Have any of you downsized from 8x10 to 4x5? Why?

[Roberto Nania]

... I am still contact printing though as I enjoy pulling the viewer in to the printed image, forcing them to get closer. I must have a sadistic streak...

I like this

[Jim Fitzgerald]

I'm with Jim Noel on this one. I'll keep shooting 8x10, 8x20 and 14x17 and then downsize to maybe 5x7 in my 90's. Now that means building a 5x7 of course.

[Carl J]

I'm with the two Jim's on this, as well (a cart or other means to transport 11x14 and up goes a long way).

[Jim Andrada]

Interesting topic. I started with 5 X 7 and keep coming back to it. I do have a couple of 8 x 10 cameras and some of what I consider my best shots were done on 8 x 10. I have a 30 x 40 of one hanging in my living room and the detail is insane. 4 x 5 always feels a bit claustrophobic to me but somewhat surprisingly 2 x 3 is OK. Maybe it's the aspect ratio, although of course that's the same for 4 x 5 and 8 x 10, so size must get into it somewhere.

Lately of course, almost any camera is too big for me since I now use a power wheelchair full time having just survived a flesh eating bacteria after "only" 10 months in the hospital. But I'll figure out a way to get back behind the groundglass.

[Alan Klein]

Jim, I hope you get back on your feet full time.

[Jim Andrada]

Thanks, Alan

I must say it's been an "interesting few months". Learned a lot of medical stuff I didn't want to know. Little by little I'm starting to get back on my feet a bit with support. Don't have full use of my arms and hands yet, though. But where there's a will there's a way, as they say.

[Alan Klein]

Thanks, Alan

I must say it's been an "interesting few months". Learned a lot of medical stuff I didn't want to know. Little by little I'm starting to get back on my feet a bit with support. Don't have full use of my arms and hands yet, though. But where there's a will there's a way, as they say.

You might consider downsizing to smaller formats. I'm getting older (78) and find it harder to carry stuff, much beyond my car. In any case, I shot a roll of 35mm Tmax 400 after my triple bypass three years ago. The first 35mm in decades. It was a lot of fun. I scanned it at home and made a little video slideshow. There's a lot to be said for smaller and processing digitally so you can sit more.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2pUj1MPQj0

[rfesk]

35mm is an amazing format. You can do so much with it as to subject matter. (I am not an enthusiast of prints over 8x10 though others are.)

These days, if 4x5 isn't feasible I usually just go to 35mm - skipping medium format.

[Mal Paso]

I got into 35mm in the '60s added 2 1/4 and 4x5 in the '70s looking for more resolution and didn't shoot much 35 after that. My last snapshot camera was a 120 film Bronica SQA and serious was a 4x5 Cambo.

Interesting to hear the stories!

[Ironage]

Dan, your horizontal enlarger inspires me. Gears are turning in my head for a future project.


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