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#1
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moving up to this format - advice welcome
Greetings list - I need some expert advice. I'm thinking of moving my
photography up a few notches, currently I use Mamiya TLR's and Canon A1's, and mostly do non-pro nature, archaeology and landscape photography, with some vintage racing cars when I get my freedom. I'm thinking of buying a 5 x 4 (in.) rail system, capable of taking a 6 x 7 and/or 6 x 9 (cm) roll film back, in order to get to greater negative area in horizontal landscape shots. My lab can do roll film but nothing larger, hence this choice. I also obviously want to have the shift/swing/rise capability for focal plane control. I've searched a lot of the archive of this list to avoid asking a faq, but there are not many beginners asking these questions. How feasible is it to get into this LF style of photography the way I am approaching it? Any reccommendations on brands of equipment? Any opinions on reasonable ebay prices for a full ready-to-shoot rig? I don't want to end up buying most of a system and then waiting years for some crucial priceless widget made of weapons-grade unobtainium to appear on ebay. All answers gratefully received. JC in Ireland |
#2
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Consider finding one of the Horseman Medium format view cameras which are also
known as "technical" cameras. I have one and have found it to be perfect for most applications...I also have 4X5 equipment but lately I seem to haul out the Horseman when I need larger fromat film (6X7 and 6X9) and perspective corrections. Of course the benefit of having a 4X5 body is that you can shoot 6X7 and 6X9 (as well as 6X12) and still make use of the full 4X5 format if you feel that you need it. The Horseman is physically smaller than your usual 4X5 camera but is made of metal and weighs a good bit...still, I've found it easier to schlep around. best argon |
#3
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Consider finding one of the Horseman Medium format view cameras which are also
known as "technical" cameras. I have one and have found it to be perfect for most applications...I also have 4X5 equipment but lately I seem to haul out the Horseman when I need larger fromat film (6X7 and 6X9) and perspective corrections. Of course the benefit of having a 4X5 body is that you can shoot 6X7 and 6X9 (as well as 6X12) and still make use of the full 4X5 format if you feel that you need it. The Horseman is physically smaller than your usual 4X5 camera but is made of metal and weighs a good bit...still, I've found it easier to schlep around. best argon |
#4
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JC in Ireland wrote:
Greetings list - I need some expert advice. I'm thinking of moving my photography up a few notches, currently I use Mamiya TLR's and Canon A1's, and mostly do non-pro nature, archaeology and landscape photography, with some vintage racing cars when I get my freedom. I'm thinking of buying a 5 x 4 (in.) rail system, capable of taking a 6 x 7 and/or 6 x 9 (cm) roll film back, in order to get to greater negative area in horizontal landscape shots. My lab can do roll film but nothing larger, hence this choice. I also obviously want to have the shift/swing/rise capability for focal plane control. How feasible is it to get into this LF style of photography the way I am approaching it? Any reccommendations on brands of equipment? Any Do you have any interest in wide lenses? The big issue with using rollfilm on a 4x5 camera is wider lenses. You won't need anything fancy. Almost any 4x5 will have more then enough movements. But not all will handle lenses that would wide on 6x7. opinions on reasonable ebay prices for a full ready-to-shoot rig? I don't want to end up buying most of a system and then waiting years for some crucial priceless widget made of weapons-grade unobtainium to appear on ebay. If the camera itself is okay that's about it for the system usually. Any lens can be mounted. You might want to look for a camera with a graflok back instead of a spring back so you'll have more choices for rollfilm holders. Nick |
#5
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JC in Ireland wrote:
Greetings list - I need some expert advice. I'm thinking of moving my photography up a few notches, currently I use Mamiya TLR's and Canon A1's, and mostly do non-pro nature, archaeology and landscape photography, with some vintage racing cars when I get my freedom. I'm thinking of buying a 5 x 4 (in.) rail system, capable of taking a 6 x 7 and/or 6 x 9 (cm) roll film back, in order to get to greater negative area in horizontal landscape shots. My lab can do roll film but nothing larger, hence this choice. I also obviously want to have the shift/swing/rise capability for focal plane control. How feasible is it to get into this LF style of photography the way I am approaching it? Any reccommendations on brands of equipment? Any Do you have any interest in wide lenses? The big issue with using rollfilm on a 4x5 camera is wider lenses. You won't need anything fancy. Almost any 4x5 will have more then enough movements. But not all will handle lenses that would wide on 6x7. opinions on reasonable ebay prices for a full ready-to-shoot rig? I don't want to end up buying most of a system and then waiting years for some crucial priceless widget made of weapons-grade unobtainium to appear on ebay. If the camera itself is okay that's about it for the system usually. Any lens can be mounted. You might want to look for a camera with a graflok back instead of a spring back so you'll have more choices for rollfilm holders. Nick |
#6
