4X5 OR 8X10 is the question?

[ataim]

I currently have a Wista 4X5 with ten film holders, two lens, Schneider Super Angulon 90mm f8 and a Schneider 180mm f5.6.

I just bought for a good price a Calumet C-1 8x10 with 11 film holders three Polaroid holders and two lens, Caltar Pro 240mm 5.6 MC and Schneider Xenar 300mm 5.6. The Calumet it the Green one and does have some rough areas where the magnesium has corroded.

I mostly shoot landscapes and nature. I do a fair amount of hiking, so weight is a concern, but the Wista is not light. The Calumet is heavier. I have an Epson 7600 that takes 24" roll paper so the maximum that I normally enlarge to is 24x36, but larger could be possible with a 8x10.

My two options appear to be:

One: I could sell everything, keep the 8x10 lens and holders and buy an OK wooden field camera for them. I would probably be out a little cash.

or

Two: sell all of the 8x10 stuff and and the Wista and buy a really nice 4x5 Wista Zone VI or Tachihara wooden field camera and have maybe some cash to buy film.


I can only keep one camera so what would you do.

[Ed Richards]

If you think you might want to try 8x10 - otherwise why did you buy it - just start shooting with what you have. Shoot a 100 sheets of 8x10. If love it, then option 1. If you hate it, option 2. But selling everything to buy a better camera before you know if you want to do it seems inefficient to me.

[Kevin Bradbury]

I agree - use what you have for a while and then decide. You might decide to keep both formats or may go with one or the other. And larger than 24x36 should be possible with 4x5, btw.

[ataim]

otherwise why did you buy it

I bought the 8x10 stuff for close to a steal,

Shoot a 100 sheets of 8x10. If love it, then option 1.

That's a good idea, I might do that first. Did not even think about that.

But selling everything to buy a better camera before you know if you want to do it seems inefficient to me.

The Wista is a mono rail and I'd sell it to get lighter. Also I don't know if I could easly lug around the extra weight of the metal 8x10, plus film holders and lens. But if I lost the extra 20 pounds that around my belly, well I think I could carry it

[ataim]

And larger than 24x36 should be possible with 4x5, btw.

I agree, but with 8x10 you could twice as large with the same ppi scan

[Noah A]

Since you already have the camera, lens and holders there's no harm in trying a few boxes of 8x10 film.

I tried 8x10 for a while and found it to be a bit too big and too expensive since I shoot color. I drum scan my 4x5 negs and have no problems printing to 40x50in. or bigger. Sure, 8x10 is beautiful. But only if it suits your style of shooting.

I tried a Canham JMC 8x10 then an Arca Swiss F-Metric. But I eventually ditched the 8x10 gear and went back to smaller formats. Now I've settled in quite nicely with 4x5.

If you stick with 4x5 you might consider one of the Wista metal field cameras. I use the 45VX and it's great. It's not a super-lightweight, but it's very compact and tough and it will fold with a 150mm lens mounted.

If you go 8x10 then a wood camera does make sense since it's the only thing that will be even remotely lightweight (other than the pricey Canham or Arca I mentioned).

Anyway, as others have said since you have the gear you might as well at least try the 8x10. I'm sure you'll find that the negs/chromes are amazing, but after you've tried both formats think about which suits your needs better in the long run.

[jeroldharter]

I agree to try the 8x10 and see if you like it. However, using the big Calumet camera might not offer the equivalent experience of a newer camera.

If you go the 8x10 route, consider a Wehman camera. I have one and think it is great. You could get an inexpensive 4x5 reduction back (or 5x7) and have the use of both formats.

[Filmnut]

I have used 4X5 for many years, and as I like to hike and such with it, so I don't think that I would ever go to anything bigger for my personal use. I've shot 8X10 in a studio and copy setting, and there is something lovely about the bigger format, especially chromes, though there're very costly.
I'll add to the chorus, and say that since you've got a working 8X10 system, give it a try, even if you have to use some bargain B&W film so you can afford to give it a try!
If you know how (or learn) to do your own B&W processing, then you can do your own film, and then make contact prints without much extra trouble, or cost.
Keith

[Vaughn]

With an 8x10 and using a modified darkslide to get two 4x10 negs per 8x10 sheet, would a 4x10 neg go up nicely to a 24"x60" print? While I do not print digitally, it looks like inkjet printers using rolls of paper would do very well with panoramic work.

It is too bad you can not keep the simple 4x5 system and have your pudding, too. After much experience with the 8x10, going back to the 4x5 would seem so fun and light. Sort of like pounding your head on the wall because it feels so good to stop -- but you will build yourself up with the 8x10! My 8x10 pack weights about 45 pounds (5 to 8 holders, several lenses, Zone VI 8x10), plus a 15 pound tripod. I recently got an Eastman View No.2 5x7. I carried that camera (with a 210mm and on a pod) over my shoulder thru the redwoods and it seemed like nothing...well, I was a bit tired after 5 or so miles that afternoon.

In fact, that would be my recommendation -- just stick with what you have now. Carry the 8x10 when and as far as you feel up to it. Save the 4x5 for the times you want to hit the trail. After some experience with the 8x10 format, you can decide on which format is worth up-grading.

[John Kasaian]

I would sell it all except for the 4x5 holders and 240 Caltar and get a 5x7 Nagaoka with an extra 4x5 back & lots of 5x7 holders. These are very light wieght & imho ideal for back packing---use the 4x5 back for chromes and the 5x7 for B&W, providing you can even find a 5x7 Nagaoka.

I agree the green monster is really a studio camera. Everything about 8x10 is bigger and heavier--even an 8x10 woody in the field takes a bit of effort---I can't imagine carting a green monster afield unless maybe you afix a 1/4-20 to a jeep.