What would you do with this camera?

[ntenny]

To my surprise and delight, and the horror of my long-suffering wife, I've been lent a Newton Speed-Vue 4x5 camera for the next month. This is one of those cast-metal 4x5s that were fairly popular in the US after the war---I've seen it suggested that part of the reason they sprang up then is all the extra metal-casting capacity from aircraft plants after the war ended.

It's an incredible tank of a camera, probably heavier than my 5x7 Kodak 2-D! I think it was mainly intended for studio use, but I've got the right combination of tripod capacity and stupidity to try to take it out in the field, a little. The guy who's lending it to me says the only price of the loan is a print of something taken with it.

The lens is an Ilex Paragon-Anastigmat in an Ilex #3 shutter, an interesting self-cocking construction which seems to work perfectly---impressive since it's been an unused ornament for probably several decades. It has a spring back, which I assume will take normal modern holders---I can come up with one somewhere.

I haven't shot a lot of large format; mostly Southern Californian landscapes. I guess that's apt for a camera made in Los Angeles. However, I'm inviting brainstorms here: If someone left you with the opportunity to play with a camera of this nature for a month, what would you do?

-NT

 

[Ralph Javins]

Great going, Nathan;

Have fun with it. For me, Point Loma and the Cabrillo National Monument Light House were always favored subjects south of Los Angeles. Torrey Pines also had some interesting trees and cliffs. It is interesting even when the fog comes in over the water and bumps up against the cliffs. Good grief, man, there are lots of things down there to photograph. One month is not long enough. You might need to make him an offer.

 

[largely]

Joshua Tree. It's not too far from SD and full of opportunities.
Might be a little cool this time of year.
Wherever you go, ENJOY.

Larry

 

[Christopher Walrath]

Go for Yosemite. See what YOU can do with it.

 

[rphenning]

portraits

 

[MikeSeb]

I second the portrait idea. Put some color neg in the thing. If they look halfway decent tell your lender you'd like to broker a deal between him and me!

 

[Mike1234]

Female nudes... and don't forget to post the results.

 

[Steve Smith]

To my surprise and delight, and the horror of my long-suffering wife, I've been lent a Newton Speed-Vue 4x5 camera for the next month......................

what would you do?

I think you should take it with you every time you go out anywhere with your wife!


Steve.

 

[brian d]

portraits

of

Female nudes

in the

Southern Californian landscapes

and don't forget to post the results

.

 

[EASmithV]

of

in the


.

That, and try some Gothic botanical photography

 

[Shawn Rahman]

I lived in Southern California for a little while, and never once learned to prefer the landscape there over female nudes.

 

[Jim Jones]

Nathan -- Don't let the Newton discourage you (or your wife). My first view camera was a New-Vue bought in San Diego in the middle 1960s. They are beasts. However, if you are reasonably satisfied with using it as I was with mine, moving up to a better 4x5 will be a delight. If the bellows is light-tight and moderately flexible, the Newton will do almost everything one really needs. If the lens is about 160mm, it won't have enough coverage for much front movements. With a lens of greater coverage, the Newton will be more versatile than your Kodak.