From 4x5 to 8x10 - Shall I do it?

[zwicko]

Hi everyone,

I am thinking about upgrading my Sinar f2 from 4x5 to 8x10.
Someone made a reasonable offer for a P2 rear standard (the "special", sturdier one), bellows, frame etc. that is really tempting.
But: What do you do with your 8x10 negatives?
I have an 4x5 enlarger, so I could only do contact prints from my 8x10 negatives.
Is that satisfying enough to jump onto 8x10?
I don´t see myself buying another enlarger at the moment as my girlfriend would most probably kill me if I did...

Any thoughts to share?

Cheers, Zwicko

[ARGYROTYPE]

Get a different girlfriend! COntact prints from 8x10 or larger are da bomb...then it's palladium ziatypes, conversion to Solarplate positive and photogravures---sky's the limit.

[BarryS]

I agree, 8x10 is great for alt-process work, but I wouldn't want to go without a 4x5. The weight, bulk, and cost really shoot up in the jump to 8x10. Check out the cost of 8x10 film and holders before you decide. If you can keep your 4x5 pieces and buy the extra 8x10 parts, you'd probably be happier.

[Photojeep]

Oh h@ll yes! 8x10 is incredibly fun to shoot!
Contact printing of 8x10 will work until you figure out the enlarger part.

Have fun!
Randy

[Gem Singer]

I am in a similar situation. Have the facility to develop 8X10 negatives, but not enlarge them optically.

Found 8X10 contact prints to be too small for my taste.

Presently, i am scanning my 8X10 B&W negatives, editing in Photoshop, and printing on a 13" inkjet printer.

At the 13X19 print size, I can discern very little difference, if any, between prints made from 4X5 negatives and those made with 8X10 negatives.

However, an 8X10 negative would probably prove to be more advantageous if I was planning on producing larger prints.

[Walter Calahan]

8x10 is great. 4x5 is tiny after you've shot 8x10 for a while.

But don't get an 8x10 enlarger if your girlfriend will kill you. HA!

I scan my negatives.

[ic-racer]

Do it!

[jb7]

I did it recently-
it never occurred to me to ask first...

[DJGainer]

Do you really think you have a choice? I haven't jumped yet but know it is inevitable (and futile to fight it!).

[Ben Syverson]

After working with 8x10 for a while now, 4x5 feels so fiddly.

Being able to see the image at 8x10 size on the ground glass is addictive...