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

abbandon said:
I purpose an LF meet some where that might give people a chance to play with some of the options before laying out the $ on something that might not suit them.

SE I can do at the drop of a hat would be prepared to drag myself some what up country into the wind swept northern tundra of Watford if their is sufficient interest that way ?

And again I have enough bits of Sinar to loan an F out with lenses and not miss it for months.
Click to expand...

It's a good idea, it's been a while since the last one.
 
What about Oxford? Plenty of architecture, although I don' know what the tripod policy is. Can you do LF handheld? ;)
 
You can with some cameras - after all, press photographers used to use 5x4 without tripods. It's the necessity to focus on a ground glass screen and then put the film in the light path that makes a lot of large format cameras tripod only. You can have LF cameras with rangefinders and viewfinders - even 10x8 TLRs have been made - but I doubt many of us have cameras you can use in that way. Step forward all those with technical cameras...
 
Wondering whether this Sinar F1 is a good indication of the price I should expect to pay? There don't seem to be many to compare against in my usual places, probably because I haven't looked for LF gear before. :)
 
Its by no means a bad price but see your pm for a better one (respectable UK dealer just not posting the link so Strappy has a chance to get it if he wishes.

Most of the people I've met who try handheld 5x4 tend to be disapointed with there results its not that it can't be done its just that most people tend to want to use LF these days for higher image quality in landscapes or architecture and mostly you are tossing those advantages away in trying to hand hold. I'm not discounting it as a valid approach for some things there are those who like to try the fast areo lenses for street porttraits two things that would not interest me at all.


As to borrowing kit the F I have really isn't worth that much.

Oxford from memory is immensely car unfriendly.

Either out of the boot or landscape type locations would probably work better.

Birling gap / seven sisters is always a good place down in the soft south if we are looking for some where a bit more central the Peaks maybe

5923142199_4de35e612c_z.jpg



Your bowers is belonging to me ... as such size
 
Right, I've had enough of this tray processing rubbish now! Can't seem to maintain the temp for c41 without a load of faffing about. Gonna keep an eye out for a mod 54 or I'm going to lose my marbles
 
I would have thought tray processing C41 unless you have dish warmers was a recipe for disaster I can perhaps see why people use it for B&W when they are doing developing by observation.

If you have been tray processing this presumably means you have either a dark room or a room you can make dark so why not try dip dunk sink line processing ?

All you need are some film hangers http://www.secondhanddarkroom.co.uk/product.php/kodak_5x4_film_hanger/?k=:::6034600 you can find them on ebay to usually in the states and in multiple configurations (MrCad usually has hangers too) then people use whatever Tupperware alike containers suit in a water bath aka washing up bowl of suitably warmed water.

There are posher ways of doing this the best I have found is the Fotosell print processors these are stainless steel temperature regulated water baths with four acrylic tanks with floating lids the GL80 takes four litres of chemistry in each tank and I believe the minimiser uses two litres. People also use the nova processors and the Jobo DuoLab but using plastic containers in a washing up bowl is a good way to experiment.

Or you can always try what was the best designed small 5x4 tank

Failing that Jobo 2509n real and suitable tank
 
abbandon said:
I would have thought tray processing C41 unless you have dish warmers was a recipe for disaster I can perhaps see why people use it for B&W when they are doing developing by observation.

If you have been tray processing this presumably means you have either a dark room or a room you can make dark so why not try dip dunk sink line processing ?

All you need are some film hangers http://www.secondhanddarkroom.co.uk/product.php/kodak_5x4_film_hanger/?k=:::6034600 you can find them on ebay to usually in the states and in multiple configurations (MrCad usually has hangers too) then people use whatever Tupperware alike containers suit in a water bath aka washing up bowl of suitably warmed water.

There are posher ways of doing this the best I have found is the Fotosell print processors these are stainless steel temperature regulated water baths with four acrylic tanks with floating lids the GL80 takes four litres of chemistry in each tank and I believe the minimiser uses two litres. People also use the nova processors and the Jobo DuoLab but using plastic containers in a washing up bowl is a good way to experiment.

Or you can always try what was the best designed small 5x4 tank

Failing that Jobo 2509n real and suitable tank
Click to expand...

It sort of works, I have my trays laid out inside a larger tray which has hot water in it, but the temperature still drops to the low thirties over the three and a bit minutes it takes.

