First time - Sinar F1

[Sean Galbraith]

Hi all,

I'm going to try shooting a 4x5 camera for the first time this coming weekend, and it is a bit daunting to be honest. I enjoy a good challenge, which I suspect it will be since I've only actually touched 1 4x5 camera in the past - a crown graphics (and not done much more than that). I'll be renting a Sinar F1 system. Here is the list of goodies I can rent:
http://www.vistek.ca/rentals/rentale...?categoryId=21

Some questions:
- My eyesight is pretty good, and the places I'll be photographing (abandoned buildings in Detroit) are somewhat dark.. if I don't have a focusing hood, will that be a problem? I can rent a sinar binocular set and a fresnel screen if those would help.

- Tripod.. I have a Manfrotto 190 tripod with a 3 way head. Is using this a recipe for disaster? Will it even work with my setup?

- With the standard bellows, how wide a lens will typically work?

Thanks for your help and advice. If this weekend doesn't end up in a total disaster (a minor disaster I'm ok with), I'm likely going to be joining the large format ranks.

[BennehBoy]

1) take a blanket or dark t-shirt to use as a focusing cloth.
2) The 190 could be troublesome, which head is it? Chances are they will support the camera just fine but you'll get a fair bit of wobble when you adjust things - not ideal if there's any wind.
3) a 90 should work but you wont get any movements.

[Sean Galbraith]

1) good call. will do.
2) Could I just take the head off and mount the camera straight to the legs? Most of the shooting should be indoors, so wind isn't likely to be a big concern.
3) ANY movements? Is that because of the lens size, or because of the image circle?

[Joanna Carter]

1) good call. will do.

Don't forget to get a loupe of somewhere around 6x magnification; it really is worth it for the fine focusing, especially in dark corners.

2) Could I just take the head off and mount the camera straight to the legs? Most of the shooting should be indoors, so wind isn't likely to be a big concern.

The only problem with no head is how you are going to tilt/rotate the camera without having to do a lot of leg-adjusting. As a minimum, I would recommend a Manfrotto O55 tripod with a 329 head.

3) ANY movements? Is that because of the lens size, or because of the image circle?

Most 90mm lenses will give good coverage and allow for a fair amount of movements; just choose carefully

Finally, get yourself a couple of those small "Maglite" torches that you can place on the line of focus; they really help when things get a bit dingy

[Sean Galbraith]

Most 90mm lenses will give good coverage and allow for a fair amount of movements; just choose carefully

How do I choose carefully? Any tips? My options are:
Rodenstock 90/4.5 Grandagon N Lens
Rodenstock 90/6.8 Grandagon N Lens
Rodenstock Digital 90/5.6APO Sironar Lens

I was also thinking about getting a 55mm lens (and bag bellows)
My choices are:
Rodenstock Digital 55/4.5APO Sironar lens
Rodenstock 55/4.5 APO-Grandagon Lens

Finally, get yourself a couple of those small "Maglite" torches that you can place on the line of focus; they really help when things get a bit dingy

I'm definitely well stocked with flashlights, so no problem there. :-)

[Jeff Bannow]

Sean,

I am assuming you will be entering without permission. Make sure the kit you end up with is small and light enough that you can put it into a backpack or some such, so that you aren't an obvious target.

I've done some abandoned buildings in Detroit myself, and am glad that I use a small field 4x5 instead of a big monorail.

- Jeff

[Sean Galbraith]

Permission? What is that? :-)

It will all be in a backpack.

I might end up purchasing a field camera, but I don't have access to one to try out the format in general. Have you found the movements on it to be limiting for this type of work?

Sean,

I am assuming you will be entering without permission. Make sure the kit you end up with is small and light enough that you can put it into a backpack or some such, so that you aren't an obvious target.

I've done some abandoned buildings in Detroit myself, and am glad that I use a small field 4x5 instead of a big monorail.

- Jeff

[Joanna Carter]

How do I choose carefully? Any tips? My options are:
Rodenstock 90/4.5 Grandagon N Lens

Image circle @ f/22 - 236mm

Rodenstock 90/6.8 Grandagon N Lens

Image circle @ f/22 - 221mm

Rodenstock Digital 90/5.6APO Sironar Lens

Optimised for digital, image circle - 125mm

I was also thinking about getting a 55mm lens (and bag bellows)
My choices are:
Rodenstock Digital 55/4.5APO Sironar lens

Forget it, digital only - 125mm !!!

Rodenstock 55/4.5 APO-Grandagon Lens

Movements??? image circle - 163mm, or around 6mm in either direction.

[Sean Galbraith]

wow! thanks!

[Joanna Carter]

It will all be in a backpack.

Wow, that should be some backpack

I might end up purchasing a field camera, but I don't have access to one to try out the format in general. Have you found the movements on it to be limiting for this type of work?

It's not the movements that would be a problem - the Sinar is a very flexible beast, it's the size/weight that is the main limiting factor.