View Full Version : Hello from Ipswich, MA
MaximumFu
9-Jun-2017, 17:02
Hello all! My name is Matthew and I live in Ipswich, MA, which is mid-way between Boston and New Hampshire. I have not yet purchased a LF system but am just now thinking about it. What I really would like to do I *think* is to be able to contact print 8x10 on both silver and platinum/palladium. To date, I have only worked with silver-based printing in MF.
I have been looking at a Chamonix 8x10. While I am trying to read as much as I can about lenses (including all the information on the home page of this site), I have not come up with a good first lens for 8x10 or where to try to purchase that (are there alternatives to the auction site)?
In any event, I just wanted to introduce myself and to see who else is around MA and New England. I am always open to suggestions (including on the questions I raised in this post) and would love to meet some of you if there is ever a meetup or something similar.
Thanks,
Matthew
Welcome to the forum, Matt.
Good luck pursuing an 8x10 system. I only have 4x5 gear, but here is some advice about finding LF equipment.
I have nothing but praise for KEH (KEH.com). I have bought used 35mm and LF lenses from them. They rate their used equipment very conservatively. Several "bargain" lenses appear like new to my eye. I also have high praise for B&H Photo. People have knocked Adorama, but I think they are trying hard to reverse a previous bad reputation.
I have also had excellent experiences buying LF lenses on Ebay, especially from Japanese sellers. I've gotten used Nikkors, Fuji and Schneider lenses from there. I've looked for mint condition lenses. Every one has been at an excellent price and better than advertised as far as condition. One lens had a small patch of fungus. The seller instantly refunded my money even before he received the return.
I buy other supplies from Freestyle and B&H. I live in Oceanside, CA. Freestyle has amazing delivery performance. There's a Freestyle store in Los Angeles. My orders arrive the next day -faster than Amazon delivers, and that's saying something.
Rich
MaximumFu
9-Jun-2017, 17:49
I have nothing but praise for KEH (KEH.com). I have bought used 35mm and LF lenses from them. They rate their used equipment very conservatively. Several "bargain" lenses appear like new to my eye. I also have high praise for B&H Photo. People have knocked Adorama, but I think they are trying hard to reverse a previous bad reputation.
Totally and completely agree with you about KEH. I bought my Hasselblad and Mamiya systems there. Strange though - is it just me, or does there inventory seem super low these days? I don't whether there has been an uptick in interest in analog gear or whatever else, but it just seems like they have much less in stock than they did a few years ago when I purchased my MF systems. Their rating system is wonderful, though. Completely agree.
Good to know that the auction site can be trusted. Wasn't completely sure as I have just never really purchased from there.
Thanks for the welcome!
-Matthew
Peter Collins
9-Jun-2017, 18:14
Matt,
Most LF photographers hauling and using their equipment outdoors prefer a folding flat bed camera, like the Chamonix that you have your eye on. I have the Chamonix 45N-2, and it is by far the best of the five other 4x5 camera I have owned. Rigid. Easy controls. Also, you might find equipment on Craigslist/Boston area. When visiting family in the Bay Area (CA, not MA), I check Craigslist. I have found 2 very, very good deals in that market--a 16x20 drymount press and a 16x20 print washer. Worth checking.
And welcome to this place! Every week I learn something new here. You might be able to hook up with some LFers in Mass, and have fun with them.
hi matthew
im in RI, but i lived in the boston area for years ..
hunt photo in melrose used to have a thing around november/december
when they would sell all the used gear they bought at the expo. some really good deals to be had.
also keep your eyes peeled for the photographica show in april ( phsne / photographic historic society of new england )
lots and lots of used cameras+lense with dealers with tables.
have fun !
John Kasaian
10-Jun-2017, 07:00
Hello and welcome.
Selecting a first 8x10 lens can be daunting.
For modern lenses, Fuji seem to be the most sought after and while I don't personally own one, from what I've seen in others work, the quality and affordability is impressive.
One of my first 8x10 lenses is the 14" Commercial Ektar and for me, it was (and still is) real workhorse.
I think there is a lot of good choices, but with used lenses I find that condition is everything.
When you can access the FS section here, I think you'll find quite a few trustworthy sellers.
Keh, as other have mentioned, is excellent.
Additionallly, I think Igor Camera has a very good selection and might be worth checking out:
http://www.igorcamera.com/large_format_lenses.htm
EdSawyer
10-Jun-2017, 08:15
Hi,
Seacoast nh here, only shooting 4x5 but maybe we can meet up sometime.
