Today I went large format...now what?

david b · Aug 19, 2006

I purchased a Shen-Hao 4x5 today from a guy in town.

No lens, no lens board.

I already have a few film holders.

Now what?

Where do I begin?

Dave Parker · Aug 19, 2006

you start by hoping your pocket book holds out!

Welcome to the club, you will need to figure out which lens you want to work with and pick up a lensboard, fortunately the shens use the linhof style board, and they are pretty simple to find, then figure your film needs out, I would start with some inexpensive film to play with, in addition to practice loading the holders.

Have fun.

Dave

Nick Zentena · Aug 19, 2006

You need a lens and lensboard at least.

A dark cloth. Light meter. Both would be nice.

I'm guessing you have a tripod.

Once you've got the lens start focussing on things. Learn to make all the moves from under the dark cloth.

Then surf over to http://www.butzi.net/articles/filmload.htm and learn how to load those film holder.

Then load the loaders and shoot some film.

david b · Aug 19, 2006

I should say that I already know how to load film.

And I have a tripod and a pentax digital meter.

I plan on using FP4+ and HP5+ but I noticed at freestyle they have some super cheap film. I think it was Arista.Edu Ultra. Who makes that stuff?

BrianShaw · Aug 19, 2006

Oh my goodness.... I don't know which would be more difficult to endure: having a LF camera without a lens, or having a LF lens without the camera. You MUST get a lens (and lensboard). Like others have said, I assume you have a tripod. You can "fake" a dark cloth by using a large towel, small blanket, etc. You can even "fake" a meter by using a SLR or even rely on "sunny-16". But you can't "fake" a lens. Get a lens and some film ASAP and start shooting. Have fun!

Edit: I stopped to do a chore while typing. Glad to hear that you already have a tripod and meter.

Dave Parker · Aug 19, 2006

David,

If you can do c41 B&W, I have quite a bit of expired XP2 that I would sell cheap..

Dave

Markok765 · Aug 19, 2006

Support Dave And Buy a Satin Snow Groundglass!

Paul Sorensen · Aug 19, 2006

Markok765 said:
Support Dave And Buy a Satin Snow Groundglass!

Wow, this might be the best advice I have heard from our young friend.

Bob F. · Aug 19, 2006

Congrats on the purchase, I've had my Shen for a bit over 2 years now and am well pleased with it. Sounds like you have already found www.largeformatphotography.info, but if not, go there - everything known under the sun about LF!

For lenses, a rough rule is that the focal length equivalent is 3x a 35mm lens and 2x a 6x6mm lens. So if you find you favour a 28mm lens on your 35mm camera then a 90mm lens on a 4x5 gives about the same angle of view - it's not the same as the different film aspect ratios confuse things. Likewise, an 80mm lens on a 6x6 camera is about the same as a 150mm lens on a 4x5 camera. As already said, the Linhof style lensboards that fit the Shen are widely available. You need the hole in the board to be the correct size for the lens's shutter so wait until you know what lens you want before buying a board for it.

You need some method to develop the film... I've always used a Jobo CPE2 and 25xx series reels so can't help much there (unless you have the same). Dish/tray processing is a black art I have never attempted to learn.

Focusing cloth, more film holders, loupe, shutter release cable, more film holders, pocket spirit level (the bubble level in the Shen's back is a nice decorative touch, but...), ground glass protector, more film holders, Polaroid holder (Type-55 is wonderful stuff), lens wrench... did I mention film holders?... Frankly, the list goes on forever .

Have fun! Bob.

Tom Hoskinson · Aug 19, 2006

david b said:
I should say that I already know how to load film.

And I have a tripod and a pentax digital meter.

I plan on using FP4+ and HP5+ but I noticed at freestyle they have some super cheap film. I think it was Arista.Edu Ultra. Who makes that stuff?

Go to:

http://www.freestylephoto.biz/sc_prod.php?cat_id=&pid=1000001242

The current version of 4x5 Arista.Edu Ultra sheet film is made in the Czech Republic (and thus is most likely FomaPan)

Check out APUG sponsors BlackJacket and Kevin Saitta for a focusing cloth.

glbeas · Aug 19, 2006

Totally not mentioned is a good hiking pack suitable for the camera kit. I have a Godwin Neo I love as it holds everything I want and then some and is a pretty comfortable pack. The dividers are just about right, I have four lenses, a loupe a Minolta F meter, the camera and cloth with a GG protector and the bottom compartment will hold 16 filmholders or all of my grafmatics and four filmholders. Only part I'd like to make better is finding a better way to tote the tripod. It has lashings on the outside but they are extremely clumsy to use.

Eric Mac · Aug 19, 2006

Lense Shmense

No lense, eh. What you need to do is make a board with a pinhole. A couple hours of messing around and you will experience the power of the darkslide.

Have fun
Eric

doughowk · Aug 19, 2006

I've had a Shen-Hao 4X5 for almost 2 years, & its my primary camera. Usually just carry 2 lenses - 90 & 210 both from eBay which is risky compared to getting them from used lens dealers (KEH or MidWest Photo Exchange). Badger Graphics can be very helpful with the Shen-Haos, ie lensboards.