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JC in Ireland wrote: Greetings list - I need some expert advice. I'm thinking of moving my photography up a few notches, currently I use Mamiya TLR's and Canon A1's, and mostly do non-pro nature, archaeology and landscape photography, with some vintage racing cars when I get my freedom. I'm thinking of buying a 5 x 4 (in.) rail system, capable of taking a 6 x 7 and/or 6 x 9 (cm) roll film back, in order to get to greater negative area in horizontal landscape shots. My lab can do roll film but nothing larger, hence this choice. I also obviously want to have the shift/swing/rise capability for focal plane control. I've searched a lot of the archive of this list to avoid asking a faq, but there are not many beginners asking these questions. How feasible is it to get into this LF style of photography the way I am approaching it? Any reccommendations on brands of equipment? Any opinions on reasonable ebay prices for a full ready-to-shoot rig? I don't want to end up buying most of a system and then waiting years for some crucial priceless widget made of weapons-grade unobtainium to appear on ebay. Just a note on buying used equipment rather than what type of equipment. Why ebay? LF is both a serious and expensive endeavor -- especially the optics. Not saying you might not find good buys there but there are also no guarantees and no merchants of known reputable history. If I buy used, I buy from known dealers, where I _know_ the equipment has been inspected and rated (poor, fair, good, excellent condition) and there is a return policy. I might suggest Calumet photo (www.calumetphoto.com) is one such used equipment dealer. Has both US, Britain, and continental Europe outlets. I might also suggest (since your stated genre is nature) a field camera rather than a rail system. You simply don't need the full movements possible with rail cameras for nature photography. YEs, you can userails in the field, but they're most functional in the studio. In fact, you might easily get by with a Pentax 6x7 unless you're dead set on having view camera movements and controls. Regarding a "ready" to shoot system: view camera w/bellows and standards, rail clamp, tripod, the ability to mount on the tripod (i.e., proper bushing thread/mounting screw for rail clamp), lenses+copal shutters and lens boards, cable release, 5x focusing loup, darkcloth, and light meter. Plus filters of the proper thread mount for the lenses or a filter holder (thread mounts are different for different lenses so a filter holder makes sense.) I'm sure I've left something out. |
#7
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JC in Ireland wrote: Greetings list - I need some expert advice. I'm thinking of moving my photography up a few notches, currently I use Mamiya TLR's and Canon A1's, and mostly do non-pro nature, archaeology and landscape photography, with some vintage racing cars when I get my freedom. I'm thinking of buying a 5 x 4 (in.) rail system, capable of taking a 6 x 7 and/or 6 x 9 (cm) roll film back, in order to get to greater negative area in horizontal landscape shots. My lab can do roll film but nothing larger, hence this choice. I also obviously want to have the shift/swing/rise capability for focal plane control. I've searched a lot of the archive of this list to avoid asking a faq, but there are not many beginners asking these questions. How feasible is it to get into this LF style of photography the way I am approaching it? Any reccommendations on brands of equipment? Any opinions on reasonable ebay prices for a full ready-to-shoot rig? I don't want to end up buying most of a system and then waiting years for some crucial priceless widget made of weapons-grade unobtainium to appear on ebay. Just a note on buying used equipment rather than what type of equipment. Why ebay? LF is both a serious and expensive endeavor -- especially the optics. Not saying you might not find good buys there but there are also no guarantees and no merchants of known reputable history. If I buy used, I buy from known dealers, where I _know_ the equipment has been inspected and rated (poor, fair, good, excellent condition) and there is a return policy. I might suggest Calumet photo (www.calumetphoto.com) is one such used equipment dealer. Has both US, Britain, and continental Europe outlets. I might also suggest (since your stated genre is nature) a field camera rather than a rail system. You simply don't need the full movements possible with rail cameras for nature photography. YEs, you can userails in the field, but they're most functional in the studio. In fact, you might easily get by with a Pentax 6x7 unless you're dead set on having view camera movements and controls. Regarding a "ready" to shoot system: view camera w/bellows and standards, rail clamp, tripod, the ability to mount on the tripod (i.e., proper bushing thread/mounting screw for rail clamp), lenses+copal shutters and lens boards, cable release, 5x focusing loup, darkcloth, and light meter. Plus filters of the proper thread mount for the lenses or a filter holder (thread mounts are different for different lenses so a filter holder makes sense.) I'm sure I've left something out. |
#8
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JC in Ireland wrote: Greetings list - I need some expert advice. I'm thinking of moving my photography up a few notches, currently I use Mamiya TLR's and Canon A1's, and mostly do non-pro nature, archaeology and landscape photography, with some vintage racing cars when I get my freedom. I'm thinking of buying a 5 x 4 (in.) rail system, capable of taking a 6 x 7 and/or 6 x 9 (cm) roll film back, in order to get to greater negative area in horizontal landscape shots. My lab can do roll film but nothing larger, hence this choice. I also obviously want to have the shift/swing/rise capability for focal plane control. I've searched a lot of the archive of this list to avoid asking a faq, but there are not many beginners asking these questions. How feasible is it to get into this LF style of photography the way I am approaching it? Any reccommendations on brands of equipment? Any opinions on reasonable ebay prices for a full ready-to-shoot rig? I don't want to end up buying most of a system and then waiting years for some crucial priceless widget made of weapons-grade unobtainium to appear on ebay. Just a note on buying used equipment rather than what type of equipment. Why ebay? LF is both a serious