feeling the urge for a 4x5 soon ..

[vha]

Got confirmed some days ago that i´ll get my typical sumer job also this summer, playing with a Frontier 390 .., and just by coincidence i´v been having this feeling that i´m going to buy some gear this autumn. Sometimes the GAS is predictable 😉

Anyway, the firs idea of getting a Rolleiflex wide is now officially declared as nonsense . . it is too much money, and the next item on a list is a 4x5 🙂

Got my eye on a Graflex Pacemaker Speed Graphic, and did the accidentally google so i´v also found the Aero ektar, but first thing first, and also shipping the complete C-24 i fond on e**y to Norway costs 168 usd 🙂

So the idea of a field camera or a press model and a normal lens and some other fun lens to play with is the idea, except form that I have no clue on 4x5.

Any thoughts or idea, input ?

Thanks.

vha

 

[denishr]

You might try locally (yes, shipping from USA can be expensive, especially for heavy items).

By locally, I mean Europe (i.e. EU - no customs dues....)

You might want to check out a Linhof Technika or (British) MPP 5x4 cameras...
There are other cameras, too, Like Plaubel, etc... But, if you're only looking for the "press-type" cameras, the choice is rather limited (Linhof and MPP, I think).

For information about such cameras in general, you might try the usual sites, like Large format photography forum (www.largeformatphotography.info) or apug.org. Lots of info there.

However, I do agree that a Speed Graphic (with focal shutter) is a VERY good choice - you can use cheaper barrel lenses, or even loupes 🙂

For very cheap stuff, you could try some of the old folders in 9x12 format - those should be available in Norway, too.

Denis

 

[Roger Hicks]

Join the MPP Users Club --www.mppusers.freeuk.com. The founder is also an authority on unusual lenses.

Few if any 4x5 RFs will accept an Aero Ektar -- too big to go through the hole, so heavy it would distort the front standard -- and they're also made with 'hot' glass and have commonly gone rather brown so the effective speed is no longer f/2.5. And even a 150/2.8 is a bar steward to focus, assuming you can get it cammed. Again, the MPP User's Club can tell you how to cam your own lenses (I cammed a 150 Apo Lanthar for my Mk VII).

With a Mk. VII, make sure the locking groove for the film-holders is well blackened or light can creep around the corners.

You might also care to look at:

http://www.rogerandfrances.com/photoschool/ps large.html

for an overview of the large formats and some pics of MPPs among other cameras. MPP Micro-Technicals s are, incidentally, vastly more versatile than Graphics.

Finally, here's a gallery of hand-held 4x5 Polaroid Sepia shots I made maybe 10 years ago:

http://www.rogerandfrances.com/sgallery/g sepia 2.html

Cheers,

Roger

 

[vha]

Thanks for the tip an info, would start looking for a Graflex Pacemaker Speed Graphic or a similar MPP camera. The thought about a press camera is that it would probably make hand held photography possible. Some movement would be fine, but not necessary to start with, have to learn how to use 4x5 first. Lindhof has lots of nice stuff and so does westa, but its also about affordability, if such a word makes any sense 😉

About the lenses, it would probably take some googeling but a classic lens with lots of character and a all round kind of lens would be the the ones to look fore, probably 35mm eq to 50mm

Thanks.

vha

 

[Ben Blacket]

Check out a Busch Pressman D. It's the only 4x5 (apart from modified Polaroids) that has a combined rangefinder/viewfinder window.

I have a Beseler 4x5 press camera, which is similar, but has seperate rangefinder/viewfinder windows. It's inbuilt cam allows for focussing 90, 135 & 250mm lenses, without having to change cams. I haven't heard of any other 4x5 camera having this feature. It's a big heavy beast though.

 

[oftheherd]

...

For very cheap stuff, you could try some of the old folders in 9x12 format - those should be available in Norway, too.

Denis

This is a better idea than it might sound at first. Many of the old 9x12 cameras had at least rise and fall, some with shift as well. I don't recall seeing any with full tilts but I think some did have front standard tilts. Most did not.

