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

No Steve that just asks me to sign up to One Drive.
 
Getting closer Steve,I'm looking in my phone now and like Asha I can see the driveway shot but the first two are staying resolutely blank.
 
Which is all I can see as a thumbnail. If you move the mouse cursor to the left of the one image, you'll find it reveals an empty box. If you click on one of them, you'll get the black screen of mystery; but if you then click on the menu item "View original" you'll be able to download them and you may find something that will let you view them. If you click (on the original screen) the small keyboard icon next to the "sort" button, the display swiches from thumbnails to details; and you'll then find that the first "image" is 225mb and the second 1.4gb (no typos). The one you can see is the Plustek scan.

They open fine in ACDSee 2.4 and Photoshop CS2. The large size can be a problem with some software. But big is beautiful.

Edit to add - you do need to download them because you'll only see the significant differences when you view the Plustek one at 100% and the V750 at the same size (about 50%). I have a couple of 21" monitors, and the Plustek scan would need just under 4 such screen side by side to view the complete width of the image in one go at 100%.
 
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Thanks Steve, they are quite amazingly large but definitely worth looking at.

So, here we are then. I'm finally a Large Formateer. :D

MPP Mk Vii by Andy, on Flickr

It's built like a tank so I don't think I'll be lugging it up many hills but it's actually in much nicer condition than the donor let on. (y) Everything is beautifully smooth and the glass looks in super condition, all I need to do now is learn how to use it. I'm not going to say who the very generous person was who pretty much gifted this beauty to me but Sir Trevor sounds pretty good, I shall be informing Her Majesty in time for the New Years Honours list. ;)
 
Very nice Andy @Andysnap, however you have yet to stuff a sheet of 4x5 to become a true Large Formateer ( yes 4x5 here, sorry if it irritates the 5x4 ers over there in Blighty!:D)

I suspect it won't take long for that moment to arrive :exit::D
 
Asha said:
Very nice Andy @Andysnap, however you have yet to stuff a sheet of 4x5 to become a true Large Formateer ( yes 4x5 here, sorry if it irritates the 5x4 ers over there in Blighty!:D)

I suspect it won't take long for that moment to arrive :exit::D
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Correct mate, in fact the dark bag is on the table with a box of film and 2 dds in it. :D
 
Now just remember, in LANDSCAPE orientation, the notches should be at the BOTTOM RIGHT of the sheet for the emulsion facing you. :D

Oh, and make sure the film goes under the rails ;)

Oh, and make sure the flap is fully folded back down again before opening the dark bag.

Oh, and don't forget to adopt a shot / unshot convention with the black / white sides of the dark slide.

Oh, and make sure you note down what film is in which DDS!

Oh, and make sure to close the lens shutter before taking the dark slide out!

And those are just the mistakes from memory :/
 
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Oh lordy.... so many things to remember. OK folks wish me luck I'm off to load the DDS with some OOD film and take a couple of shots. :runaway:
 
Andysnap said:
Oh lordy.... so many things to remember. OK folks wish me luck I'm off to load the DDS with some OOD film and take a couple of shots. :runaway:
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Good luck, I really should publish my book on how to mess up with large format.
 
Ok, a bit tricky getting the dds loaDed, gave up with the second one try again later.
First 2 now devved and drying off , images on both. :banana:
I didn't try anything fancy with movements just a straight shot, very pleased so far.
 
Woohoo, it works! I've got this to come
myself and can't wait. Well done mate, look forward to seeing it out to good use in the Lakes.
 
I'm thinking that a loupe would be a good idea as the GG screen is not very bright for my weary old mince pies, any suggestions as to a good one (not too expensive, with a nice path running through the middle.... sorry Pythoned)
 
Andysnap said:
Ok, a bit tricky getting the dds loaDed, gave up with the second one try again later.
First 2 now devved and drying off , images on both. :banana:
I didn't try anything fancy with movements just a straight shot, very pleased so far.
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I'm impressed both my first two were fails. Can't wait to see them.
 
Ta Da.....

Rose by Andy, on Flickr

Nothing special, in fact normally I'd have been disappointed, but I'm rather pleased it all worked.
 
