camera Gift

[hronberg]

I am trying to purchase a LF Camera for my a special birthday for my son (21). I have no idea what might be appropriate. He shoots lots of 35 B&W with 4 different cameras and has Canon SLR digital. Can someone give some reasonable suggestion or ideas? Thanks

[Nathan Appel]

somebody has a razzle 900 on the for sale board that I'm drooling over, but that's my dream camera! And it's hand holdable large format.

[GPS]

Why not to ask him? Better than giving him a camera he doesn't want.

[Brian Ellis]

Has he expressed an interest in LF photography? It's kind of a narrow niche that doesn't appeal to many photographers (only the good ones : - )). Unless he's expressed an interest I'd agree with GPS and think you perhaps should ask before buying.

Also, the camera is sort of useless without a bunch of other accessories - lens, film holders, tripod, light meter, dark cloth for example. Will you or he be buying the other stuff as well?

[Ash]

Can he afford to be spending around $1/£1 per photo?

[aduncanson]

What an impossible question! A Shen Hao (https://www.badgergraphic.com/store/cart.php?m=product_list&c=98) or Chamonix (http://www.chamonixviewcamera.com/45.html)4x5 might have floated my boat at 21, as would have a Sinar F2. Not that any of these were available in that paleolithic age. The Razzle 900 that excited Nathan, leaves me cold - not that my suggestions are in any way better than Nathan's. I'm just illustrating how difficult the question is when we have no idea what approach your son might take to large format.

Large format photography requires all sorts of new equipment. Why not buy him something else he might need, like a good light meter, or tripod, or focusing cloth, or changing bag, or a set of 6 film holders and a box of film.

Or, for one camera that he is unlikely to look at and think of what else it might have been, consider buying him an inexpensive pinhole camera (http://www.pinholeresource.com/shop/shop?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=47&category_id=11) as well as film holders and film.

[cosmicexplosion]

yeah if he wants one, get a chamonix 4x5.

and some film holders etc

in the states its pretty cheap to develop at places like 'sammys photo lab'

i say go for it, its much more rewarding than SLR

you are up for a few grand.

but he may want to choose his own camera.

so what i would like if i was him

instead of just being landed with some thing that i didnt like then having to say gee thanks
i would see it as a great way to spend time looking at all the different cameras, getting
to know the subtle differences,

working out how he shoots, is it street stuff, of people, does he need some thing hand held, does he do landscapes city scapes studio contrives stuff

all this needs to be discussed

and its a great way to get to know your son and take an interest in his core.

so its not like slr digital where only the pixles seem to change.

every thing is different.

old cameras, classics, modern tech style etc etc, its like getting a car.

needs, and style collide.

good luck

[Tim Meisburger]

These people are so negative. Buy him almost any 4x5 camera available on ebay for 2 or 300 bucks. Best if you can find a set, as its cheaper that way, but if not pick up an old graflex lens for a less than 100 bucks, a few film holders and a changing bag and he is ready to go. If he has other cameras he can use their meters, or just guess exposure, and any old tripod from a thrift shop will work. Here are a few examples from two minutes skimming ebay:

a press camera. Not my favorite, but some like em: http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Graflex-Crown-Graphic-4x5-Camera-/260744343761?pt=Film_Cameras&hash=item3cb592f0d1

monorails:
http://cgi.ebay.com/CALUMET-CADET-4X5-VIEW-CAMERA-210mm-lens-/130491667710?pt=Film_Cameras&hash=item1e61e8d4fe

http://cgi.ebay.com/Arca-Swiss-4x5-DP-View-Camera-Only-needs-lens-/120688328171?pt=Film_Cameras&hash=item1c1995bdeb

http://cgi.ebay.com/Arca-Swiss-4x5-Monorail-Camera-outfit-w-Lens-/280630837973?pt=Film_Cameras&hash=item4156e6c2d5

http://cgi.ebay.com/4X5-VIEW-CAMERA-RAIL-CALUMET-W-WOOLENSAK-190MM-LENS-/260723690907?pt=Film_Cameras&hash=item3cb457cd9b

Any of these would be fine. Almost any 4x5 will be a quality piece of equipment, at least when it was new. For a few hundred more you could get a nice wooden field camera.

I say go for it! He will love it. Wish my dad would have bought me one when I was 21...

Cheers, Tim

[al olson]

I would advise to talk it over with your son. Make sure you are getting something that he wants, unless he likes to sell things on ebay.



. . .
I say go for it! He will love it. Wish my dad would have bought me one when I was 21...
Cheers, Tim

When I was 21, a car was cheaper than an LF, so they gave me the car. My '52 Mercury hardtop cost $400, used. I bought my Super Graphic with strobe, new, for $500 on my own.

[hronberg]

Thanks to all for all your thoughts, feelings and ideas. They are greatly appreciated and provoke considerable thought. Ron

[William Whitaker]

I just think it's nice that you want to involve yourself in your son's life. Whatever you decide to do will strengthen your bonds.

[Ari]

If you forego the LF route, a decent TLR or other inexpensive MF camera would be pretty cool. He can see the difference in image quality from 35mm, and the only other gadget he'll need is possibly a light meter.
Something like a Mamiya C330 would be a lot of fun; interchangeable lenses, macro bellows focusing, and chicks would dig it, too!

[cpercy]

Give him a budget for the whole set up and let him search out what he wants that's half the fun.

[Douglas Henderson]

Just a suggestion: Buy a well-kept Century Graphic 2x3 and a 120 roll holder--the 120 rolls will be much easier to manage than sheet film. That was how I got started. I soon followed that purchase with used Crown Graphic 4x5--this was my first sheet film camera and I'm still using it 20+ years later.

[arca andy]

Can he afford to be spending around $1/£1 per photo?

£1 ???? and the rest!!:)