How Many LF Formats Do You Use/Own?

[Gene McCluney]

I use 4x5, 5x7, 8x10 and 11x14. In order of volume of film shot: 5x7, 4x5, 8x10, 11x14. For my professional studio work, it is exclusively 4x5 color transparency.

[ljsegil]

too many, true in large format as well as MF and 35mm, but I love using them all.

3 4x5, one Technika, 2 Speeds, Technika currently getting rangefinder re-installed and cams made, first Speed had Graflex back (didn't know the difference when I bought it, so I picked up Eddie's beater with a spring back that enables me to shoot polaroids (for a little while longer yet).

1 5x7 Canham standard with 4x5 back and 6x17 roll film holder. A dream camera, and I can carry it in a Photobackpacker backpack on the airlines with a reasonable lens selection, reducing back and readyload film holder, some 5x7 film holders and quick/ready loads and sheet film for easier traveling and still walk uphill with the kit without needing CPR (though not too far uphill and certainly not quickly). Camera does everything I know to ask it to do.

1 Canham 8x10 standard with an adapter to take the 4x5 and 5x7 backs (and thus the 6x17 also), so potentially the total package when a little sanding is completed to make all the parts fit as they should. Heavier than the 5x7 kit by a noticeable bit, and won't fit into a small enough pack for air flight. Can still make it uphill with the kit in the backpack, but I sure know when I'm going up. For me, ultimately versatility with the Canham quality. And 8x10!

A passle of lens, mostly modern with a few classics, range from the 58SAXL to the Fuji 600C (and the 600T, willing to sell if anyone feels the urge, for that matter will soon be listing the 72SAXL and the 80SSXL, as well as the Fuji W 210). Classics include 9 and 14 inch Veritos, 71/4" and 12" Velostigmats, 130, 210, and 300 Goerz doppel anastigmats, a Vesta, Petzal of unknown lineage, and insanely bizarre double meniscus of equally mysterious origin. Current favorite, a 14" Goerz red dot Apo Artar. Just makes my pictures a little better, I guess. Others help fill the drawers and keep me from concentrating enough on any one lens to really learn it. Trying to be better about that. Obviously severe acquisitive disorder, not helped by our good friend Jim, but I swear, no more....

Still mostly shooting to learn the best situations for the various formats. Very much like the film selection for 4x5 and convenience of quick/readyload system and Grafmatics, like everyone who shoots color wish for more choice in 5x7, regret Kodak's decision to drop 8x10 E100VS as I prefer it to Velvia 50 (but I can still enjoy it in 4x5 and 6x17).

Pretty crazy, and only more so if we were listing smaller formats or the obligatory digital for more menial tasks. So, more than anyone cared to hear, but there it is, and I'm ready to accept psychotherapy to cure this wonderful disease.

LJS

[Geert]

Jim Gali has way too much cameras. I propose that the sends a camera to every 10th replier in this thread.

I only shoot 3:
4x5
8x10
7x17
and use them regularily, i.e. at least once a month.

G

[xavier deltell]

I only use two formats:

4x5 95%
5x7 5%

[Darryl Baird]

own:6x7, 6x9, 6x12, 6x17, 9x12, 4x5, 4x10 (w/split darkslide), 8x10
use: 6x17, 4x5, 8x10 about equally

[Dan Fromm]

One format, 2.25" x 3.25". More than one camera, many lenses.

The logical step up would be to 5x7 (more that twice as large on both dimensions) but I'm put off by the cost. I don't expect to shoot larger, not even 4x5.

[alec4444]

5x7 and 11x14. The 11x14 actually has gotten more use, but that's because the 5x7 is a relatively new acquisition.

When I can get up the gumption to cut my extra dark slide, I'll be shooting 5.5 x 14 quite a bit, I hope....

--A

Ooops, forgot about the 4x5 reducing back I have for the 5x7. Clearly I don't use it a lot....I don't even have 4x5 film holders!

[Ted Stoddard]

Well I own a Kodak 8x10 2D w/ a 4x5 and 5x7 reducing back, 2 4x5's- Tachihara & Shen-Hao, plus a Kodak Empire State No. 1 11x14 rarely used(would love to sell so I can get the 12x20)... I mostly use the 8x10 and 4x5's... I haven't shot w/the 5x7 reducing back so far but thinking about it... I want a 20x24 for Alternative processes and a 12x20... for pan project I want to do... but so far 8x10 my fav to use... I also own 7 lenses maybe more lost count.... I also have a Kodak 5x7 that is getting very slowly restored... by me...

[Andrew O'Neill]

4x5 and 8x10.

[Craig Griffiths]

I currently use 4 cameras covering 3 formats. 4x5 when I go walking, 8x10 when I want something to contact print rather than enlarge, and an 8x20 for when I feel younger than I am.

I like the 8x20 the most followed by the 8x10 and 4x5. Currently in the pipeline is an 11x14 that I am building from various bits and pieces. Hopefully this will be finished by the end of next month but will probably only be used for portraits, not for carrying around too much.

I tend to see in the format I have with me so dont get too confused with the format differences. What does confuse though is when I am using the 8x20 and my 9 year old is using the 4x5 next to me. When that happens I find it difficult to switch between the 2 formats, but I have lots more fun