4x10" back and compatible lenses

[scerto]

Hello everybody

As I said in some other thread I'm re-putting together my 8x10" setup.

I will also acquire a 4x10" back for the camera, as I always liked shooting panoramas from time to time. Tried different medium format cameras, but I think the best thing for me would be to get a 4x10" back for my 8x10" camera.

I can't find anywhere a table in which lenses and coverage for the format are explained.

My actual lens arsenal (4x5" and 8x10") includes:

- Fujinon CM-W 125mm
- Rodenstock W 150mm
- Fujinon A 180mm
- Schneider Apo 210mm
- Fujinon A 240mm
- Nikkor M 300mm
- Nikkor W 300mm (8x10")
- Rodenstock Apo Sironar N 360mm (8x10")
- Nikkor M 450mm (8x10")

I'm sure all the lenses I use for 8x10" will cover 4x10"

Not sure about the others.

Do you know where I can find more data about coverage?

Do you have experience with the format with some of those lenses?

Thanks

[Pere Casals]

Hello everybody

I can't find anywhere a table in which lenses and coverage for the format are explained.



Here you have a table with a lot of lenses, http://www.largeformatphotography.info/lenses/LF4x5in.html

just calculate the diagonal (square root of 4x4" + 10x10", 273mm aprox) and compare to the circles.




I will also acquire a 4x10" back for the camera, as I always liked shooting panoramas from time to time.


As you say "from time to time", and not intensively, perhaps instead purchasing a 410 back and the bellows you may do it with split 8x10 darkslides, this is way cheaper and in the field you retain the possibility to shot 8x10 or 4x10 in the same location with a single camera. If you are to hike then a 410 camera may save some weight.

See here plenty of information about 410 and specially the "4x10 vs split 8x10 vs 4x5 stitched" section: http://www.largeformatphotography.info/4x10.html

Regards

[scerto]

Here you have a table with a lot of lenses, http://www.largeformatphotography.info/lenses/LF4x5in.html

just calculate the diagonal (square root of 4x4 + 10x10, aprox) and compare to the circles.

I know that table, wasn't sure about the math to calculate the diagonal on the 4x10"





As you say "from time to time", and not intensively, perhaps instead purchasing a 410 back and the bellows you may do it with split 8x10 darkslides, this is way cheaper and in the field you retain the possibility to shot 8x10 or 4x10 in the same location with a single camera. If you are to hike then a 410 camera may save some weight.

See here plenty of information about 410 and specially the "4x10 vs split 8x10 vs 4x5 stitched" section: http://www.largeformatphotography.info/4x10.html

Regards

I might be wrong, but if I put a 4x10" back on a 8x10" do I still need to change bellow?

[Pere Casals]

I might be wrong, but if I put a 4x10" back on a 8x10" do I still need to change bellow?

You can DIY manufacture a 4x10 reducing back:

http://www.timlaytonfineart.com/snapshots/h5D6DE8F7#h5d6de8f7

173805

But this won't save weight for hiking, and with a 8x10 film holder with 4x10 darkslides you do the same.

A 4x10 (non reducing) back fits in 4x10 bellows.

http://www.canhamcameras.com/4x10.htm


http://www.canhamcameras.com/410.jpg

[scerto]

You can DIY manufacture a 4x10 reducing back:

http://www.timlaytonfineart.com/snapshots/h5D6DE8F7#h5d6de8f7

173805

But this won't save weight for hiking, and with a 8x10 film holder with 4x10 darkslides you do the same.

A 4x10 (non reducing) back fits in 4x10 bellows.

http://www.canhamcameras.com/4x10.htm


http://www.canhamcameras.com/410.jpg

that's why I was thinking about a reducing back instead of a 4x10" camera. Won't do hiking with these formats and will try to get Chamonix 4x10" holders. That was my idea, but probably there are better options

[Pere Casals]

Here it explains how to make an split dark slide:

http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?106311-Split-darkslide-how-to-make-one

http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=100573&d=1374030884

Straight, you mask one half of the sheet or the other, you have two shots in a sheet, with front or rear rise/fall you can center the half frame in the lens axis.

When you remove the 8x10 darkslide off the holder, before you shot you insert the split darkslide to mask the half you don't want to expose... and of course you replace the split slide by the original 8x10 darkslide before you remove the holder from the back, if not... it happened to me !! :)

As you see, with an split darkslide you have it very easy...

