4x5 101

[kminov]

Guys,

I have access to a studio with a 4x5 Sinar, might be P. I intend to buy a pack of fomapan and shoot some portraits. I know its a pretty broad subject, but could you point me to a useful resource for LF beginners? I come from medium format, but never used any movements. Thanks!

[analoguey]

The forum's home page has many pages of useful tips.

[vinny]

what he said.
and youtube

[Peter Collins]

Even tho I joined in '03, I still go back there to look up info I need. Did it a few days ago, in fact.

[Christopher Barrett]

Movements are typically more applicable to architecture or product shooting. I'd get some time in beforehand to see what the camera is all about, but wouldn't really expect to be using movements for portraits unless you wanted to really distort focus.

[NickyLai]

Guys,

.... I know its a pretty broad subject, but could you point me to a useful resource for LF beginners? ....

I found link to this one is most informative for beginners (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JU-eHpk97Y&list=UUIsGXxMVXuqXIlbCkI60JeQ), among many others on the tube.

Enjoy your camera!
Nicky

[Patrick13]

Once you read up a bit be sure to physically practice using the camera, focusing and loading holders, and sequencing from focus to exposure so you don't get all tripped up under the pressure of having a live model watching you screw up :mad:

[Drew Bedo]

We are almost half-way through the second decade of the 21st Centyry, so sure . . .go to U-tube.

The books by Adams are always good. Steve Simmons' book on LF photography is also good, and is now available on-line as an e-book I think.

Go for it.

[kminov]

Thanks guys, appreciate it :)

[Drew Wiley]

The P cameras have all kinds of control knobs next to one another. If you haven't practiced with the camera first, to the point of automatically knowing what operates what function, expect some pretty annoyed portrait clients, or potentially something badly out of focus because you accidentally turned the wrong knob. Maybe you could just put a piece of colored tape on the focus knob itself, or better, prefocus on a stand-in (substitute) sitter, so something doesn't go wrong with the actual subjects. These are rather complex cameras.

[john borrelli]

Of course you can use movements to increase depth of field or to reduce depth of field (the latter of which Christopher was alluding to).

If I were to try portraiture I would try reducing the DOF. Maybe it's me, But I have always wanted to create the type of image where the face is sharp but the body blurry. Sometimes the model is vertical (sitting or standing) sometimes lying down with their face and shoulders close to the camera as their body is progressively further from the camera. I would probably try an old single coated 240mm Rodenstock apo ronar which people seem to be giving away these days compared to ten years ago.

[kminov]

I ended up shooting a 8x10 Sinar with a 4x5 back. It sure takes two to operate this thing :) Can hardly wait to see the negatives.

[NoBob]

Thanks for the Fred Newman YouTube video link, Nicky. Very useful.