Um...large format?

S

Stephanie Brim

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Please don't kill me. I've been starting out a lot of posts like that...

Someone offered to send me a 13x18 plate camera for the price of shipping. I've said one very enthusiastic hell yes. I've been interested in going larger...I just thought it would be 6x6, not 13x18. So...yeah...I think I'm going to jump in with both feet.

And yeah, he has film backs for the thing...I won't be using plates. I couldn't believe what I read and had to do a double take. Heh. I'm so excited I can barely contain myself.

And just so you know, this will NOT replace rangefinder photography. I plan to GET a rangefinder to use with the thing if I can, though it will probably be down the road a bit. This will help me decide if a Crown Graphic is right for me or not in a way...I'll be able to try out large format to see if I like it. Perhaps I'll be doing more landscapes and cityscapes having this camera. Dunno. We'll see.

Had to share my enthusiasm.
 
I'm thinking trays...but not sure. I could get some tubes as well, but I dunno. It'll depend on the film I get with it...he's sending me some film to start me out, too.

I'll cross that bridge when I come to it, methinks. I have to get the camera first. 😀
 
IIRC, 13x18 is interchangeable with 5x7 backs. 5x7 film, while not easy to get, is easier to find than some other sizes.

You can get by using the tortilla method with paterson daylight tanks. Even the BTZS tubes require complete darkness, and they're remarkably expensive considering how simple and basic they are. If you're going to go dark, then you might as well go with trays.

However...if you're going to do constant agitation with trays (and you really need to - it's very hard to do intermittent agitation with trays), you might as well spend like $30 and get a unicolor drum system with uniroller. You can fit up to 4 5x7's into an 11x14 print (not film) drum, and it uses a very small amount of chemistry.

I am shooting 5x7 myself, now.
allan
 
I'm still in shock from this whole thing, so I may be kicking myself later on for opening THIS Pandora's box. I mean, it's a slippery slope from here, isn't it? 😛

And yeah...here's a good question...what do I ABSOLUTELY need for contact printing?
 
Yup, that's all you need, other than the obvious (paper, chemicals, etc). You'll want a low wattage bulb, though - 100 is way too strong.

allan
 
Better quality than what? Stephanie, all you need is an even light source. Unless you manage to get a bulb that has been miscoated, even the ones at the local grocery store will be sufficiently even. I didn't realize that a 60 watt would be okay for 3.5 feet or so above the paper. Since that's the case, you're totally set.

Don't get caught up in equipment fever for contact printing. There is no reason to do so. Since you don't need an enlarger (I assume you're not going to get a 400lb 8x10 unit...), it is far more sensible to just go with the light bulb in a closet or somethign. Space for trays and chemicals is a different matter.

allan
 
Ahhhhhhhhhhhh Greyhoundman, Tis a slippery slope she treadeth. Dave and I are both inot vintage LF photography and I am working on a homemade brass lensed 4x5 as we speak. I already have a wooden view and thinking of building an 8x10
 
I'd dunk that in Rodinal, most likely, but I have Diafine, Rodinal, and D-76 to use.

Thanks for the contact printing advice, too...I'll take the advice on the 60 watt bulb.

So excited...almost as excited as I was when I got the Canon P.
 
greyhoundman said:
I would suggest some reading on the process. The three Ansel Adams books should be available through the library. Camera, Negative and Print.
Click to expand...

I have them. I'm actually about to start them. 🙂 This is so exciting.

Kim Coxon said:
I wondered where my guardian angel disappeared to last week. Must have absconded with Lady Luck. Can I have them back please?
Click to expand...

I can give them back now. If I find any other really, really good deals I'll PM you with them instead of posting on the board. 😀
 
Congrats! I do love 4x5 and that 13x18 should be a whole lot of fun.

First, if you haven't, go here and read every page there: http://www.largeformatphotography.info/

Then I'll second G'man's recommendation of Fomapan 100 at EI200 - 400 depending on light, developed in Diafine. Very nice combination and about as cheap as you're going to find.

Do you know any details about the camera? Lens, shutter, manufacturer?

William
 
This is a quote from the PM that I just got.

The camera is a real antique, made by "Chr. Fr. Wither & Sohn" in Dresden, Germany around 1880 as far as I've been able to determine. I bought the camera for the lens set which came with it - a (copy of the?) Busch Vade Mecum set. I then discovered that another contemporary lens I had fit the lens board, so you're getting a Rodenstock Recti-Aplanat 180mm with it. No shutter, since they weren't even thought of at the time
Click to expand...

So...no shutter. Wonder what the chances are of me being able to find a lens with a shutter that would work with the camera...
 
Stephanie,
The shutter doesn't have to work with the camera. Rather, the lens/shutter combination has to fit into a board which then has to fit into the camera. So your chances of finding a lens with a shutter that will work on your camera are very, very high.

I can't imagine that any lens/shutter combination within "normal-ish" for 5x7 not fitting onto a board. You jsut might need to get a board made, that's all. Some folks make them out of cardboard, even. No big deal.

At f45, let's say, at EI 100, even in daylight you're looking at...1/10 of a second. Throw in some reciprocity and you might be able to just take a piece of cardboard and move it in front of the lens 🙂.

If you look for an older lens - dagor or an ikoflex, which is what I have - you can probably get one in a shutter for about $100. I got mine for $10 because the flange was stuck on it.

Also, I prefer the Fomapan 200 in Rodinal, though I have only 3 sheets of the 100 to compare with so far.

I am definitely hooked on LF.

allan
 
Heh. So...chances are good. I'll have to go looking when I actually have the money for something other than just the camera. 😛

I think this will be a very good intro to large format for me. If I read all the proper materials (IE the Ansel Adams books and other things I can find on the 'net) I should only have a few (hundred) questions once I get the camera. 😀
 
Heh. Not quite not thought of, but they weren't too good at that point. B&L started making theirs in 1888 IIRC from Kingslake.

A good lens cap and slow speed film will be your friends then. JandC has the Efke 25 in 5x7; that's what you'll want, and probably nothing faster...

That or see if Frank S has sold that Packard shutter he's been trying to sell... 😉 Let's see, 180mm on 5x7... that's about 38mm equivalent on miniture cameras. Should be fun. I'll look forward to seeing some images.

William
 
A few more comments.

A great place to ask about LF is apug. There, medium format is almost sub-mini to most folks.

And...to be honest, I find 5x7 to be a rather annoying entree into LF. Most easy development methods are made for 4x5. You end up having to use similar methods to 8x10, but the contact sheet isn't as big. Finally, there just isn't that much film out ther ein 5x7 formats.

I'm not saying you shouldn't do it. I'm just saying that it's not as easy as with 4x5. It's about as hard as with 8x10 but with a smaller negative.

The holders are pricey, too, if you want to get more.

allan
 
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