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

I have a Crown Graphic that is basically a Speed Graphic without the focal plane shutter.

Whilst it is a fairly economical route to large format photography it does have its limitations. Over time you may wish that you had bitten the bullet and spent a little more on a better camera in the first place.

The Crown Graphic can be used as a landscape camera and there are some tricks to get over some of the limitations in movements. The most frustrating thing that I found and the reason I upgraded was the lack of revolving back. This means that to take a shot in portrait format you have to turn the whole camera on its side rather than just turning the ground glass frame. By doing so you lose the ability to use lens tilt as the Crown Graphic doesn't have front swing.

Personally, with the benefit of hindsight I should have bought a LF camera with full movements and revolving back in the first place.

HTH
 
Opinions needed, I've found a nice looking polycarbonate ground glass on ebay for about the same price as the Yanke one; I don't know how well it will perform of course.

An alternative is another yanke which I did quite like and cutting a large piece of perspex and Velcroing it over the gg holder when the camera is not in use.
 
steveo_mcg said:
Opinions needed, I've found a nice looking polycarbonate ground glass on ebay for about the same price as the Yanke one; I don't know how well it will perform of course.

An alternative is another yanke which I did quite like and cutting a large piece of perspex and Velcroing it over the gg holder when the camera is not in use.
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It looks like you need to either buy or make yourself one of these.
 
wickerman said:
It looks like you need to either buy or make yourself one of these.
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Yeah Nick pointed me towards one £30 for a bit of acrylic is kind of pushing it. I've got a big bit of thick plexi in the house that I could velcro on but I'm not sure if that would really help.
 
this was the 120 loader i have for my wista, it has a 6x8.5 cm window in it which seems a bit odd but there you go...



 
Thanks guys for all the advice and ideas. I'm still not sure what to do but I'm not in any hurry so I'll take my time and give it some thought.
 
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^^^ The axis of evil....
 
If it helps, I've just been through and downloaded all my pictures of my Arca, but its not nearly as pretty as Woodsy's or Nick's for that matter.
 
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OK, I've given it some thought and I'm going to save up until I can afford to get the whole shebang in one go. I've not quite decided yet which breed to go for, I need to weigh up weight against robustness. I want it to be as lightweight as poss but not too fragile, I do like the look of the Shen Hao but the Wistas are also very appealing. Definitely needs to be a field type though.
 
Andysnap said:
OK, I've given it some thought and I'm going to save up until I can afford to get the whole shebang in one go. I've not quite decided yet which breed to go for, I need to weigh up weight against robustness. I want it to be as lightweight as poss but not too fragile, I do like the look of the Shen Hao but the Wistas are also very appealing. Definitely needs to be a field type though.
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Good man :D

What's your projected budget, give or take? I'll keep an eye out for cameras for you :)
 
Woodsy said:
Good man :D

What's your projected budget, give or take? I'll keep an eye out for cameras for you :)
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Well, how long is a piece of string? I suppose for everything, camera, lens/es, tripehound, dark slides, cloth, probably a grand, but it won't be until the end of the year unless the lottery fairy pops up with a big win.
 
I put my Arca together for less than half that, but its not as nice a camera and a bit of bear in the field.
 
That's a pretty healthy budget imho, considering you have some bits already. F/5.6 glass is always nicer to compose with than F/8 unless the scene is bright, though they tend to be heavier, for obvious reasons. Thankfully the 150mm 'standard' lenses can be had in F/5.6 and are generally tiny and hence small. they're a good place to start imo. Dark slides don't have to cost a lot if you only start off with 2-3 (4-6 photos, obviously) and I used an old T-shirt as a dark cloth, so, what, £5? :D
 
I wouldn't mind someone buying this for me if they've got a spare £499 to lend me..

http://www.gumtree.com/p/non-digita...s-dark-cloth-large-format-can-post/1122406711

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It's also on Ebay at £499 or best offer

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Wista-Fie...692?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item33a55f4674
 
I looked at that, seems to be a bit of a bargain. I would defo have considered it if I had the necessary moolah.
 
steveo_mcg said:
I put my Arca together for less than half that, but its not as nice a camera and a bit of bear in the field.
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Being of a more elderly persuasion weight is definitely one of the top considerations, which is why I'm looking at a nice wooden field camera. The Shen Hao PTB weighs 3lbs... 3lbs, that's less than my liver.

Woodsy said:
That's a pretty healthy budget imho, considering you have some bits already. F/5.6 glass is always nicer to compose with than F/8 unless the scene is bright, though they tend to be heavier, for obvious reasons. Thankfully the 150mm 'standard' lenses can be had in F/5.6 and are generally tiny and hence small. they're a good place to start imo. Dark slides don't have to cost a lot if you only start off with 2-3 (4-6 photos, obviously) and I used an old T-shirt as a dark cloth, so, what, £5? :D
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If something comes up a bit cheaper then fine but I'm in no rush and can wait until the end of the year and I should have about that by then.
 
actually , thinking about it, why do we take multiple cameras out with us. I think my spare was a digital as well, oh the shame!
 
Andysnap said:
Being of a more elderly persuasion weight is definitely one of the top considerations, which is why I'm looking at a nice wooden field camera. The Shen Hao PTB weighs 3lbs... 3lbs, that's less than my liver.
.
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As I understand it I lucked out with the Arca, its very light for a monorail (and not very hard to put up for a monorail) but the camera is only about a third of my all up weight. By the time you add a few dds, a couple of lenses, a cloth and a decent tripod; saving a pound or two at the cost of hundreds doesn't look that worth while. Walk a bit slower, buy more film and get a good backpack.
 
AshleyC said:
actually , thinking about it, why do we take multiple cameras out with us. I think my spare was a digital as well, oh the shame!
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I just use my phone, it doubles as a snap shot camera for shots I might come back to, a reciprocity calculator and a way of taking photos of my proper cameras.
 
AshleyC said:
actually , thinking about it, why do we take multiple cameras out with us. I think my spare was a digital as well, oh the shame!
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I'm off to the Isle of Arran on Saturday and I'm desperately trying not to pack too many cameras... is there such a thing? Narrowed it down to the Mamiya C330, Rolleiflex, Fuji X-T1 and Nikon D7100 with the Bigma for wildlife, gonna need a trailer.
 
steveo_mcg said:
As I understand it I lucked out with the Arca, its very light for a monorail (and not very hard to put up for a monorail) but the camera is only about a third of my all up weight. By the time you add a few dds, a couple of lenses, a cloth and a decent tripod; saving a pound or two at the cost of hundreds doesn't look that worth while. Walk a bit slower, buy more film and get a good backpack.
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I know what your saying but to be honest if I walked any slower I would be walking backwards, The CMS is constantly having to stop and wait for me, any slower and divorce would be on the cards I think. :D
 
Andysnap said:
I'm off to the Isle of Arran on Saturday and I'm desperately trying not to pack too many cameras... is there such a thing? Narrowed it down to the Mamiya C330, Rolleiflex, Fuji X-T1 and Nikon D7100 with the Bigma for wildlife, gonna need a trailer.
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Either the Mamiya or the Rollei, not both and leave the D7100 behind, you don't need to take two digital cameras even if it does come with a giant comedy lens.
 
You say that but the Fuji aint no good for wildlife and the Nikon is too big to lug up a hill. I will probably take the flex instead of the Mamiya though.
 
Also good for tall buildings in vertical format and a lens with a large image circle to support loads of rise
 
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