Support our Sponsors, they keep FADU free:   AG Photographic   The Imaging Warehouse   Process Supplies   RH Designs   Second-hand Darkroom Supplies  

Notices

Go Back   Film and Darkroom User > General discussions > Photography in general

  ***   Click here for the FADU 2015/2014 Yearbooks   ***

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
  #1  
Old 8th June 2020, 01:56 PM
JOReynolds JOReynolds is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: St Albans UK/Agde France
Posts: 1,074
Default Compromise largish format

I am seriously considering buying a 5x4" camera with a winder back and a lens around 100mm in a shutter (my enlarger only goes up to 2x3", I only have 120 film spirals and I have a fridge-full of 120 film).

My 1960s tripod is good for a modest monorail.

Any advice, FADUsers?
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 8th June 2020, 03:13 PM
MartyNL's Avatar
MartyNL MartyNL is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: based in The Netherlands
Posts: 3,341
Default

There are a number of 2x3" or 6x9cm 'large format style' medium format cameras. This would give all of the movements of 4x5 but with the added convenience that comes with 120 film; size, weight, cost etc.
So there is no specific need for a 4x5 set-up. I'd probably go with that if I were you, unless you were thinking about up-sizing your processing and printing?
__________________
MartyNL

“Reaching a creative state of mind thru positive action
is considered preferable to waiting for inspiration.”
- Minor White, 1950
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 8th June 2020, 04:02 PM
Martin Aislabie's Avatar
Martin Aislabie Martin Aislabie is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Stratford-upon-Avon, England
Posts: 2,081
Default

It sounds feasible.

Shooting with a roll film back has some plus points - particularly in your darkroom set-up.

I'm not sure about 100mm lens though - the only 100mm-ish lenses that have a large image circle is the 110 Schneider XL - which cost eye watering amounts.

90mm lenses are wider angle and generally have significantly larger image circles and are reasonably cheap and fairly common too.

There is no point coughing up for a LF set up unless you want to exploit movements for which you need a decent image circle.

The additional thing to look out for when buying LF lenses is their viewing angle - so along side the focal length and the aperture will be a viewing angle.

100+ deg = wide angle.
70~80 deg = normal.

So, my 90mm Rodenstock Grandon is marked - 90mm f/6.8 102 deg (90mm = focal length -- f/6.8 = aperture -- 102 deg = viewing angle)

Time will tell if your tripod is up to the job - a lot depends on your set ups overall weight and state of your tripod.

However, as a rule most LF'ers have pretty beefy tripods.

A good (ie long) cable release is a must.

Have fun

Martin
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 8th June 2020, 04:21 PM
MartyNL's Avatar
MartyNL MartyNL is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: based in The Netherlands
Posts: 3,341
Default

For 6x9 you need a lens with an image circle that covers 106mm diagonal. Here's a nice article and link within it comparing 6x9 technical cameras.

https://www.shutterbug.com/content/6...as-big-results
__________________
MartyNL

“Reaching a creative state of mind thru positive action
is considered preferable to waiting for inspiration.”
- Minor White, 1950
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 8th June 2020, 06:47 PM
skellum's Avatar
skellum skellum is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Isle of Lewis
Posts: 1,330
Default

Why?
120 film is still 120 film. You will have the ability to use movements, but not a huge gain for the additional size, weight, bulk, and slowness in use of a 5x4 camera. No increase in neg size, no option to give individual frames N+ or minus development.
Do you have a particular project in mind Jo?
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 8th June 2020, 07:07 PM
MartyNL's Avatar
MartyNL MartyNL is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: based in The Netherlands
Posts: 3,341
Default

I believe a 4x5" set-up is probably overkill for 6x9. Although I can definitely see the appeal of a 6x9 technical camera especially for specialist applications.
__________________
MartyNL

“Reaching a creative state of mind thru positive action
is considered preferable to waiting for inspiration.”
- Minor White, 1950
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 8th June 2020, 07:15 PM
Svend Svend is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 1,193
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by JOReynolds View Post
I am seriously considering buying a 5x4" camera with a winder back and a lens around 100mm in a shutter (my enlarger only goes up to 2x3", I only have 120 film spirals and I have a fridge-full of 120 film).

