11x14, 600mm, portraits

[John NYC]

Opinions about shooting portraits with this gear?

- 11x14 Chamomix
- Fujinon C 600mm f/12.5

Would the bellows draw be sufficient? Does the Fuji have a pleasing rendition of OOF areas? I know it would be modern but that is my aim.

[karl french]

I would think you'd want something closer to a 450 for portraits. Sort of like how a 300 ends up working very well for portraits with an 8x10.

[John NYC]

I would think you'd want something closer to a 450 for portraits. Sort of like how a 300 ends up working very well for portraits with an 8x10.

Yes I could see that. But wanted to know if the longer is even a realistic option.

Seems like at 450mm the Fuji would not be excellent. I often frame people not in the center and on my 8x10, the Fuji is noticeably soft outside the center sweet spot. Or maybe the sweet spot is just so wicked sharp the other areas of the frame are duller by comparison.

Maybe it would not make a bit of difference on a contact print anyway. Probably should not have sold my 450.

[Mark Sampson]

Portraits with a 600 will take a lot of bellows... and as your reproduction ratio approaches 1:1 your effective f/stop gets smaller too. I'm sure you know that already. But if you have enough extension, studio space, and strobe power, you should get some spectacular results. I'd like to try something like that myself someday, so I say go for it.

[36cm2]

Interesting thread John. What sparks this interest? Did you get tempted back toward ULF by that 8x10 vs 4x5 thread? If you end up doing this, I'd love to see the results. Wouldn't mind seeing that Chamonix in action either. Good luck.
Leo

[John NYC]

Interesting thread John. What sparks this interest? Did you get tempted back toward ULF by that 8x10 vs 4x5 thread? If you end up doing this, I'd love to see the results. Wouldn't mind seeing that Chamonix in action either. Good luck.
Leo

Yeah I got a 4x5 again already. But I am really intrigued to try 11x14 as I have moved almost exclusively to B&W for film work, and I have settled on working with smaller print sizes. So 11x14 contacts MIGHT actually be doable in my little apartment. Looking at the bathroom (darkroom) everyday to see if I am crazy or not. :-)

[jnantz]

hi john

don't forget with that long lens you will need a lot of space between you and your subject.
i use a wolly triple ( 13/20/25 ) and often shoot 11x14 portraits with the 20" ( 500-510mm )
its good for tight cropped images. last night i used the 13" ( 330 ) and it worked out pretty well.

have fun !
john

[John NYC]

hi john

don't forget with that long lens you will need a lot of space between you and your subject.
i use a wolly triple ( 13/20/25 ) and often shoot 11x14 portraits with the 20" ( 500-510mm )
its good for tight cropped images. last night i used the 13" ( 330 ) and it worked out pretty well.

have fun !
john

Yes. The working space is not quite as much of an issue in my place. But how far away do you need to be for just at the waist level up?

[Jason Greenberg Motamedi]

If you are doing just waist up you can easily get by with a shorter lens, a 450mm or even a 360mm. At ULF magnification ratios for portraits a slightly wide (say a 360mm) ends up acting like a much longer lens. I used a 360mm f5.6 Symmar for 11x14 head and shoulders and was very pleased with its rendering.

[John NYC]

Interesting Jason. That is somewhere around 35mm equivalent on 35mm film. How close to the subject were you to get head and shoulders with that? If closer than 5 feet, I can't see how you did not get some noticeable distortion.