New to LF but not photography

[alechosterman]

I'm not new to photography but I am new to LF picture making. My father was downsizing his home and gave me an old Eastman View Camera that he refinished years ago. Solid bellows, tight configuration but the lens doesn't work. So with a new lens I might as well see what I can do with the sucker!

173218

[Leigh]

Hi Alec,

and welcome to a great hobby.

What format (film size)?
Do you have film holders? (or plate holders if appropriate)?

A good source for large-format film is B&H Photo at www.bhphotovideo.com
B&H carries used LF camera lenses and accessories, but the selection varies.

You can also try KEH for such (but probably not film): www.keh.com

- Leigh

[Tin Can]

I bet the lens works but not the shutter. Many use a lens cap as shutter.

Have fun!

[alechosterman]

Hi Leigh.

It's a 5x7 and it came with three wood film holders so I'm good there.

Just picked up a Caltar II-N 210mm f/5.6 Lens from eBay.

Now I just have to find some place that will develop the film for me!

[alechosterman]

Randy - never thought about the lens cap as a shutter. Hmmm. I'll probably get it looked at some point in the future. Might be fun to get working and try to make images with it just for some historical fun.

I'm thinking this is going to be a rabbit hole like my DSLR was. :)

[Leigh]

Now I just have to find some place that will develop the film for me!
Hi Alec,

I can highly recommend Dodge Chrome. They've developed sheet film for me for years.
They do B&W, C-41, and E-6, in all sizes from 35mm to 8x10.

They're located in Silver Spring, Md. They have a place at 1347 Chain Bridge Road, McLean, Va.
https://www.dodgechrome.com/services/wetlab/film-processing/

They also accept mail-in if that's more convenient.

- Leigh

[Tin Can]

It’s definety a rabbit hole, but your gear never ages. 😎


Randy - never thought about the lens cap as a shutter. Hmmm. I'll probably get it looked at some point in the future. Might be fun to get working and try to make images with it just for some historical fun.

I'm thinking this is going to be a rabbit hole like my DSLR was. :)

[Randy]

Alec, I am about 2 hours from you (Martinsville). I suggest getting some 8X10 trays and process your own...if you are going to shoot B&W. I shoot 4X5, 5X7, and 8X10 and have been processing in trays in the bathtub for many years.
Hope you show us your results once you get up and running.

[Pawlowski6132]

Randy - never thought about the lens cap as a shutter. Hmmm. I'll probably get it looked at some point in the future. Might be fun to get working and try to make images with it just for some historical fun.

I'm thinking this is going to be a rabbit hole like my DSLR was. :)

So, the original comment about the lens cap makes more sense with additional context. It's possible that if you are shooting, say, still life indoors with bellows extended long relative to the lens focal length, that your calculated exposure time will be measured in seconds (e.g, 20 seconds). In that case, you can use the lens cap as a "shutter."

Obviously, you're not going to be using it when exposure requires shorter times like 1/50 of a second.

[Alan Gales]

So, the original comment about the lens cap makes more sense with additional context. It's possible that if you are shooting, say, still life indoors with bellows extended long relative to the lens focal length, that your calculated exposure time will be measured in seconds (e.g, 20 seconds). In that case, you can use the lens cap as a "shutter."

Obviously, you're not going to be using it when exposure requires shorter times like 1/50 of a second.

Great for portraits too. Just get a proper posing stand! ;)

http://www.antiquephotoalbum.nl/bloqjes/files/stands/stand04.jpg

[Alan Gales]

Welcome to the forum, Alec!

[Jim Galli]

Welcome Alec. The Eastman is a very usable camera. Most of the work on my web pages has been done with it's 8X10 big brother. Rabbit hole indeed.