Modern Rise of the Field Folder View Camera.

[Bernice Loui]

Inspired by https://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?163188-the-quot-best-quot-5x7-Camera

the "best" 5x7 camera rose up the noted preference of light weight field folder cameras over virtually any monorails view camera.
This appears to be what practice of view camera images have become. From silver gelatin prints to color prints via traditional wet darkroom prints to scanned negatives then prints made from digital files to carbon prints, wet plate and a long list of alternative image making process has come much alive today.

Rolling the large format time machine backwards, this was not always the world of large format. There was a time when apprenticeship into the ways and methods of view camera happened in Photography school often using a 4x5 Calumet or Burke & James or similar monorail view camera with a Ilex Paragon or similar lens. These were the instructional tools for learning how to view camera, how camera movements worked and all the basic skills needed to view camera. More often than not it was done under controlled and supervised conditions with a qualified instructor. Much of this was to groom photography students to have the abilities to do studio and similar view camera (monorail was THE camera of choice) work that was in demand back in then film Foto days.

~BIG strobes with the needed light modifies were a "thing" back then.~

Much of this appears to have changed, many today venture into LF via curiosity after growing up with digital or curiously wanting to try LF.. The image making inertia from using essentially a box camera be it digital or film is often carried over to expectations and demands for what a view camera needs to be. Add to this the "Ansel Adams" factor of trying on the shoes of group f64 landscape photography. All good in many ways as a sizable sheet film user base means sheet film companies have a better chance of continued production of sheet film.


Discuss...

Bernice

[Tin Can]

These do fold closed into a box

My main interest is 125 years ago, when both 5X7 plates/films were common

As bicycles became popular so did Cycle Cameras, no cars yet

Bikes were heavy, Cycle cameras not, they are lightweight fine woodwork

Some even had a bit of front rise and rear swing, some stored the holders inside the camera

Some have very good leather bellows that are soft, light tite, perhaps Red Russian leather

I put a modern shutter in one and of course use my small Ries tripod, which is a wonderful combo

If they were stored closed as 'Fully Cased' they barely aged at all

They are my favorite by far

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/antique-cycle-poco-5x7-film-camera-3252038263

[Vaughn]

The quest was for people's opinions of what they likes in their (or imagined) 5x7 field cameras. Monorails are rarely considered 'field' cameras, but of course many of us have used them outdoors. I started by using a Linhof, a Graphic ViewII, and a couple different types of Calumet rail cameras. My 4x5 I have hiked and biked thousands of miles with is a rail camera (2.5 lbs w/ lens).

My folding 5x7 camera, and several on that thread, are over 100 years old. All fairly light. Certainly not a modern rise. Cameras got heavy for awhile...bloated with features. Now they are swinging back to light again. Rail cameras are now more specialized tools, largely for studio work, but still used by many in the field,

Edit;

Monorails came very late into the photographic scene. First we had non-folding wood (studio) camera, and eventually folding wood cameras for the field. As materials and manufacturing techniques changed, metal cameras came into existence...the mono rail camera was developed.

Materials and manufacturing methods continue to be developed and improved. After a period of heavy cameras (Wisners were beasts) and heavily assorized rail systems, new lighter field cameras have been, and continue to be developed.

[Havoc]

The quest was for people's opinions of what they likes in their (or imagined) 5x7 field cameras.

Is it? Honestly, I after reading the OP a few times I still have no idea of what he liked to be discussed.

[Tin Can]

OP likes to make us think

for ourselves

[rfesk]

Interesting topic.. I was expecting a discussion of the evolution of field camera vs studio type cameras. And of course crossovers such as rail cameras.

[Bernice Loui]

~Based on the current LFF user base that post... how much camera discussion is Field Folder view camera centric?~

~Based on the current LFF user base that post... how much camera discussion is Monorail view camera centric?~


Why?


Bernice



Is it? Honestly, I after reading the OP a few times I still have no idea of what he liked to be discussed.

[Bernice Loui]

Today's adder...

Given the current view camera preference by far would be a lightweight field folder view camera, does this imply the journey of view camera image making is much about the adventure of being outdoors, discovery of things serendipitous to be imaged then shared...

or..

Images created out of the inner world of an individuals mind?


Bernice

[Vaughn]

No. The preference is for light-weight field folders with as much flexibility as most rail cameras. So as a tool it can be used for all kinds of photography that can use such a tool.

Perhaps the preference for light weight is because we are getting old and want to keep doing what we have been doing for the past half-century, or that we are young and want to travel further and find something new.

[Tin Can]

Guilty

I explore inner world aware

hence my LF selfies. other oddities, a slow process


Today's adder...

Given the current view camera preference by far would be a lightweight field folder view camera, does this imply the journey of view camera image making is much about the adventure of being outdoors, discovery of things serendipitous to be imaged then shared...

or..

Images created out of the inner world of an individuals mind?


Bernice

[Oren Grad]

Today's adder...

Given the current view camera preference by far would be a lightweight field folder view camera, does this imply the journey of view camera image making is much about the adventure of being outdoors, discovery of things serendipitous to be imaged then shared...

or..

Images created out of the inner world of an individuals mind?

Neither. It doesn't imply anything.

I take my 5x7 Nagaoka into the field because it would be sheer lunacy to lug my 5x7 Sinar P. The Nagaoka is a pleasure to carry and use on the fly; the Sinar would be a nightmare of burden and hassle. OTOH, in a studio setting with a photographic task that requires a complex setup, sometimes the Sinar is a better choice. It's purely a functional decision, has nothing to do with how I was trained or what my philosophy of photography is.

Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

[Havoc]

Ok, if that is the take. As a first time LF user I looked for a camera that could be used in a multiple of situations. Also I do most of my photography "outdoors" meaning when on the go. Could be a walk, visiting some place, holiday. Rarely this are photocentric outings. Right now I have a metal, not so light folding view camera. I'd swap for a lightweight similar camera if I could find one and if I could afford it. Lugging around a monorail through town for a whole day for a single shot is out of the question.

Another thing that took me to LF is the possibility to take just a single image and develop it. I really have an issue with film that has more than half a dozen poses on it. Then it stays in the camera for ages. These days I seldom take more than 2-3 photos in a day. (ok, not on holiday when visiting historic places. Then about a roll of 6x4.5 a day is fine)

I do not see this as a journey or adventure outside or something I really want to share. It is quite rare that I share an image as they generally are not worth looking at, I take them for my own pleasure.

So it is more of the most convenient tool for what I want to do. And I have no idea what "he inner world of my mind" is.

[Tin Can]

I agree with roll or can film has too many

Know thyself said someone else (https://www.the-philosophy.com/socrates-know-yourself)