Single problem is you make same development for both shots in the sheet, still you can cut the sheet in two halves before development to develop different times.

With the darkslide you don't need to but 4x10 holders, you don't need to cut 4x10 or to buy uncommon formats, you transport more shots with less weight and volume, and in the field you can choice the format.

4x10 holders are nedded only if you use a 4x10 camera.

[scerto]

Here it explains how to make an split dark slide:

http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?106311-Split-darkslide-how-to-make-one

http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=100573&d=1374030884

Straight, you mask one half of the sheet or the other, you have two shots in a sheet, with front or rear rise/fall you can center the half frame in the lens axis.

When you remove the 8x10 darkslide off the holder, before you shot you insert the split darkslide to mask the half you don't want to expose... and of course you replace the split slide by the original 8x10 darkslide before you remove the holder from the back :) if not...

As you see, with an split darkslide you have it very easy...

Single problem is you make same development for both shots in the sheet, still you can cut the sheet in two halves before development to develop different times.

With the darkslide you don't need to but 4x10 holders, you don't need to cut 4x10 or to buy uncommon formats, you transport more shots with less weight and volume, and in the field you can choice the format.

4x10 holders are nedded only if you use a 4x10 camera.

Thanks for all the precious info about holders and how to treat film.

My last concern is about lens coverage. I will try to do all the math for that.

Bests!

[Pere Casals]

My last concern is about lens coverage.

Bests!

Just consider same lenses for 4x10 than for 8x10, the diagonal it's only around 10% less...

In your kit single not 810 lens that you may use for 4x10 with slight vigneting is the 180.

[scerto]

Just consider same lenses for 4x10 than for 8x10, the diagonal it's only around 10% less...

In your kit single not 810 lens that you may use for 4x10 with slight vigneting is the 180.

Got it, was hoping to be able to use the 210mm

[Dan Fromm]

Do you know where I can find more data about coverage?

Look here: http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?138978-Where-to-look-for-information-on-LF-(mainly)-lenses

But be aware that I've directed you to a list of links to catalogs etc., not to a large table that reports on some, not all, of the lenses you might want to use.

[Richard Wasserman]

Got it, was hoping to be able to use the 210mm

I use a 210mm Rodenstock Apo Sironar-S on 4x10. Why don't you try your 210 Schneider (is it and "L" by any chance?) and see how it works for you? It might be just fine, although you won't have room for as much movement as some other, much more expensive, lenses.

Your Fuji 240 A will certainly work. Is there a great deal of difference between 210 and 240mm for what you do?

[scerto]

Look here: http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?138978-Where-to-look-for-information-on-LF-(mainly)-lenses

But be aware that I've directed you to a list of links to catalogs etc., not to a large table that reports on some, not all, of the lenses you might want to use.

Thanks Dan

[scerto]

I use a 210mm Rodenstock Apo Sironar-S on 4x10. Why don't you try your 210 Schneider (is it and "L" by any chance?) and see how it works for you? It might be just fine, although you won't have room for as much movement as some other, much more expensive, lenses.

Your Fuji 240 A will certainly work. Is there a great deal of difference between 210 and 240mm for what you do?

The 240mm will work for sure and there's not much difference between them expect for lens construction. But I love the tiny 240 with lots of coverage!

[Pere Casals]

With 4x10 it can happen that the mountains in the panorama do not fit in the 4" high with the 240, or you want the clouds in the sky, then you use the 180 that has some vigneting in the corners... no problem, you crop half inch at each side and you have a 4x9", still a wide panorama... also you can print the vigneting... it can be nice...

Still Nikon SW 120mm and 150mm cover well the 4x10, the 150 with movements.

One thing more for panoramas, you can just shot 8x10 and then in post process you decide exactly where you cut at the top and at the bottom, having shot in 8x10 does not prevent you to print a panorama. Yes, you waste half a sheet, but having the possibility to re-think the framing it may be worth, then you can also decide that you will take 3x10" or 5.2x9.3" of the sheet, not as purist but more easy to get good results.

From Milano to Breuil-Cervinia it is not very far... once I was in the Croce Carrel... later in the rifugio we found Ms Sabrina Salerno (boys, boys, boys) with his team... very friendly people, they were there to see a solar eclipse... Cervinia sky was "brutto"...

One never knows what he is to photograph in the Alps :)