Moving from 35mm to MF - Composition & Focus with WLF

about to extinct

D
about to extinct

  • 0
  • 0
  • 30
Fantasyland!

D
Fantasyland!

  • 9
  • 2
  • 102
perfect cirkel

D
perfect cirkel

  • 2
  • 1
  • 121
Thomas J Walls cafe.

A
Thomas J Walls cafe.

  • 4
  • 6
  • 286

Recent Classifieds

Forum statistics

Threads
198,745
Messages
2,780,278
Members
99,693
Latest member
lachanalia
Recent bookmarks
0

Barry06GT

Member
Joined
Oct 25, 2009
Messages
45
Location
Portland, Or
Format
Medium Format
Ugh! - just watching Annie Leibovitz standing on one of those eagle heads with 6 lbs of MF camera hanging around her neck while shooting a male model was enough to give me a serious case of vertigo.:tongue:
.
.
So which was the better photograph: the photograph Annie Leibovitz took, or the photograph Leibovitz's assistant took of her on the eagle head?
.
 

lxdude

Member
Joined
Apr 8, 2009
Messages
7,094
Location
Redlands, So
Format
Multi Format
.
With a prism finder, it is just like any other SLR.

Heck, my Bronica ETRS with a 80mm lens, is smaller than my D200 with the 18-200 VR lens.
.

80mm?
 

removed-user-1

Learning to compose and focus with a WLF for the MF newbie.

When I first used medium format, it was the WLF on the Yashica 635, and even though it was dimmer than I was used to, I found composition much easier. You will get used to the left-right reversal fairly quickly if you use the camera often. Action will be a little difficult at first but it can be done.

Looking down into the 7x7cm ground glass screen of my RB67 is nothing like using the tiny viewfinder of a 35mm or DSLR camera. Working with a tripod at full height gets a little tricky, so bring a small stepladder (seriously) if you really expect to do high-angle work.

The RB has a Revolving Back, so you only turn the back, not the camera and both vertical and horizontal images are upright. I had an old-model prism for my RB but it was HUGE and added enough weight to the camera that I rarely used it (sort of defeats the purpose). I say go for the waist-level finder, it's really an eye opener.
 
OP
OP

lilmsmaggie

Member
Joined
Mar 5, 2009
Messages
338
Format
Multi Format
.
.
So which was the better photograph: the photograph Annie Leibovitz took, or the photograph Leibovitz's assistant took of her on the eagle head?
.

By that time,everyone in class including me were too busy squirming, and squealing to notice. I think I closed my eyes at that point.
 

EricO

Member
Joined
May 17, 2007
Messages
87
Location
NE Ohio
Format
Multi Format
The first time I used a borrowed RB67 I forgot to lift the magnifier on the WLF. I thought, "man it's so difficult to focus. Consequently, my photos came out soft (out of focus) but I was thrilled to have used a MF camera. It wasn't until I purchased my own (RZ67) that I realised that there's a magnifier. I hadn't had any problems composing or focusing since.
 

Sirius Glass

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 18, 2007
Messages
50,356
Location
Southern California
Format
Multi Format
However, you may be in for some surprises when you look at your negs for the first few rolls! "Say...I thought that was on the left side of the picture...."

Been there; done that.

Steve
 
Photrio.com contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.
To read our full affiliate disclosure statement please click Here.

PHOTRIO PARTNERS EQUALLY FUNDING OUR COMMUNITY:



Ilford ADOX Freestyle Photographic Stearman Press Weldon Color Lab Blue Moon Camera & Machine
Top Bottom