Re: 4x5" to 5x7"... is it worth changing?
One interesting thing keeps popping up in this thread, composing on the GG. Years ago I bought a Linhof zoom viewfinder for a Technila whci I carry in my pocket at all times. I have masks for various formats and have my composition completely set and the corners determined before I get the camera out. From there on it really makes no difference which format I am using, I hit my corners, focus and go..completely automatic..EC
Re: 4x5" to 5x7"... is it worth changing?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Sal Santamaura
If strong, gusty winds are blowing (and I suspect they do quite often where Alberto photographs), only a rigid camera will remain stable during that brief period of time. It's a matter of what conditions the instrument will be used in...
You suspect correctly Sal :)))
Thanks again for these last remarks, friends
Interesting tip Sal, an eyeglasses 0 /+1,5 ...i could try
I think i'll gonna buy.. I'd like could be a shen or a chamonix since I love that design, they both lightweight, compact, acceptably affordable
OR..a good second hand camera
have to post something into Sale/Wanted section ;)
I will bring you up to date :)
Ciao!
A
Re: 4x5" to 5x7"... is it worth changing?
I'm going from a Sinar P 8x10 to a Chaminox 5x7 since lenses are much more affordable, it's light, small and more rectangular. It is my first wooden camera. I am surprised at how rigid it is.
Re: 4x5" to 5x7"... is it worth changing?
Alberto, I think you already have the most adequate equipment to shoot in the mountain, regarding large format. The Shen Hao PTB 45 is an incredible lightweight camera, but a solid one.
I've been shotting with 4x5 and 8x10 (and 5x7, with a reducing back), for some years, here is what I think about these 3 formats...
4x5 - too small for contact prints but it fits in 8x10", 9 1/2x12" and 16x20" photographic paper without croping. Good for horizontal and vertical photos.
5x7 - the smallest contact printable size. Good for horizontal photos but, imo, to stretchy for vertical ones. For enlargements, there isn't any photographic paper thats fits this format without croping.
8x10 - Porportions like the 4x5, with same advantages. Contact prints with a nice size.
I have two 5x7" enlargers (Durst 138s and 139G) I've been enlarging 4x5 and 5x7 and contact printing 5x7 and 8x10 negatives, for a few years, here is what I think about this...
You CAN notice very well the diference beetween a 4x5 and a 5x7 negative enlarged to 16x20". Although, if you don't have any 5x7 negative 16x20 photo nearby to compare, the 16x20" enlargement from a 4x5" negative is incredibly sharp!!!! The other will be simply MORE incredible! It's like a Porsche and a Ferrari!!! ;-)
I have all I need to shoot and develop 4x5, 5x7 and 8x10, Jobo Expert tanks for the 3 formats, Jobo ATL 2 processor, etc.
I can tell you that I have thousands of 4x5 negatives, about 100 8x10s and about 20 5x7s...
Re: 4x5" to 5x7"... is it worth changing?
I started picking formats more for ease of composing than sheer negative size. For some reason I could not ever find what I was looking for with 4x5, the reason I set up the tripod to being with would get lost on the smaller GG. But the extra space of 5x7 really helped me settle down and not have to struggle to pick up that thread again. Some formats just seem to live in that sweet spot, a combination of GG size and ratio that suits a particular field of view.
Re: 4x5" to 5x7"... is it worth changing?
I find it much more fun to look at a large GG than the smallish 4x5". I do mostly 8x10" and 7x17", but also have 5x7". I would normally not go smaller than 5x7" for the sake of the enjoyment with the larger screen. The more fun you have under the darkcloth, the better pictures you will make. When I want the ratio of 4x5" I can mask my negative and make it 5x6,25.
Re: 4x5" to 5x7"... is it worth changing?
I read many years ago..maybe in that Linholf magazine.. that Europeans preferred 7x5 over 5x4 because..'if you're going to have to use a tripod anyway...'
I like it because every guy and his dog shoots 4x5
so when they start talking about weight and expense and difficulty.. I can roll my eyes and REALLY tell them stories
Re: 4x5" to 5x7"... is it worth changing?
I would get the 5x7 gear if I could while retsaining the4x5 kit. Get a 4x5 reducing back for using longer lenses on the 4x5 format too.
1 Attachment(s)
Re: 4x5" to 5x7"... is it worth changing?
Re: 4x5" to 5x7"... is it worth changing?
35 square inches of film vs 20 square inches.... It's my favorite format. '38 NFS Deardorff w 5x7 & 4x5 back