Originally Posted by
CP Goerz
Issue #1 - Is there much of a quality difference in prints if you are using a 4x5 camera vs. an 8x10 camera? I would like to print sizes up to 20x30 or 40x50, but is there really a noticeable difference in the quality of the print whether one uses a 4x5 camera vs an 8x10? I am very picky about sharpness and tonality but if there really is no discernable difference between the two, then why not stick with 4x5. I prefer to have my slides scanned then digitally printed.
To get to the print size you mention the bigger the neg the better. I always fell into the old fishwife tale that said 8x10 negs aren't as sharp as 4x5 and can't be enlarged that much...BS! A sharp neg from an 8x10 is 80Sq inches while a 4x5 is 20Sq inches. If you can see the difference between a 35mm neg and a 645 then you'll have a slight idea of how fantastic an enlarged 8x10 neg can look. I have way more trouble trying to take a 4x5 neg up in size than I ever do with an 8x10.
Given the price of enlargers nowadays I spend more on a 35mm Leitz enlarger than I did on an 8x10 with cold light/timer/and the whole kit including lens so money isn't as big an issue as it used to be...maybe space though depending on what model of enlarger you get.
Issue #2 - considering I would like a 617 or 624 format. Wouldn't it be easier to just get an 8x10 camera and crop out the size and area I need instead of having to get special camera adapters on the back of the camera or even a panorama camera? Same goes for a 4x10 crop, why not just set up your 8x10 image so that it "fits" into a 4x10 size, then crop (whether digitally or physically)?
Buy an 8x10 Deardorff and use the 4x10 splitter. Why shoot a full sheet of 8x10 film to crop in for a 4x10 proportion? Its a waste of film and processing $$$. You can make two 4x10 exposures on one sheet so its a 'bracket'. In addition the Dorff has horizontal splits too so you can go 5x8 twice on a single sheet of 8x10 and when used in conjunction with the 4x10 splitter you can expose four 4x5 sized images on one sheet of 8x10.
If you want to go really panoramic you can take two 4x10 splitters and cut one in half, you can then make four 2x10 exposures..a full 360mm panoramic with the right lens when you scan them in.
Issue #3 - I am noticing 8x10 film being tougher to find, will 8x10 film phase out before 4x5 film? I don't want to buy an 8x10 camera only to find out in 6 months to film for it is unavailable.
Not a chance, maybe fewer emulsions but ask yourself how many you use now..most folk I know just have two in the fridge. As long as they make 4x5 film there will be 8x10 as its the same base used in both.
Just my very biased 2 cents ;-)
CP Goerz
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