Larger Format Photography

[Shadowleong]

look like the group grow bigger with 2 more new LF cams! Shadowleong, yr collection of cameras is growing quickly!
I have a few film holders coming my way too.

Haha I'm already on a minimalist kinda streak. I only really get what I need and they must be at a good price. Student also kinda broke ma. Oh yeah
My speed graphic comes with a spring back, the seller says its possible to mod with with a gralock back.

Quote Seller ;
No Graflok back. Just a normal spring back.

I obtained a Graflok back for my Graflex by buying an old Graflex fingerprint camera for $20. Removed the Graflok back from it and put it on my Graflex.
Then sold the lens for the fingerprint camera and the spring back from my Graflex (with good focusing screen), for more than I paid for the fingerprint camera.

John
Unquote

Anyone with experience? Wanna fit a roll film back before I try 4x5 film.
Means I just buy any gralock back with a focusing screen off ebay and swap them?
Nw gotta hunt for holders + tripods + lupe lols! Camera get already still must so many accessories

 

[mamypoko]

Hey,

You should be able to replace the back with a Graflok back, you can try this seller http://myworld.ebay.com.sg/mmbat/

He sometimes has graphic parts for sale, I'm waiting for a front standard for my Speed Graphic so that I can add swing movements to my current Speed Graphic as well.

 

[zguy]

Anyone with experience? Wanna fit a roll film back before I try 4x5 film.
Means I just buy any gralock back with a focusing screen off ebay and swap them?
Nw gotta hunt for holders + tripods + lupe lols! Camera get already still must so many accessories

A 120 back will set you back by a couple of hundreds. why not get some Shanghai film and a few film holders and go straight to 4x5?

You may use yr current tripod if it is stable enough. i using a cheap loupe tat i used to view my slides on a lightbox. Doable for now but will be on a lookout for a better one.

 

[wootsk]

A 120 back will set you back by a couple of hundreds. why not get some Shanghai film and a few film holders and go straight to 4x5?

You may use yr current tripod if it is stable enough. i using a cheap loupe tat i used to view my slides on a lightbox. Doable for now but will be on a lookout for a better one.

I am not in the idea of a 120 back as well, I am thinking the cost of a 120 back can get 5 double sided holder, 2 box of shanghai 100, a decent focusing loupe as compare to a 120 back. Trust me, there are big difference in different loupe, I am not sure if of the RF system in a graphic, but if you need fine focusing, the best bet is a loupe. I am not hoping for you to regret after bring it out for shooting.

Another issue will be a tripod. Never believe the stats that your tripod ball head gave about it's strength. (This is from personal experience) Mount your camera on the tripod and play around with it first. I am sure you will start thinking twice on the current tripod you use on a DSLR. A stable tripod is equally as important so I am suggesting you to put your 120 plan back unless you are not planning to shoot 4*5 at all.

 

[Shadowleong]

Im Kindda at a loss right now, I now lack a tripod (I don't even have a tripod), light meter, film holders and 4x5 film + loupe (Wanna try focusing on the GG)
The rangefinder needs calibration anyways

Film holders are the same for spring backs and gralock backs right?

If i get some holders + 4x5 film i can start right away, but devloping myself will make me lazy.

A roll film holder would be expensive but the convience is there, I would shoot more cause I dont have to do developing and I can see results faster.

But the shipping is such a big waste of money =(

Just burst about $250 on the camera so I'm putting the tripod + gralock back as a MUST-GET

Light meter just borrow my frens Iphone since its nt as important.

Waiting for the camera to arrive to check if it needs a CLA. (another bomb)
Seller says all shutter speeds works so i think it should hold for awhile till my pocket recover.

Whatcha guys think?

4x5 first or roll film?

Expected cost for some shanghai + holders?

This hole is very deep. After awhile I'll look for polaroid back and etc...

You guys are warned

 

[Shadowleong]

Hey,

You should be able to replace the back with a Graflok back, you can try this seller http://myworld.ebay.com.sg/mmbat/

He sometimes has graphic parts for sale, I'm waiting for a front standard for my Speed Graphic so that I can add swing movements to my current Speed Graphic as well.

I found this guy selling the back, http://myworld.ebay.com.sg/lakesgraphic/ so I just need to get a GG?

You mean you can replace the front standard to get more movements? Any readup? He is selling too, if you wan we can combine shipping =)

 

[zguy]

@shadowleong...

