Who here shoots 8x10 LF anyway?

Daniel Grenier · Dec 17, 2004

OK, yet another survey!

I know there are a number of APUGers who primarily shoot 8x10 besides myself. I'm just in a nosy mood today and want to see who else here is crazy enough to spend that kind of cash, logging that kind of weight to obtain the "ultimate" print - an 8x10 contact print.

I went from 35mm Nikon stuff 20 odd years ago and sold every last bit of it to jump straight to 8x10. Never regretted it. 35mm was useless to me, 4x5 felt way too small and enlargements were not an option. OTOH, 11x14 was just too heavy/cumbersome so 8x10 fit the bill perfectly. To this day, I have no other camera other than the 8x10 and have no plans for any other outfit any time soon.

And what's your excuse?

George Losse · Dec 17, 2004

Daniel,

I shoot 8x10 as my main format. The 8x20 is a close second, but that is gaining when it comes to usage.

I have an 11x14. But like you said, I also found that the extra effort working with it did not justify its use over the smaller 8x10. I was thinking about doing a new series of images with it this Winter. I like the size of the 11x14 prints.

I do shoot some smaller format 4x5 and 5x7, mostly with a reducing back on the 8x10. They can be fun in the studio. I like the way a smaller contact print works for some subjects.

Francesco · Dec 17, 2004

I sold all my non 8x10 gear right after I bought my 8x10 in 1996. Been working only with 8x10 ever since, and exclusively contact printing since Sept 2003. Moving larger next year.

David A. Goldfarb · Dec 17, 2004

I'm always bouncing around between formats, depending on what I'm photographing, but I do consider 8x10" to be my preferred format.

matt miller · Dec 17, 2004

I'm an 8x10 user. I love the large neg & contact printing. Some day, when funds allow, I will get a bigger camera & try my hand at pt/pd. Aside from the Holga, the 8x10 is the only film camera that I currently own, or need.

Mongo · Dec 17, 2004

I've been shooting primarily 8x10 this year. Mostly I use an old Calumet Green Monster, but occasionally I pull out a Cambo monorail if I'm working indoors.

So far I've been contact printing on Azo and getting the most amazing results I've ever seen. I'm very happy with my work, but as always there are more frontiers to conquer and I'm planning on some changes next year.

I'm currently building a 4x5 enlarger out of an old copy stand and a Pre-Anniversary Speed graphic that I basically got for free. I shot a lot of stuff on 4x5 and 120 previoiusly, and I intend to spend a lot of this winter printing my older negatives. (It amazes me how small 4x5 seems once you spend time with 8x10.) Once I've gotten well into that project, my next move will probably be to take the copy stand and the Cambo monorail to build an 8x10 enlarger. I expect that to be an absolute blast to work with (and will most likely use it as a horizontal enlarger rather than a vertical enlarger due to the lack of height on the upright of my copy stand). The lens I use most on my 8x10 is a 480mm APO Nikkor; it should make a great enlarger lens for me.

Like you, I started out a long time ago using Nikon 35mm manual equipment. I haven't sold off my old equipment yet, but the smallest thing I ever shoot these days is 6x7, and that's only if I'm in a hurry. 8x10 is where my heart's really at. (I'm purposely avoiding buying a larger camera as I know I'd just keep moving up in size until I had something that was so large as to be useless to me.)

jimgalli · Dec 17, 2004

Although I have just about every format conceived I do shoot the Deardorff 8X10 more than any other camera. Still looking for an old 10X12 to add to the family. I'm completely hooked on contact prints.

juan · Dec 17, 2004

I shoot 8x10 primarily and 2 1/4x3 1/4 secondarily. I lug my "Black Monster" through the Florida woods and swamps. I get tired thinking about it.
juan

Ole · Dec 17, 2004

I don't - I shoot 18x24cm instead. That's 2cm narrower and 1cm shorter than 8x10".

The reason I use this strange format is that it's all my camera takes, it's a German plate camera from around 1920 - or possibly up to 40 years older. Until I get round to making an 8x10" back for it, that is.

Most of my shots are on 5x7", though.

rbarker · Dec 17, 2004

Good evening everyone. I'm glad to see so many people at this 8x10AA meeting. So, let me start in the traditional manner.

My name is Ralph, and I'm an 8x10 addict. I love the big negatives, and the smell of contact prints in the morning.

I'm trying to wean myself from other formats. Honest. But, I'm weak of will, and find the neck strap on the 8x10 to be a little uncomfortable. But, I'm trying to get better at zone focussing, so I can use the 8x10 on the street.

Tom Stanworth · Dec 17, 2004

I will be shooting 8x10 very soon. I have the everything I need with the exception of a decent tripod and head. I will almost certainly get a berlebach. Unfortunately as I am going pro, I have had to put cash into other more commercially 'sensible' kit - such as MF, scanners etc. That hurts, cos all I wanna do is point my 8x10 at some landscapes. What keeps me going is (after some test shots to make sure all is well) wandering out into new snow in Snowdonia and Scotland in the New year.......oh yes!!! 5x4 is great, but as I often but not always like to print fairly big, it runs out of steam where I start to get excited.

