Dilemma.

[Stephanie Brim]

They come up on APUG for sale every so often with everything for a decent amount...they also come around Ebay decently often with the rangefinder. I'm going to pass on the auction, look at the one my friend from work has, and then go from there.

 

[vodid]

I'd advise against it. When you go out shooting, how many exposures do you normally make? Twenty? Consider the bulk of ten film holders to make those twenty photos. And there's no dropping in another roll when you've come to the last photo...you need to find a darkroom. And there are so many things to go wrong. Every step of the way you have to be attentive and thinking. Have you ever shot one of your rangefinder cameras and forgotten to remove the lens cap? There are about ten of those situations that you can absent-mindedly overlook, for even one exposure on sheet film. How will you develop the film...swishing it around in a series of trays? That get's old and you'll want a developing tank for 4x5. Then what? Do you have a large format enlarger or a scanner that'll handle large format film? If not, you're stuck with making 4x5 contact sheets. If you want something larger than 35mm, I'd go with medium format, where you have the ease and convenience of using roll film. Here's an alternative idea...if you want to go large, why not go really large and invest the money in a lens with mondo-huge coverage. Make yourself a big light tight box, staple on some 8x10 or 11x14 film to the inside, and then you could make beautiful contact prints. Or it could be a pinhole camera. Or you could use photo paper and long exposures. Scan the results on a flatbed and flip in photoshop. Just a few ideas, but I surely wouldn't wanna get sidetracked into large format if I were starting a new job, going on vacation, etc etc.

 

[lmd91343]

Stephanie,

Don't do it!

It is a great camera. I used speed graphics 35 years ago. I still remember the pain.

In addition to the camera, you need to buy: focus screen; film backs; other lenses.

The bellows and shutter will need a cla and work - that is an absolute.

You will need a real darkroom, not just a changing bag, with hard rubber tanks, film holders, special enlarger, special enlarger lens.

This camera has no special shiempflug movements.

The shutter is limited so you can only use a handful of slow films.

The film is very expensive and hard to get in person

The logistics alone are impossible to complete by October!

If you want to try medium format get a Moskova Super Ikonta clone. The 5 version has a coated tessar clone. It has a coupled rangefinder and uses 120 film. You get 6x9 with that. You can develop with changing bags and daylight tanks. I get great results with mine. You can get one for less than $100 dollars from a reputable store.

Good luck!

 

[Stephanie Brim]

The thing about the camera being auctioned off is that the guy selling it says it works and that he's used it recently, meaning that it would NOT need a CLA to be good. I assume that, since he's a photographer, he has good ground glass in the thing.

The thing about my friend's is that his dad actually used the camera, therefore it would probably need a CLA but the groundglass can't be that bad.

 

[ampguy]

Man, I wish someone else would say this, but since no one has, here goes, I think you should get a dslr kit, a D2x or D200, canon, or an *ist. Shoot all you want, and inexpensively.

Read a lot of books. Read all the John Shaw books (johnshawphoto.com).

If you really have to do film, get a Nikon F3/F4/F5/F100.

Do medium and large format after you've mastered the above.

Keep an RF with you all the time for street shots.

 

[JeremyR]

If you're planning to come out to Colorado in October, I do hope you're here in time. The aspen color (which is the most spectacular) peaks for about a week in September, and it's difficult even to predict what week that will be. Sometimes it can be as late as the first week in October. You didn't mention where you'll be going in Colorado, but if you're coming later in October, you might have the best luck toward the southwestern part of the state (the San Juan range).

Fortunately there's a ton of information on the net, so you can Google for "Colorado fall foliage" or something like that and get some ideas of what part(s) of the state to visit, what roads and trails might provide the best views, etc. And since you'll be visiting the altitudes, keep in mind that snow, while not highly likely in October, is certainly possible.

Anyway, enjoy your visit! Even if you're not here during the time of peak color, Colorado is still a beautiful place.

Cheers,
Jeremy

 

[David Murphy]

I'm going to Colorado in October to visit my boyfriend's dad and I'll have the chance to have at least a day to drive across CO to take photos. I plan to take my Canon P and lenses with me along with my tripod, but I'd really like something larger format to capture the colors of the fall leaves.

Enter the EvilBay search. Someone is selling an Anniversary Speed Graphic with a Carl Zeiss Tessar 135mm lens and it has no bids on it as of yet with less than a day to go. The starting bid is rather low. This is why I needed to sell those cameras quickly...I don't want to pass up the oportunity to finally get into large format at such a low price.

But the basic conundrum is this: do I really need it? Is it the way I want to take my photography? I've always been interested in larger formats, particularly 4x5 and larger. Even looking at medium format negatives gives me a chill that looking at 35mm doesn't give me. I think that the acquisition of this camera would start a complete downward spiral into wanting even more large format gear, and this has nothing to do with belonging to APUG and their leaning toward the large...it's all about me wanting to be able to stick a negative on a light table and see every detail.

I probably wouldn't regret having this...I'd probably use it as much as budget for film allowed. But give me some opinions, will you? It seems I may be coming into more money now that I may be working at one of the in-town bars and things won't be as tight as soon as I get confirmation.

But yes, to the point: talk me into it, talk me out of it, tell me I'm nuts, etc. I want other opinions before I take the big plunge.

And yes, this one does come with the rangefinder...which technically makes it legal for discussion. 😉

I've done roadside photography in Colorado -- its fun. The last thing I'd use would be a 4X5 camera for this. Take a RFF and/or SLR -- that' be my advice.