Tom Hoskinson · Aug 19, 2006

What's a lense? I use a lens.

Scott Peters · Aug 19, 2006

I highly recommend a 180 or 210 lens as a starter. Also, if you go Caltar, you can get a great lens on the cheap, like a Calter II N. Look on ebay, or post a wanted. I ended up with a 180 for m 4 x 5 and it is my most often used lens.

wfwhitaker · Aug 19, 2006

Now what??...

Sell the Shen-Hao, buy an 8x10 because that's what "serious" photographers use. Buy more lenses to support the new format. Seller's remorse leads you to buy another Shen-Hao. At the same time, 8x10 is beginning to look small, so purchase an 11x14. Feeling that bigger is better, it's time to sell the 8x10. Still more lenses needed to support the larger format. Film starting to look expensive, so buy a 5x7. 5x7 is close to 4x5, so sell the Shen-Hao. Besides, tiny 4x5 negatives are for sissies. Bigger prints call, so buy a 14x17 or 16x20. Film prices scare the livin' bejeezus out of you, so buy an 8x10. 11x14 hasn't been earning its keep, so sell it and buy an 8x20 because panoramics just look soooo good. Ad infinitum......

Welcome. Your disease has just begun.

Capocheny · Aug 19, 2006

wfwhitaker said:
Sell the Shen-Hao, buy an 8x10 because that's what "serious" photographers use. Buy more lenses to support the new format. Seller's remorse leads you to buy another Shen-Hao. At the same time, 8x10 is beginning to look small, so purchase an 11x14. Feeling that bigger is better, it's time to sell the 8x10. Still more lenses needed to support the larger format. Film starting to look expensive, so buy a 5x7. 5x7 is close to 4x5, so sell the Shen-Hao. Besides, tiny 4x5 negatives are for sissies. Bigger prints call, so buy a 14x17 or 16x20. Film prices scare the livin' bejeezus out of you, so buy an 8x10. 11x14 hasn't been earning its keep, so sell it and buy an 8x20 because panoramics just look soooo good. Ad infinitum......

Welcome. Your disease has just begun.

LOL... and when you go 8x10 and up, make sure you either hire a Sherpa or buy a donkey!

Above all, have fun!

Cheers

mark · Aug 19, 2006

Get a lens (you are going to a hell of a lot of advice on which one). Choose whether you like wide or not then go fishing. Head for ABQ, and see what camera and darkroom has in their used area. If you can find them open, Photographic Systems has used lenses. DOn't buy from their website. Make sure you see what they are selling you.

Once you have it take the camera out set it up in the front yard and play. Get to know it before you get into the field. WOrk out your frustrations in the yard. Then go have some fun.

BrianShaw · Aug 19, 2006

wfwhitaker said:
Sell the Shen-Hao, buy an 8x10 because that's what "serious" photographers use.

... and grow a beard. Nobody can take a decent LF picture without a beard. Seriously!

phaedrus · Aug 19, 2006

Loupe, boots

Lenses are all well and good as long as you can accurately focus them on something. Getting a good loupe, not neccesarily from photo suppliers, and practising using it is vital.
Oh, and get some good hiking boots if you disagree with Edward Weston. There IS some good subject matter to be found further away from the road than 100 yards.
Christoph

TheFlyingCamera · Aug 19, 2006

Brian- I shaved off my goatee... maybe that's why I'm now experiencing camera anxiety.

The Freestyle Arista.edu Ultra IS Fomapan. I've had it confirmed by their sales staff. I've shot at least a box of it now in 5x7 in the 200 speed... very nice stuff... It bears exposing around ISO 100, and it suffers from mediocre reciprocity for long exposures, but overall a nice film.

colrehogan · Aug 19, 2006

BrianShaw said:
... and grow a beard. Nobody can take a decent LF picture without a beard. Seriously!

No beard here! I have a few decent LF pictures I've taken too.

BrianShaw · Aug 19, 2006

colrehogan said:
No beard here! I have a few decent LF pictures I've taken too.

Diane... you have an exemption from this rule.

Jim Fitzgerald · Aug 19, 2006

david b said:
I purchased a Shen-Hao 4x5 today from a guy in town.

No lens, no lens board.

I already have a few film holders.

Now what?

Where do I begin?

David, welcome to the large format side! The 4x5 is great. You have received some sound advice. YOU WILL eventually go 8x10 and who knows maybe larger. I said when I got my 8x10 that was enough. Now I'm building an 8x20. Now that's enough! Oh boy, right... The fever will take over when you put that neg on the light table. Bigger, bigger, bigger! Prepare. Good luck

Stay Focused.... or Soft Focused!!

Jim

JosBurke · Aug 19, 2006

They're all fibbers----you'll be so disappointed with LF that you'll dump it in no time and go back to that APS format thingy. So shall I send my address now so you'll know where to unload it---I'll even split the shipping !!
Congrats!!! You'll love it-- but be warned--my wife told me that bigger IS better. Now why would she say that???????????

Today I went large format...now what?

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