Tom

lee · Dec 17, 2004

I shoot 8x10 as my main format.

lee\c

David H. Bebbington · Dec 17, 2004

Someone a couple of posts back was talking about neckstraps and zone focusing. This may have been meant humorously - alternatively, they could be using the awesome "Gran View" hand-held 8x10". I have "only" the 4x5" version of this, I would love to know if anyone uses the "full-size" version?

Regards,

David

Ole · Dec 17, 2004

Nah. I only do that with 5x7":

Deckled Edge · Dec 17, 2004

I got an 11x14 a year or more ago, a 7x17 followed thereafter, and the 8x10 Deardorff hasn't been out of the case since. I shot 8x10 for 15 years as my only format (Leica on vacations) and used the 5x7 and 4x5 reducing backs very occasionally. It usta be a thrill to see the 8x10 negs drying, but now they look so dinky next to the 11x14 and 7x17. I do mostly landscapes, and the panoramic format lends itself very well to these. My only problem is no home scanner will take these larger formats, so I have to use professional drum scanning when converting contact prints to the web.

Daniel Grenier · Dec 17, 2004

One note to non-8x10 users: There's something really weird about subject matter when using an 8x10. If it's more than 50 feet from the car, it's not photogenic. Just so you know

Robert Hall · Dec 17, 2004

8x10, 8x11, whatever it takes. (and an occasion, 12x20)

glbeas · Dec 17, 2004

I'm just now getting into the format, needing a little work on both the camera and the photographer to make it a going thing, but I will probably be pretty flexible in what format I shoot with so many toys at my disposal.

colrehogan · Dec 17, 2004

I do!
Okay, I have since June of 2003. I've just started doing some alt-process printing and am still learning. (I was getting tired of driving to and from the camera store and then paying for contact prints.) It's fun though. I still have my 4x5, MF & 35 mm stuff, but it doesn't get used nearly as much as the 8x10. Looking through the 8x10 gg is amazing and very relaxing.

sanking · Dec 17, 2004

Daniel Grenier said:
OK, yet another survey!

I know there are a number of APUGers who primarily shoot 8x10 besides myself. I'm just in a nosy mood today and want to see who else here is crazy enough to spend that kind of cash, logging that kind of weight to obtain the "ultimate" print - an 8x10 contact print.

For my money the ultimate contact print is something on the order of 20X24".

I don't use 8X10" at all. In the past I have owned and used a couple of cameras of this size but basically I prefer a wider aspect, such as the 5X7", 7X17" or 12X20". I still have and use a couple full plate cameras, 6.5X8.5" which I use for still life work, and this format is similar in aspect ration to the 8X10. But for landscape work I like a more panoramic format.

Sandy

JohnArs · Dec 17, 2004

Yes I also use 8x10 but only from time to time I prefer to have larger prints as I get from my 4x5 and MF. I didn't use it outside till now! Just in my studio!
I don't have the space for an 8x10 enlarger!

Brian Bullen · Dec 17, 2004

8x10, 11x14, and 4x5 for me. I find myself looking at the 4x5 groundglass now thinking, this kind of feels like looking through the end of a paper towel tube. Love those contact prints too.

Alex Hawley · Dec 17, 2004

Hello Everyone. My name is Alex and I am an 8x10 addict. Its so great to look at the image in that large ground glass, no squinting required. I cringe these days at the thought of using an enlarger.

Photography finally came together for me when I got the 8x10. I had used a 4x5 for a year prior to, and of course, had transcended through 35mm and MF. But when I got the Deardorff, set it up, and started learning it, it was a Big WOW experience. An epiphany (spelling?). I have a 4x5 back for mine and still use. There have been some shots I have made in 4x5 with the intent on enlarging, but for some reason, I'm always slightly disappointed in them. 4x5 contact prints work well with some select subjects.

I have printed several enlargements this year. Although I still like working with the enlarger, it is harder, cumbersome, somewhat awkward.

I have come to realize though that I would like to have an 8x20. If anyone out there wants to dump a spare 8x20 kit, you can send your gracious charitable donation to me. I will not charge you anything for it.

"One of these days, Alice, an 8x20!!!"

Dave Wooten · Dec 17, 2004

I use all formats but lately have started concentrating on large format 8 x 10 and 7 x 17. I do like the panoramic format for some of the landscapes and projects i am working. I find the extra work of large format to be a joy and actually quite relaxing. I am building a 20 x 24 but it will be a long drawn out project.I do not find the 8 x 10 to feel large at all....once I god into it.

SkipA · Dec 17, 2004

8x10 is my primary format, but I shoot other formats from 8mm to 8x20 inch as well.

Who here shoots 8x10 LF anyway?

Daniel Grenier

George Losse

Francesco

David A. Goldfarb

Moderator

matt miller

Mongo

jimgalli

juan

Ole

Moderator

rbarker

Tom Stanworth

lee

David H. Bebbington

Ole

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Deckled Edge

Daniel Grenier

Robert Hall

glbeas

colrehogan

sanking

JohnArs

Brian Bullen

Alex Hawley

Dave Wooten

SkipA

Who here shoots 8x10 LF anyway?

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