Greetings all. This is an amazing and wonderful forum, incredible pictures, talented people, and everyone obviously passionate about their photography. I've been lurking here for a few weeks and events today have made it meaningful now to pop out and say "hi" and ask a few questions.
Basic version of a complicated story: At work today they call me and tell me "Come up to the shop!" They have been getting rid of old equipment in the warehouse and give me a 4x5 Linhof with extra lenses, etc. that has been in storage for about 20 years. I'm known as "the camera guy" at work and everyone knows film cameras are useless so they figured I'd want it. Needless to say, I'm a happy camper. I also grabbed a working 20"x30" light box ("an old x-ray viewer of some sort" is what the maintenance guy told me) that was literally on it's way to the dumpster!
I'm not sure how or if I'm going to proceed but the Linhof is safe and secure at home now. I know so little about large format that I'm not sure I have a real useful system here at this point in photo equipment evolution or if I can even afford the film, processing, and scanning for large format stuff but I do love the quality of large format black and white images.
So here's my question: Below is a list of what I found in the case. I'm guessing this is all really good stuff (or was at one time) but it's not exactly a light weight field camera either which is what I'd prefer if I was going to take a go at LF photography. It would be great fun to give it a go again (Long story short: I took a LF class with this very camera in the '80s) and I'm partial to outdoor photography rather than indoor stuff. I'm also anguishing a bit over whether or not I have the patience for the 4x5 system. I'm afraid years of shooting digital may have spoiled me that way.
What do you fellows think? Did I make out like crazy with this set up or did I get a bunch of now oddball stuff? Should I jump into LF or sell it off to someone who can truly put it to it's best use? I don't want to be a swine who just had a pearl cast before it!
Thanks for your input.
Doug
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Inventory
Linhof Kardan Supercolor 4x5 - unit shows almost no wear except slight amount on the rail, bellows pleats are still soft and move, show no real wear.
Lens 1: Rodenstock Sironar - N 150mm (on stock LH lens board) near new condition
Lens 2: Schneider - Kreuznach 90mm (on shop made aluminum lens board) some wear
Lens 3: Rodenstock Sironar - N 210mm (on shop made aluminum lens board) lens as new, never used
Polaroid 545 Land Film Holder
(4) Fidelity Elite 4x5 film holders as new in original boxes
(1) Hoya 49.0s FL-DAY filter
(1) Hoya 49.0s PL filter
(1) cable release
(1) large film changing bag
Set up is in it's own aluminum shipping box, has been stored in an air conditioned warehouse for about 20 years.
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