4x5 Point and Shoot Results

dazedgonebye

dazedgonebye

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I had my first opportunity to take the Gran View out to shoot since I fixed the early issues.
I ran in to a few problems, all related to my inexperience with large format. I exposed 12 sheets of film and lost 3 to obvious mistakes and 2 to what might have been film holder problems...or just less obvious mistakes.

Overall, the camera was easy to use. I even found the little loupe built in to the back to be pretty useful. I was able to use it to (roughly) confirm focus on the ground glass. Very handy really.

I was even able to use the limited rise available in the vertical orientation for both of the vertical shots shown here. It was enough to get these shots without correcting for perspective in post processing.

The location for these shots is along the Mogollon Rim about 30 miles East of Payson Arizona.

Film is TXP 320 developed in Barry Thornton's 2-bath formula.

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I'm happy enough with the results, but continue to be unsure if large format is really right for me. The amount of time and effort that went in to these shots was many times what would have been necessary for medium format, which would probably satisfy my needs.
 
What beautiful country ... and great shots I might add!

I agree ... it's tricky deciding whether LF is worth all the effort involved when MF is still so much better than 35mm! :)
 
dazedgonebye said:
Richard,
This particular camera won't take a roll film back. I am considering a 6x12 back for the Super Graphic.
Click to expand...

I think it will. Cambo makes MF backs with both rolls at one end, and a thin bit that slips under the GG (or into the slot, in Gran View's case). I no longer have a Gran View but I'm pretty sure it would accept a Cambo back. Of course I could be wrong.

Tashi delek,

R.
 
Steve,

Very nice shots. I especially like the second one. Have you tried colour slide film with this camera? I would love to get a gorgeous landscape shot on Velvia 50 and display it on a lightbox.
 
Roger Hicks said:
I think it will. Cambo makes MF backs with both rolls at one end, and a thin bit that slips under the GG (or into the slot, in Gran View's case). I no longer have a Gran View but I'm pretty sure it would accept a Cambo back. Of course I could be wrong.

Tashi delek,

R.
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure you're right, at least it looks like it would work. I'm really not interested in 6x9 at 75mm though, and although similar backs exist for 6x12, they cost twice what I paid for the Gran View and the lens.
 
Steve - you've achieved some excellent results there, and the camera has taken you through a steep learning process and out into some beautiful country! I shot 12 exposures with the Fotoman last weekend and lost three to my errors, with nothing to show as nice as your results above! Good work!
 
ChrisN said:
Steve - you've achieved some excellent results there, and the camera has taken you through a steep learning process and out into some beautiful country! I shot 12 exposures with the Fotoman last weekend and lost three to my errors, with nothing to show as nice as your results above! Good work!
Click to expand...

Thanks Chris,

"Steep learning process," is what you get when you buy a $175 large format camera body almost no one has ever heard of.
 
Thanks for sharing, these are great. I'm about readyto sell my Super Speed Graphic because it was too much work for not enough reward, at least in my hands. I tried a large family portrait and half the people standing a foot back were out of focus, and kids blurred. I'm opting for medium format all the way as a happy middle ground. Good luck with your experiment.
 
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