Yeah I've been blacking out the bathroom using a big blanket over the door, and a blanket pushed into the window frame with a telescopic curtain pole inside to keep it there. Works well until someone uses hot water and the boiler lights up though the slats in the cupboard! I haven't looked at the hanger method, but it does seem like it would lose heat a lot slower than trays. I guess you just buy four suitably shaped tupperware containers and put them inside a bigger washing up bowl?

Trouble is that by the time I've bought some hangers and tupperware boxes, I'll have spent spent close to the £68 that a Mod 54 costs, which can also be used for two 120 rolls (current paterson tank only takes one), and I don't have to black out the bathroom either.

Hmm, gives me something to think about, there are a lot more options than I thought. Cheers for the advice :)
 
abbandon said:
Most of the people I've met who try handheld 5x4 tend to be disapointed with there results its not that it can't be done its just that most people tend to want to use LF these days for higher image quality in landscapes or architecture and mostly you are tossing those advantages away in trying to hand hold. I'm not discounting it as a valid approach for some things there are those who like to try the fast areo lenses for street porttraits two things that would not interest me at all.
Click to expand...

I really was joking about handholding :) ... OTOH there's always this pic of the first female photojournalist perched on the top of a step ladder hand-holding LF (Petapixel story here if the pic link doesn't work).

abbandon said:
Oxford from memory is immensely car unfriendly.

Either out of the boot or landscape type locations would probably work better.

Birling gap / seven sisters is always a good place down in the soft south if we are looking for some where a bit more central the Peaks maybe
Click to expand...

Peaks sounds good... but while I would like to come to any such meet, I'm not a prime candidate, not even into MF yet.
 
abbandon said:
Its by no means a bad price but see your pm for a better one (respectable UK dealer just not posting the link so Strappy has a chance to get it if he wishes.
Click to expand...

And he did. :D

It's a Sinar F2 without the metering back. That omission is not an issue, partly because the price reflected it and partly because I'm rather looking forward to metering scenes manually, all part of the slow-right-down attraction of LF. Haven't got a lens yet, though I did buy some DDSs at the same time. :)
 
Only a couple of things to get to complete the large format set up. Is there a light meter that is preferred? Also what dark cloth to get?
 
Laudrup said:
Only a couple of things to get to complete the large format set up. Is there a light meter that is preferred? Also what dark cloth to get?
Click to expand...

I think light meter is your personal choice tbh .....if you intend taking an slr or similar with you when you go out with thé LF kit then you already have a meter at no additional cost.

Dark cloth......i personally use a black t shirt attached to the rear standard.....works fine!
 
Last edited:
Asha said:
I think light meter is your personal choice tbh .....if you intend taking an slr or similar with you when you go out with thé LF kit then you already have a meter at no additional cost.

Dark cloth......i personally use a black t shirt attached to the rear standard.....works fine!
Click to expand...

I was looking at the Sekonic L-758 instead of always carting the D800 about but I suppose I'll see how much room is taken up in the bag. Might try the t-shirt but does it flap about a bit?
 
Laudrup said:
I was looking at the Sekonic L-758 instead of always carting the D800 about but I suppose I'll see how much room is taken up in the bag. Might try the t-shirt but does it flap about a bit?
Click to expand...
I doubt it flaps anymore than a standard dark cloth and if it's blowing a gale i wouldn't be out with LF kit anyway ....strong wind plus bellows equates to possible disaster:eek:
 
Most any light meter will do but I like the Minolta Flashmeter IV and V as you can use them with the Sinar Booster 1

If you don't like the idea of darkcloths (never use them myself) you could try a folding viewing hood, most of these double as ground glass protectors. There is a specific one but a generic would probably be ok.
 
I thought someone had a dark cloth in the classifieds recently that wasn't sold?
 
I tried the tshirts and just got increasingly frustrated with it. I've got an enormous one for 8x10 which whilst is over kill is pretty stable in the near constant wind that blows through Edinburgh and doubles as protection for the standards.
 
ChrisR said:
I thought someone had a dark cloth in the classifieds recently that wasn't sold?
Click to expand...

Cheers, I went and bought it. Also bought a meter just to save some weight from carrying a DSLR and make it a bit quicker working out the exposure.
 
Good plan. I've found metering with my X10 (much smaller than a DSLR) then exposing with my Autocord an absolute PITA!
 
