Low light 4x5 ideas?

[athanasius80]

So my buddy is having a 1950s coctail party birthday party tomorrow night. I am most tempted into bringing my B&J press cam and doing some 4x5 grab shots with it. I have no flash unit, and I'm working with an f4.7 Ektar lens. What film and developers would work particularly well in average Los Angeles apartment light in my situation?
Thanks!

 

[Alex Hawley]

I would try either Tri-x or HP-5, both rated at box speed or one stop higher and develop with pyrocat-hd or Xtol.

 

[tony lockerbie]

I think you may be in trouble because nobody makes a really fast 5x4 film. You could use something like HP5+ and process in Microphen, probably get you iso 800 or maybe 1600, don't know for sure as I don't push my film much.
If you want to be authentic you need to get a flash unit for B&J, one that takes those huge bulbs. Start letting those off and you'll be the life of the party!
Tony

 

[bdial]

Doing the shots with a flash would be perfect! But, even in So Cal, getting one with bulbs in less than 24 hours might be a challenge.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

The lens isn't fast enough.

I usually use Tri-X at 640 in Acufine for handheld 4x5" work. My fastest lens is a 135/3.5 Planar, and that puts me at about 1/15 sec. wide open for average indoor lighting, and for indoor shots, I might need another half stop for bellows factor, and in dim lighting as there might be at a party, you might need another stop.

I'd say use a different camera or figure out a flash.

 

[removed account4]

if you have a tiny little flash for a 35mm camera you can sync it at any
speed with your leaf shutter. i have done this, as a fill in low light situations.
have it bounce off the ceiling ( point straight up ) and have a white card
behind the flash to reflect light forward as well. i use a piece of cardboard
that comes with the 4x5 film and an elastic band ...

maybe a test tonight at your place would be a good dry run

good luck!
john

 

[Pinholemaster]

Get a Leica with a 35 or 50 Summilux.

Fuji's Neopan 1600 rated at 800 is great for low light shooting.

 

[jd callow]

roll film holder and a delta or neopan... John's flash idea

 

[athanasius80]

Well if I could get a Kalart flash within one day I'd go for it. Keep the ideas coming!

 

[fschifano]

I did this once with a Crown Graphic, not too dissimilar from your Burke and James camera, and I don't think you'll be able to pull this off without a flash. I'm fortunate that the shutter on mine is equipped with X sync, making it possible to use an electronic flash. Perhaps your is as well? Went out and got a flash bracket and a sync cord for my Vivitar 285 HV and blasted away at f/8 or f/11. HP5+, rated at 800 and developed in Diafine, was my ammunition of choice. Results were good, better in fact, than I'd expected. A good time was had by all and the photos were well received.

 

[Nick Zentena]

Rent/borrow a Metz 45 or 60. If the lens can handle X sync you're fine. Screw the Metz into the tripod mount and use the flash like a grip.