reality check

My question is going to be: Does my plan sound realistic?

Brief background: I own an Omega (Toyo) monorail camera, a Caltar 210 E,
and a Schneider 90 Angulon 6.8. I have a 4x5 enlarger, and I have used
it to make prints from my camera, but it hasn't been set up in several
years. Before that I was serious with 35mm B&W.

I'm going to build a darkroom again, but it's probably at least 2 years
off. In the mean time I will use a dry darkroom.

I mainly like to shoot wateralls and buildings, so the monorail camera
is kind of inconvenient, especially when hiking.

The plan: Use the monorail for now, to get back into the process. I
don't have that much experience in sheet film, so I have a good bit of
learning still to do. In maybe 2 years I'd like to buy a field camera.
I'm thinking of the Toyo 45CF, which is light and cheap, and seems to
have decent movements. I'm thinking I'll want a longer lens too, and the
90 Angulon, while decent, has very limited coverage, so I'll probably
want another 90. I might keep the Angulon though, since it's so light
and compact.

Here's where the plan gets hairy. A good part of the reason I wanted to
get into 4x5 was because I had hit the limits of 35mm. Even with very
sharp lenses, slow film, and a tripod, I could see that my photos didn't
have the detail I wanted. With 4x5, even with fast film and modest
lenses I can make 11x14 prints that are detailed enough I need a loupe
to see what's in them. But the dark side -- I mean 8x10 -- is calling.
I'm sure my photos will improve greatly as I work on my technique, but
I'm always going to want 8x10. So I'm thinking I will build an 8x10 more
or less according to the plans that Rudolf Mittelmann has drawn up:

http://www.artm-friends.at/rm/foto/lf-cameras.php

It is a monorail, so I'd probably only use it near where I can drive.

I'm thinking I'd want to have two, or perhaps three lenses for 8x10,
which would probably solve my 4x5 long lens problem.

Sound realistic?

Bob

What do you mean by realistic? If you want to shoot 8x10 and you can afford
it, do it.

They're heavy, they're expensive, everything about them is totally
impractical, so of course you should buy or build one and go out and enjoy
it. Life is about doing what you love, not about waiting for permission or
only doing what's practical.

What's that line, "I only regret the things I haven't done"

John Emmons

"bob" wrote in message
...
My question is going to be: Does my plan sound realistic?

Brief background: I own an Omega (Toyo) monorail camera, a Caltar 210 E,
and a Schneider 90 Angulon 6.8. I have a 4x5 enlarger, and I have used
it to make prints from my camera, but it hasn't been set up in several
years. Before that I was serious with 35mm B&W.

I'm going to build a darkroom again, but it's probably at least 2 years
off. In the mean time I will use a dry darkroom.

I mainly like to shoot wateralls and buildings, so the monorail camera
is kind of inconvenient, especially when hiking.

The plan: Use the monorail for now, to get back into the process. I
don't have that much experience in sheet film, so I have a good bit of
learning still to do. In maybe 2 years I'd like to buy a field camera.
I'm thinking of the Toyo 45CF, which is light and cheap, and seems to
have decent movements. I'm thinking I'll want a longer lens too, and the
90 Angulon, while decent, has very limited coverage, so I'll probably
want another 90. I might keep the Angulon though, since it's so light
and compact.

Here's where the plan gets hairy. A good part of the reason I wanted to
get into 4x5 was because I had hit the limits of 35mm. Even with very
sharp lenses, slow film, and a tripod, I could see that my photos didn't
have the detail I wanted. With 4x5, even with fast film and modest
lenses I can make 11x14 prints that are detailed enough I need a loupe
to see what's in them. But the dark side -- I mean 8x10 -- is calling.
I'm sure my photos will improve greatly as I work on my technique, but
I'm always going to want 8x10. So I'm thinking I will build an 8x10 more
or less according to the plans that Rudolf Mittelmann has drawn up:

http://www.artm-friends.at/rm/foto/lf-cameras.php

It is a monorail, so I'd probably only use it near where I can drive.