However, you get a large negative, almost 4x5, good enough and sometimes pretty good lenses, and some movements. They fold up so they are easily carried. Just be sure to shop around so you have some negative holders. The finest of the old 9x12 cameras are useless with out them, as would be a 4x5 without negative holders. The more you can get the better, but I would think at least three, and a changing bag and a couple of light tight containers so you can change negatives in the field it you wish.

 

[vha]

Thanks again for the input, looks like i´m going for a peacemaker, if I can find one from a seller with decent feedback and ships to Europe 🙂

Else some kind of Weegee cam would have been fun too, Burke & James something with a graflok back (if that exists) would also be an idea.

vha

 

[Michiel Fokkema]

Hi,

I have a super speed graphic. They seem to go for less than the older graflexes. It does not have however the curtain shutter. They are a nice small light package though.

Cheers,

Michiel Fokkema

 

[vha]

A guy at work said he was going to do some more cleaning (or his wife probably helped him with getting the thought)
and he have a Swedish camera,
as far as i know it´s a 4x5 and the same model was also sold as Hasselblad standard, but it is a Szabad,
and he said I could borrow it for free for a while, and then we probably agreed, sounds kind of scary 😉

Anyway it could be fun, but I still want a rangefinder 🙂

vha

 

[Ben Blacket]

If you want the ultimate 4x5 rangefinder, this is it:
http://homepages.ihug.com.au/~razzle/index.html

 

[kmack]

A guy at work said he was going to do some more cleaning (or his wife probably helped him with getting the thought)
and he have a Swedish camera,
as far as i know it´s a 4x5 and the same model was also sold as Hasselblad standard, but it is a Szabad,
and he said I could borrow it for free for a while, and then we probably agreed, sounds kind of scary 😉

Anyway it could be fun, but I still want a rangefinder 🙂

vha

The Szabad is a good camera, I'll trade you my Crown Graphic and 135 Xenar straight up for it😉

 

[Athos6]

Every time I think 4x5 I look at the Shen-hao's or the Toyo field camera's

 

[shadowfox]

I can understand the allure of RF on 4x5 cameras, but I always went back to the ground-glass for focusing, it's looks more impressive 🙂

Shen-hao is a good field camera with lots of movements:

 

[MikeCassidy]

i know someone with 8x10 for sale: schneider

 

[dazedgonebye]

I've been feeling similar urges myself...and not for the first time.
I'm hoping the Pentax 6x7 will soothe my GAS short of MF.

Hey...that Shen Hao looks nice...

 

[vha]

and typically the wife of my college at work got the idea that they should go seeing some family this weekend and so on, so no camera to play with before Wednesday's next week, bummer 🙂, so i ordered a filter adapter to my G9 and a IR filter so i have something to play with until then, IR photography would probably bee kind of fun, even thou with a digital p&s something ..

vha

 

[gns]

I think I've said this before here, but I would go 8 x 10. Just because the idea sitting around the backyard on a nice day with a bunch of contact frames, some printing out paper and a few beers sounds really nice.

Cheers,
Gary

 

[vha]

And then it kind of ended with buying a Graflex Crown Graphic on E**y, and presumable on Wednesday I have the Szabad to play with. Might be interesting projects to do this summer 🙂, maybe first to learn how to use the gear, then some walkabout´s with Tri-x
I smell new options for GAS attack lenswise 😉

vha

 

[vha]

Update II

Update II

Thought it was time for a update on the tread, been taking some exposures both on the Crown Graphic and the Szabad, both works fine.
Waiting for a copal lensboard to the crown so i can use a 150 symmar on it, a more 50mm like lens sounds like a fine idea. Need to repair the bellows on the Zabad, at least if i plan to use a ilex 12 inch lens i got for free 🙂
Vintage glass is always fun, and freebies is even better, custom lens board is in project during August. A package of Delta 100 and Hp5 is in the fridge and the package of FP4 that followed the Szabad is soon done.

Not bad for a summer project 😀

vha