My first Wholeplate B&W

[77seriesiii]

Greetings all!

This is my first Wholeplate B&W image. The camera is a Charten and the lens is a Jamin Darlot 9" cone centralisateur. Shot wide open at F/4 for 3 secs, developed stand in Pyro HD for 1 hour.

The camera moved a bit on me while putting the plate in...hence the extra lamps on the left side, wanted more negative space on the right but...still very chuffed!

Now to find some more wholeplate film! I think I have 10 sheets left.

Erick

[David Karp]

Great!

For film, try Midwest Photo Exchange or Glazers. In Canada, I think that Big Camera Workshops keep Ilford WP film in stock.

[Roger Thoms]

For film the View Camera Store is another possible source.

Roger

[Emil Schildt]

If in Europe, then try this:

http://www.wephota.de/down/wephota/wepr.pdf

LOTS of formats available (see p 15)

[77seriesiii]

gandolfi,

Thanks for the link! I actually just found some at fotoimpex in berlin and am trying to purchase.

Wephota may be a better bet as they sell the slower speeds. have you ever used their film?

thx

Erick

[gevalia]

Not that I want to find an interest in yet another aspect of photography (I'm overwhelmed as it is) but what is Whole Plate? A Dummies explanation won't insult me at all.

[77seriesiii]

No worries, it is 8.5" x 6.5", a beautiful size to work with! I used to know the history but... wholeplate, halfplate (6.5x4ish), quarterplate (3ish x 4ish) and down to 1/8th plate. The 'ish' part is just that I either dont remember the exact size or the size depended on the vendor. Also, the 'ish' part really only dealt with older film or plate cameras. Modern times have standardized the half, quarter and maybe 1/8 plate sizes, though I havent seen 1/8 plate camera inserts in anything modern. To add confusion to the matter, the plate in wholeplate doesnt mean glass or metal plate though that is the likely historical source, think plate = large light sensitive emulsion, modern film, collodion or dry glass emulsions.

Now-a-days you have two choices with regards to getting film, special order from Ilford or take your favorite 8x10 film and slice away in a dark room...or if you have the type of camera I have, learn collodion. If you chop 8x10, just make sure you dont chop off the notches...

Erick

[Alex Wei]

Glad to see another Whole Plate shooter here. I am currently using Ilford special cut films, I normally shoot about 50 images per year, but this year I shot a little faster than normal, so I ordered some wephota film from Europe, its 50ASA film, didn't get chance to try it yet.

Only bad thing about WP is to think ahead of your film source. If worst comes to the worst just chop some 8X10 films.

[77seriesiii]

Alex,

How hard was it to order from Wephota and how do you like their film?

Erick

[Alex Wei]

Alex,

How hard was it to order from Wephota and how do you like their film?

Erick

sorry, just saw your post.

Let's say you have to be patient, it took a long time. I didn't get chance to test them yet.