What Equipment Are You Using?

photobackpacker · Apr 5, 2005

I am new to APUG and am so pleased to find this great forum.

Just out of curiosity, what LF camera(s) are you folks using (format and make?) What lenses do you shoot with and what kind of shooting (studio, field, other) do you do with that equipment?

I guess I better narrow my question. For 4x5, 5x7 and 8x10, what lenses do you most routinely use?

jimgalli · Apr 5, 2005

Welcome! As to your question (s). The folks here could fill volumes. Let's see, I have Sanderson 3X4, Wisner 4X5, Deardorff 5X7, Deardorff 8X10, Century full plate (6.5X8.5) and 11X14, Eastman 7X11 / 8X10, Folmer & Schwing 7X17, Gundlach 8X20 & 12X20. Oh and some kind of old India 6X15" plate camera. And an Al Vista 5X12, and a couple of Cirkut's. That about covers the cameras. Now lenses, Sean, how's your bandwidth?

photobackpacker · Apr 5, 2005

jimgalli said:
Welcome! As to your question (s). The folks here could fill volumes. Let's see, I have Sanderson 3X4, Wisner 4X5, Deardorff 5X7, Deardorff 8X10, Century full plate (6.5X8.5) and 11X14, Eastman 7X11 / 8X10, Folmer & Schwing 7X17, Gundlach 8X20 & 12X20. Oh and some kind of old India 6X15" plate camera. And an Al Vista 5X12, and a couple of Cirkut's. That about covers the cameras. Now lenses, Sean, how's your bandwidth?

Wow. In your case, maybe I should ask, which camera and lenses do you use "routinely?"

Ole · Apr 5, 2005

From the other side on the Atlantic, I'll give all my sizes in metric:

Voigtländer VAG 6 1/2 x9, Avus 9x12, Bergheil 9x12,
Rodenstock plate camera 9x12,
Linhof Color 9x12 (AKA 4x5"),
Gandolfi Traditional 13x18 (or 5x7"),
Nameless camera, 18x24.

That's all at the moment, but I can see a ULF looming on the horizon

jimgalli · Apr 5, 2005

blaughn said:
Wow. In your case, maybe I should ask, which camera and lenses do you use "routinely?"

The 'dorff 810 is the unequivocal favorite and never goes out of style. Sort of like the "first wife" in a good mormon home. The 717 is seeing a lot of use just now also as I got a great deal on some excellent film.

Digidurst · Apr 5, 2005

Hi Bruce and welcome to APUG! I am using a Horseman LE with the standard bellows and Fuji 210 lens. I shoot mostly in the studio but have been preparing to take the beast out in the wild for the first time (using a very large backpack). Yeah, yeah, yeah I know... it's gonna be heavy but I don't want a folder so there ya go Accessories include a dark cloth, +3 reading glasses (instead of a loupe - I like having my hands free), regular film holders and a Polaroid 545 film holder. I am thinking of getting a roll film holder too.

I will add more lenses as my experience grows; I chose the 210 as it seems to be the standard for studio work and since I am complete newbie to 4x5 I didn't want to overwhelm myself just starting out.

I take it you are considering getting into LF? What cameras are catching your fancy so far? What type of shooting will you be doing? Are you thinking of doing B&W, color, or both?

Bob F. · Apr 5, 2005

Ole said:
From the other side on the Atlantic, I'll give all my sizes in metric:
<snip>)

And being from the UK, a mixture of imperial and metric (I'm sure we will make up our minds someday e.g. you can only buy petrol in litres but car mileage is quoted in miles per gallon)...

Shen Hao 4x5"
Arca Swiss monorail 'B' 4x5"
Schneider SA f8 90mm
Rodenstock Sironar N 180mm
Schneider Tele-Xenar 360mm

Mainly landscape with the Shen and some table-top with the Arca. Strictly an amateur, so don't take what I use as any kind of guide!

Cheers, Bob.

photobackpacker · Apr 5, 2005

I have been doing 4x5 for some time and am now retired. I am shooting a Linhof Master 4x5 and have an array of lenses. (Probably more than I need.) The reason for my question is there are people in the forum who have been shooting for a long time and I find their insight helpful as I refine my field kit.

