Hi. I'm new around these parts...

[Stephanie Brim]

After two years of wanting to take the plunge into large format I've finally been given the opportunity to do so: I am now in possession of a bare bones Crown Graphic. It's set up to be a limited view camera more than a press camera, and I'm liking it. It isn't pretty, but it does the job for me right now.

Anyway, just wanted to say hi and also say that the site has helped me quite a bit with understanding LF. I'm learning how to use the movements on my Graphic right now (not that there are that many, mind you). :)

[steve simmons]

Welcome to what hopefully will be a longtime interest.

steve simmons

[John Kasaian]

Welcome Stephanie!

[Ron Marshall]

Welcome to LF and to this site. What is your first focal length on the Crown?

[Gary Beasley]

Hi Stephanie! Glad to see you here. A Crown was my first 4x5, a very worthy camera. See if you can wear it out, eh? ;-)

[roteague]

Hi Stephanie, welcome from Hawaii and welcome to Large Format!!

[Ash]

Hi Stephanie!

[Ralph Barker]

Welcome, Stephanie. Nice to have you join us.

[Vick Vickery]

Welcome to group therepy, Stephanie...you're starting off OK with the Crown Graphic; my first LF was a Busch Pressman, very similar. It'll give you the basics and you can grow from there!

[Stephanie Brim]

Well, Ole sees his cameras multiply if he leaves them in a closet too long. Do you think that if I leave my Crown and my Agfa folder in the closet for a while I'd come out with a 3x4 Speed Graphic? :D

[Murray]

Maybe, but it could be near-sighted.

[Ralph Barker]

Well, Ole sees his cameras multiply if he leaves them in a closet too long. Do you think that if I leave my Crown and my Agfa folder in the closet for a while I'd come out with a 3x4 Speed Graphic? :D

I don't think so. LF genes are dominant, so your Crown might grow into a 5x7, or even an 8x10 folding camera! ;)

[Michael Wynd]

Welcome to the forum, Stephanie. Ralph is right, remember what happened to Nicole at APUG. She went from 35mm to medium format to 4x5 and now wants an 8x10.
Mike

[Stephanie Brim]

I can want an 8x10 all I want...I have to be able to afford it first. ;)

At the moment I'm still in awe over how large 4x5" is compared to my 35mm. Just don't make me look through the ground glass of any 8x10 and I'll be fine.

[Diane Maher]

Hi Stephanie!

[roteague]

Welcome to the forum, Stephanie. Ralph is right, remember what happened to Nicole at APUG. She went from 35mm to medium format to 4x5 and now wants an 8x10.
Mike

Perhaps, perhaps not. I've shot 4x5 for 20 years, and have no desire at all to move to anything bigger.

[Stephanie Brim]

Hi Diane!

[Blueberrydesk]

Welcome, Stephanie. I've made the journey from 35mm to mf, then to 4x5, and now at 8x10. The only thing I know for sure is that, eventually, I'll be ULF. It's a slippery slope, but man, what a ride!

[EuGene Smith]

Welcome to the LF Forum from another newbie here. My first LF was a 4x5 B&J Watson, similar to your Crown, that I bought in early 1960's for about $23 from my earnings as a shoe shine boy. In those days I could buy 4x5 film at our local drug store.

Ah, yes, times have changed, LF is still the only way to go, although I reluctantly admit that I do still have some 35mm stuff that I keep on hand as my toy collection . . . for those times when I am more inclined toward play rather than photography. Please don't spread the word about that.

EuGene

[darr]

Welcome to the forum Stephanie. Save your favorite LF shot for an up-coming print exchange. Don't know when the next one will be since we are just finishing up on one now, but I highly recommend participating in one for so many reasons.

It is always nice to welcome another female in this male dominated forum. The guys are WONDERFUL here though! ;)

Best,
Darr