The future of my hobby - practical gear

[Pickett Wilson]

"I would never sell a hasselblad for a scanner that will be obsolete and worth zilch in 5 years. I'd rather use a crappy scanner for proofing and send out the winners for scanning."

Of course, the 'blad will become obsolete as film disappears. You make your choice and you pay your price. Which will have less value in five years, a film camera or a digital camera or scanner? Only time will tell.

 

[wgerrard]

Understand your distaste for a warm darkroom. There's no reason to be unnecessarily uncomfortable. But, once back in Canada, will you be back in a darkroom?

From my perspective, eventual resale value is not much of a factor in my buying decisions. I want "my stuff" to do what it is supposed to do for as long as possible. If that happens, it doesn't bother me to trash it when it finally wears out.

So, if you want a better scanner, get the best you can find for the money you can spend. I'd sell the 'Blad to finance it, because getting decent scans from one camera is better than getting crappy scans from two.

 

[Pickett Wilson]

The OP wants to try a 4x5. I think it's funny that those who acknowledge owning 4x5's (obviously wanting to try one at some point) are trying to discourage him. Using one is a unique experience that anyone with interest should try out. I still take my 4x5 out because the process is relaxing to me. Who knows how much longer that opportunity will be available?

 

[Krzys]

Ive shot 6x9 🙂

Keep in mind that I have shot 4x5, 5x7 and 8x10 with various mediums at a friend's place.

To be honest 6x7 is alot more appealing to me than 6x6. Though 4x5 more than 6x7 ect.

mfogiel, what you are talking about with the slowness and precision. That is what I want to experience and enjoy. If time is of the essence then I whip out the Leica.

I wish I could just borrow a large format camera for a month and report back here with an opinion and response to your opinions. Anyone in South East Queensland 😉 ????

Convenience. This is one thing that I don't have time for in a hobby. Convenience is for the workplace and lazy humans who can't feed themselves. If I wanted convenience and nuisance free photography then why would I be shooting film in the first place.

Thanks everyone. Ladislav Kamarad is ****ing surreal.

 

[bo_lorentzen]

Krzys,

Like others, I don't know about swapping a Hassy for a scanner. 😀

And I also want to take terms with idea that a better scanner will make your 35mm look like 120... it will not, there is simply not that many grains in the 35mm.

Now about the 4x5 - I have gone hiking and camping with 4x5's - its a significant challenge.. but it is possible.

Chris is actually right, 4x5 is a royal pain to deal with, but as you say you enjoy that side also, you will be ok with loading film and manage the holders.

My main use for the 4x5 were advertising photography, what comes out of the 4x5 blows away the 35mm and the 120mm, and it is a very strong compositional tool, working on a tripod and on a matte-screen upside down, forces you to deal with composition in a whole different way, and there is something about sticking a 2 shot holder in a camera, its going to make you think 5 times more if you really want to take this picture. Highly Recommended.!

So that said - I would trade a Hassy for a 4x5 with some film holders. and then go get a temp job at a fastfood place for the scanner. 😀


Bo

www.bophoto.typepad.com

 

[Krzys]

I've been educating myself on large format equipment and have put my Hassy up for trade on APUG. Will review serious offers for 4x5 after intense research and some advice from a local veteran.

Last night I managed to make a giant empty room in an extension of my house light free and make some prints. It was quite cool in there and I am sold on printing if the conditions are pleasant. Scanning has been and always will be a last resort when printing is uncomfortable.

If I cant print then I will get a better scanner first. If I can print then 4x5 is priority. I will just scan the prints with a flatbed. (Why does it always seem that the aim is to get my photos onto the computer. Damn this digital upbringing, glued to a computer screen. Showing a friend my prints last night and seeing him enjoy holding photographs in his hands was the most enjoyable feeling I've had in a long time.)

 

[Krosya]

"I would never sell a hasselblad for a scanner that will be obsolete and worth zilch in 5 years. I'd rather use a crappy scanner for proofing and send out the winners for scanning."

