New Camera and a few questions

Well after a few months of waiting, I am the proud owner of an 8x10 camera.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Improved-Empire...ryZ15248QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I thought it was a pretty good deal, hopefully I was right. But now I have a couple of questions.

First, I know it comes with a few film holders, but am I right in assuming that modern film holders should work with it as well? I'm most likely going to be buying 3 or 4 more at some point soon so I just wanted to make sure.

Second, and more importantly I now need a lens, and hopefully one thats pretty cheap. I'm looking for a 300mm, and have read that the commercial ektars are a pretty good option, but is there anything else? Being a student, this camera was a budget stretch as it is so the more I can save on the lens the better, as long as its decent.

Thanks in advance everyone, and I can't wait to get it ready and out shooting!

-Dan

Those look like modern holders in the ad.

If you go a little wider plenty of say 210 to 240mm lenses that aren't that expensive and not huge in terms of size.

1) Film holder issue: It is pretty easy to check the "new" vs. "old" film holder issue. If the back comes off, remove it and from the inside (ie the side of the ground glass that will face the lens), check the depth from the face of the wood to the ground glass. Easy way is to use a straight edge lying corner to corner across the back then take an unsharpened pencil or other small cylinder and check the depth a few places along the straight edge. Make a mark on the pencil for reference. Then insert a film holder, remove the dark slide and check again. Granted, if everything is perfect, you will be a hair lower to the holder's septum since the film isn't in place. But if you are noticeably different in depth, PROBLEM. You will need to figure out how to shim the glass or holder.

2) Lens issue : lots of relatively inexpensive barrel lenses go by every day on eBay. With slow film and if you have a small apeture, your exposure will be in seconds anyway. Lens cap or a hat becomes your shutter. In the mean time you can make a lens board to hold a pinhole and experiment with that. You won't be able to see much (if at all) on the ground glass but you can use the camera. A good check for light leaks in the back and bellows too.

Third thing, while you are fooling around, consider using a piece of 8x10 photo paper (trim it a little bit to fit the holder) instead of film. Much cheaper and you can practice loading, unloading and processing your "film" with a safelight. Best guess for the average piece of RC VC paper would be an ISO of 5 to 8.

Nick Zentena said:

If you go a little wider plenty of say 210 to 240mm lenses that aren't that expensive and not huge in terms of size.

Click to expand...

If you go for shorter lenses, you will have to know the actual coverage of the lens - which is a result of the design of the lens.

Tessar-type 240mm lenses will NOT cover 8x10" at infinity, SOME Plasmat-type 210mm lenses will.

I recommend you stick to 300mm for the first lens.

Without the rear rail, you're going to be limited in terms of focal length. A 300mm lens should be OK, but I wouldn't go much beyond that to start. Do you know how much usable bellows extension you actually have?

As far as shorter lenses go, I've tried them with 4x5 and could never get used to them, I always kept coming back to a 150, and the same went for longer lenses, so I just figured I would have the same problem in 8x10, hence the 300.

I believe theres about 19 inches of bellows extension. Like I said, I have never had the need for a long lens and it is very very rare that I go in close and need much in the way of bellows so I wasn't too worried about that, although maybe I should have been? If it becomes a problem would it be possible to find a rear extension? I assume they're pretty rare.

I was leaning towards a barrel lens, and will most likely go with one if I can't find the money for something else.

RW thank you for the film holder information, I'll do that when I get the camera.

Regarding film holders. Some older cameras do not have the depression for the LIP of a modern film holder. That is the raised ridge on the holder, that needs a corresponding depression in the back.

Nice camera.

Another way to tame the cost beast is to get/make a reducing back to 5x7 or 4x5 and get a cheaper, shorter lens to match the format. This will reduce your initial cost and your film cost while you learn to use the camera and while you save for the 300mm. A good place for used lensed is KEH Photography (Google them). Their 'bgn' grade (bargain) is very good (at least in my experience - maybe others can offer their opinions on this).

Have fun!