So, I just got a LF...

[Dorothy Blum Cooper]

...now what?!!? I've been wanting to do this for years!!! I finally acquired an 8x10 and am SO excited about it. I have never worked with a camera this large, nor this old, so this is a first for me (there's a first time for everything, right?)

Over these past few years, I've chosen to take on less client work and focus more on my photography (which I'm thrilled to be doing, when time permits!). The fact that this camera is as old as it is, makes it more of a challenge, but I feel (rather, hope) it will allow me to achieve the 'look' I so love with these older cameras.

Here are the specs: 8x10 E and H.T. Anthony View Camera. I'm guessing from the 1880's (at least that's what the seller said they assumed). I'll be picking the camera up tomorrow, so I'll know alot more then.

The wood & finish are in beautiful shape (bad photos to see detail). Front section glides nicely on tracks. Nice lens in a unicum(?) shutter. However, the bellows are badly frayed on the corners, so that will most likely be my first undertaking.

Why a camera this old? It's just what I wanted...figured I have to start somewhere and this just seemed right (price was right too!).

If only one of you guys were down here...anyone near the New Orleans area that wants to help me figure this one out? Seriously...if anyone has any insight on this camera (I've already googled it) let me know. As always, input, thoughts and info are greatly appreciated!!!!

Links to images of camera:

Camera pic 1

Camera pic 2

Camera pic 3

Camera pic 4

 

[juan]

Welcome to 8x10. I moved up a couple of years ago and I've been delighted. The old cameras seem to have a personality each to themselves that becomes part of your extended creativity.
juan

 

[mmmichel]

I love that you used "Blue in Green" for your "Before the Storm" presentation. "Kind of Blue" is by far my favorite Miles album, and possibly also my overall favorite.

 

[jimgalli]

Congrats! Looks like the basics are there. What exactly do you see yourself shooting with the 8X10. ie. what type of pictures will you try to make with it. Portraits? Still lifes? Scenics? I would try some things with it completely as is. I've bought some goop at Walmart before that's some kind of black rubberized goo for ? can't remember but it works pretty good for sealing up pin holes on ancient bellows. That and the Morley Baer wrap (wrap your dark cloth around your leaky bellows for the exposure) can get a lot of pictures made with iffy old cameras. The other thing is the old Bausch & Lomb shutter will be finicky at best. Think about pics that will require long exposures to start with. Also if you hold that shutter up and look at the sun through the closed blades you'll notice a lot of red light leaking through whatever that stuff was they made the blades out of. That didn't matter with antique films that only see blue light but it can fog your modern film. Consider Freestyles APHS film. ASA 3 and only sees blue light. Just ways to get it on line and working for you without a complete expensive restoration. You can accomplish a lot with it just as it is. BTW the APHS is awesome for fiddling with platinum / palladium printing. You can wipe out the previous 100 years real quick with the combination proposed.

 

[Dorothy Blum Cooper]

I love that you used "Blue in Green" for your "Before the Storm" presentation.

Glad you enjoyed it. Our response to the images the media played out repeatedly post Hurricane Katrina. Still a beta version, but sharing just the same.

jimgalli, thanks so very much for the info on the older camera. Definitely want to work with it 'as is' to see what we're getting initially. I think I'll gain more insight at that point rather than assuming something may or may not work. I'll definitely give the film that you recommended a try as well. Sure appreciate you taking time to respond. Thanks!!

Oh and Juan, thanks! I'm looking forward to 'seeing' the world through larger glasses

 

[colrehogan]

Do you have access to the book Using the View Camera by Steve Simmons? There is another one by Jim Stone whose title escapes me at the moment; I'll probably remember it when I walk into the lab.

I've been shooting 8x10 for a couple of years, but moreso in the last year than anything else. It's a blast! There are several LFer's on this forum in Houston, but I don't recall of any in New Orleans.

 

[photomc]

Hello Dorothy, Congratulations!!! Have been working with a Korona 8x10 of about the same vintage, maybe around 1900's...it has a lens of unkown branding in a Wollensak Regno shutter. But the darn thing makes some nice negatives. Couple of things I have learned...the old wood cut film holders leaked like crazy. Solved that problem by picking up a couple of newer ones. To test the film holders, load your favorite printing paper (8x10 of course) like you would film and then with the darkslide intact, just carry it around like it would be with film in it. Maybe leave it in a bright, sunny area then take it into the darkroom to process. Just remove in the same conditions you would use for film, but process in paper developer, stop and fix. If you have any light leaks they will show up. BTW, if the leak is small or the fogging is not exterme you may need to wait until the paper is dry before it shows up.

You can do the same process, but place the holder into the camera like you are going to expose the film...just don't expose, but remove the darkslide to check for light leaks in camera. Jim's advice about using the darkcloth to cover the belows during the exposure is dead on, have seen a few photographers do that.

Also, it is real easy to convert the beast from a 8x10 to 4x10 by making a splitter board for the back, if you are interested let me know, just made one for mine weekend before last.

How do you plan to develop your negatives? I have better luck with drum processing than tray, but others have very good luck with DBI (development by inspection). There are A LOT of 8x10 and larger shooters here, so you will get all the help in the world...These GUYS/GALS are Great!!

Good luck, keep us posted and let us see some of the new work when you get something. I am still in the learning process right now, but it sure is fun, and there is nothing quite like looking at that 8x10 negative...except maybe looking seeing the 8x10 pld prints (or VanDyke or etc) you get from it.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Can't wait to see what you do with it. Welcome to the club!

 

[luvmydogs]

Dorothy,

Welcome! I'm new to LF myself as well, and have also chosen to jump right into 8x10. I look forward to learning the ropes with you! (My camera is on its way and should get to me early next week!!)

 

[photomc]

Would be interesting to see how many of us have a new (to us anyhow) 8x10. Looks like Dave (Satinsnow) is going to be busy making 8x10 ground glass for a while

 

[MattCarey]

Would be interesting to see how many of us have a new (to us anyhow) 8x10. Looks like Dave (Satinsnow) is going to be busy making 8x10 ground glass for a while

I got a new/old 8x10/5x7 a month or so back. Just got the 5x7 glass from Dave.

Matt

 

[Ole]

I've still got this rebuilding project...
It will be a Gandolfi Traditional 8x10" when assembled. This winter, I hope.

In the meantime I have to make do with an antique 18x24cm plate camera, and a few others in other sizes...

 

[John Kasaian]

Welcome to 8x10! Just wait until you pull that first big negative out of the soup!

 

[juan]

The goop Jim refers to is probably liquid electrical tape - I got some at Ace Hardware - probably WalMart and other similar stores would have it. Get the black - it seems more opaque to my eye. Dab it on the holes and leave the camera bellows somewhat extended long enough for it to dry. It's flexible when dry.
juan

 

[rbarker]

Welcome to the wonderful world of 8x10, Dorothy.

In addition to the other books recommended, Kodak publishes a paperback booklet on large format that I found helpful, too. A good book or two, and posting questions here should get you going.

 

[Changeling1]

That's a beautiful camera. You'll need a very stout tripod for it. There's a Zone VI "Standard" being auctioned on ebay at http://cgi.ebay.com/Zone-VI-Standar...ryZ30095QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

You could mount a huge camera on this tripod!