I'm thinking I'd want to have two, or perhaps three lenses for 8x10,
which would probably solve my 4x5 long lens problem.

Sound realistic?

Bob

John Emmons wrote (in part):

What's that line, "I only regret the things I haven't done"

The whole quote is: "I never regretted what I did, ..."
Mae West also said one I like even better.

"Too much of a good thing is just wonderful."

--
.~. Jean-David Beyer Registered Linux User 85642.
/V\ PGP-Key: 9A2FC99A Registered Machine 241939.
/( )\ Shrewsbury, New Jersey http://counter.li.org
^^-^^ 12:50:00 up 20 days, 21:05, 3 users, load average: 4.13, 4.14, 4.11

John Emmons wrote:
What do you mean by realistic? If you want to shoot 8x10 and
you can afford it, do it.


Writing things out and explaining my thoughts to people who understand
the concepts can help me to understand things better.

Since this is a group about LF equipment, my assumption is that there
could be other people who, for instance, might have used a Toyo 45 CF,
and who might have similar photographic interests. Or maybe they
considered the CF and rejected it. Their insights might help me refine
my plan. If the CF isn't suitable for buildings and waterfalls, then it
isn't a realistic choice.

I do want to shoot 8x10, but exactly for the reasons that you state
(heavy, epxensive), I don't envision ever using 8x10 as a primary
camera, which I sort of explained.

Bob

"Jean-David Beyer" wrote in message
...
John Emmons wrote (in part):

What's that line, "I only regret the things I haven't done"

The whole quote is: "I never regretted what I did, ..."
Mae West also said one I like even better.



And I think it was the author Jim Harrison who said, when it comes time to
die, you only regret the ones you haven't had, not the ones you've had.
Of course, he was talking about women, but it could apply to cameras you
lust after equally well!

--
Regards,
Matt Clara
www.mattclara.com

bob wrote:


Since this is a group about LF equipment, my assumption is that there

could be other people who, for instance, might have used a Toyo 45
CF,
and who might have similar photographic interests. Or maybe they
considered the CF and rejected it. Their insights might help me
refine
my plan. If the CF isn't suitable for buildings and waterfalls, then
it
isn't a realistic choice.

Have you looked at the Toyo 45 CF? It's a good camera, and very
(amazingly) lightweight, but I suspect it's not all that durable in the
field. Many people can give you good recommendations for a good 4x5
field camera over a range of prices. A list of camera can be found at:

http://www.thalmann.com/largeformat/links.htm

I'm just getting started in large format photography after 35+ years in
35mm photography, and decided on a new Layton 4x5 at:

http://www.laytoncamera.com/

It's more expensive than many field cameras but has features and
capabilites similar to monorail cameras, and has recevied excellent
reviews.

Good luck.

--Scott--

wsrphoto wrote:


Have you looked at the Toyo 45 CF? It's a good camera, and very
(amazingly) lightweight, but I suspect it's not all that durable in the
field. Many people can give you good recommendations for a good 4x5
field camera over a range of prices. A list of camera can be found at:

I haven't seen one in person. I can't think of anywhere that I could go
to "shop" for LF cameras. There is a store about 3 hours from my house
that usually has some used gear, which is where I bought my Omega.


http://www.thalmann.com/largeformat/links.htm

I'm just getting started in large format photography after 35+ years in
35mm photography, and decided on a new Layton 4x5 at:

http://www.laytoncamera.com/

It's more expensive than many field cameras but has features and
capabilites similar to monorail cameras, and has recevied excellent
reviews.

It's a sharp looking camera. I read the review that was in View Camera
recently. At nearly $5,000 it's way out of my price range though. I
really like Wisner cameras (again, I haven't actually seen one), and I
might go in that direction.

Good luck.

Thanks.

Bob

bob wrote:

I haven't seen one in person. I can't think of anywhere that I could
go
to "shop" for LF cameras. There is a store about 3 hours from my
house
that usually has some used gear, which is where I bought my Omega.

It's a sharp looking camera. I read the review that was in View
Camera
recently. At nearly $5,000 it's way out of my price range though. I
really like Wisner cameras (again, I haven't actually seen one), and
I
might go in that direction.

