Small LF field camera

[time4d]

I'm thinking of trying my hand in LF a little. I've always been hearing how LF is actually cheaper to shoot than many other formats, and that the cameras themselves aren't expensive. Any suggestions for a small field camera? I shoot digital, 35mm and MF but I know absolutely nothing about LF.

Size is the most important consideration for me by far. The smaller the better. Is the Tachihara 4x5 and the Wista 45 any good at all? Otherwise, what would you recommend? As I just want to try out LF I am not willing to spend any more than a few hundred dollars.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Shadowleong]

Welcome to the club! Join an outing to see one in action to see if the process suits you. Checkout the stickies prepared by lkkang in the forum for more info. But generally depending on budget, a cheap goto camera would be a crown graphic with some movements. I personally started with a speed graphic that has only front rise, so it's more or less a pns with a sensor on steroids but I really enjoyed shooting it nonetheless. There's something about composing under a darkcloth with an upside down image.
you can get dirtcheap toyo monorails will full range of movements cause most people prefer a field camera for size.

 

[lkkang]

There are a lot more things when doing LF, other then the camera and lens itself.

- FILM is costly.
- equipment and accessories is heavy.
- processing film , storage, and getting the final print is painful...

and the best part is... your picture might not be as stunning as your friend standing beside you , using a digital compact camera.
It takes lots of practice and understanding to master this technique.

Nevertheless, I am still a fan of LF until now.

good luck for your searching and enjoy,
Billy

I'm thinking of trying my hand in LF a little. I've always been hearing how LF is actually cheaper to shoot than many other formats, and that the cameras themselves aren't expensive. Any suggestions for a small field camera? I shoot digital, 35mm and MF but I know absolutely nothing about LF.

Size is the most important consideration for me by far. The smaller the better. Is the Tachihara 4x5 and the Wista 45 any good at all? Otherwise, what would you recommend? As I just want to try out LF I am not willing to spend any more than a few hundred dollars.

Thanks in advance!

 

[time4d]

Looks like LF is really as difficult and complicated as I thought... I think I should go for a LF outing before I even buy anything!

By the way, what is it that draws you to LF? Why would someone prefer LF over MF?

 

[losheng]

By the way, what is it that draws you to LF? Why would someone prefer LF over MF?

I can think of 3 reasons:

1. The image on the large ground glass is highly addictive.
2. Pouring over the amount of details on the large film is highly addictive. Okay, this is mostly true for reversal film.
3. The shooting process is even slower than MF. A contemplative process is addictive.
4. Grainless enlargement prints with superb tonality and fine details.
5. Upright buildings that don't fall backwards.

Ok, I started with 3, but end up with 5.

ls

 

[time4d]

Interesting reasons, but it doesn't seem compelling enough for me to make the move. It seems like to shoot LF I need myriads of accessories though. With MF I just need a light meter!

 

[zguy]

You can buy or DIY a 4x5 pinhole camera. It will fulfill your requirements. It is cheap, it is light and small. You do not even need a lightmeter just a stopwatch.

 

[time4d]

Mmm good idea. Does it work for portraits though?

A while back there was this kickstarter 4x5 pinhole camera right? Any idea what happened to it?

 

[mamypoko]

Pinhole probably won't work as well for portraits.

I started off because I always wondered how it'd be like shooting with the cameras that were the foundations of modern photography, as well as trying out movements (I had a 24mm TSE but did't like it as it was limited)

Now I shoot LF for convenience as I don't fire the shutter a lot and can develop each shot as it is without having to go through the whole roll.

Don't really need many accessories, just a light meter as you said, a film holder, and a loupe, and a tripod (unless you have a RF type LF camera). The film development kit is standard if you use the taco method to develop and have a dark bag to load film.

Very basic kit would be a Crown Graphic w/ 127mm lens for around $200 USD, film holder for $10 - $15 USD, a box of Shanghai for $60(?) and a cheap loupe for $15.

 

[Shadowleong]

Check out http://www.largeformatphotography.info for some readingup.

Go look around their classifieds on apug and the large format forum for kits to have an idea on how much to invest. Good deals popup once in awhile.

For somemore reading up you could search CS for larger format photography. A thread I started afew years ago asking for help on LF in Singapore.

I was a student then and I really started with the bare minimum, a speed graphic with kit lens and the cheapest Shanghai film. No loupe and I used the taco method to develop my negs. An iPhone lightmeter app or simply winging the exposure to learn how sometimes lightmeters don't really help depending on film reprocity.

Since I've started there're alot more folks who have picked up LF and are willing to share knowledge and tips.

You have really gotta be patient when it comes to LF. From assembling your setup to shooting and developing as everything will feel like you're relearning photography as we're all spoiled by technology.

The slowed down work flow and how it forces you to be more involved in your photo making process kept me hooked. And a bright ground glass is really hard to resist

 

[Thedraperyfalls]

What a great thread, I'm impressed. So many masters taking the time out to offer their opinions!
Even though I didn't start this thread, I'd like to offer my gratitude for all the helpful insights.

Time4d, large format offers me a new way of seeing. That alone is reason enough.
For me, photography is never a zero sum game. It's not just about the techniques, the tools, the format.
It's so much more than that, it's about seeing.
Just like how different focal lengths afford different perspective, different formats offer different viewpoints.

For me, it's so exhilarating when I get to experience a new way of seeing the world.
It's absolutely breathtaking and refreshing when I discover new ways of seeing familiar sights.

So, I feel that if you were to try to break the process down into tools and parts and cost, you'd be missing out on a lot.
When viewed holistically, large format photography is an extremely rewarding experience.

Talk is cheap, words hardly ever do justice to describing an experience.
Especially in this case of something as visual and visceral as large format photography.

I urge you to participate in an outing with an open mind and eyes.
You'd either leave utterly convinced or completely blase. Either way, it'd be decisive and satisfying.

See you soon!

 

[time4d]

What you said makes lots of sense. I'm still rather unconvinced but I will heed your advice and go for a LF outing and observe how it's being done!

I will let you guys know what happens...

 

[crispy12]

Digital can get higher res photos rather easily. I think IQ is not a compelling reason nowadays.

For me, it is the process of photography like others have said. The format really makes me slow down and think about my shots. I spend a lot of time and make every aspect as perfect as possible. This makes the final product even more satisfying. However wet printing is difficult if you don't have a LF enlarger.

 

[time4d]

Mmm that's something worth considering.

Some people mentioned about developing using the taco method. Does that mean one doesn't need to send the film to the labs for processing?

 

[Shadowleong]

Only analog film lab still develop 4x5. TripleD konota machines does 135 and 120 only

 

[time4d]

Is it charged per sheet? How much is it?

 

[Shadowleong]

Per sheet is $8 i think you might wanna check thier fb or website but b&w is rather convient to diy

 

[RubbishBin1987]

Hi,

It depends on preference for camera.

You are travelling around and will need something light.
Graphic series will be something good to start. With a calibrated finder, you can even shoot handheld in daylight.

You are serious with the perfection of the shot.
Monorails camera with lots of movement will be preferred. Do note the requirement of a solid strong tripod. The overall set-up will be very heavy.

The best will be to join the LF kaki for an outing before deciding on the equipment as there are level of perfection over mobility, cost, workflow of processing etc that you might have to consider beside just shooting and decision of the front end equipment.

Regards,
SK Low

 

[time4d]

From what I've heard I think LF is not for me. Still, I'd love to join in one of the outings to observe!