Some suggestions on how to choose your ULF camera format.

[Tin Can]

Is that list, Politics, History or prediction.

Okay, which of these were you referring to?

1872–1876 in Spain
Uruguayan Civil War, 1839–1851
Māori War (New Zealand), 1845–1872
Sonderbund war (Switzerland), November 1847
Revolutions of 1848, numerous European countries, 1848–1849
Revolution of 1851 (Chile)
Taiping Rebellion (China), 1851–1864
Bleeding Kansas, 1854–1858
Indian rebellion, 1857
War of Reform (Mexico), 1857–1861
American Civil War, 1861–1865
Klang War; also known as Selangor Civil War, 1867–1874
Boshin War (Japan), 1868–1869
Satsuma Rebellion (Japan), 1877
Jementah Civil War, 1878
The North-West Rebellion of 1885 in Canada
1891 Chilean Civil War
War of Canudos (Brazil), 1896-1897

[angusparker]

Surprising given my typical analytic tendencies, but my purchase was more opportunistic...

I had an opportunity to get an 8x20 kit that came with everything, except the lenses although with some "assembly required" (needed new bellows, new darkslides, repairs to case). Included was the camera (Korona 8x20 Panoramic View Camera), the rear extension rail, set of stiffeners (for across the rear extension rail, tripod block, and front extension rail), two film holders, original case, a 16x20 contact print frame, and a box of Ilford HP5+ film (no idea how well stored at the time).

Given the cost and sometimes difficulties in getting everything together, I think it has to be a consideration of getting a kit with everything required in an interesting format...

Serendipity can also be a factor.

Very well said. I think people generally fall in love or lust with their first ULF camera! But snapping up the first full kit at a reasonable price is not a bad idea. Especially since they tend to hold their value.

[angusparker]

Thread back on track!

[goamules]

What, no more revisionist interpretive sidetracking for political argument's sake?! oh....good.

My only ULF camera is a Star Mammoth that shoots 18x20 if i recall for the largest plate. Since I see no reason (personally) to make a giant mugshot portraits in wetplate (it would scare the dog), my intent is do do landscapes, a la Watkins. My lens of choice to mount on the rare lensboard (of two) was a Dallmeyer Wide Angle Rectilinear, no. 3. This is the type of lens, along with the Harrison Globe and a few others, that was used in the day. They are still sharp, and work fine. But I do have a Mammoth CC Harrison, and extremely long Hermagis that might go on it one day too!

[Mark Sawyer]

Personal experience has a lot to do with it sometimes. I paid a fair amount for my B&J 11x14 because I had the identical-but-smaller B&J 8x10, and knew it's big brother was exactly what I wanted. (But I feel sorry for the bank account of someone who loves their 8x10 Deardorff and wants an 11x14...)

[John Bowen]

Ease of changing from horizontal to vertical.
Ability to have custom modifications to the camera.
Richard Ritter made my 7x17 for me. As I was thinking of 8x20, Richard suggested I purchase an 8x20 camera with a 7x17 reducing back. Would have NEVER considered that on my own.

[John Kasaian]

If film holders come with it.
Could Xray film be cut to fit the format.
Are you covered for hernia repair.

[angusparker]

What, no more revisionist interpretive sidetracking for political argument's sake?! oh....good.

My only ULF camera is a Star Mammoth that shoots 18x20 if i recall for the largest plate. Since I see no reason (personally) to make a giant mugshot portraits in wetplate (it would scare the dog), my intent is do do landscapes, a la Watkins. My lens of choice to mount on the rare lensboard (of two) was a Dallmeyer Wide Angle Rectilinear, no. 3. This is the type of lens, along with the Harrison Globe and a few others, that was used in the day. They are still sharp, and work fine. But I do have a Mammoth CC Harrison, and extremely long Hermagis that might go on it one day too!

Please do add it to the data base - I'll start the entry. 18x20 was a fairly common format at one point.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...q-U/edit#gid=0

[angusparker]

Ease of changing from horizontal to vertical.
Ability to have custom modifications to the camera.
Richard Ritter made my 7x17 for me. As I was thinking of 8x20, Richard suggested I purchase an 8x20 camera with a 7x17 reducing back. Would have NEVER considered that on my own.

Smart move. Yes, this is a good point - hold mostly true with Wisner and Ritter cameras.

[angusparker]

I would like to add another deciding factor. Mine.

(8) Maximum sheet film size that can be mounted on drum scanner.

In my case this is a Heidelberg Tango that allows for a maximum size of roughly 14x17". As I am more of a panoramic guy I chose 7x17 and now mount two negatives at a time.

Added this into the post. Thanks