Large Format Photography . Info

(also known as LFphoto.info for brevity)

Non-commercial community of large format photographers, includes a repository of primers, how-to articles, user's reviews of equipment, and an active discussion forum.

Edited by QT Luong, written by many contributors.     Updated April 2015 · Site timeline.

Questions & Answers Forum

How to get started in large format photography

• A closer look at a large format photograph: for some inspiration. 10/1999
• Why large format ? Pros and cons of LF photography, some references. 4/2001 (rev)
• From MF to LF How large is the step from MF to LF ? 4/2015
• What equipment do I need ? A discussion of all the gear you need to get started. 1/1999 (rev)
• Introduction to large format lenses: basics, operation, lens types and manufacturers, selection. 03/2007 (rev)
• The 5x7 format in practice 11/2005
• How to operate the camera ? A detailed step-by-step guide. 6/2000
• What are the common mistakes, and how to avoid them? It is easy to ruin a picture. Lessons learned the hard way.

Opinion

• Confessions of a recovering magic bullet chaser 12/2003

Technical topics

Pre-exposure

• Film loading
• How to manage film (on a long trip) 5/2001
• Dust and spotting
• Diagnosing and fixing light leaks

Taking the picture

• Introduction to Depth of Field (PDF) and Depth of Field in Depth (PDF) ( comments ) 2/2006
• How to focus the view camera 7/2000
• How to select the f-stop: for maximum sharpness against defocus and diffraction 3/2001 (rev)
• bellows extension exposure compensation 6/1998 (rev)
• view camera stability

Traditional processing and printing

• B&W darkroom for large format photography: a primer. Covers basics about processing and printing and gives additional references 6/1999
• Developing 4X5 Sheet Film, an Alternative Method 3/2003
• E6 sheet film processing on a budget with the Agitank
• 4x5 Unicolor Drum Development 3/2002 (includes considerations on film washing and comments) 10/2004 (rev)
• A few ideas on using Kodak T-Max Films Successfully. John Sexton's 1987 DT article. 7/2000
• The Stoeckler Two-bath Film Developer 9/2000
• James Phillips F-stop printing table (PDF) 8/2003
• Ralph Lambrecht's F-stop printing table (PDF) 12/2003
• Unsharp Masking 9/2003
• Toning, and permanence of silver gelatin prints 6/2005
• The VIDEC system: Precise Control for Superior Black and White Photography (PDF ebook) Andrew C. Eads' alternative to the Zone System 1/2013

Digital

• Generating classic glass negative look when scanning 4x5 3/2003
• A collaborative scanner comparison 4/2005
• Overview of color digital printing 7/2005
• Scanning Black and White negative film with the Microtek Artixscan 1800F 1/2006

Misc

• Sun/Moon Calculator (description) 1/2015 (rev)
• Making a DOF calculator for your camera 6/2000 (rev)
• Building and using a Zone Dial (PDF) 12/2003
• Slider for visualizing where tones should be placed 9/2004
• Links to photographic tools : programs, spreadsheets, calculators, tables, 2/2000 (rev)
• Spreadsheets to help the focussing process 3/2003 (rev)
• Exposure Metering and Zone system calibration (PDF) 8/2003
• Restoring a 8x10 Burke and James 3/2001
• A home made 11x14 hand-held camera (and remarks on the 8x10 Hobo) 12/2001
• Reflexions on camera construction 10/2002
• Guillotine Shutters: Construction and Speeds: simple DYI shutter for barrel lenses 11/2010
• How to make a custom darkroom sink out of PVC
• How to make a wonderful loupe 1/2003
• Wet mounting prints 5/2003
• Odds and ends. 4/2000 (rev)
• Workshops
• Books: for instruction and inspiration 2/2012 (rev)

Travels

• Long distance traveling with the LF camera 2/2001
• A week in the Southwest and Four Corners 2/2001
• Photographing in US National Parks and other federal public lands 4/2001
• A Backpacking trip into the Arrigetch Peaks, Gates of the Artic National Park 7/2001
• Still Photography and Permits on US and California Public Land 9/2013 (rev)

Equipment reviews

Cameras

• Camera reviews
• A 2x3 round-up: a discussion of the 2x3 format and an extensive survey of 2x3 cameras. 9/2001
• A 4x5 round-up : an extensive survey of 4x5 cameras for the field. 03/2001 (rev)
• A 5x7 round-up : an extensive survey of 5x7 cameras for the field. 7/2000 (rev)
• Cheap view cameras 08/2005
• Comparisons 1/2001 (rev)
• Using a monorail in the field. 9/1999
• 4x10 and holders 07/2004
• 8x10
• 11x14

Lenses

• Comparison charts 1/2002
• Generalities, classic vs modern lenses 5/1999 (rev)
• Specific lenses: wide and normal for 4x5 5/1999 (rev)
• Specific lenses : long for 4x5 5/1999 (rev)
• More thoughts on selecting a long lens for 4x5
• A selection of modern lenses for 4x5 field work
• A survey of modern lenses for 5x7
• More on specific classic lenses 5/1999 (rev)
• Docter optik, Carl Zeiss Jena/Jenoptik, Meopta, and Russian LF lenses 7/2002 (rev)
• Wisner Convertible plasmat set 10/97
• Soft-focus lenses and technique 11/2003
• Macro lenses, equipment, and technique 1/2004
• Portrait lenses 4/2012

Accessories

• Shutters: history and use 11/2006
• More on shutters: general info, packard shutters, copals, compurs, protors. 7/2001 (rev)
• Lensboard hole sizes 10/2003
• Sheet Film holders: classical double holders, grafmatics, quickloads, readyloads. 7/2004 (rev)
• Shen Hao 6x17 roll-film back 2/2005
• Shen Hao SH612 Multi-format roll-film back 1/2006
• Enhanced focussing screens: Beattie, fresnels... are they really useful ? 7/1998 (rev)
• Filters: center, polarizers, rectangular systems. 9/2000
• The Zone VI regular tripod: Is it the best damm tripod in the world ?
• Surveyor Tripod Conversion: cheap and indestructable 09/2009
• Tripod heads: Pan-Tilt heads, Ball-heads, QR systems. 10/2004 (rev)
• Backpack survey: carry all this gear for those "unphotogenic" opportunities. 5/1999 (rev)
• Black Jacket focussing cloth 7/2005

Community

• Large Format Photography Forum : most active part of this site
• Photographers directory Hand-maintained by Tom Westbrook
• LF Groups and clubs directory Hand-maintained by Sherman Dunnam
• Links to LF photographers not currently updated
• Commercial LF resources 7/2001