Welcome to the group,
Ed
MaximumFu
10-Jun-2017, 08:44
...only shooting 4x5...
Thanks, Ed, for the welcome. Quick question here - I have always kind of thought I would jump in directly to 8x10, but should I consider 4x5? I'm a big guy so carrying the weight should not be a real issue and its not like I am hiking long distances for my shots. Again, I have always thought about contact printing 8x10, but am wondering if that is not the right entry point into LF.
-Matthew
MaximumFu
10-Jun-2017, 08:45
And welcome to this place!
Thanks, Peter! And MGOBlue!!!
-Matthew (born and raised in AA)
Oren Grad
10-Jun-2017, 09:22
Quick question here - I have always kind of thought I would jump in directly to 8x10, but should I consider 4x5? I'm a big guy so carrying the weight should not be a real issue and its not like I am hiking long distances for my shots. Again, I have always thought about contact printing 8x10, but am wondering if that is not the right entry point into LF.
It's a wonderful entry point into LF - not for everybody, but if that's what your heart is set on, go for it. That's how I started, more than 20 years ago now - 8x10, contact printed - and contact prints, albeit in a variety of formats now, are still where the magic is for me.
Welcome to the Forum!
photog_ed
10-Jun-2017, 20:13
Welcome to the forum, Matthew. I am another voice from New England, in nearby Tyngsboro MA. I shoot 4x5 and 8x10, as well as 6x7 and Noblex panorama. I got my first 4x5 camera almost 50 years ago, but only recently started with 8x10. I would like to meet up some time as well.
Ed
John Kasaian
10-Jun-2017, 20:41
The 240 G Claron is a sweet lens as well.
Steve Goldstein
11-Jun-2017, 02:38
Hello Matthew. I'm in North Reading, mainly use 4x5 and 6x7, and need to start using my bigger cameras more.
EdSawyer
11-Jun-2017, 08:34
8x10 is a nice format, but everything about it is more/bigger/etc: costs, size, effort, etc. for contact printing it probably makes more sense than 4x5. I do enlargements so have centered around 4x5 instead. Can't go wrong either way really.
Robert Brazile
12-Jun-2017, 15:06
Welcome, Matthew. 4x5, 5x7, and 8x10 here, not so very far away. Someday larger.
Robert
Andrew O'Neill
13-Jun-2017, 12:36
Welcome to the forum, Matthew!
George Losse
14-Jun-2017, 08:04
Matthew,
Welcome to the forum.
I was in you position back around 1990. I had worked in 4x5 but was starting to print in platinum/palladium and wanted to work with larger in-camera negatives. The best advice I ever got, was to spend my money on the lens rather than the box (the camera) at first. Buy an inexpensive camera test out if you like the format. The lens came be remounted on the next camera system's lensboard as you move on to a different camera if it turns out you really like the format.
If you are printing in platinum/palladium and like in-camera negatives, 8x10 will seem small after a while. It did to me and 11x14 and 8x20 cameras followed the 8x10.
Before you go down this path have you thought about digitally enlarging your MF images to make your platinum/palladium prints? There are a number of threads on here about that topic.
I have traveled around the country using an 8x10 for many years now. Depending on where I am, I tend to use certain lenses more over other lenses. Very generally speaking here's some samples:
California: 355mm
Colorado: 508mm
Now here in New England...
The Adirondacks: 300mm
The White Mountains: 355mm
Coast of Maine: 508mm
Connecticut: 250mm
The Berkshires: 300mm
When I'm hiking around with my 8x10 Chamonix (Have used many 8x10s over the years, and the Chamonix is my overall favorite), I usually take 2 lenses with me. Here in Connecticut my 250mm and my 508mm. My most least used lens is a 120mm Nikkor, but every now and then it just fits the bill so the 120mm is my third lens to take with me. If I were going to Ipswich, I suppose I would take the same lenses as the ones I prefer to carry in Connecticut. Of course these are very personal preferences....
If I were to have only one lens to universally carry and use, it would surely be a 12 inch (the only lens that I first used for years on my first 8x10).
MaximumFu
16-Jun-2017, 13:37
Thanks to each one of you for the very warm welcome to the site. Much appreciated!!!
dodphotography
3-Aug-2017, 17:45
Welcome man, I make a lot of work up in Crane and Plum Island.
I live in Littleton, not too close but also not that bad of a hike up 495.
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