Incomer from lyon

[Guillaume B]

Hi !

I'm 25 old french (No-one is perfect) photographer from Lyon, and my name is Guillaume. I fell in photographie 2 years ago, and continue to fall deeper every day. I shoot with 135 Reflex argentic and numeric, with a yashica mat, and, i hope soon with a 4x5 camera.

I'll try to discover LF photography. May be i'll test and learn with a friend how to use this kind of camera (if i could persuade him to learn me). I'm looking for a 4x5 camera kit like toyo 4x5, F1 or Cambo. I'm keen on urban photography, so, the weight isn't a problem (i don't need to bring it far in mountain :) ).

thank's for reading me !

edit : I believe a invent a word in title
Sorry for my poor english, i'm not used to write english, just reading is much more easy.

[Mark Sampson]

Welcome!
by the way, your english is fine; certainly better than my French.
MS

[Aender Brepsom]

Hello Guillaume,

welcome to the forum.

This is one of the best places to learn about large format photography and there is a bunch of very helpful and kind people here who will help you with almost any question.

My advice would be not to bother too much about gear. Just get a camera with one lens and go out and use it a lot. After a while, you will see more clearly what you like and what you need.

Most of all: Have fun with LF!

[Ralph Barker]

Welcome to the LF Forum, Guillaume.

[Guillaume B]

thx all !
Lot of my friend and people look me as E.T. when i hold the yashica. I ask myself of what will happen when i'll bring a 4x5 in the street...
Thank's Aender for your precisions :).

I don't need lot of thing i believe. A camera, a pod, 4 to 5 film holder with Shangai film (much cheapper than the Trix film i use every time), or may be a 120 or 220 film roll back in first time. For the lense, a 120mm will be a good choice?
I always have a 50mm on my eos 30v..

[Eric Biggerstaff]

Welcome to the forum Guillaume!

This is a great place to learn and I look forward to reading your posts. If you are going with a 4X5, I think a 150mm or 210mm would be a good place to start with a lens. The 210mm is readily available and can be found for a lower price than many other lenses. Just a suggestion.

Have fun and let us know how you are progressing in your photography.

Eric

[Emmanuel BIGLER]

Welcome to the English-speaking LF Club !

Since you live in Lyons, France, may be we met recently, or may be you just missed an interesting informal Large Format Photography gathering in Vienne, just south of Lyons. (In English, Lyon takes an S ;) never knew why !)
More info here :
http://www.galerie-photo.info/forum/read.php?f=3&i=17030&t=17030
http://photo.guigue.free.fr/Rencontre_2008/ (click on the apéro-picture to enter the digital slide show ;-)

[Pat Kearns]

What will happen when you start shooting with a 4x5? Is is simple, everyone will start asking, "Is that a Hasselbblad?".:D Welcome, good luck and good light.

[Gordon Moat]

Bienvenu Guillaume,

Urban 4x5 photography: you might want to search for a Crown Graphic or Speed Graphic. A photographer of many years ago named Weegee used something similar for street photos.

Ciao!

Gordon Moat Photography (http://www.gordonmoat.com)

[Guillaume B]

This is what i want to ba able to do one time...

http://www.claudioedinger.com/photos/rio%204x5/

:D

The work will be hard may be :D

[Guillaume B]

Welcome to the English-speaking LF Club !

Since you live in Lyons, France, may be we met recently, or may be you just missed an interesting informal Large Format Photography gathering in Vienne, just south of Lyons. (In English, Lyon takes an S never knew why !)
More info here :
http://www.galerie-photo.info/forum/read.php?f=3&i=17030&t=17030
http://photo.guigue.free.fr/Rencontre_2008/ (click on the apéro-picture to enter the digital slide show ;-)

Hehe, why not, i come from the north of Isère.


What will happen when you start shooting with a 4x5? Is is simple, everyone will start asking, "Is that a Hasselbblad?".:D Welcome, good luck and good light.

:eek:
I work in building, this is not a camera, this is a laser wich localise my position with satelites :D


This is what i want to ba able to do one time...

http://www.claudioedinger.com/photos/rio%204x5/

The work will be hard may be :D


Bienvenu Guillaume,

Urban 4x5 photography: you might want to search for a Crown Graphic or Speed Graphic. A photographer of many years ago named Weegee used something similar for street photos.

Ciao!

Gordon Moat Photography (http://www.gordonmoat.com)

I want to controle the dof like what we can do with a tilt shift lense on a reflex

[John Kasaian]

Welcome from Fresno, California! Enjoy large format the adventure :D

[Gordon Moat]

You need to use tilt or swing to do that. I have some similar shots in colour, like this one (http://www.gordonmoat.com/swops/GM_swop_07.jpg). The tough part is getting at least some part sharp enough in focus to create interest. You should expect to use lots of film to get the effect really working well.

Ciao!

Gordon Moat Photography (http://www.gordonmoat.com)

[Guillaume B]

May be i found a Sinar F 4x5 for a good price, aprox 300-350$ :).
I'll must find a lense, some holder and A pod after that. 50 Shangai sheet film are on the way too.

[Joanna Carter]

Guillaume, a word of caution ; if you intend to do anything other than studio or architectural work, a Sinar is a heavy and cumbersome beast if you want to carry it any distance for landscape or street work. You would be better off looking for a folding camera like a Toyo or similar.

[Guillaume B]

I fear of folding and equivalent, will not have as movement as i want. I didn't want to make landscape (landscape can't stand me i believe... ).
May be i could re-sell the view cam in france if i found it to heavy :).

[Joanna Carter]

Guillaume, you will find that, most times, the movements available on a folding camera can be just as flexible as those on a rail camera ; it just depends on the model that you choose. I personally have an Ebony SV45Te and have every possible movement that I could desire. I am not saying that you should not buy a rail camera but maybe you should get together with some folks in your area to try out the different cameras that are available, before spending good money.

Do you participate in the Galerie Photo forums ? There are a lot of very good people there, some of whom could live near you and they also have an « occasions » list where people buy and sell.

[Guillaume B]

Guillaume, you will find that, most times, the movements available on a folding camera can be just as flexible as those on a rail camera ; it just depends on the model that you choose. I personally have an Ebony SV45Te and have every possible movement that I could desire. I am not saying that you should not buy a rail camera but maybe you should get together with some folks in your area to try out the different cameras that are available, before spending good money.

Do you participate in the Galerie Photo forums ? There are a lot of very good people there, some of whom could live near you and they also have an « occasions » list where people buy and sell.

No, i post two time there, but i didn't stay on this forum. I just go in sell/buy area.
I've two friends who could explain me and show me how to use view camera but they always found a solution to not help me. May be they'll start to help me, when i'll have my own experience.
So i go learning alone like my experience in 135 and 120 photograph :).