5x4 Large Format Camera

Barney

Barney

Suspended / Banned
Messages
3,043
Name
Wayne
Edit My Images
No
I thought that I might open a thread on the large format camera so that I can selfishly take advantage of the vast wealth of knowledge on this forum. My first question is as follows,

What thing regarding camera operation, scene selection, metering etc did you wish that you knew when you first started out, in fact anything to do with the camera process and image?
 
I wish I knew that my Intrepid 4x5 would disintegrate fairly quickly, with screws falling out, and bellows developing multiple holes. Also that it would be difficult to keep the rear standard at right angles to the base. I wished I'd known that I would buy TWO Intrepid 4x5s after falling down on my back and crushing the camera in my backpack.

I've since changed to a more robust Horseman 45HD - second hand it was twice the cost of a new Intrepid but I could have saved money by going straight to that point. But I don't think you'll have a problem with the robustness of your camera!
 
Last edited:
Kevin Allan said:
I wish I knew that my Intrepid 4x5 would disintegrate fairly quickly, with screws falling out, and bellows developing multiple holes. Also that it would be difficult to keep the rear standard at right angles to the base. I wished I'd know that I would buy TWO Intrepid 4x5s after falling down on my back and crushing the camera in my backpack.

I've since changed to a more robust Horseman 45HD - second hand it was twice the cost of a new Intrepid but I could have saved money by going straight to that point. But I don't think you'll have a problem with the robustness of your camera!
Click to expand...


It's built like a tank Kevin, which is a good thing for me, it seems quite basic regarding gearing and lack of measurement scales, but in an agricultural way rather than it being flimsy. I am so excited,
Swinging back and front will be a bit of push, shove, check and adjust. :) I was wondering about one of your earlier comments regarding practice on a box with writing, as well as those adjustments working in a table top scenario do they work on more distant subjects like trees, walls and hedgelines?
 
Have you looked here:


www.talkphotography.co.uk

Large Format photography group - From "zero to hero!"

Woodsy submitted a new resource: Large Format photography group - From "zero to hero!" - Large Format photography group - From "zero to hero!" Hi All, So I figured in light of everyone else having their specific owners group, us LF shooters could have one as well! I didn't have in mind a...
www.talkphotography.co.uk www.talkphotography.co.uk

There's a pointer to it, and other you might find useful, here:

www.talkphotography.co.uk

Links to Tutorials, Resources, Holga, Bargains and Some other Pinned threads that aren't anymore.

There were quite a lot of pinned threads in F&C some of which were really just "normal" threads so to tidy up a bit they are linked here and unpinned First of all, and probably most important in terms of helping newcomers, or returnees to film shooting...
www.talkphotography.co.uk www.talkphotography.co.uk

I suppose what I didn't know until I started was how easy it was, and how much fun.
 
Made a start on that, I thought LF was a newfangled thing. :ROFLMAO:
 
"LF" doesn't actually stand for "Latest Fad". I suspect that there was no such thing until it became necessary to distinguish it from toy cameras. Carlton Watkins simply used a camera; that the plates were 18 inches by 22 inches didn't make it anything other than a camera.
 
Spend as little as money as possible when starting out, get the Intrepid or a monorail and a single lens, some Foma and go shoot. If you love it then you can think about buying nicer gear. I agree with Kevin the none zero back on the Intrepid is a real pain and I reckon it would not cost much to change it
 
You. Can use a. Roll film back on. Most 5x4 cameras , it is convenient and cost effective.
I did so on a number of building and road progress contracts in In the 70's and 80's
 
Last edited:
Just a small note. For some reason I never worked out, I was unable to access the subclub site until I changed the settings in my router to use a different DNS. Just in case anyone else hits this problem.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top