Shanghai film is US$21 (including shipping) for 25 sheets. One year ago, i bought Ilford HP5 (25 sheets) for S$42 from Ruby.
Film holders are pretty standard unless it is super old. On ebay, it usually go for about US$10 each but will double with shipping i have 10 coming my way and it still cost me US$15 each! let me know if you want to buy a few off me. haha

 

[sweat100]

Im Kindda at a loss right now, I now lack a tripod (I don't even have a tripod), light meter, film holders and 4x5 film + loupe (Wanna try focusing on the GG)
The rangefinder needs calibration anyways

Film holders are the same for spring backs and gralock backs right?

If i get some holders + 4x5 film i can start right away, but devloping myself will make me lazy.

A roll film holder would be expensive but the convience is there, I would shoot more cause I dont have to do developing and I can see results faster.

But the shipping is such a big waste of money =(

Just burst about $250 on the camera so I'm putting the tripod + gralock back as a MUST-GET

Light meter just borrow my frens Iphone since its nt as important.

Waiting for the camera to arrive to check if it needs a CLA. (another bomb)
Seller says all shutter speeds works so i think it should hold for awhile till my pocket recover.

Whatcha guys think?

4x5 first or roll film?

Expected cost for some shanghai + holders?

This hole is very deep. After awhile I'll look for polaroid back and etc...

You guys are warned

If u need, can contact me on the graphic 23, got spare... Like wootsk said, no much point using cropped. I got the 6x7 and 6x9 back. Somehow I use 4x5 and polaroid back more. But I suppose it needs to be used on a graflock back.

 

[wootsk]

Im Kindda at a loss right now, I now lack a tripod (I don't even have a tripod), light meter, film holders and 4x5 film + loupe (Wanna try focusing on the GG)
The rangefinder needs calibration anyways

Film holders are the same for spring backs and gralock backs right?

If i get some holders + 4x5 film i can start right away, but devloping myself will make me lazy.

A roll film holder would be expensive but the convience is there, I would shoot more cause I dont have to do developing and I can see results faster.

But the shipping is such a big waste of money =(

Just burst about $250 on the camera so I'm putting the tripod + gralock back as a MUST-GET

Light meter just borrow my frens Iphone since its nt as important.

Waiting for the camera to arrive to check if it needs a CLA. (another bomb)
Seller says all shutter speeds works so i think it should hold for awhile till my pocket recover.

Whatcha guys think?

4x5 first or roll film?

Expected cost for some shanghai + holders?

This hole is very deep. After awhile I'll look for polaroid back and etc...

You guys are warned

$250
A bit tight... we can try to aim for $30 for 5 holders dual sided. I seen a few time, good condition old holders selling for $10 for 3 in Largeformatphotography forum before. ($220) I am selling my old tripod for $150, can sell you for $140 ($80). A pack of Shanghai 100 film from OP is $30 ($50). Suggesting to spare a bit more for the loupe and ready to go. Light meter can use a DSLR or SLR for now first.

 

[Shadowleong]

Thanks for the response guys, I'm so touched. The thing is I dont have any digital camera, (Handphone dont count),
And the reason i wanna try roll film is cause i dont even have a film scanner!!
So if i do 4x5 i cant see it, Searching for the polariod back too
One thing at a time man haha! Just got a new andiod phone for free anyone got light meter app to recommend?

Thanks for all the great offers guys, I'll wait for the camera to arrive before i spend somemore money, kinda broke already haha

 

[mamypoko]

I found this guy selling the back, http://myworld.ebay.com.sg/lakesgraphic/ so I just need to get a GG?

You mean you can replace the front standard to get more movements? Any readup? He is selling too, if you wan we can combine shipping =)

Hey, don't need the GG I think. Should be just unscrewing the spring back and putting on the graflok back.

For the front standard you can get swing but you need to file down the locking mechanism at the bottom. Details here http://www.johndesq.com/graflex/swingmod.htm

 

[wootsk]

Thanks for the response guys, I'm so touched. The thing is I dont have any digital camera, (Handphone dont count),
And the reason i wanna try roll film is cause i dont even have a film scanner!!
So if i do 4x5 i cant see it, Searching for the polariod back too
One thing at a time man haha! Just got a new andiod phone for free anyone got light meter app to recommend?

Thanks for all the great offers guys, I'll wait for the camera to arrive before i spend somemore money, kinda broke already haha

You can always learn to do B&W reversal processing.

If you need to scan that much, a Canoscan 9000F, few piece of cupboard for holder (can get from recycle) will cost around $300 for a one time investment. Frankly, there isn't really a point in investing on a more expensive flatbed CCD scanner.(Unless you have deeper pocket to spam for a bit of extra convenience) PS, but I think I will leave out the technical reasoning as I will sound more like spamming nukes and hurting those who scrape so hard to save for a V700.(ignorance is bliss);P

There are other stuff like a developing tank which is actually more important. I suggest you to take a step at a time. Camera comes, 1 lens, tripod, film holder, developing equipment, meter (if you really don't have anything even an analog camera that can meter), film, loupe, scanner.

