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

AshleyC said:
you also have to factor in the weight of the darkslides, tripod, meters, flashpan, gunpowder etc. it all adds up to a full rucksack for a day out!
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Yep, I think it will be a camera for Latrigg rather than Helvellyn and it won't be going out with me if I have the wife in tow but I need to give it the full Joe Cornish and see if it sates my need for better landscapes.
 
I did Helvellyn with mine and nearly killed myself getting up there with it all! That last climb after striding edge was torture. So its also worth investing in a good compact :)
 
We've told you about gently stroking your titanium movements... its a filthy habit and you'll go blind.:D
 
Andysnap said:
@RaglanSurf
What does that beautiful beast weigh and what is it like folded up?
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It weighs a tiny 1242g without lens/lensboard, not much more than a pint of your favourite tipple and it looks like this

Nagaoka-8 by Nick Watson, on Flickr

Nagaoka-6 by Nick Watson, on Flickr

Nagaoka-5 by Nick Watson, on Flickr

Nagaoka-4 by Nick Watson, on Flickr

Nagaoka-3 by Nick Watson, on Flickr

Nagaoka-2 by Nick Watson, on Flickr

Andy, I am very aware that this could possibly be viewed as bordering on trading outside the classifieds so if you are seriously interested I'll put an ad up. Also if you want I can bring it to the Mega-Meet and you can have a play then.
 
AshleyC said:
I did Helvellyn with mine and nearly killed myself getting up there with it all! That last climb after striding edge was torture. So its also worth investing in a good compact :)
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Oh I've got some of those, a Fuji X-T1 or an Olympus X-A2. :)
 
RaglanSurf said:
It weighs a tiny 1242g without lens/lensboard, not much more than a pint of your favourite tipple and it looks like this

Nagaoka-8 by Nick Watson, on Flickr

Nagaoka-6 by Nick Watson, on Flickr

Nagaoka-5 by Nick Watson, on Flickr

Nagaoka-4 by Nick Watson, on Flickr

Nagaoka-3 by Nick Watson, on Flickr

Nagaoka-2 by Nick Watson, on Flickr

Andy, I am very aware that this could possibly be viewed as bordering on trading outside the classifieds so if you are seriously interested I'll put an ad up. Also if you want I can bring it to the Mega-Meet and you can have a play then.
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Fair enough Nick, if you have the room to bring it that would be lovely, just to give me an idea of what I'm getting into. And just to placate any lovely mod types, I'm only asking as I wanted to know roughly the size and weight before I decide what to buy. No thoughts as yet to getting anything, no, no, just looking not touching.
 
Woodsy said:
1242g?! Christ! I might buy it just on that alone!
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I know, it really is a camera for those long walks up steep hills.
 
If you're quick(ish) you might be able to snap up the last Walker Titan SF which is plastic. :) I have one, as well as a Wista - the Wista is lighter, but the Titan has other qualities which make up for the weight.
 
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It was definitely in the running Stephen but I think I would become disenchanted with it and wish I'd gone for the full month.
 
Exposed 2 shots on Ektar yesterday on the 10x8, the wind was again playing havoc up over 1000ft but the tripod and head are sturdy so managed to get the shot fingers crossed. These are just 25 minutes up the road so planning on taking it up there soon on a preferably windless day:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arrochar_Alps
 
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Laudrup said:
Exposed 2 shots on Ektar yesterday on the 10x8, the wind was again playing havoc up over 1000ft but the tripod and head are sturdy so managed to get the shot fingers crossed. These are just 25 minutes up the road so planning on taking it up there soon on a preferably windless day:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arrochar_Alps
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A fine set of hills, hope you get some good results. (y)
 
Dunno if it has been mentioned or even tried but IIRC on reading recently.... some guy used printing paper in his gear and got decent\reasonable results?????
 
Yep, normal enlarger paper will develop negative if used directly in camera, it'll also exhibit a lower dynamic range than most B&W films as well (iirc?). Equally, it has a significantly lower effective ISO than the majority of films, so can be great for long exposures. You can also use direct positive paper as well which, again iirc, has much of the same properties as above.

http://www.ilfordphoto.com/products/product.asp?n=65
 
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Woodsy said:
Yep, normal enlarger paper will develop negative if used directly in camera, it'll also exhibit a lower dynamic range than most B&W films as well (iirc?). Equally, it has a significantly lower effective ISO than the majority of films, so can be great for long exposures. You can also use direct positive paper as well which, again iirc, has much of the same properties as above.

http://www.ilfordphoto.com/products/product.asp?n=65
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Is this available again? I thought it was out of stock everywhere.
 
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I'm hoping to take my 5x4 camera out for a trial this weekend. It's been about two and a half years since I started building it - and it's not quite finished yet! - But it is at a stage where it can expose film!

I will post some pictures of it later.


Steve.
 
No idea, Nick. It's just one example that for some reason I always remember.

Always had an itch to try shooting paper, just never got round to it. Equally, if I'm going to splash out, Acros 100 is about £26 / 20 sheets from Japan (+ all the usual fees), and that stuff make me positively weak at the knees...
 
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Woodsy said:
No idea, Nick. It's just one example that for some reason I always remember.

Always had an itch to try shooting paper, just never got round to it. Equally, if I'm going to splash out, Acros 100 is about £26 / 20 sheets from Japan (+ all the usual fees), and that stuff make me positively weak at the knees...
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Where from?
 
