Hello from Washington State (Wenatchee)

[Paul in WA]

after lurking around in here a little, you guys have sucked me into the LF world. I have a Calumet 4x5 on it's way to me. Already have the loupe, dark cloth, film holders & tripod. Now I just need to pick out a lens (thinking 90mm). I am hoping some fellow Washingtonians will want to get together some time. I am hoping there are some companies out there that will process film for me, as I have never tried to do it. I look forward to learning a lot here.

Paul

[Jim Galli]

Welcome aboard Paul. I'll bet there's some pretty stuff around Wenatchee. Is that apple country or not far enough east for apples?

[Kevin Crisp]

More like the Eastern edge of apple country. It is a beautiful area. Welcome!

[Paul in WA]

Wenatchee is the Apple capital of the world. It is beautiful here.....I never get tired of it.

Paul

[Benno Jones]

Hello from Seattle! Welcome!

[Paul in WA]

Thanks.....nice to see some locals here.

Paul

[DarkroomDan]

Welcome.

I usually get over your way both spring and fall. Beautiful area.

Dan

[e2aa]

anyone in seattle interested in sharing costs of a color darkroom for e6 and or c41 8x10s?

[Ben Hopson]

Welcome! From another wet side resident.

[Vick Vickery]

Hi, Paul...welcome to group therepy.

The Calumet 400 series cameras are great old workhorse cameras that will do anything you ask of them. If you have one of these with the normal bellows, it will have very limited movements with a 90mm lens on a flat board (it may not even focus to infinity with that lens on a flat board) making a recessed board a need since the bellows aren't interchangeable; recessed boards move the lens behind the front standard, making the use of movements a little harder. Also, alot of new LF users find wide lenses much harder to focus...it does get easier with experience.

If you have a newer Calumet, you have a rebranded Cambo. This camera will use the 90mm easily on a flat board if you have the interchangable bag bellows on the camera and move both standards in front of the tripod mounting block; a short rail is also better when working in this configuration.

The short story is that I would recommend a lens in the 150mm to 160mm range as a starting lens...easier to focus, no special accessories needed, less frustrations for a new user.

Have fun, shoot lots!