 

[Stephanie Brim]

Man, I wish someone else would say this, but since no one has, here goes, I think you should get a dslr kit, a D2x or D200, canon, or an *ist. Shoot all you want, and inexpensively.

Read a lot of books. Read all the John Shaw books (johnshawphoto.com).

If you really have to do film, get a Nikon F3/F4/F5/F100.

Do medium and large format after you've mastered the above.

Keep an RF with you all the time for street shots.

I do not do digital. Period. I don't like it. I get cheap B&W film and develop my own...and it turns out to cost me very little. I've actually got a soft spot for toy cameras...medium format and 35mm. My main love is rangefinders, though, and that will always be.

However, I've wanted to do large format for YEARS.

My great grandfather had an old medium format folding camera when he was growing up. It has been misplaced somewhere along the line and that's why I don't have it, but I actually started taking photos on miniature formats. 35mm was my next thing, with cheap toy cameras and equally cheap point and shoot zoom cameras. Then I got a Nikon FE. Used that thing to death, sold it here, got the Canon P from someone and have used it and loved it since.

I love film for the whole process. I hate digital for the same reason. Digital photography doesn't feel as creative to me. I like having to sit in the dark for a few minutes to get film into a development tank and then sit, contemplating the next thing to shoot, while I develop it. When it comes out of the tank and I see images on the film I feel like I've accomplished something great for myself, no matter what anyone else thinks.

So yes, I mastered an SLR long ago...I could get about any manual focus SLR now and get great results. I'm getting good results out of the Canon P. I'm getting good results from the Ansco, though no one's been able to see them do to lack of a scanner that can handle it. I did get decent results out of the Meopta Flexaret until I realized that the slow speeds weren't working.

I actually think that a new format would get me out of the rut that I find myself in. I may start doing more landscapes with a large format camera because I have a better and larger negative to work with. I've always wanted to try portraits with a large format camera. I'd love to take it out to where the GE windmills are and shoot those again with a large format camera. I don't want to be Weegee, I just want to find out whether or not large format will work for me.

 

[BrianShaw]

For goodness sake... you asked an open-ended question and you got a thoughtful response. If you don't like Ampguy's answer, just say "thank you, but no thanks" and move on. Why start ranting on two different forums? What's up with that?

 

[clarence]

I did not see it as a rant. It seemed to be a bit of stream-of-consciousness writing, that is all.

I would second the recommendation to get a medium format camera first. The Moskva is a good choice, especially one that comes with the 6x6 mask.

Clarence

 

[FrankS]

My advice Steph, if you are asking for it, is to leave LF alone for now. Your financial resources seem to be spread pretty thin, and you probably should concentrate them on more essential needs and in areas that will help you move forward with life. Save whatever you can. Use your expendible income for film and chemicals. You have the Canon P with lenses (yeah!) and a great MF folder. You have enough to keep you going. Focus on what you do have rather than on what you don't have. There is a long lifetime ahead to explore everything, in time. Sorry for the boring, responsible advice! 🙂

 

[BrianShaw]

Great advise, Frank, but experience has shown that you are talking to the wind.

 

[RdEoSg]

Weren't you talking about a pinhole somewhere? I'd finish making one of those and take it! Sounds like a fun way to shoot things. Definatly an interesting perspective on nature.

 

[Kin Lau]

Stephanie, considering how often the question of money comes up with you, you can't afford it (not yet anyhow).

Get the Spotmatic instead and use some Pan F or Efke 25.

 

[mc_vancouver]

You want my Holga?

 

[Socke]

I have a LF camera, a more than decent one Linhof Supertechnika IV, with all the bells and whistles. I have filmholders, a tripod you need a truck to transport, a 105mm lens, a handheld meter, even a timed release you can set to several minutes.

The last time it has been used was in 1989.

From time to time I look for 120 backs and polaroid backs, could be fun to make a few polaroids at sunset and 120 isn't that expensive. Then I check the prices and availability for polaroid film and I'm cured 🙂

Setting up a LF camera for a nature shot is time consuming, when you're done there is a cloud where you don't want it and that's it then.

A 6x9 folder is a cheap way to get into huge negatives and with current emulsions I don't see the need of larger formats, except you want to enter the Zone System which is best done with sheet film or need movements.

Today I do some perspective correction in Corel Photopaint, another thing I inherited from my father, and if I'd need perspective correction I'd get a PC lens for one of my SLRs. A Hartblei shift lens in Canon EOS mount is just $190 and it gives you 11mm shift which is a lot!

 

[Socke]

Oops, double post

 

[Rich Silfver]

[...the sound of wind blowing...]

 

[back alley]

let's try to not be mean folks...

 

[FrankS]

Similar to Socke, I have a LF camera: a 4x5 Speed Graphic with 135 Optar lens, a bunch of funky old lenses in barrel to use with the camera's FP shutter, a bunch of duplex film holders, 5 Grafmatic film holders, and a couple of 120 roll film backs. I haven't used it in 5 years. I'm saving it for my retirement when I have more time.

I have felt the way you feel many, many, many times: wanting some gear that I don't have, telling myself that it will be the answer to my dreams. It never is Steph, and there is always another want.

Wealthy is the man with few desires.

Now, we shouldn't all be aesthetics, wearing loincloths and living in hovels. Once you are established with a career, a place of your own, and some extra money in the bank, go ahead and buy yourself some toys and give in to some of those material desires.