Ole · Apr 5, 2005

blaughn said:
I guess I better narrow my question. For 4x5, 5x7 and 8x10, what lenses do you most routinely use?

I'll try this one too...

4x5" (and similar): 150/4.5 Heliar, 150/4.5 APO-Lanthar, 90/8 Super Angulon, 180/4.5 Xenar, 210/4.5 Xenar, 360/5.5 Tele-Xenar.

13x18 (and 5x7"): 90/8 SA (as above), 121/8 SA, 165/6.8 Angulon, 210/4.5 Xenar, 240/5.6 Symmar, 360/5.5 Tele-Xenar.

18x24cm: 165 Angulon and 240 Symmar.

Graeme Hird · Apr 5, 2005

Although equipment is not so important to get the end result, in the interests of helping a newbie get a workable kit, I'll list my stuff:

Tachihara 5x4 field camera
Schneider SA 75/8
Fujinon 90/8 SW
Schneider Xenar 150/5.6
Rodenstock 210/5.6
Cooke Anistigmat 10.5/6 Barrel lens (rarely used)
Nikkor APO 305/9 Barrel lens (just acquired)
Gossen Starlite meter
Lee soft and hard ND Grad sets
Lee wide angle hood
Benbo Trekker tripod with ball head
Surveyor's tripod (used rarely)
Linhof Zoom Viewfinder
15x film holders (mostly loaded with Velvia 50)
Modified pack to carry all this sh!t

All of it gets used most times I'm out unless otherwise indicated.

(I could make most of my images with just the camera, the 90mm or 150mm lens, tripod, meter & 2x holders - but don't tell my wife that!)

Don't get too hung up on equipment. Your vision will be the single biggest factor in the success of your photographs.

Cheers.

bobfowler · Apr 5, 2005

Welcome aboard!

I use a mix of stuff - 35mm Nikon, Bronica 6X6 and a lot of large format. The current large format arsenal has 2 Toyo 4X5 monorails (a D45M and a 45E that has been modified for wide angle work), and a Speed Graphic. The 5X7 weapon of choice is an Eastman #2, and the 8X10 is a Century 4a studio camera (also have a 5X7 back for that one). My lens collection is all over the map: Ilex, Ilex-Calumet, C.P. Goerz, Schneider, Rodenstock, Nikon, Ross, B&L, Wollensak, plus a few others that I can't remember at the moment.

Most used in 4X5 is the Toyo D45M, a great camera for studio or field work.

Most used large format camera... at the moment the 5X7 Eastman, but that is subject to change! (read that as looking for an 8X10 field camera).

arigram · Apr 5, 2005

I use an Holga modified to take 8x10" negatives with an accordeon bellows.

Sorry, I couldn't help it.

(Damn it, I just realised that I broke the 500s messages mark a couple messages ago and didn't get to celebrate it as I planed)

JLMoore3 · Apr 5, 2005

In order of use last month:

Polaroid Pinhole (converted Polaroid Technical camera)
- Lens: Has an adjustable focal length from 75mm to 150mm
- Uses: Studio (macros) & Field
- Film: Polaroid Type 665 Positive/Negative & 669 (for emulsion transfers/lifts)

Zone VI 4x5
- Lens: Caltar-badged Schneider Kreuznach Super Angulon f/8 90mm
- Lens: Technika-badged Schneider Kreuznach Symmar f/5.6 150mm
- Lens: Rodenstock Geronar f/6.8 210mm
- Lens: 70mm Pinhole Sieve
- Uses: Field
- Film: Polaroid Type 55 (laziness factor) & Tri-X

Fuji GW670II
- Lens: Fujinon f/3.5 90mm
- Film: Tri-X
- Uses: Field & Street

When the weather improves (or I stop using it as an excuse) I plan on using my Burke & James "Grover" monorail 8x10
- Lens: Turner-Reich Triple Convertible f/7.0 Ser II
- Lens: Wollensak f/4.5 7 inch
- Lens: Wollensak f/6.3 series II
- Uses: Studio & Field

Project cameras:
I have a couple dozen Polaroid-based technical cameras that I am converting to Pinhole in preparation for World Wide Pinhole Day (April 24th) as well as a dozen 6x9 box cameras that still need pinholes.

