Time to Get a View Camera?

[DrTang]

it cost more, it's heavier, it's way slower, there is a ton of things that can and will go wrong, people will wonder what you are doing, no one does it anymore



these are all the benefits

[Cletus]

no one does it anymore

Funny, but true. No one does it anymore is right. You have to be dedicated. And neither to know, nor care what that little "flower" icon means on the program dial of your 'prosumer' Nikon DSLR. LF isn't for everyone, especially if "what people will think" is important to you.

C

[E. von Hoegh]

it cost more, it's heavier, it's way slower, there is a ton of things that can and will go wrong, people will wonder what you are doing, no one does it anymore



these are all the benefits

Unlike some things, LF view cameras can reward one in direct proportion to the knowledge, effort, and creativity you put into them.
I guess, by your yardstick, this is the one disadvantage.

[Cletus]

Unlike some things, LF view cameras can reward one in direct proportion to the knowledge, effort, and creativity you put into them.
I guess, by your yardstick, this is the one disadvantage.

Yeah, what that guy said...

[Jay DeFehr]

I'd say, based on your OP, you don't need a LF camera, but then, you don't need a MF camera, either. There are two equally compelling, mutually inclusive reasons to get into LF:

1) LF meets criteria critical to your workflow

2) You want to shoot LF

It seems you've ruled out point 1, which leaves point 2. I say, go for it. If you buy used, it won't cost you much should you decide it's not for you, and you want to sell out. This happens fairly regularly here -- someone develops an infatuation with LF, commits funds, time, energy, decides it doesn't suit them, for any number of perfectly legitimate reasons, and offers their accumulated goods for sale here. To my mind, this is good for everyone.

Buying smart doesn't mean buying the cheapest stuff you can find -- it means buying the best stuff you can find that will retain the most value, should you decide to sell it off. You can't give LF a fair go with junk equipment. I'm completely sold on Sinar monorails, but there are similar values to be found in field cameras, if that's your preference. Just keep resale in mind when you buy.

I think it takes a couple hundred sheets of film to get a good sense of a workflow (maybe I'm a slow learner), but you might decide after a dozen that LF is not for you, and there's no shame, or defeat in that. LF is certainly not right for everyone, or for all jobs. If you decide to give it a go, you'll find a lot of useful information here, provided you can negotiate the snarkiness and gearcentricity. Go for it, and have fun!

[36cm2]

... they're the most fun you'll have under a sheet of dark material.

Welly, I strongly agree with your promotion of LF, but man you gotta get out more.

To the OP: Large format is lots of fun. It's a pain, but can be very rewarding. Do you need to do it? No. You don't need to do a lot of things in this world that are fun or rewarding. Should you try it? I'm happy I did.

[Ken Lee]

Three of the greatest LF photographers (Paul Strand, Ansel Adams, and Brett Weston) gave up on their big cameras and switched to 6x6 reflexes for the last several years of their lives.

One could state it differently: they stayed with view cameras right up to the last few years of their lives.

[E. von Hoegh]

One could state it differently: they stayed with view cameras right up to the last few years of their lives.

And they hardly "gave up" on view cameras. They just used a smaller lighter camera, advances in film technology and lens production had made excellent results attainable with smaller and smaller cameras.

As for a view camera being neccesary, it isn't. Food, water, clothing, and shelter are neccesary. Everything else is optional.

[unixrevolution]

As someone who accidentally on purpose bought a LF camera on eBay, shot a few frames and fell in love: Go for it.

I love it because of the amazing results, and because LF taught me about light and photography itself. If you like slowing down to consider your shot before you take it, and finding yourself improving bit by bit as you go, and take delight in knowing things that are esoteric, LF is definitely for you.

I develop 4x5 black and white myself, and color goes to the lab. It's pricey per shot, but Medium Format gear eats more money in a given time frame.

[Ken Lee]

The old-timers who gave up their view cameras did so (unless I am mistaken) as their physical strength declined: they were less able to freely roam about with heavy equipment.