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You evil, evil people...

Well, Stephanie, as Forrest Gumpdorff once said, "Evil is as Evil does." And, "Life is like a box of 8x10 chocolate Polaroids."

A 4x5 Graphic is a great starting point. Then, keep your eye out for a nice, economical 8x10 with a 4x5 reducing back. Nothing like having flexability.
 
It'll be a couple years before I'd move up to an 8x10 camera. I could afford to 25 sheets every 4 months.
 
For what it's worth, J&C sells their Pro 100 8x10 film for $25 for 25 sheets -- that's a buck a sheet and a heck of a deal. I use it (or did, when I had an 8x10,) and like it. Nice tonal scale, wants plenty of exposure. Looks good in D-76, better in pyro. But I digress.

If I knew when I was just getting into LF what I know now, I'd have skipped 4x5 and 5x7 and just started with 8x10. For me, contact printing is a lot like LF in general -- once it gets into you it won't let go. Good luck!

mjs
 
A really cheap way to make hangers for drying film and paper is by spacng clothespins on a clothes hanger. The last plastic clothespins I bought at Walmart already had holes in the end of the handles. Drinking straws work fine as spacers.
 

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Stephanie Brim said:
Keep an eye out for me, will ya? Lord knows I'm not going to find one sitting at a garage sale in Iowa.
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Actually, you probably will. Unfortunately, it will also probably be shortly after you buy one here or via auction.

Old press 4x5s seem to be tucked away only to be resurrected in estate sales, farm auctions, etc. It's a bit like finding a needle in a haystack.

If you have the time consider making up some index card size "wanted" ads. Include a picture of a graflex on the ad and put up in local supermarkets or equivilent where there is a bulletin board. You might be pleasantly surprised.
 

Why?? I've shot only 4x5 for 20+ years, and I have no interest in anything bigger. Nothing wrong with being satisfied with what you have.
 
roteague said:
Why?? I've shot only 4x5 for 20+ years, and I have no interest in anything bigger. Nothing wrong with being satisfied with what you have.
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Sounds reasonable to me!
 
Sean said:
It's ok Stephanie, they've already got me investigating wet plate.. (Kerik just HAD to post those shots didn't he!) In a few years I'll probably have an old van converted to a rolling 4x3foot wetplate system!
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Just buy Rob Gray's Wotzehellizat
Mark
 
Hey Steph-
(Nice name, my daughter's name is Steph). If the Graflex you get has the solid lens boards (not the newer stamped sheet steel boards), I have some 1/8" aluminum boards (undrilled) and I can send you a couple (free). If you measure the diameter of the threads (precisely, with a micrometer or dial caliper) for the lens you want to use, I can even lathe bore a couple for you. They also work in beseler 23c and 4X5 enlargers as lens boards (same size). A sheet metal worker friend of mine cut them on a shear from a large sheet of 1/8" thick aluminum. Send me a PM if you're interested.

Rick.

ps I have a pre-anniversary speed that uses the old-style boards. The focal plane shutter still works great. You can get really cheap barrel lenses to play around with (ebay). I have about 10 now, I think. It's a disease.....
 
I'm hoping not to catch that particular disease...I really don't need 10 large format cameras. I *will* have one in the pipeline as soon as I can get the money together for the thing. I believe I'll have film holders, but a few more probably couldn't hurt - if anyone has any extra of those I could use them. Also...I'm trying to decide what film to start out with. I was thinking something cheap, so I was going to go with a package of Arista EDU Ultra 100. I know the film is good. Anyone have any other recommendations? And also, for down the line, can anyone recommend a decently priced wider lens? 90mm and down...preferably something that will completely cover, but I really don't mind minimal vignetting.
 
Stephanie,

catching up the disease is unavoidable. None of us needs 10 LF cameras but you will always want another than the current one: different, better, lighter, bigger...

G
 
Yeah, I know. I'll probably end up with an 8x10 down the line, but I'll wait until I go to school and I'm in my own apartment for that...I highly doubt my grandfather would like me buying an 8x10 camera when I'll have a perfectly good 4x5. They just don't understand...
 