I'm also refurbishing a half-dozen Graflex Speed & Crown Graphics. I like using the Speed Graphic for Street & Field shooting mostly because if I drop it or knock over the tripod I'm not as worried like I am with the Zone VI or the B&J.

Jeremy · Apr 5, 2005

Burke & James woodie 5x7
with Fuji 180mm f/5.6, Ilex Paragon 12" f/6.3, beat-to hell-Jim Galli-said-it-would-make-me-famous 135mm, and soon to arrive is a 12" f/4.8 Kodak Portrait Lens.

The 180 gets the pick for 90% of my shots, but I have at least 2 good ones that required the 12" to make.

I also shoot with a Minox 35GT, Afga Pix Panorama, Holga, Rolleicord, Holga, Kodak Hawkeye Brownie, and a Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta B.

Framewise the 35mm Minox 35GT gets the most use because it's always in the pocket, but the most keepers come from the 5x7.

bobfowler · Apr 5, 2005

Graeme Hird said:
<snip>
[*]Nikkor APO 305/9 Barrel lens (just acquired)
<snip>

Greame, be careful... Those 305 APO Nikkors are so sharp, you should handle it only while wearing Kevlar gloves!

Needless to say, I love mine...

matt miller · Apr 5, 2005

I use an 8x10 Korona with a 12" Dagor, both being at least 80 years old. I chose this equipment because it's what I could afford at the time. When I get some money together I'm going to order a 7x17 from Jim Chinn. It'll be awhile though.

Joe Symchyshyn · Apr 5, 2005

I use,

Wisner 4x5 Technical Field
Fuji 120 SW
Schneider 210 Apo-Symmar

And all the other misc stuff that goes along with it... Polaroid, bellows shade, meter etc...

My next lens will likely be a Fuji 300c. (Wish list)

Welcome to APUG!

joe

Nick Zentena · Apr 5, 2005

Shen Hao 5x7 plus the 4x5 back is the main camera. I've added an Ansco Universal 8x10. Plus I've got a few other cameras I bought while trying to figure out what I really wanted. Still haven't figured that out :rolleyes:

Lenses? 150mm G-claron. 240mm G-claron and now I've added a Fuji 210mm W. Sooner or later I'll add a longer and a shorter lenses. Using three formats makes my few lenses work harder.

colrehogan · Apr 5, 2005

In large format I have:
Folding Pocket Kodak model 3A (yes, I actually have film for it)
Toyo 45 AII and lenses for it:
Nikkor 90 mm f/4.5 SW
Schneider APO 150 mm
Kodak 203 mm f/7.7 (most used lens on this camera at the moment)
Schneider 210 mm convertible

Ansco 8x10
Fujinon-C 300 f/8.5
159 mm f/9.5 Wollensak
240 mm G-Claron (most used at the moment)
210 mm G-Claron
420 mm Repro-Claron (though this one is pretty much in a tie for most used at the moment).

Daniel Grenier · Apr 5, 2005

Here's what I use (field work only)

8x10 Wista field camera
165 Super Angulon
240 Sironar
360 Apo Ronar
14" Commercial Ektar
480 Apo Ronar
Ries, Manfrotto and Zone VI tripods (2 too many... I know)
A Ford Explorer Sport Trac to haul it all.

It's a good setup but in the near future, I am looking at acquiring an 8x10 camera with front shift, a 250 Wide Field Ektar and a 600mm/24" lens.

bennoj · Apr 5, 2005

Be warned, I'm a camera junkie, so we won't even mention the 35mm & medium format insanity....

