I've been shooting 4x5 for approaching 15 years now, and like the format. I especially like my wonderful little Chamonix! I've been doing some of my night/flash shots of trains using b&w film and love the results. In addition to the Chamonix I also have a gorgeous Century Camera No. 46 with Velostigmat in Volute shutter. I'm not posting about those, though. Last year I bought a Gundlach Korona from a member here. I have shot 4x5 with it--looks great with my 1920s vintage lenses! It's actually a 5x7 with a 4x5 back. When I got it I had no intention of ever using the 5x7 back. However, things change. Last month I was out in Maryland with my wife and together we took a few night shots of the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad running a steam engine at night. Wow, was that cool! I used my Nikon D800E with 24mm tilt/shift lens and five small Nikon SB -25 flash. I was ecstatic about the results!
WMSR:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/96826069@N00/23661081336/in/dateposted-public/[/URL]
https://www.flickr.com/photos/968260...posted-public/
Ever since I started shooting trains at night ten years ago, my hero has been O. Winston Link. I'm finally getting consistenly good results taking these shots, feel I now at least understand (not mastered) how to use flash, and I'm comfortable using my 4x5 for once in a life time shots. I'm now thinking of returning to western MD this coming winter to take some shots using LF and b&w film. All the pieces have finally come together for me, my goal from ten years ago is within reach. I love my Chamonix--it's a terrific camera. However, I'm starting to think, "Why stop with 4x5? Wouldn't 5x7 be even better?" I really don't see much difference between using the Korona and the Chamonix, with one exception. The difference is DoF. My Nikon DSLR with 24mm lens has plenty. My Chamonix with 90mm is noticeably more limited. A 5x7 would have even less DoF. This is a problem because the amount of light I can generate and the ISO I can shoot at has limits. On the shot made above with the Nikon I used ISO 800 & f5.6. I've been shooting HP5 (@ 400) and f8 with the Chamonix but that's using big 1,300ws monolights. I am comfortable pushing HP5 to ISO 800, so I gain a stop there. It's possible to shoot ISO 800 and f11 with all eight monolights I have. They are bulky and heavy though! Bottom line is while I would LOVE to shoot the steamer with 5x7, I might be limited to just taking my 4x5 because I can do the shots with just ten Nikon SB-25 flash (I attach two per lightstand.) I intend to have negs drum scanned and I'd like to make a 40x60 in. print if everything were to come out OK. I think 4x5 is capable of that.
Now a final question. I do intend to buy some HP5 in 5x7 and get a couple of holders. I want to at least try 5x7 around the Dakotas. What do I have to lose? I already have an Epson v700, the camera, the lenses, and know how to use LF. I've been eyeing those c.1920s wooden 5x7 holders that are correct for the camera. Wouldn't those be just fine if I got film rather than plate holders? Or, is there an advantage for me to use more modern Fidelity or Lisco holders? I'd like to dip my toe in the water here. I was considering 8x10--those Seneca 8x10 with black & shiny nickel finish have tremendous appeal to me! However, the costs of 8x10 and the amount of flash I'd need for even a medium scaled image just seemed a bit out of reach.
Kent in SD
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