have a 4x5 enlarger. However, you can contact print an 8x10 (or 4x5 or 5x7 or...) negative with a sheet of glass - this will also give the ultimate in tonality.

arcimboldo · Nov 2, 2012

dpurdy said:
If you are looking for a printable negative that you can print yourself to see if the quality is worth the effort and expense, I have a quite a lot of rejects that I would be happy to send you to play with. I can find something that is proper density and in focus but rejected due to boring composition or something. 8x10 or 4x5. Let me know.
Dennis

Thank you very much for your answers.
My Durst M805 works up to 6x9, i was interested in making a contact sheet and a scan from the negative.
@Dennis. That would be very nice.

wiltw · Nov 3, 2012

If you look at an Ansel Adams print, it will provide you with a great representation of the tonality that can be achieved with a large format negative!

ian grant said:
In practice an LF negative just looks like a 35mm neg or 120 negative of the same type except it has a larger area.

...but given the fact that 4x as many film grains portray the same subject area on 4x5 sheet film as 135 format neg, the gradations of tonality will be far superior from the large format iimage!

dpurdy · Nov 4, 2012

arcimboldo said:
Thank you very much for your answers.
My Durst M805 works up to 6x9, i was interested in making a contact sheet and a scan from the negative.
@Dennis. That would be very nice.

Just PM me an address to send them to and I will do it.
Dennis

Looking for large format negative

arcimboldo

arcimboldo

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency