A matter of combined backs or separate Film/Wet Plate

[doogie]

So I've been debating on the following.

Would it be better for me to get a LF and wetplate set up separately (This way I'd have both cameras)

Or should I just get the 4x5 (or 8x10) and have the back converted to Wetplate.

It is a matter worth considering. The chemistry for Wetplate is very conservative when compared to Film, Not to mention the set up is much much smaller in some respects.

Still saving up, but having a hard time making that final choice. straight film or wet plate. Sighs....

Any thoughts on the matter?

[Joshua Dunn]

I have been doing a lot of wet plate over the last year. I am a Sinar shooter and I have multiple formats for it. It’s nice having the large lens board so you can mount just about any diameter lens and even use the Sinar shutter if you want. My 8x10 back has a bail back on it which makes it easy to load. So when I started shooting wet plate I just used the camera equipment I already had.

Lund Photographics (http://www.lundphotographics.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?display=home) can modify your existing film holder and make a great plate storage box. They also sell the tanks you will need. They are pricey but they make good stuff.

[Drew Bedo]

check out Atar Camera company at: http://starcameracompany.com/cameras.html

They show a number of replica cameras from the daguerreotype and wet plate eras. One of their offerings is an adapter to switch from wet plate to film and back. This is a back assembly that attaches to an existing camera without physical modification, preserving the historic design of a vintahe xamera or retaining the modern features of a film wera camera—without changing the camera itself.