@Andysnap ..onward...well done mate. How delicious are those big negs ..
 
trevorbray said:
@Andysnap ..onward...well done mate. How delicious are those big negs ..
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Thanks Trev, a wonderful piece of equipment and I'm really looking forward to taking it out to somewhere rocky and impressive. Those negs are huge and fabulous. My main problem is scanning, the v500 want do 5x4 and its a pain doing them in 2 passes and fitting them together in PS.
 
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It has it's risks, but if you'd like me to scan them, or any future frames on my V700, by all means wang them my way :)

Looks like you got the focus pretty much spot on as well!
 
Woodsy said:
It has it's risks, but if you'd like me to scan them, or any future frames on my V700, by all means wang them my way :)

Looks like you got the focus pretty much spot on as well!
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Thanks for that matey, I may take you up on it if I ever take anything worth the bother. :D

Second lot of 4 shots now drying, went to my usual camera testing spot, Mow Cop. Everything went ok apart from it being very windy and the dark cloth I was using blowing about and making me look like the Count. I may have made a mistake though and tried to develop all 4 at once, it looks as though one of the negs has a massive mark across it from the elastic band, not sure quite why as yet.
 
Andysnap said:
it looks as though one of the negs has a massive mark across it from the elastic band, not sure quite why as yet.
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You may have folded the sheet emulsion side outwards...if so then the band will hav caused a barrier between the developer and emulsion , thus leaving a line across the negative...............If that is the case, then I'm afraid you can do nowt about it!
 
This is always the risk with the band method. It's cheap and just about does the job but yes, as above really, either the band was on the emulsion side, or the pre wash and/or dev didn't uniformly remove the antihalation layer.
 
Thanks Trevor. Thoughtful of you to remember.

Andy and I had a conversation about LF after the Stratford meet up.

I have concluded that it's not for me. I'm going as far as 6x9, and that's it.

I have a Zeiss Super Ikonta that I'm starting to get good results out of. I'm going to sell some of my Bronica lenses to fund a Fuji GSW 690 for wide angle.
 
I did consider giving Simon a call but I only had an hour or so then I had to get back to carry on with the chores the CMS had set me......:(
 
Is it wrong that I'm attracted to this, in a 1970s sort of way? I blame Steve and his blummin' Polaroids. Replace the veneer, spray the metalwork, though it's a bit expensive for a fixer-upper.

Wista 45 on ebay
 
That looks good in a 70's hostess trolley kind of way ;0). But, fit a new new veneer or leather skin and it would look a million times better.

Don't forget to factor in a replacement lens and a few film holders too.
 
robhooley167 said:
Embrace the 70's

Embrace them...
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Been, there, done that, bought the tie-dye tee-shirt... in real time.... You weren't there man, you don't know....
 
Woodsy said:
I'd say go for it @Strappy
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I'm resisting temptation until I've got rid of some cameras, I can't justify getting another when I'm not using the ones I have already. :)

stevelmx5 said:
Don't forget to factor in a replacement lens and a few film holders too.
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Yeah, not so much of an issue as I've been building up a collection of bits ready to go large format over the last few months - got a lens, some dark slides, a MOD54 and even some Velvia QuickLoad sheets and a holder :oops: :$

I've also got a Sinar F2 but it doesn't fit into any of my bags with room for anything else so doesn't really work as the landscape camera I wanted. I'm stuck between keeping it because it's a really versatile camera with all the movements you could want and selling because it's really a studio camera not suited for taking on a hike. Or getting another bag, though I've now got a couple that I'm really happy with and are comfortable and I don't really want to start over with another bag.

So, in short, as I don't really know what I'm doing right now it's probably not the best moment to buy another camera. :(
 
Right, my previous post got me thinking about the inanity of having a large format camera with all the gubbins and doing nothing with it because it doesn't fit in a bag. I've had a word with myself and think I may be on to something ...

Least I can do is try the thing out. I got it at a bargain price so there's no reason I wouldn't be able to sell it for at least what I paid even after giving it some use. In the meantime, I can properly research field cameras and sort out exactly what I want, even if that is the camera equivalent of a hostess trolley :)
 
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