Large Format
- Thread starter Keltzar
- Start date
- Status
Hi,
I believe Ruby Photo carries the Cadet Wide-Angle Bellows version for their basic camera, which runs about $1200? You can check with them... that's the cheapest I know of...
The difference between the wide-angle and regular version is that the former is using a flexible bellows bag (which allows larger limits of tilt and shift) and comes with a wider lens.
I believe Ruby Photo carries the Cadet Wide-Angle Bellows version for their basic camera, which runs about $1200? You can check with them... that's the cheapest I know of...
The difference between the wide-angle and regular version is that the former is using a flexible bellows bag (which allows larger limits of tilt and shift) and comes with a wider lens.
Hi there!
A bag bellows offer much more flexibility than a regular bellow, and so is suited for the wide-angle lens which may need large displacement for movements. However, it is not long enough for normal lenses (150mm) and above when you want to focus near, or especially when you are doing close-ups and need the extension. So you'd probably want to get regular or bag bellows depending on your usage.
The Cadet series is the cheapest in the market, and the trade-off is that you can't change the bellows. For other brands like Horseman or Sinar or Cambo, you can buy an optional bag bellows. Do bear in mind that it is extremely expensive, costing hundreds of dollars just for the bag bellows option, so do your maths!
A bag bellows offer much more flexibility than a regular bellow, and so is suited for the wide-angle lens which may need large displacement for movements. However, it is not long enough for normal lenses (150mm) and above when you want to focus near, or especially when you are doing close-ups and need the extension. So you'd probably want to get regular or bag bellows depending on your usage.
The Cadet series is the cheapest in the market, and the trade-off is that you can't change the bellows. For other brands like Horseman or Sinar or Cambo, you can buy an optional bag bellows. Do bear in mind that it is extremely expensive, costing hundreds of dollars just for the bag bellows option, so do your maths!
hi, I just got into the whole large format gig from medium format and I'd like to point out a few things : Tilt and shift movements give a hell lot of freedom, freedom which is limited in a field camera because you usually get limited movements from a field camera
Personally if you aren't gonna be taking the camera out trekking you may want to go for a monorail!that's what I settled for in the end I got a Sinar F
you get alot more flexibility and choice in accessories. Sinar products are readily available here in the US and I've found that it's a big relief to have easy access to those accessories (like extension rails) so do consider that before you choose a brand!
Personally if you aren't gonna be taking the camera out trekking you may want to go for a monorail!that's what I settled for in the end I got a Sinar F
you get alot more flexibility and choice in accessories. Sinar products are readily available here in the US and I've found that it's a big relief to have easy access to those accessories (like extension rails) so do consider that before you choose a brand!
wish to add dat $7 is nothing when u get the result u envisioned on a 4x5.
i won a Sinar with a lens from ebay last mth,but that guy refuse to deal with oversea buyer.
Still on the lookout for a basic monorail kit.field camera cost alot more than monorail,dunno y.maybe becoz of portablilty and demand.
i think brand is not very important for LF,the image size blows everything else away.
i won a Sinar with a lens from ebay last mth,but that guy refuse to deal with oversea buyer.
Still on the lookout for a basic monorail kit.field camera cost alot more than monorail,dunno y.maybe becoz of portablilty and demand.
i think brand is not very important for LF,the image size blows everything else away.
you are right in that brand isn't terribly important...
but from past experience .... I want to minimize my pain ! Anyway, the basic used sinar kit doesn't cost much more than what people are paying for canon L-lenses... it's the running cost.
Digital would be nice... but there isn't anything remotely affordable.
but from past experience .... I want to minimize my pain ! Anyway, the basic used sinar kit doesn't cost much more than what people are paying for canon L-lenses... it's the running cost.
Digital would be nice... but there isn't anything remotely affordable.
Keltzar said:
i'm more concerned about portability than the running cost,dragging the whole setup around and setting up is quite a nightmare..Not to mention bringing it oversea :sweat:
my darkroom can only do a contact print for 4x5 as i do not have the 4x5 enlarger which is another factor holding me back.
As for color negatives and slides,i can always do a scan & print but i would prefer to do it optically.i think most lab now just scan and print.
But again,viewing the 4x5 slides on a lightbox is enuff for me.
u know of any labs doing optical print for 4x5 ?
nope.
If I can get my slides to the lightbox, I'd be contented!
I have done home processing for E6 in the days that one could still buy the kodak E6 kit... but I don't fancy running the risks for home developing colour sheet film....
looks like it's B&W or nothing.
yeah, portability is another issue. But that is probably where our mentality has to change. Start thinking like light painters rather than photographers. You don't see paint artists painting everything in-sight. And they do pretty much carry their canvas around...?
I guess from the start research and think carefully, and build a kit with the aim of keeping it as portable as possible, is the best one can do.
Another option I am exploring, is whether there is a medium format camera which has as much versatility in both front/rear tilt/shift options while using MF film, since that is more easily available. For my shooting style, I need wide-angle lenses. If 90mm is the wide for a 4x5... by the time one puts that to 120film ... it becomes a standard lens (at 6x7) or mildly wide (at 6x9).
Are there easily available 50mm lens/bellow options for 4x5 to facilitate the use of 120film while maintaining view-camera versatility?
If I can get my slides to the lightbox, I'd be contented!
I have done home processing for E6 in the days that one could still buy the kodak E6 kit... but I don't fancy running the risks for home developing colour sheet film....
looks like it's B&W or nothing.
yeah, portability is another issue. But that is probably where our mentality has to change. Start thinking like light painters rather than photographers. You don't see paint artists painting everything in-sight. And they do pretty much carry their canvas around...?
I guess from the start research and think carefully, and build a kit with the aim of keeping it as portable as possible, is the best one can do.
Another option I am exploring, is whether there is a medium format camera which has as much versatility in both front/rear tilt/shift options while using MF film, since that is more easily available. For my shooting style, I need wide-angle lenses. If 90mm is the wide for a 4x5... by the time one puts that to 120film ... it becomes a standard lens (at 6x7) or mildly wide (at 6x9).
Are there easily available 50mm lens/bellow options for 4x5 to facilitate the use of 120film while maintaining view-camera versatility?
kex said:
It depends on whether the camera is built to American tripod threading standard (1/4") or European standard (3/8").
The American standard is more common, and found on most SLRs post 1960, esp. Japanese ones.
The European standard (ironically being bigger and more stable) is less common and found typically on German cameras up until at least the 1950s. Found also on Russian (maybe also french , british and italian?) cameras up until recently.
You can use an adapter to fit a european standard thread to an American one. Manfrotto also sells adapter plates. Personelly, I don't like the solution as I don't find it stable esp. for heavy cameras i.e. vibration prone.
Some cameras were able to retrofit an american tripod mounting for the original european one.
Actually i'm really keen on a Toyo CF 4x5 field camera,B&H is selling US$659 brand new without lens.
Very versatile field camera with quite abit of movement,Most value for $$ camera IMO
Anyone selling it used here ?
http://www.redravenphoto.com/Toyo/45cf.html
Very versatile field camera with quite abit of movement,Most value for $$ camera IMO
Anyone selling it used here ?
http://www.redravenphoto.com/Toyo/45cf.html
i find this website with very good explanation of LF techniques.
http://www.toyoview.com/LargeFrmtTech/lgformat.html
http://www.toyoview.com/LargeFrmtTech/lgformat.html
- Status
Similar threads
