Hello from Lost (Kristen in Virginia)

[ScenicTraverse]

Hello Large Format photographers!

My name is Kristen and I'm a total newbie in large format photography. In fact, I'm still researching my first camera purchase.

I currently shoot with a Nikon D800 and love it, but I find myself lusting for the ability to shoot film. As a landscape photographer, shooting large format seems like a natural place to go. I am heavily eyeing eBay for my first camera (sadly the for sale forum here isn't open for new members) and am fairly certain that I'm going to start with a 4x5 camera, maybe from Zone VI?

I've been reading like a wild woman to absorb everything I can, but am excited to start learning more from talking to other members.

Finally, if anyone has a good list of resources for large format photography places (shops that sell equipment or process film) that they recommend in the MD/DC/VA area, please let me know. The lists on Google are wildly out of date.

-Kristen

[biedron]

Kristen,

Welcome! I understand the desire to shoot film - I'm also a digital refuge and have been shooting large format for the last couple of years. My only regret is not taking the plunge sooner.

For online buying, this forum is a great place to start if you can wait the 30 days. Lots of people abhor ebay, but I have bought a lot on ebay without problems. Apart from ebay, a very reputable online seller is KEH http://www.keh.com/. Probably more expensive than here or ebay, but they typically underrate their equipment (what they call excellent you might call mint). Another very reputable online seller is http://lensfielders.com/. Like KEH, more expensive but very good quality and service.

Like others here will suggest, start with inexpensive used equipment, then decide what you really want in terms of a camera. Lenses are more important and will carry over from one camera to another.

Bob

[ScenicTraverse]

Bob

Thanks for those links, those are great resources. Out of curiosity... why so much distrust of eBay for camera sales? There is one auction I've been eyeing that actually looks pretty decent, particularly for the price but would be interested to hear any thoughts.

Kristen

[Brian C. Miller]

Welcome, Kristen! The best resource for learning about view cameras is to buy one and mess around with it. I started out with LF in the late 90s (1990s, not 1890s) and for my training with it I read Adams' The Camera, and ran a bunch of Polaroid film through it. The book is still available, there's lots of stuff on the site's front page, and there's more stuff on YouTube and various web sites. For instant film, there's Fuji FP100C, and the film holder is the PA-145 model. I started developing my own sheet film after I had a light-tight bathroom. Until then I had a lab develop it.

As for eBay, a number of people have had bad experiences, but by and large there's a lot that is bought through that site. I second KEH, and there's also Midwest Photo Exchange. KEH has a nice return policy.

Zone VI imported some very good cameras (I forget who they relabeled, Tachihara?). I started with a Graflex Super Graphic, which I still have and use. It folds and sets up very quickly, and the Wollensak Optar is a decent lens. I also have a Toyo 45AX, which one of the SG's successors (Toyo bought Graflex). A 135mm to 150mm lens is good for a lot of stuff, and I've made a lot of photographs with just my 135mm.

Unless you have a lab near you, you'll need to learn how to develop film. It's not hard, but it does take a little practice before you get good results. Also, some of the forum members here will develop film for minimal cost.

So welcome, and we're happy to help you with your entry into the world of large format!

[tracy]

hi kristen,

just to add to the discussion regarding ebay and keh. i bought my mamiya 7 and lenses for this and various lenses for my mamiya rb and c330 from KEH. never disappointed. received as described.

as for ebay, i have bought an old burke and james, 3 19century lenses (i do wet-plate), my lovely rolleiflex and various other vintage cameras and enlarger lenses. i have never had anything but excellent experiences. i do check their ratings. if under 98% positive don't chance it.

all the best,

tracy

[drew.saunders]

Welcome Kristen,

You probably came straight to the forum here, but there's a web page with lots of useful articles on the root site: http://www.largeformatphotography.info

Lots to learn there, that could keep you busy for quite some time.

Happy Shooting!

Drew

[C_Remington]

Wow. A Lady!!!

[ScenicTraverse]

Thanks all for the comments. I have actually been lurking here and reading the articles on the root pages for several days - along with picking up a copy of Ansel Adams' three books.

I've also been reading alot of threads here about the Chamonix, which people tend to see as a favorite camera, but I've also been looking at eBay on a few Zone VI cameras that seem to be reasonable deals with lenses and film holders included.

In terms of processing - I was of the impression that most folks actually did mail order processing? Is that not true? I live in the DC area, so I have to assume someone in a reasonable drive does process this film, but all the google searches I have done are forums that are 8+ years old with information.

And yes, a lady! Can't leave all the good toys for boys!

-Kristen

[msk2193]

Kristen,

Welcome. I just saw this today… Boston shipping is next day i think from DC… Panopticon Imaging Digital & Darkroom Specialist in Hingham MA
www.panopticonimaging.com

eBay should never be a concern as long as you buy from someone with a long history and all at or very near to 100% customer satisfaction. Just had a lens ship in from Spain that was completely as described and arrived without any issues.

[Nathan Potter]

A great welcome from another Texan (from Canada). You have suggested interest in two 4X5s, the Chamonix and the Zone VI. They are popular among 4X5 shooters and would be a good choice to start out with. If you are a landscape shooter you may want in the near future to use longer FL tele lenses so it behooves to check the bellows draw that those two cameras can supply. While a 150 or 180 mm lens can be considered a normal format the next logical landscape, long lens, might be a 360 or even a 500mm. On the other hand you may be a wide angle afficionado so a jump to a 90mm or better, a 75mm may be in your near future. Both the cameras mentioned should do fine for those two wide angle lenses.

Hey my first large format image was about 1942 as a little kid using a postcard folder around Concord and Lincoln MA. I've had 70 years of pure pleasure with a healthy helping of disappointment mixed in. Have a good trip with this film adventure.

BTW when I don't do my own processing I send chromes and B&W to Praus Productions in Rochester NY. It's the best process house I've found so far.

BTW also a D800E shooter as of about Jun 2012. For me it is a quick backup when time is critical; and the 4X5 is not convenient to use.

As time goes on it would be valuable to us for you to post some images here - we see few from women photographers.

Nate Potter, Austin TX.