I've found that metering with a phone app is usually sufficient for Tri-X. Added bonus that the light meter is pocketable and I normally have it with me anyway. Probably only applies if you have a smart phone, though.
 
Strappy said:
Probably only applies if you have a smart phone, though.
Click to expand...


I have a phone (y)

I'm smart :whistle:

but no matter how hard I try I cant get the two to make a smart phone :(

:D:D
 
Strappy said:
And he did. :D

It's a Sinar F2 without the metering back. That omission is not an issue, partly because the price reflected it and partly because I'm rather looking forward to metering scenes manually, all part of the slow-right-down attraction of LF. Haven't got a lens yet, though I did buy some DDSs at the same time. :)
Click to expand...

And I've decided to return it. The camera is considerably larger than I'd expected; while I can break it down and fit it into the bag I intended for it, I can't get much of anything else in there ... no lenses, no accessories and only a couple of DDSs. The bag's an f-stop rucksack with a large ICU so it's not as though I'm being unreasonable with my expectations to take the camera, a couple of lenses and various other bits such as a good light meter.

I think a folding large format camera of some description fits my needs better than the F2. Shame as it's a lovely piece of kit and this example is in excellent condition, it's simply not what I'm looking for.
 
Strappy said:
And I've decided to return it. The camera is considerably larger than I'd expected; while I can break it down and fit it into the bag I intended for it, I can't get much of anything else in there ... no lenses, no accessories and only a couple of DDSs. The bag's an f-stop rucksack with a large ICU so it's not as though I'm being unreasonable with my expectations to take the camera, a couple of lenses and various other bits such as a good light meter.

I think a folding large format camera of some description fits my needs better than the F2. Shame as it's a lovely piece of kit and this example is in excellent condition, it's simply not what I'm looking for.
Click to expand...


Do you mean disassemble and try and carry the pieces ? If so have you tried folding it ?

12393319684_cf660a705c_z.jpg


12393328974_34f63f60fd_z.jpg



Laudrup said:
Any one using soft focus portrait lenses on their large format kit?
Click to expand...

Can't help you with that one I'm afraid as I neither do portraits or soft focus mountains of people over at Large Format info who do though.
 
abbandon said:
Do you mean disassemble and try and carry the pieces ?
Click to expand...

Yes.

abbandon said:
If so have you tried folding it ?
Click to expand...

It doesn't work. The standards are too wide for the bag to put it in as you've shown (standards c.19cm across, bag c.15cm deep) and the rail is too long to fit across the bag. I've tried other configurations without success. I'm happy with the bag, it's all-day comfortable and has plenty of space for when I want to go on a longer walk (well, normally it does) so I don't really want to change it. It's a shame but it's also something I wouldn't have known until I'd tried it.
 
Got the light meter today, a Gossen Starlite 2 and the dark cloth came so should be ready to shoot asap. Having a quick play about outside I might get a new screen for the Shen-Hao as it has the same fit as Ebony and their screen is supposedly brighter. It's not a big deal just maybe something for the future. Think I'll pick up a protector for the screen as well in case of any breakages.
 
Took the camera out and took 4 shots on Ilford black and white yesterday. Couple of questions now, I could develop them myself but say I was to send them to a lab. What is the best place and how do I send them e.g. in a 3 part film box(?) and do I need specific instructions for each photo etc or can I just bung them all in?
 
Peak imaging is pretty much the favorite UK recommendation,not used them myself as I process my own film but they have been pretty much the go to suggestion since I've been doing LF.
Sending them in the film box is a good idea as is asking for it to be returned, no need for instructions unless you require something specific.
 
abbandon said:
Peak imaging is pretty much the favorite UK recommendation,not used them myself as I process my own film but they have been pretty much the go to suggestion since I've been doing LF.
Sending them in the film box is a good idea as is asking for it to be returned, no need for instructions unless you require something specific.
Click to expand...

Thanks they look like what I'm looking for. I was looking at processing my own in time, maybe some Jobo gear which looks good. The Ebony screen came today from Robert White and makes a big difference. Much easier to focus and see everything now.
 
