New Large Format User

Dan's45

Member
Joined
May 7, 2005
Messages
90
Location
Tacoma,WA
Format
35mm
Hello Everyone,
I just recently got my first 4x5 large format camera. It is a sinar F1,hence the username...all could think of at the time, other than my name. I look forward to advice from everyone . I live in Washington State, not too far from Mt Rainier and Mt St Helens. Mt Rainier is a place I frequent as often as I can make the time and cannot wait to my first exposure with my new camera. I shoot pretty much only black & white or reversal film. My other camera is a 35mm Nikon F2 Photomic w/ a 50mm,135mm and a 300mm. I look forward to meeting other users of this format and hope to find a club within Washington state to join and learn as much as I can. That is all I can think of right now. Looking forward to hearing from everyone!!
Happy Shooting!!!
Daniel
 

George Papantoniou

Member
Joined
Mar 21, 2005
Messages
984
Location
Athens
Format
Medium Format
Nice move, Daniel. Upgrading from a Nikon to a Sinar is a brave action...

The Sinars are reliable tools for the professional photographer, so it'll surely satisfy your photographic needs. The first view cameraI ever used was a Sinar, although it was a hybrid model with the front part from an F and the rear part of a P. I have loved Sinars ever since (although now I work with a Horseman... :-( well, I'll have to admit the Horseman LX-C is a mean machine...)

Have a nice time shooting and processing LF negs... there's nothing like it...
 

Mongo

Member
Joined
Jan 17, 2004
Messages
960
Location
Pittsburgh,
Format
Multi Format
Congratulations Daniel, and welcome to the dark side ("the dark slide"? )

What lens(es) did you get to start out with?

Good luck with the camera. I'm sure you'll love it. It's a great piece of equipment.
 

David A. Goldfarb

Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Sep 7, 2002
Messages
19,974
Location
Honolulu, HI
Format
Large Format
Welcome to the club. I think the Sinar F1 is kind of like the Nikon F2 Photomic of LF cameras, so it's a good pairing.
 

Mongo

Member
Joined
Jan 17, 2004
Messages
960
Location
Pittsburgh,
Format
Multi Format
Graeme Hird said:
Go LARGE!!!!
Click to expand...
Perhaps we should take bets on when Daniel will start shopping for an 8x10.
 

galyons

Member
Joined
May 27, 2003
Messages
276
Location
San Francisc
Graeme Hird said:
... or when he'll sell the nikon gear ....
Click to expand...

Welcome Daniel,
I bought my F2 new in the early 70's. Every time I think of selling the kit, I get "pre Seller's Remorse" and then I do not sell. You will enjoy your 4x5! But force yourself to occasionally shoot the 35MM. If for no other reason than to remind yourself why LF is so much fun !!

Cheers,
Geary
 

Flotsam

Member
Joined
Sep 30, 2002
Messages
3,221
Location
S.E. New Yor
Keep the Nikon. That view camera is great for static shots but nothing beats 35mm for capturing spontaneity and motion . Both are independently wonderful tools.
You'll find plenty of experienced help here while you adapt to the unique aspect of LF and view camera photography.
 

RAP

Member
Joined
Nov 28, 2002
Messages
476
Format
4x5 Format
All good advice. Sinar F1 is a great camera. I have been using an F for years. They are precise, sturdy, and relatively portable for the field.

By all means, keep the 35mm's. You will find that as you become more experienced with the view camera, you will get a strong feel for how an image looks when the camera is level and there are no converging lines. That will translate to hand held images shot with hand held cameras.

Students who are very serious about photography should start first with a view camera. They may look imtimidating at first but believe me they are not. Just keep it simple. Two or maybe three lenses, choose ONE film/developer combnation, run tests to determin your personal ASA and film deveploment times. Then concentrate on what is important, learning to see.
 

Shmoo

Member
Joined
Nov 21, 2003
Messages
973
Location
Southern Cal
Format
4x5 Format
Ah...and now starts the long slow slide into economic uncertainty...and photographic bliss! The F1 is a great solid camera and you picked a good tool to learn on and keep! All the best!

S
 

msage

Member
Joined
Mar 22, 2003
Messages
436
Location
Washington State
Format
Large Format
Daniel
Good luck, BTW, I use to live in Tacoma. I live on Vashon Island and work in Lakewood. Let me know if you have questions.
Michael
 
OP
OP

Dan's45

Member
Joined
May 7, 2005
Messages
90
Location
Tacoma,WA
Format
35mm
hello again!
keep em coming...your, thoughts that is. I appreciate what I can get. as I learn, learn-by-doing, I also get better. the only intimidating factor to me is working w/ the angles and bellows relation to the changing f/stops. but w/ all fear that subside w/ trial and error they always seem to pass. to answer a few ques, I do not plan on getting rid of the nikon 35mm system I currently have, as far as the lens that came w/ the camera...it is a nikon 135 nikkor-w. I just bought a pack of film yesterday(Kodak 320 Tri-X)and will be working with developing my own negatives to save myself a few bucks and also to remember the feeling I had when doing this back in h.s. I bought a tank and chem. to start w/ and will be looking forward to my 1st exposed negative....be it good or bad(that way I can look at it learn from it as to NOT do the next time around)! anyway look forward to hearing from ya'll!!!
Happy shooting!
Daniel
 
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