Greetings from Switzerland
Hi there,
I am new to large format but not to photography (I have a collection of film cameras from 35mm to 6x7), although it has been many years since I developed my own films. I expect that to change as I learn 4x5 cameras with B&W film before wasting any colour slide film.
I bought a Sinar P2 which is quite bulky and heavy so not ideal for landscapes, but lets see if I take it out from the studio I am about to setup. My plan is for still life to start with as well as portraits and then landscapes once I know how to use the equipment ... nothing worse than losing the light while you read the instructions :)
I am sure to be on the technique and gear threads to start on my learning path. I do at least already have a sturdy tripod and head on which it all balances, but maybe ... just maybe ... I need a wooden one such as Berlebach or Ries and one of their bomb proof heads. I think LF is just another excuse for GAS.
Ravi
Re: Greetings from Switzerland
Welcome, Ravi. You're in one of the most beautiful countries on Earth, for sure. Returning to photography more than four years ago, I took my monorail and Bogen 3051 on a morning LF get-together trip. It was a 26-lb (nearly 13 kg) package and I was 13 years older than when last I had been hopping about with it. Seeing others with field cameras moving easily while I lugged mine quickly persuaded me to lighten my load. I now carry an 11-lb camera/tripod duo.
Anyway, you've arrived at the right forum. I hope you'll keep B&W in mind when you get to your landscapes as well.
Re: Greetings from Switzerland
View cameras come with instructions??!!! I figure they are like the mules I use to pack into the wilderness...do something wrong and one receives a swift kick to let you know. If you are subject to GAS attacks, then a field 4x5 will find you sooner than later...but the P2 will be fun to work with.
Welcome!
I use a Ries -- but will be looking for something lighter/smaller for bicycle use and my 8x10.
Re: Greetings from Switzerland
There's a member of this forum who is an extremely talented American photographer who lives and works as a commercial photographer in Rome. Several years ago, in a personal message exchange, he suggested that I start using a levelling base instead of a tripod head. It was some of the best photography advice that I've ever received. I only use a tripod head now if I need the precision of a Manfrotto geared head.
That's for a standard carbon fibre or aluminium tripod. I like to use a Ries for 8x10 outdoors. I was a skeptic about wooden tripods until I had an opportunity to try out a friend's Reis J 100 with a J 250 double tilt head. I was an instant convert. It doesn't weigh that much more than my carbon fibre tripod, and it's rock solid and very well-balanced for outdoor carry. It's also a pleasure to use. That said, it is arguably overkill for 4x5.
For 4x5 and 6x7, I typically use a Gitzo Series 3 tripod and a Gitzo levelling base. Levelling the tripod from the legs is not rocket science. The levelling base gives me 15° for final levelling. In exchange, I get a more stable platform for the camera and I don't have to carry around, or bother with, a tripod head.
The photographer who gave me that advice hasn't posted here since 2015, but it appears from his simple, bare bones website that he had a show last year: http://cbroadbent.it
Re: Greetings from Switzerland
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Sandokan
Hi there,
I am new to large format but not to photography (I have a collection of film cameras from 35mm to 6x7), although it has been many years since I developed my own films. I expect that to change as I learn 4x5 cameras with B&W film before wasting any colour slide film.
I bought a Sinar P2 which is quite bulky and heavy so not ideal for landscapes, but lets see if I take it out from the studio I am about to setup. My plan is for still life to start with as well as portraits and then landscapes once I know how to use the equipment ... nothing worse than losing the light while you read the instructions :)
I am sure to be on the technique and gear threads to start on my learning path. I do at least already have a sturdy tripod and head on which it all balances, but maybe ... just maybe ... I need a wooden one such as Berlebach or Ries and one of their bomb proof heads. I think LF is just another excuse for GAS.
Ravi
Hey Ravi, good to see you here too!
Re: Greetings from Switzerland
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Ulophot
Welcome, Ravi. You're in one of the most beautiful countries on Earth, for sure. .... I now carry an 11-lb camera/tripod duo.
Anyway, you've arrived at the right forum. I hope you'll keep B&W in mind when you get to your landscapes as well.
Indeed it is Phiip, even if I live in the flat boring part. After a vacation in Interlaken and Zermatt, I did scout out some places and I was already calculating lens, how much shift, which would be best location for the shot... etc. I did also start to think about joining a gym (round is a shape but is not the best shape for walking around carrying heavy stuff).
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Vaughn
View cameras come with instructions??!!! I figure they are like the mules I use to pack into the wilderness...do something wrong and one receives a swift kick to let you know. If you are subject to GAS attacks, then a field 4x5 will find you sooner than later...but the P2 will be fun to work with.
Welcome!
I use a Ries -- but will be looking for something lighter/smaller for bicycle use and my 8x10.
Thanks Vaugn :D. Yes ... I think it will be one of those experiences; I remember all the pains I went through with a rangefinder, and that was a camera that could be carried around the neck. For tripods, I recommend the ProMediaGear 42 range which is what mine is currently sitting on, but my digital camera wants it back.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
r.e.
There's a member of this forum who is an extremely talented American photographer who lives and works as a commercial photographer in Rome. Several years ago, in a personal message exchange, he suggested that I start using a levelling base instead of a tripod head. It was some of the best photography advice that I've ever received. I only use a tripod head now if I need the precision of a Manfrotto geared head.
That's for a standard carbon fibre or aluminium tripod. I like to use a Ries for 8x10 outdoors. I was a skeptic about wooden tripods until I had an opportunity to try out a friend's Reis J 100 with a J 250 double tilt head. I was an instant convert. It doesn't weigh that much more than my carbon fibre tripod, and it's rock solid and very well-balanced for outdoor carry. It's also a pleasure to use. That said, it is arguably overkill for 4x5.
For 4x5 and 6x7, I typically use a Gitzo Series 3 tripod and a Gitzo levelling base. Levelling the tripod from the legs is not rocket science. The levelling base gives me 15° for final levelling. In exchange, I get a more stable platform for the camera and I don't have to carry around, or bother with, a tripod head.
The photographer who gave me that advice hasn't posted here since 2015, but it appears from his simple, bare bones website that he had a show last year:
http://cbroadbent.it
HI. I do actually know the work of Chris B and he is very talented. I have a levelling base on my PMG 424 on top of which I have a RRS panorama clamp which is currently holding the Sinar. I do not know if I will need a head for the view camera, but for 35mm I have the Arca Swiss P0 geared head because sometimes more movement is required (BTW I have RRS L-shaped camera plates on all the time). The A series is a bit lighter, but my lesson learned with tripods after buying Velbon, then a Sirui, then a Manfrotto ... was, it was much cheaper to just buy the best (RRS or PMG) at the start of the journey. The PMG 424 is more like the Gitzo 5 series but I have a 2 series for travelling. I use https://thecentercolumn.com/ as my goto resource.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
minh0204
Hey Ravi, good to see you here too!
Hey Minh, good to see you here too, hope you and Kim are well.
Re: Greetings from Switzerland
Greetings, I live in Switzerland too.
I don't do Large Format anymore, so I'm selling all my equipment. Now I have a much smaller Nikon DSLR and a Konica SLR. Still doing B&W photography most of the time.
Re: Greetings from Switzerland
Quote:
Originally Posted by
waltschwarzkopf
Greetings, I live in Switzerland too.
I don't do Large Format anymore, so I'm selling all my equipment. Now I have a much smaller Nikon DSLR and a Konica SLR. Still doing B&W photography most of the time.
HI Walt,
I went other way, from film, APS-H, Micro 4/3 to FF and now trying 4x5.
I will PM you if you have any accessories left.
Ravi