Thanks.

Bob

The Toyo 45 CF, althought a good looking camera, doesn't come across
that way when you see it, but then the salesman (an experienced LF
photographer) wasn't really pushing it either. Their experience was
that the small parts are small, difficult to use, and had a tendency to
break. But it could be an excellent starter camera.

The Layton will probably price out somewhere in the mid-upper $3K range
complete when they get the production run set, extra for additional
lensboards and other optional stuff. It's clearly more than some field
cameras, but you have to compare the capabilities and features. But
then you still have to write the check for the one you buy.

Good luck.

Folks:

8X10 is wonderful until you get to the details. A good AGFA ANSCO is
not too expensive and your good old 300mm Nikkor M will work so the
lenses are not all that much either. The killer is that you are pretty
much stuck with 8X10 prints unless you digitize and if you do that, 4 X
5 is good enough for all practical purposes. Unless you are into
alternative processes or just like 8X10 contact prints (Edward did and
if you see a few of them you will know why) I would forget 8X10. 8X10
enlargers exist but are about the size and weight of a full size
refrigerator. Anyway good luck.

Kirk


wsrphoto wrote:
bob wrote:

I haven't seen one in person. I can't think of anywhere that I
could
go
to "shop" for LF cameras. There is a store about 3 hours from my
house
that usually has some used gear, which is where I bought my Omega.

It's a sharp looking camera. I read the review that was in View
Camera
recently. At nearly $5,000 it's way out of my price range though. I
really like Wisner cameras (again, I haven't actually seen one),
and
I
might go in that direction.

Thanks.

Bob

The Toyo 45 CF, althought a good looking camera, doesn't come across
that way when you see it, but then the salesman (an experienced LF
photographer) wasn't really pushing it either. Their experience was
that the small parts are small, difficult to use, and had a tendency
to
break. But it could be an excellent starter camera.

The Layton will probably price out somewhere in the mid-upper $3K
range
complete when they get the production run set, extra for additional
lensboards and other optional stuff. It's clearly more than some
field
cameras, but you have to compare the capabilities and features. But
then you still have to write the check for the one you buy.

Good luck.

My two cents: If you want to shoot 8x10 "just because", fine.
Understood. If you want to make images up to 16x20 and beyond that are
technically wonderful, go with 4x5. And the last point made is
important: 8x10 contact prints from an 8x10 neg are no problem. Have
you thought about how you might make larger ones?
Art

kirkfry wrote:

Folks:

8X10 is wonderful until you get to the details. A good AGFA ANSCO is
not too expensive and your good old 300mm Nikkor M will work so the
lenses are not all that much either. The killer is that you are pretty
much stuck with 8X10 prints unless you digitize and if you do that, 4 X
5 is good enough for all practical purposes. Unless you are into
alternative processes or just like 8X10 contact prints (Edward did and
if you see a few of them you will know why) I would forget 8X10. 8X10
enlargers exist but are about the size and weight of a full size
refrigerator. Anyway good luck.

Kirk


wsrphoto wrote:


bob wrote:

I haven't seen one in person. I can't think of anywhere that I


could


go


to "shop" for LF cameras. There is a store about 3 hours from my


house


that usually has some used gear, which is where I bought my Omega.

It's a sharp looking camera. I read the review that was in View


Camera


recently. At nearly $5,000 it's way out of my price range though. I
really like Wisner cameras (again, I haven't actually seen one),


and


I


might go in that direction.

Thanks.

Bob


The Toyo 45 CF, althought a good looking camera, doesn't come across
that way when you see it, but then the salesman (an experienced LF
photographer) wasn't really pushing it either. Their experience was
that the small parts are small, difficult to use, and had a tendency


to


break. But it could be an excellent starter camera.

The Layton will probably price out somewhere in the mid-upper $3K


range


complete when they get the production run set, extra for additional
lensboards and other optional stuff. It's clearly more than some


field


cameras, but you have to compare the capabilities and features. But
then you still have to write the check for the one you buy.

Good luck.