Making a start in large format

[Wombat]

I've been toying with the idea of having a go at large format photography for many years, but now I think I have the resources to cope with it.  I know some on here have substantial experience with LF stuff (I know David Martin does for sure), so I'm hoping for a few pointers.

Initially I fancy 5x4, because its comparatively handy, and lenses for the type fo thing I am interested in are moderate prices. I should point out that what I am interested in is landscapes, and some architectural photography.  I have considered buying a secondhand (I suppose someone must buy new LF stuff, but I have no intention of doing so!) 5x4 field camera, possibly a Toyo or Wista.  A lens such as a Schneider Super Angulon 90/f8 or maybe 6.8 seesm reasonable, and there seem to be loads of them out there.

However....  I do fancy building my own camera, and whilst its quite an undertaking, I do have some engineering skills and the equipment (lathe, milling machine, friends with laser cutters and CNC mills).  This opens up the format question again.  I do lust after a 6x17 panoramic camera, and this could be achieved with a roll film back on a 5x7 field camera.  Obviously building or buying a 6x17 back is a major undertaking, but what the hell, it can't be harder than an articulated live steam locomotive....  Obvously I'd buy sheet film backs, darkslides etc, and would intend to tank develop the resultant monochrome sheets, and then scan them.  I could actually scan 6x17 on my present scanner, but 5x4 would need me to cough up for an Epson V700 or 750... 

I have past experience in medium format, with a pair of Mamiya C33s, quite a few years ago, but I've always had a hankering for landscapes done very calmly and slowly in 5x4 or thereabouts.

Its no good me asking you lot if I'm crackers, I know I am, but is there some sense in my train of thought, and should I be looking anywhere specific for secondhand field cameras, other than Ebay? Embarrassingly, I've never actually even seen a 5x4 camera up close, and I'm fairly sure than none of you that have such things are anywhere near me, I believe David Martin is at the other end of the land mass in question...

[David Martin]

I should say I have a little experience with LF, but it has bee n sucessful enough to pay for itself. It spends most of the time sitting there looking lonely these days. I will dig it out again and have a play when I have time.

[hazeyblue]

I am a commercial photographer, with a specialism in architectural photography - I trained on a Sinar Norma, worked for many years with a Sinar P and eventually onto a Linhof Technikardan which soon became a favourite camera of mine.

My only advice would be to get up close to a large format system. I know of a few photographers who've longed for a large format kit only to struggle with the discipline required, or the relative hassle of processing sheet film.

Whereabouts in the country are you? Over the years, I've bought LF gear from Bob Rigby in Cheshire, Robert White in Dorset and Teamwork in London - all of which usually have a decent secondhand selection. Also, Aperture in London and Ffordes up in Scotland sell used LF equipment.

For landscape, a field camera is just the ticket - I've used a Toyo 45a which was a solid piece of kit and can be had for reasonable money. Nikkor camera lenses also are a great alternative to the German Rodenstock & Schneider lenses.

[David Martin]

I may well purchase an old film Nion to extract the lens mount then - sounds like a good idea.

[hazeyblue]

They're all discontinued now, but I mean this range which are usually cheaper secondhand than their contemporary German equivalents...

http://www.europe-nikon.com/en_GB/product/discontinued/nikkor-lenses/2006/90mm-f-4-5-sw-large-format-sw-series-lens

[David Martin]

Doh - being stupid. Of course I should have said Nikon large format lenses, not Nikon SLR lenses.

[hazeyblue]

Ha - no worries. I should have been clearer.

[Wombat]

I am a commercial photographer, with a specialism in architectural photography - I trained on a Sinar Norma, worked for many years with a Sinar P and eventually onto a Linhof Technikardan which soon became a favourite camera of mine.

My only advice would be to get up close to a large format system. I know of a few photographers who've longed for a large format kit only to struggle with the discipline required, or the relative hassle of processing sheet film.

Whereabouts in the country are you? Over the years, I've bought LF gear from Bob Rigby in Cheshire, Robert White in Dorset and Teamwork in London - all of which usually have a decent secondhand selection. Also, Aperture in London and Ffordes up in Scotland sell used LF equipment.

For landscape, a field camera is just the ticket - I've used a Toyo 45a which was a solid piece of kit and can be had for reasonable money. Nikkor camera lenses also are a great alternative to the German Rodenstock & Schneider lenses.

I'm aware of Robert White, and they are close enough to me for a visit to be practical (I'm in the bottom right hand corner of Hampshire). Partly its the discipline I want, in contrast to the seeming ability to blast away with the DSLR and get fairly decent results whatever I do.  I know it will be very slow indeed, and instilling the procedure with ground glass, film holders and darkslides will take time before it comes naturally without constantly stopping to think (am I doing this right?).  I currently have no ambitions towards colour, and hope that my countless hundreds of rolls of 35mm and 120 film developing will be of some use to me when developing sheet film.  At the moment there do seem to be enough Schneider Super Angulons about at reasonable prices, so I'll probably take the safe bet on that. 

I suspect the way forward will be buy lens, buy a Toyo or similar 5x4, and slowly build a 5x7 and work towards finding a way to do 6x17 panoramic.  Thanks for the input, I'll keep this place informed when I eventually make progress.  I always think about things such as this for a fair while before I actually DO anything.... 

[hazeyblue]

The discipline will improve your other photography also...

Good luck with it all.

[IanN]

I haven't visited there for a while but the lfphoto forum used to have periodic southern counties meet ups - good for a kit fondle. There will obviously be a wider range of advice there.

I started with a cheap second hand shen hao 5x4 folding field camera and 150mm lens - which I sold on the lfphoto classifieds for what I paid for it. In retrospect this was all I needed...   

A few thoughts

Ffordes sell a lot of LF gear but are at the higher end for price.

For developing look at the MOD54 adaptor for a 3 reel patterson daylight tank. The second version is supposed to overcome films getting dislodged. I've got two combiplans but unfortunately they are discontinued.

For scanning - I've got a V700, which has a 5x4 holder, but for larger you are looking at wet mounting to avoid Newtons's rings. Which probably means a V750. I've got a glass 6x17 negative mount for the V700/750 here somewhere. PM me if you go that way!

For scanning film / dev combinations look at the work of Paul Gallagher. He certainly was using Delta with Prescysol EF to overcome grain. I love his work - cured me of my Joe Cornish phase. Oddly - on lenses - despite being 'inspired' by the 90mm shots by Gallagher and Cornish I find much more use for my 125mm, despite struggling with a 35mm in 35mm  (if you see what I mean) . Your lens choice may change with time so best go for a camera that will cover 75/90 - 240 or 300mm if you can.

Don't forget Fujinon lenses (I've got 125, 180, 300 tele) but older Schneiders are probably easiest to get hold of

You know you want to contact print 10x8 really...   Maybe that's just me

[David Martin]

I have a V750 to play with which seems to work well. Never tried wet mounting on it yet.

Maybe Christmas would be a good chance to get out and play again. I have a 240mm Ektar photocopier lens which is great for night work.

[sojournermike]

I've got a Shen Hao 5 by 7 with both 5 by 7 and 4 by 5 backs, and a 5.6/210mm apo-symmar.

It doesn't get much use at the moment for reasons of practicality (enough that I've toyed with selling it) and not having anywhere dark to develop sheet film, but it's a beautifful thing and there is something very special about the big negs.Contact prints are also a sort of magic.

Hopefully one day it will again see the light of day.