Woodsy said:
In general? or with additional movements?
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I can generally get infinity/selective focus from moving the standards thats just the same as on my smaller cameras, things get a bit more ropey when I start tilting for front to back sharpness or swinging to match an object focal plane.
 
steveo_mcg said:
I can generally get infinity/selective focus from moving the standards thats just the same as on my smaller cameras, things get a bit more ropey when I start tilting for front to back sharpness or swinging to match an object focal plane.
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You're not alone Steveo although I dunno if the reasons are similar for us both

Even though my eyesight isn't as good as it once was, I find that after quite a short time of focusing, tiltng, refocusing, checking for vignette etc that I actually do not know for sure wether I've nailed the focus that i want or wether my eyes are seeing what they "want" to see ( does anyone actually understand what i'm rabbitng about! lol)

It's not as if I'm trying to view a dim scene on the GG either as usually it's good light here and wide open I'm typically viewing at F/5.6.

Maybe I could do with a stronger loupe?
 
I use a 4x loupe and that seems fairly good. My ebony has a Fresnel lens viewing screen which I, for some reason, can't seem to get used to. It's brighter than ground glass, but at the same time, I just find it harder to focus with :/ Does anyone know of anyone/anywhere that makes ground glass for 5x4?
 
Asha said:
You're not alone Steveo although I dunno if the reasons are similar for us both

Even though my eyesight isn't as good as it once was, I find that after quite a short time of focusing, tiltng, refocusing, checking for vignette etc that I actually do not know for sure wether I've nailed the focus that i want or wether my eyes are seeing what they "want" to see ( does anyone actually understand what i'm rabbitng about! lol)

It's not as if I'm trying to view a dim scene on the GG either as usually it's good light here and wide open I'm typically viewing at F/5.6.

Maybe I could do with a stronger loupe?
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Yeah I find that too. I think my eyes decide that's enough! I've got a 4x and 8x loupe and have the same problem with both....
 
Woodsy said:
I use a 4x loupe and that seems fairly good. My ebony has a Fresnel lens viewing screen which I, for some reason, can't seem to get used to. It's brighter than ground glass, but at the same time, I just find it harder to focus with :/ Does anyone know of anyone/anywhere that makes ground glass for 5x4?
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I had to get one custom cut for my old Arca. These guys sorted me out and its far brighter than the original gg even with the fresnel. I never got on with the fresnel either tbh.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/281446143053
 
I found what makes it easier to focus is 10x8 ;) I have read about Satin Snow ground glass being good on the large format forum. I had to replace my Shen-Hao GG with an Ebony fresnel and it helped to make focusing easier.
 
I'm sure that you chaps know what you are doing but I found the tips here useful.
steveo_mcg said:
I can generally get infinity/selective focus from moving the standards thats just the same as on my smaller cameras, things get a bit more ropey when I start tilting for front to back sharpness or swinging to match an object focal plane.
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Asha said:
You're not alone Steveo although I dunno if the reasons are similar for us both

Even though my eyesight isn't as good as it once was, I find that after quite a short time of focusing, tiltng, refocusing, checking for vignette etc that I actually do not know for sure wether I've nailed the focus that i want or wether my eyes are seeing what they "want" to see ( does anyone actually understand what i'm rabbitng about! lol)

It's not as if I'm trying to view a dim scene on the GG either as usually it's good light here and wide open I'm typically viewing at F/5.6.

Maybe I could do with a stronger loupe?
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wickerman said:
I'm sure that you chaps know what you are doing but I found the tips here useful.
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Thanks for that David ...much appreciated.

I hope there's not an examination after studying it all :confused: cos rest assured I am gunna come second place to @ steveo-mcg :D

It is definetly going to require several re -reads on my part, however it's like anything, once it clicks into place, then it will make sense ...................evidently:exit::D
 
steveo_mcg said:
Yeah I find that too. I think my eyes decide that's enough! I've got a 4x and 8x loupe and have the same problem with both....
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Woodsy said:
I use a 4x loupe and that seems fairly good.
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I have a 3.6 x ( don't ask why it's not a 4x..... it came with the set up) , so it seems a futile expense to try stronger going on your experiences
 
Well, to be fair, it's the only one I've ever had, so I can't say my opinion is based on broader experience. Some may use higher or lower magnification and get on with them fine. I suppose all I can really say is that I've never missed focus and rested the blame on the loupe.
 
Laudrup said:
I found what makes it easier to focus is 10x8 ;) I have read about Satin Snow ground glass being good on the large format forum. I had to replace my Shen-Hao GG with an Ebony fresnel and it helped to make focusing easier.
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8x10 And contact printing would probably solve me problems. Buuuut I'd never get away with it.

wickerman said:
I'm sure that you chaps know what you are doing but I found the tips here useful.
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I've read that a few times but it never seems to click when I'm actually using the camera. It's somewhat annoying!
 
As promised, some pictures of my folding 5x4 camera in its nearly finished state. Just need to add some catches, a carrying handle and some knobs on the focusing pinions and it will be done.

5x4-3.JPG


And here is a sequence of pictures showing the unfolding sequence.

http://stevesmithphoto.webs.com/fold1.JPG
http://stevesmithphoto.webs.com/fold2.JPG
http://stevesmithphoto.webs.com/fold3.JPG
http://stevesmithphoto.webs.com/fold4.JPG


Steve.
 
That is bloody brilliant. ^^^ (y)
 
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