My 1960s tripod is good for a modest monorail.

Any advice, FADUsers?
Jo, you might consider the Century Graphic: https://www.graflex.org/speed-graphi...y-graphic.html

It's basically a shrunk-down version of the Speed Graphic models, but only for 6x9 roll film. Apparently they fold down to a very small size. Not sure if you can find one in the UK, but over here they pop up from time to time and are not expensive.

Or, if you are OK with a slightly larger camera, but still folding and portable, fit a 6x9 back and able to bump up to 4x5 should you desire in future, there are the regular Speed or Crown Graphics: https://www.graflex.org/speed-graphi...ic-models.html

There were several similar press cameras of this type, and probably ones made in the UK (MPP?). Lots of choices for you....
__________________
Regards,
Svend
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 8th June 2020, 07:25 PM
alexmuir alexmuir is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Glasgow, Scotland.
Posts: 2,668
Default Compromise largish format

Jonathon, I would be inclined to go for one of the 6x9 cameras by Horseman, Wista etc that have some movements, but also a viewfinder. I have a 4x5 monorail camera which came with two 120 backs. I never used the Horseman 6x9 because it involved removing the ground glass and fitting the back in its place. I sold it, but kept the Calumet 6x7 version which can be slotted in behind the ground glass, just like a 4x5 holder. Having said that, I have never used it either, probably because I bought the camera to use 4x5 film. Sinar made a variable format 120 back which is used like the Calumet I have. That would be very convenient, but they are expensive. If you wanted a full range of movements, a monorail is the way to go, and the Sinar Zoom 120 back would give you the full range of 120 formats. Lens choice probably depends largely on your subject matter, but I’m sure you had that in mind when specifying something around 100mm. The later editions of the book View Camera Technique by Leslie Stroebel contain a very useful list of large format lenses with their specifications.
Alex


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 8th June 2020, 08:17 PM
Collas Collas is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 971
Default

The Fujifilm GX680 is also a possibility as, in the non S models, it offers front movements. It's heavy though.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 9th June 2020, 07:50 AM
Lostlabours Lostlabours is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: West Midlands/Aegean
Posts: 1,988
Default

You need to make sure the camera has a Graflok back, regardless of whether it's 6x4 or 6x9. There are roll film holders that fit spring backs but they are rarer, more expensive, and there can be film flatness issues as the film has to wind 180º round a tight roller.

The Century Graphic don't all have Graflok backs so you need to be careful, I have a similar Busch Pressman with a 101mm f4.5 Ektar but the lens board is very small and screwed in place so not practical to swap lenses in the field,, mine has a conversion spring to allow Graflok cbacks.

I built my own 6x7 field camera as I have 2 Graflex RH10 120 film backs, it could just as easily be 6x9, the backs are the same dimensions & fit, only the film gate differs (and the wind gearing). The reason for building my own was cost as I already had the parts and to get the front tilt I required. I have a 127,, f4.5 Ysarex (made for Polaroid), a65mm f8 Super Angulon and the longest lens I use with it is a 203mm f7.7 Ektar. Alll the lneses are small so it's a light weight kit

Something else I've done is make a conversion plate to use Graflex RH10 with a Quarter plate field camera.
I can fit modern lenses if I want as I have spare lens boards



Budget is probably the most important factor, there's a few good post WWII (so coate) 100mm to 105mm lenses around.

Ian
Reply With Quote
Reply
Support our Sponsors, they keep FADU free:   AG Photographic   The Imaging Warehouse   Process Supplies   RH Designs   Second-hand Darkroom Supplies  

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Large format in the UK SteveW Cameras - Large Format 8 18th August 2016 03:19 PM
Large format and Ultra Large format Users numnutz Equipment 0 19th July 2013 02:43 PM
format festival brianrbird Art and aesthetics 5 25th March 2011 06:25 PM
Format cliveh Art and aesthetics 32 8th February 2011 06:58 PM
Film. No Compromise. Miha Photography in general 0 22nd September 2009 10:42 PM


All times are GMT. The time now is 09:18 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.