The Jobo gear can make getting consistent results with colour easy. You need the 2509n real which take 6 sheets of 5x4 these are still available new first call sell them for about £35 sad but true muppets often pay more for "rare" secondhand ones on ebay the suitable tank is a 2520 (inversion cap) 2521 (magnet base) or 2523 (cog lid) available new but generally cheaper secondhand. For basic rotation use the rotation base is about £27 new again often more secondhand on ebay while unless you are feeling very flush you will definitely want a secondhand rather than new processor if you want to do colour at home. The CPE2 is good basic processor these are often reaching £200 or more these days the CPA2 or CPP2 are more desirable if you want to do larger quantities at once or need to use the expert tanks. You can some times get these at good prices if sold as seen and also if collection only. The DuoLab is also worth looking out for as are deals with tanks and a processor.
 
abbandon said:
The Jobo gear can make getting consistent results with colour easy. You need the 2509n real which take 6 sheets of 5x4 these are still available new first call sell them for about £35 sad but true muppets often pay more for "rare" secondhand ones on ebay the suitable tank is a 2520 (inversion cap) 2521 (magnet base) or 2523 (cog lid) available new but generally cheaper secondhand. For basic rotation use the rotation base is about £27 new again often more secondhand on ebay while unless you are feeling very flush you will definitely want a secondhand rather than new processor if you want to do colour at home. The CPE2 is good basic processor these are often reaching £200 or more these days the CPA2 or CPP2 are more desirable if you want to do larger quantities at once or need to use the expert tanks. You can some times get these at good prices if sold as seen and also if collection only. The DuoLab is also worth looking out for as are deals with tanks and a processor.
Click to expand...

Thanks that is a great help. All the Jobo numbers were making my head spin. There is a job lot of Jobo gear on ebay just now but it is collect only.

I took the camera out today and shot 4 more shots, it really slows you down and makes you think. I did almost muck up a few shots with people coming up to me and they were polite and asking some questions but I almost forgot to close the lens. Then I somehow managed to forget to turn the darkslide round to show that I had exposed it, put it in the bag and was left with them all saying they were unused even though only 1 was exposed. There are so many ways to muck up an exposure and I think I'll be experiencing them all.
 
Strappy said:
And he did.
Click to expand...

Strappy said:
And I've decided to return it.
Click to expand...

Yeah, um, so I decided to hang on to the F2 after all. Combination of flexibility and the relative cost of replacing it with a folding camera plus the availability of plenty of Sinar parts.

Strappy said:
I'm happy with the bag ... I don't really want to change it.
Click to expand...

I'll have to look into that.




Sigh. I promise to take at least one photo with it before changing my mind again. :oops: :$
 
Strappy said:
Yeah, um, so I decided to hang on to the F2 after all. Combination of flexibility and the relative cost of replacing it with a folding camera plus the availability of plenty of Sinar parts.



I'll have to look into that.




Sigh. I promise to take at least one photo with it before changing my mind again. :oops: :$
Click to expand...

Top man, You'll find a way around carrying it .....I ended up with an french army surplus rucksack but hey, I'm rough and ready ( and tight :p).......someone classy like you will need Manfrotto, Kata or Lowe :D
 
I've just aquired an old external frame pack i want to see if i can adjust to hold the arca fully assembled.
 
My current thinking is towards a panel-opening rucksack such as the Osprey Farpoint 55, which comes with a separate day bag, and adapting some cushioning for the camera along these lines. I've seen a few examples of the bag on ebay so I'm hoping to stick to my original premise of building a large format system on a bit of a budget.

Join me next time when I declare a sudden preference for ultra-large format and start planning to sell everything to buy a quad bike to carry it on. :tumbleweed:
 
steveo_mcg said:
I've just aquired an old external frame pack i want to see if i can adjust to hold the arca fully assembled.
Click to expand...
.........and then go tramping thru Edinburgh with it strapped to ya back .........I wanna see a pic of this! :ROFLMAO:
 
Strappy said:
Join me next time when I declare a sudden preference for ultra-large format and start planning to sell everything to buy a quad bike to carry it on. :tumbleweed:
Click to expand...

:D:D
 
Took some Fuji Provia 100 out yesterday and exposed 2 shots. I was out at Balmaha and went up Conic Hill. Got the mandatory shot of the tree at Milarrochy Bay so hopefully it comes out ok. With the colour film I feel much more selective with what I'm shooting compared to the black and white. I need to pick up a portrait lens or a telephoto.

Anyone ever use xray film?
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top