and expensive endeavor -- especially the optics. Not saying you might not find good buys there but there are also no guarantees and no merchants of known reputable history. If I buy used, I buy from known dealers, where I _know_ the equipment has been inspected and rated (poor, fair, good, excellent condition) and there is a return policy. I might suggest Calumet photo (www.calumetphoto.com) is one such used equipment dealer. Has both US, Britain, and continental Europe outlets. I might also suggest (since your stated genre is nature) a field camera rather than a rail system. You simply don't need the full movements possible with rail cameras for nature photography. YEs, you can userails in the field, but they're most functional in the studio. In fact, you might easily get by with a Pentax 6x7 unless you're dead set on having view camera movements and controls. Regarding a "ready" to shoot system: view camera w/bellows and standards, rail clamp, tripod, the ability to mount on the tripod (i.e., proper bushing thread/mounting screw for rail clamp), lenses+copal shutters and lens boards, cable release, 5x focusing loup, darkcloth, and light meter. Plus filters of the proper thread mount for the lenses or a filter holder (thread mounts are different for different lenses so a filter holder makes sense.) I'm sure I've left something out. |
#9
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JC in Ireland wrote: Greetings list - I need some expert advice. I'm thinking of moving my photography up a few notches, currently I use Mamiya TLR's and Canon A1's, and mostly do non-pro nature, archaeology and landscape photography, with some vintage racing cars when I get my freedom. I'm thinking of buying a 5 x 4 (in.) rail system, capable of taking a 6 x 7 and/or 6 x 9 (cm) roll film back, in order to get to greater negative area in horizontal landscape shots. My lab can do roll film but nothing larger, hence this choice. I also obviously want to have the shift/swing/rise capability for focal plane control. I've searched a lot of the archive of this list to avoid asking a faq, but there are not many beginners asking these questions. How feasible is it to get into this LF style of photography the way I am approaching it? Any reccommendations on brands of equipment? Any opinions on reasonable ebay prices for a full ready-to-shoot rig? I don't want to end up buying most of a system and then waiting years for some crucial priceless widget made of weapons-grade unobtainium to appear on ebay. Just a note on buying used equipment rather than what type of equipment. Why ebay? LF is both a serious and expensive endeavor -- especially the optics. Not saying you might not find good buys there but there are also no guarantees and no merchants of known reputable history. If I buy used, I buy from known dealers, where I _know_ the equipment has been inspected and rated (poor, fair, good, excellent condition) and there is a return policy. I might suggest Calumet photo (www.calumetphoto.com) is one such used equipment dealer. Has both US, Britain, and continental Europe outlets. I might also suggest (since your stated genre is nature) a field camera rather than a rail system. You simply don't need the full movements possible with rail cameras for nature photography. YEs, you can userails in the field, but they're most functional in the studio. In fact, you might easily get by with a Pentax 6x7 unless you're dead set on having view camera movements and controls. Regarding a "ready" to shoot system: view camera w/bellows and standards, rail clamp, tripod, the ability to mount on the tripod (i.e., proper bushing thread/mounting screw for rail clamp), lenses+copal shutters and lens boards, cable release, 5x focusing loup, darkcloth, and light meter. Plus filters of the proper thread mount for the lenses or a filter holder (thread mounts are different for different lenses so a filter holder makes sense.) I'm sure I've left something out. |
#10
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"JC in Ireland" wrote in message
om... Greetings list - I need some expert advice. I'm thinking of moving my photography up a few notches, currently I use Mamiya TLR's and Canon A1's, and mostly do non-pro nature, archaeology and landscape photography, with some vintage racing cars when I get my freedom. I'm thinking of buying a 5 x 4 (in.) rail system, capable of taking a 6 x 7 and/or 6 x 9 (cm) roll film back, in order to get to greater negative area in horizontal landscape shots. My lab can do roll film but nothing larger, hence this choice. I also obviously want to have the shift/swing/rise capability for focal plane control. I've searched a lot of the archive of this list to avoid asking a faq, but there are not many beginners asking these questions. How feasible is it to get into this LF style of photography the way I am approaching it? Any reccommendations on brands of equipment? Any opinions on reasonable ebay prices for a full ready-to-shoot rig? I don't want to end up buying most of a system and then waiting years for some crucial priceless widget made of weapons-grade unobtainium to appear on ebay. All answers gratefully received. JC in Ireland Any reason it has to be a 4x5 camera? Do you intend to shoot 4x5 sometimnes, or only use the roll-film backs? If the latter, you might do better with a camera designed specifically for them - it'll be smaller, lighter, and possibly handle wider lenses better than using a 4x5. Also, any reason it has to be a monorail? A field or technical camera might do better for your stated uses. I have both a 6x9 technical camera and a 6x9 monorail, and the technical camera sees much more use in the field, with the monorail really being saved for the studio and some of the trickier architectural things. If you answer these two questions, I (certainly) and others (probably) will be better placed to give you more help. My outdoor work is mostly landscape, and I have also worked as an archaeologist, so I hope I can offer some relevant thoughts. Cheers, Peter |
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