My first Large format camera!!??

Shawn Dougherty · Feb 4, 2014

Roger Cole said:
I'd repeat "why not?" in the case of having back movements and front swing. Yes, I know why you want it - but more often than not I prefer back tilt FOR the size "distortion." If not, I turn the camera sideways. The only lack would be if you need both swing and tilt, as you say.

I think we agree, except that you don't like back tilt as much as I do (I can count on, well, the fingers of one finger the number of times I've used front swing as tilt rather than just using back tilt) and I don't object to turning my camera sideways. YMMV of course.

Because I often times don't like the distortion created by back movements, I don't like view cameras on their sides and I do use swing with front tilt...

Sceptic · Feb 4, 2014

One thing I've come to notice is that everyone has a different opinion- based on various factors- likes/dislikes. I assume it will be difficult for me to come to any conclusion at all without starting to shoot in the format. I can read all I want- but experience is a whole other level. I will probably have to go through a couple of cameras.

At the moment I am leaning towards the crown graphic as it seems like the most affordable option to start. For around $300-$400 I will have the camera/lens, film holders needed to start shooting. I would have liked the horseman based on the light weight and wide angle, but this price is high- and I assume I can find these options in another camera regardless.

Would anyone have other suggestions instead of the crown graphic- one that is around its price range?

Shawn Dougherty · Feb 4, 2014

Movements are ONE of the main reasons to use a view camera. The Crown has very little in the way of usable movements... Unless you don't desire to use movements I would look to something else. (The Crown was my first view camera... I didn't have it long =)

You could try a Super Speed Graphic... kind of like a suped up Crown.
http://www.graflex.org/speed-graphic/super-graphic.html

Anyway, best of luck!
Shawn

Sirius Glass · Feb 4, 2014

Shawn Dougherty said:
I would consider that more carefully, it may or may not work for you depending on your needs. For me and many other view camera workers the Crown would not be sufficient.

The Crown Graphic does not have front tilt in the forward direction. For me and the way I work front tilt (forward) is by far the most important movement on a field/view camera. I would not use one without it.

http://www.largeformatphotography.info/cameras/pacemaker/

Good luck with whatever you end up buying!

First learn to shoot LF, then if you find a need or desire for tilts you can sell the Crown Graphic for at least what you paid for it, keep the lenses and buy another camera.

Shawn Dougherty · Feb 4, 2014

Sirius Glass said:
First learn to shoot LF, then if you find a need or desire for tilts you can sell the Crown Graphic for at least what you paid for it, keep the lenses and buy another camera.

Buying a view camera without real movements just seems silly to me... But of course I did just that years ago.

Sceptic said:
One thing I've come to notice is that everyone has a different opinion- based on various factors- likes/dislikes.

And that, of course, is solid gold.

Roger Cole · Feb 5, 2014

You can get a monorail for the price of that Crown, if that would work for you. You sacrifice portability though.

Shawn Dougherty · Feb 5, 2014

Roger Cole said:
You can get a monorail for the price of that Crown, if that would work for you. You sacrifice portability though.

In retrospect that is what I wish I would have bought first... they go for a song and really allow you to figure out what your personal needs are in terms of movements.

Terry Christian · Feb 5, 2014

Sceptic, just lay the negative, emulsion side up (shiny side down) on the glass, within the 120 scanning area, and scan. Move it over and scan again, so you've scanned the entire negative in two passes. Now use the Automate|Photomerge command to stitch them together.

That's all I can really say on this forum, but it should be enough.

The Crown is really no substitute for a true view camera like a monorail or field camera, but it does have a small bit of movement and works well even if the rangefinder is busted like mine.

Sceptic · Feb 5, 2014

Thanks Terry! Thanks everyone! I will take all of your advice and suggestions and try to make the best choice for myself this weekend. Hope to post pictures soon!

My first Large format camera!!??

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