Newbie from Australia

[Jasko]

Hi all! I've been a long term lurker of the LF forum, and have finally been convinced to sign up by a friend user Stef. I'm a little out of place here as I don't yet actually have a LF cam - I'm hoping to have my bits & pieces sorted within a few months though, so In the mean time I thought I'd join, peruse the forum some more and take advantage of the huge knowledge base here!

In the grand scheme I'm relatively new to photography. I started shooting in the digital age, shot some film about 18 months ago and have been shooting only medium format for the last 6 months. The limitations of 6x7 (RB67) are becoming apparent, and I'm looking for that extra neg real estate 4x5 offers along with experimenting with movements. When I get my cam of course. :)

A friend (Stef, not sure of his actual username actually) posted on behalf of me here a couple of months ago regarding some bad B&W negative development - having not been a member at the time I never thanked the posters for their advice, so if any of you happen to stumble across this here introduction... thanks!

That's enough for now.. if you managed to read this post without immense boredom setting in, I salute you!

[SMBooth]

Welcome Jason, sheet film opens up a whole lot of possibles (and mistakes) that roll film doesn't although don't expect much better prints unless your printing big.

[Jasko]

Thanks for the welcome Shane :) I've been looking at doing some 30x24's from the 6x7's so I think the extra res from LF would certainly be welcome :)

[zachary12]

Another Brisbane LF photographer! Welcome mate, enjoy your stay, plenty to see and do on here. Give me a shout if you need a hand with anything (I'm bris based too).

[cosmicexplosion]

well the journey of a thousand dollars i mean miles begins with the first photo, i mean step.

welcome to the for...um.

this places is for umming.

so umm out loud.

my advice, is buy a cheap, lens and a cheap camera, and put all your hard ones in film.

then go out and shoot the place up.

ANdruskiba

[Jasko]

Cheers guys! Yep am hoping for something cheap but not too cheap, will be keeping an eye on the trading section in a couple of months. I've got an exhibition and a holiday I need to fund before I can get the LF gear, and I also need to learn E6 beforehand - but have got the same mate from here who I can hassle about showing me the rope with that one ;) Good to see another Brissie guy here Zach! I'm sure i'll be throwing 20 (thousand) questions your way at some point mate :D

[Michael Wynd]

Welcome to the forum Jason. Once you get a 4x5 you won't shoot as many, but you will shoot better.
Mike

[alexn]

Hey Jason! good to see you here mate.

As Michael just said, with 4x5 be prepared to shoot less, but because of the extra time you spend getting the shot, it will almost always be better... Slow and methodical is the way with LF.. compose, focus, apply movements, refocus if needed, stop lens down and find how much DOF you need, close shutter, meter scene, set shutter speed, load film holder, **REMOVE DARK SLIDE** (I forgot this a few times..) cock shutter, visually check the scene for the right clouds or wave movements etc, fire shutter, **REPLACE DARK SLIDE** (I forgot that a few times too) and move to the next shot or reload another film holder and bracket a few shots. I find 4x5 too pricey to bracket all shots so unless the shot is likely to make good money I tend to ever so slightly underexpose the shot and run... With my 6x12 and 6x17 holders I am more than happy to bracket 3 or 4 shots because its cheap...

[Jasko]

Thanks again for the tips Alexo! I'm already pretty selective with my shooting, many shoots I'll only fire 1 or 2 frames and probably just as well with the added cost of sheet film upon me ;) Will certainly be getting perhaps a 612 or 69 holder as well though. I'm also anticipating looooots of mistakes. I made a few when I started medium format even, so I'm sure I'll have my fair share of changing bag mishaps or "have I exposed this holder?!" moments! I'm fairly confident with my spot metering I don't bother with bracketing, usually only if the lighting in the scene has dramatically changed for a long exposure and I'm not sure if I compensated enough "mid-shot" for it.

Either way I'm a bit unco, will anticipate lots of mistakes - and I'll make sure I'm pretty practiced with it before I take it on a long trip :D

[alexn]

I may well have a 6x12 holder if you are keen... Will see how I go.. I am on the brink of selling up 4x5 and buying a 6x17 folding camera... lighter, smaller, easier to load and I shoot panoramic images 90% of the time anyway... Just makes sense... Having said that I might not.. Just have to see how I go with my new lens on the 6x17 film back on 4x5..

[alexn]

Oh, and Stef's user name on here in Boinzo..

[Jasko]

Ah of course his name is Boinzo! Yeah your 4x5 sounds like a bit of a beast. Though I'm not too well acquainted with brands and bits and pieces at this stage I'll certainly be going for a folding field cam, as light as possible. There's the Toyo one that weighs 1.5kg which doesn't sound too bad, and at a reasonable price new even.