Of course, the 'blad will become obsolete as film disappears. You make your choice and you pay your price. Which will have less value in five years, a film camera or a digital camera or scanner? Only time will tell.

You do know that they make digital backs for the Hassy, right? 😉

 

[Krzys]

I personally would never turn a Hassy's sweet curved rear into something so wrong. (P.s I have shot the 60odd megapixel back on a friends Hassy. It is amazing but doesn't excite me.)

 

[ChrisN]

I must say I was amused when Krzys introduced this thread with the statement that he was a poor student with a Leica and a Hasselblad. The definition of "poor student" has certainly changed since my student days! 🙂

Krzys, like others I'd recommend you keep the Hasselblad, but save up some money for a 4x5 system. My entry to 4x5 was a Graflex Speed Graphic for about $400, then I graduated to a folding field camera so I could use more movements to control perspective issues and achieve more control over focus. Scanning was an issue for me with 4x5, until I learned I could scan the 4x5 neg in two passes on my Epson 4490 then stitch the two together. The 4490 is perfectly adequate for this (for B&W) and I'm pleased with the prints I've made up to 10x12 or thereabouts. In fact I've since learned I could have done more with the Graflex if I'd asked the right people for advice. 4x5 is fun but there's a lot more work involved in getting a print.

 

[Krzys]

Ok let me explain. Finished school in 2008. Took 2009 off to work. Uni student in 2010. Just got a car and paid for insurance and registration in one go. So I am currently a very poor student. 😛

Compared to DSLR equipment (which everyone in Uni seems to have+a holga) Hassy/leicas are pretty cheap.

 

[japro]

I do have a 4x5 (Sinar Rail) and two mf cameras (very old Rolleiflex and a Mamiya 645). The 4x5 gets nearly no use, since the darkroom at my university (yay, i'm a student as well 😉 ) doesn't have a 4x5 enlarger. I also nearly bought a V700 but at the last moment got a very good deal on a used LS-8000 which seemed just more practical since I mainly shoot 35mm. Using 35mm and 4x5 at the same time looks very difficult to me, since all the non-camera-equipment like scanners and enlargers only work well with one of those formats, while shooting 35mm and mf or 4x5 and mf seems to be less of a "stretch".

 

[Krzys]

Shot the Hassy with my girlfriend around the pool yesterday. 5 frames and wrapped up. Later in the day I went to my friend and played around with his 4x5 and various plate cameras. I really want 4x5 now. Ive had 3 decent offers of 4x5 kits for my Hassy. If none go through I will buy a Nikon 150 5.6 then sell the Hassy and buy a Shenaho 😎

 

[Trius]

I sold my Rolleiflex SL66 kit (couple of bodies, several backs, 3 Zeiss lenses) and kept my 4x5 kit.

 

[pakeha]

QUOTE
pakeha, are you insulting me?
My darkroom is too hot - this isn't APUG, scanners aren't illegal.
Scanning is the alternative. This is Australia and my darkroom is in the laundry. I am Canadian, not really used to the heat.

Absolutely not, see look what happened below😀
QUOTE
Last night I managed to make a giant empty room in an extension of my house light free and make some prints. It was quite cool in there and I am sold on printing if the conditions are pleasant. Scanning has been and always will be a last resort when printing is uncomfortable.
If I cant print then I will get a better scanner first. If I can print then 4x5 is priority. I will just scan the prints with a flatbed. (Why does it always seem that the aim is to get my photos onto the computer. Damn this digital upbringing, glued to a computer screen. Showing a friend my prints last night and seeing him enjoy holding photographs in his hands was the most enjoyable feeling I've had in a long time.)

My vocab....vocabul.... fug it, i use few words. Going by your equipment i kinda thought the last sentence of your 2nd quote above fitted. I am not for or against scans, and hey, at least i did not question why a `poor' student had a leica and a hasselblad- gee thats your business🙂 so no , not insulting you, i treat forums kinda like bar room/cafe talk, always taken easy. enjoy