New From Louisiana

[dengfang314]

Hi there,

I am a international graduate student from Louisiana State Univ. I am currently using a DSLR setup, but after watching every single video of Ben Horne, I am seriously considering switch to 4x5.
It's always great to try something new and I can't wait to get my first LF camera. Hopefully I can find a preowned chamonix or shenhao here.

cheers,

[Alan Gales]

Hi there,

I am a international graduate student from Louisiana State Univ. I am currently using a DSLR setup, but after watching every single video of Ben Horne, I am seriously considering switch to 4x5.
It's always great to try something new and I can't wait to get my first LF camera. Hopefully I can find a preowned chamonix or shenhao here.

cheers,

Welcome to the forum. Large format is a slower process than using a DSLR so you might want to keep your DSLR too for action shots. I used to shoot a lot of sports with a Nikon D200/D300 but I couldn't do that with my 8x10 camera. Everything has it's place.

Used Chamonix's show up from time to time but you are probably going to have to be patient. Used Shen Hao's show up more often.

[dengfang314]

Thanks Alan. I plan to shoot LF for landscapes exclusively, and keep my D800 setup for other situations.

[John Kasaian]

Welcome aboard, you're in for some fun!

[AtlantaTerry]

Welcome!

While you are waiting for the right camera to show up what focal length lens do you believe you would like to start with? What subjects do believe you will be photographing?

Does Louisiana State University have a darkroom for you to use? Ask around. Sometimes schools have ones that are little used while others have been eliminated.

You might want to look for some 4x5" sheet film holders and order some film so everything is on hand when you find that camera.

In addition to this website's forum you might want to look elsewhere for your camera, lenses, etc.

Here in the Atlanta, Georgia area:
KEH
Wing's Camera (tell Mike I sent you)
Quality Camera

In Columbus, Ohio:
Columbus Camera Group

[dengfang314]

Thank you so much for those very helpful information, Terry. For now, I think 90mm and 150mm should be a good start. I had few trips in Utah and Arizona in the past two years with my digital setup, and I am really into those canyon landscapes. I guess I will re-visit those locations with my LF setup in the future.
LSU does have a pretty good darkroom, but I am not sure if it was available for a non-photography major student.
Thank you, again!

[Andrew O'Neill]

Welcome!

[Ed Richards]

Large format does not require that you also do wet printing. You can load holders with a changing tent process film with a daylight tank, and then scan it.

[dengfang314]

Richards, do you have any recommendations for color film processing lab as well as scanning around BTR?

[Ed Richards]

I have not shot color LF in years. Last time I did, Lakeside Camera in New Orleans was the closest processing. If they still do it, they can scan. But unless you have an unlimited checkbook - if so, why worry about used cameras? - you want to do your own scanning. The price of ten scans will buy a great scanner like an Epson 700. If you shoot color and buy scans, your cost per shot will be between $50 and $100. That is going to make it pretty hard to shoot enough film to learn to use the camera. My view - color makes no sense for LF any more. Digital does such as better job, especially if you stitch and/or use multiple exposures to control contrast. Even our forum owner, a master of LF color, shoots a lot of his color as digital at this point. Maybe all of it, hopefully he will weigh in.

In Baton Rouge, your best bet for processing, if you do not want to do your own, is mail order. There are good national labs you can send your film to and even get scans if you want. That is pretty much true of everywhere except the largest cities these days.

I would put together the cheapest workable set up you can, probably with a Sinar F, and see if you like LF. You would be surprised watching the sales over the years on this forum how many folks get in and then end up selling the camera after taking less than box of film's worth of images. If you don't, you have not spent a lot and you can probably sell the equipment at close to what you paid.

Shoot black and white, which benefits the most from LF and keep everything simple. Also think about your goal. If it is just to enjoy the old fashioned feel of the camera and you do not plan on making prints, you might not even need film.:-) (Like fishing without bait, so you have an excuse to be on the water.)

Think about the basic system to get into the game: camera, lens, holders, changing bag, light meter (could be your DSLR), and tripod. (Do you have a suitable tripod?)