[Ian David]

Seems there has been a large format explosion in Brisbane! Welcome Jason (and g'day Zach and Alex), although I'm still a bit of a stranger around this forum myself.
Ian

[alexn]

I think its time that Brisbane Large Format Photographers got together to tackle some image making in a scenic location... :)

[zachary12]

Jason, have a read around, I have the non carbon fiber version (45A) of the Toyo 45CF, a great camera, more than welcome to have a play.

Wait a few months for the for sale section to open and you'll pick something up on the cheap for sure.

Alex & Ian, I'm with you on that.

[Jasko]

There's certainly a few of us here isn't there :D That is awesome. I'm all for the image making, I promise not to prod and pry at everyone's gear ;) Cheers for the tip Zach, yep I'm hoping by the time I can view the sale forum I'll be a little closer to readiness!

[Boinzo]

Well well. Look what the cat dragged in! Finally Jasko-la-pithicus fronts up to a proper camera! :-)
Welcome aboard mate. I agree - wait until you can access the For Sales - you'll likely pick something up there. The good stuff goes very quickly though so make sure you have done your research ahead of time and can recognise a deal when you see it! As you know - you are more than welcome to mess with my stuff anytime you like.

I had no idea there was so many of us Brisbane guys. Wow. Perhaps it's time for a petition to Photo Continental to pressure them to carry some proper affordable film and chemistry stock!

Where are you guys getting your processing done?

[alexn]

I currently get my 120 rolls done at PC (E6) but just about have everything I need to do it at home... I do my own BW.

As for 4x5... Prolab... Exxy.... Again, when I start doing E6 at home, Then all will be sweet..

You should offer discount E6 processing with no garantees on turn around time Stef... Bulk buy chems and do a 2 runs a month... (oh to actually have that much spare time a month seems a dream doesn't it... Oh well.. good idea in theory!! hahaha) I have waited months between shooting film and getting it processed simply because its better to get a bunch done at once rather than going back and forth everytime I fill a roll....

Thus, the joys of processing myself... I love shooting BW so I can shoot, come home, develop and have my image within 1 day.. E6 I will probably wait until I get 4 rolls or more before I do a run...

[zachary12]

In my laundry! Vanbar still has cheap enough Kodak & Fuji minilab chemistry.

[Ian David]

I process B&W at home, and get any colour stuff (not much of that) done by Prolab. Re decent film/chemistry/darkroom supplies, I reckon the Photo Continental horse has bolted long ago, never to return...
Always happy to share bulk orders of film etc from B&H in New York if anyone is interested.

Very keen for a local meetup to waste some film!

Ian

[Boinzo]

You should offer discount E6 processing with no garantees on turn around time Stef... Bulk buy chems and do a 2 runs a month... (oh to actually have that much spare time a month seems a dream doesn't it... Oh well.. good idea in theory!! hahaha) I have waited months between shooting film and getting it processed simply because its better to get a bunch done at once rather than going back and forth everytime I fill a roll....


Not such a crazy idea Alex!! Although not sure I could stand the responsibility of screwing up your latest masterpiece mate. In any case I'd be happy to do a "E6 at home workshop" or something so you guys can see what's involved. It's not that hard. If everyone loaded their own film in the tank then I reckon it would be all ok.

I only had my first 18 sheets done by ProLab - cost a fortune. My Jobo, reels and so on will pay for themselves after only 40 or so shots. I use Tetenal chemistry sourced from Vanbar. It would be great to get it closer to home though.

[alexn]

I have amassed NEARLY everything I need to do my E6 rolls at home... big holding tanks for water, a few submersable heaters to bring the temp to 38c, paterson super system 4 tank and 2x120 film spools. got a mod54 sheet film holder for the paterson tank too... I need chems and some guts and I'm ready. :) Oh, and some guidance from yourself.. :)

[zachary12]

Won't need the aquarium heaters, room temp tap water will be hot enough in this weather!

[Jasko]

I'm keen on all of these ideas :) You sometimes see the bulk ebay deals of 1000 sheets going for like $1500k. If that could be split a few ways it could be worthwhile for all - providing we all like the film in question and don't mind importing from asia that is!

Doesn't prolab charge $10 a sheet alex? That's crazy! I've definitely gotta learn E6 processing before shooting 4x5.

Stef - will certainly have to have a play with the big old man camera some time ;)

[alexn]

Yeah Jason, I saw 1000 sheets of velvia 50 not long ago for $1500... Split that between 4 people and its 250 sheets for $375. Compare that to $55 for 20 sheets... you're saving $260 odd... Having said that.. 250 sheets would take a LONG time to use... Freezer keeps it fresh for ages though I guess

[Jasko]

Yep always an option :)

[alexn]

I'll keep a lookout for a good deal. If I see anything I'll post in the Brisbane Meetup thread to gauge interest.