Stephanie, for film try Efke 100 (I think it has changed to the old Adox name now) from J&C. It is as flexible a film as you will ever find for development. It can do plus or minus development and builds density nicely in any situation I have found in shooting. I think that Efke 100 and pyrocat-hd would be the ultimate combination for anyone starting out in large format. It will do anything you ask of it and more. This is a film which can and will be able to be used in many situations. If you are planning on hand holding, a decent 400 speed would be better (J&C 400 perhaps), but for a tripod I can't imagine a better choice.

For a 90mm lens, try an old angulon (not the newer "super" variety). They were good lenses and are much cheaper than the newer versions. Just make sure the shutter is working properly and have a return policy available if there are any problems with function. Best, tim
 
I'll be using a tripod. I'll be modifying the Velbon I have to handle the Graphic. I'm going to buy from Freestyle because I have a few other things I wanted to get from there and I have to send a check...so I find it easier. I was thinking of going with slow films since I'll have the ability to shoot at slower speeds with the tripod...I was even pondering the Efke 50 or 25 in addition to the Arista. Dunno yet, though.
 
With the Efke 25 you will be limiting your ability to shoot in contrasty light (haven't used the 50 at this point). It is a wonderful film and has no equal in shooting metallic surfaces, but it wouldn't be my first choice for you. A 100 speed film will do very nicely for your needs. Freestyle is a great outfit to do business with as well. tim
 
Stephanie, when you get your 4x5, tell us the make and model number. Many of us have accessories and maybe even lenses we no longer use. Slow film isn't the necessity it is with smaller formats. You may never notice the grain from fast film unless you make quite large prints. Of course, with LF, the temptation to get the most out of it may lead to big prints.

You mentioned school. Will that give you access to a good darkroom?
 

Is this my cue for placing a 90mm Angulon for sale in the classifieds? By a staggering coincidence, I suddenly found myself with 2½ of them...
 
Yup. I'll be makeshifting one for a while (about a year and a half), but the school I'm going to will have a full darkroom and I believe them to also have a 4x5 enlarger...but I'll have to check on that. The program is at Hawkeye Tech in Waterloo and they're supposed to have a pretty decent program. I have gotten wind, though, that I may need a digital camera of some kind for some of the courses...I'm wondering, though, if a scanner could be used instead of a digital camera.
 
Ole said:
Is this my cue for placing a 90mm Angulon for sale in the classifieds? By a staggering coincidence, I suddenly found myself with 2½ of them...
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Out of curiosity, how the hell did you end up with two and a half Angulons?

And if you put it up for sale now I'm not going to be the one buying it...the 135 it comes with is going to have to work for a while.
 
I've had one Angulon for a long time. That's one.

I was looking for a(nother) 180mm which would cover 5x7", and put in a very low bid on a Symmar 180 which was sold together with a 90 Angulon, on the philosophy that a lot of two always sells for less than either one alone. It worked again, so I have two 90mm Angulons.

A while ago I needed a shutter for another lens, and bought a battered and abused Angulon in a good shutter. The front group was not only scratched, but the two inner elements were missing! That's the half...

On second thought (or is that third thought?), there might even be a very old pre-WWII 9cm Angulon lurking in a drawer somewhere...
 
*facepalm*

And people think that *I* collect too much camera equipment.
 
Paper is a lot cheape than film and just as much fun. Pat
 
Stephanie Brim said:
The deal I missed hurt me...badly. $56 for a Speed Graphic with 5 holders and a 90mm Rodenstock lens...I'm still banging my head against the wall for not being home that night.
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OUCH!

And I paid a hundred for a CG with a lens softened by fungus! Wish I'd seen that one...

Be forewarned...it only gets worse...your family may start to have trouble recognizing you. Wear a name tag to remind them. I find it helps a little...
 
joeyk49 said:
Be forewarned...it only gets worse...your family may start to have trouble recognizing you. Wear a name tag to remind them. I find it helps a little...
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That's because of the bruised forehead, of course.
 
I really, really would rather not use paper for my first time using this camera. I'd much rather use film. I can get the Arista cheaply and then get some Efke 25 and 100 when I get used to using it. That's the plan, anyway.
 
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