 

[foxtwo]

Thanks for the response guys, I'm so touched. The thing is I dont have any digital camera, (Handphone dont count),
And the reason i wanna try roll film is cause i dont even have a film scanner!!
So if i do 4x5 i cant see it, Searching for the polariod back too
One thing at a time man haha! Just got a new andiod phone for free anyone got light meter app to recommend?

Thanks for all the great offers guys, I'll wait for the camera to arrive before i spend somemore money, kinda broke already haha

Hey man, tell you what. I can offer to scan your 4x5s FOC with my Epson 4990. Nothing fancy though, will just try to minimise dust. Other technical details can be discussed over later.
Can send you the file(s) via yousendit or dropbox, then pass you back the negative next time we meet.

It's a waste with your enthusiasm of reviving the interest that you're the only one who has trouble getting started.

 

[mamypoko]

Shadowleong, this is what I think you need most by importance;

1) Tripod + Cable Release
Personally I use a Benro travel angel and Markins Q3, heaviest load on it is close to 5kg with a 1DIIn and 120-300mm lens, try to get a tripod and head with weight limit much more than what you are going to use. I've taken 45 minute exposures with this setup and images are still sharp.

2) 4x5 film and film holders + folder to keep the exposed film ($2 from Daiso)
Shanghai film $20+ for 25 pcs and 2 film holders ($6 - $20 each) good enough to start.

3) Developing Kit - Tank ($30-$40) + Developer (HC-110 $30) + Fixer (Ilford $30+) + Darkbag ($30)
I use taco method with Paterson tank (can't remember the cost of this) and cloth hair bands to minimize scratching, stand develop with 850ml-900ml of liquid to fully immerse the tank. I usually do only 2 sheets at a time.

Your SG has a spring back which should accept most film holders, and you can start shooting straight away with 4x5 sheet film.

I have a Polaroid back but I find I still shoot sheet film more. Polaroid film is also not cheap right now.

You can keep your negs in a standard postcard folder as well, I use a $2 folder from Daiso.

I can scan for you also if you want, I stay at the east side. I might also be ordering shanghai film soon too, let me know if you want and I can get more to help save cost.

 

[wootsk]

http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?t=81307

Another lovely set going for 900 that need a tripod, some film and holder to get started.

 

[lkkang]

just took back some of the chemicals and papers from my mother's place...
didn't know that I had such a comprehensive collection.

 

[Shadowleong]

@mamypoko @foxtwo @wootsk @zguy

Thanks for the kind offer guys! Really apperciate it
Thanks for the insights too.

I'll just wait for the camera to arrive to check the condition of the camera/lens/shutter before deciding on any other acessories.
Maybe get a graflock back + GG (Depend on condition of GG it comes with)
Most properly going the 4x5 route (zguy save some holders for me!)
I happen to be able to get a new canonscan 8800f new for 50 bucks but nt sure if the offer still stands
Just scan + stitch like wootsk said. unless i pixel peep its nt gonna make that much of a difference.

luckily I have my own developing kit! Rope me in with you're ordering film, doesnt hurt to have a pack or two lying around since can save on shipping.

I agree on the tripod + cable release too, gotta put that on priority

My wallet is strictly on hold until my camera arrives

@foxtwo its okay man, even thought it feels like i have to spend money on this,and that
I've already expected it to be like this since I'm the one that wanted to jump into LF so quicky and quite badly too.

Hope the day comes with most of us goes out with our LF, thats gonna be quite a scene.

 

[foxtwo]

@foxtwo its okay man, even thought it feels like i have to spend money on this,and that
I've already expected it to be like this since I'm the one that wanted to jump into LF so quicky and quite badly too.

Hope the day comes with most of us goes out with our LF, thats gonna be quite a scene.

Just let us know if you need any assistance

 

[zguy]

just took back some of the chemicals and papers from my mother's place...
didn't know that I had such a comprehensive collection.

hah yr mum must be happy to have some space back hehe.. u sure have quite a bit of chemicals..i only have 2 bottles - one developer and one fixer.

 

[zguy]

size 4x5 vs 6x17
The 4x5 is against a white board while the 6x17 is in the Canonscan film carrier. 6x17 is from my DIY (still prototyping) 6x17 single focus camera using the large format Nikkor 100mm W lens. It suffers from mega light leaks but technically it works.