9x12cm: Kodak Recomar 33 (Xenar lens), Voigtlaender Avus (Skopar lens)
10x15cm: ICA Trix 311 (Icar lens)
4x5: Calumet CC-400 monorail, Shen-Hao HZX45-IIA, Speed Graphic (Anniversary), Crown Graphic (Pacemaker), Leonardo Pinhole Wide Angle camera
5x7: Kodak 33a (2 - one junker for parts), Burke & James Field (nicely restored and painted black), Seneca Model 8 (Seneca Triple-Convertible lens), Seneca Model 9 (Cant' recall what lens is on this one), 4x5 backs for both the Kodaks and the B&J
8x10: Burke & James Field (2 - one also nicely restored in black, the other a battleship grey junker for parts), 4x5 back as well.

Lenses (max apertures where I can recall them offhand):
Mounted for 4x5: 35mm Aetna Macro (similar to Luminar), 75mm f/4.5 Tominon (Polaroid Macro lens), 75 mm f/8 Super Angulon, 90 mm Wollensack, 100 mm Wide Field Ektar (on of my faves), 135 mm f/4.5 Xenar, 150 mm f/4.5 (5.6?) Xenar, 135 mm Optar, 210mm f/5.6 Symmar-S, Tele-Arton (can't recall if it's a 270 or a 360 offhand).
Mounted for 5x7: 230(?) Wollensack, I'm hazy on whether there's another that I'm not remembering. I haven't shot 5x7 in a few years. Also there's a 240mm Goerz Berlin Dagor that I haven't decided whether to mount for 5x7 or 8x10.
Mounted for 8x10: Wollensack Extreme Wide Angle (About 165mm), 12" Ilex, 300mm Red Dot Artar (barrell lens in an iris mount with a T-I front-mount shutter), 14" Commercial Ektar, 21" Ilex.

God knows there's probably a few things I've left out....

removed account4 · Apr 5, 2005

for 4x5 i have a speed graphic, rb series d ( graflex ) and a toyo 45cx
for 5x7 i have a szabad ( with a toho 4x5 reducing film holder )
for 8x10 i have a szabad ( with 5x7 & 8x10 reducing backs )

lenses - 65mm SA;
90mm SA;
127 Tominon;
135 Xenar;
150 Symmetrigon
210/370 Symar;
10 Tele Optar;
Wollensak Veritar 14"
15 Tele Optar;
Wollensak Vitax 14";
Wollensak Verito 14;
Wollensak Veritar 14";
Wollensak Velostigmat 13-20-25;
Darlot Leverstop;
Morrision 6x8

roteague · Apr 5, 2005

I'm a very simple type of guy:

Cameras: Toyo 45AII, Omega 45D, Nikon N80
Lenses LF: Nikkor 90mm F8, Schneider 135mm F5.6, Rodenstock 210mm F6.8
Lenses 35mm: Sigma 17-35, Nikon 28-200, Sigma 105 2.8 Macro.

I find this is all I really need, although I do want to replace the 90 with either the Schneider Super Symmar XL 80 or 110, and I may replace the Rodenstock with the equivalent Schneider. I also prefer newer model lenses.

Claire Senft · Apr 5, 2005

35mm worker

I use none of the above. Welcome. Most likely none of those that follow.

mjs · Apr 5, 2005

I'm a basic sort of guy:

Wisner 4x5 Technical Field
Burke & James wooden field camera 5x7

Kodak Ektar 127mm lens (4x5 only)
Fuji 180mm CM-W
Caltar IIN (Rodenstock) 240mm
14" Red Dot Artar

Looking for a dirt cheap 8x10, then my journey to the dark slide will be complete...

mjs

What Equipment Are You Using?

photobackpacker

Advertiser

jimgalli

photobackpacker

Advertiser

Ole

Moderator

jimgalli

Digidurst

Bob F.

photobackpacker

Advertiser

Ole

Moderator

Graeme Hird

bobfowler

arigram

JLMoore3

Jeremy

bobfowler

matt miller

Joe Symchyshyn

Nick Zentena

colrehogan

Daniel Grenier

bennoj

removed account4

roteague

Claire Senft

mjs

What Equipment Are You Using?

Advertiser

Advertiser

Moderator

Advertiser

Moderator

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency