shall i move ?

[sabamosiashvili]

for first thank you to let me join in this page! ! i have had many questions before and i found this page very helpful , with really nice photographers and greater people.
i have been shooting with film more than a year. all my film pictures are shoot with MF cameras.
as much time pasts as small amount of pictures i shoot. i become too critical about my pictures. but at all i love the way film works , it slows me down. i`m having fun with shooting and results are good too. i have always had passion to try something new, something better. so i think may be i can get on new stage?
right now i have hasselblad and it is pretty good one. i am having lot of fun with it. but as i said i want something new. i thought about getting 8x10 before but when i saw film prices , especially color ones, it was huge amount of money. sometime ago i saw some X-ray film photos and i really liked them. it is cheap , easy to use and also it has good results. so i am get back in my thoughts . shall i get 8x10? if i do i need to get 300mm lens (normal one) and camera itself but i am on budget there, i really dont know what to do. shall i sell my hassy to get 8x10 fully or wait some more time? shall i move on LF with X-rays? is it good to shoot X-ray? any experiences with it?
i hope you can help me with your advices.
best regards.
Saba.

[Leigh]

Hi Saba, and Welcome Aboard.

I generally do not recommend that anyone start in LF with an 8x10 camera.

They're large and expensive, with limited options for lenses and film.

You might try a 4x5 camera first. Many more lenses available from wide angle to telephoto.
You can always sell it if you want an 8x10 later.

- Leigh

[Pere Casals]

Hello Saba,

I'd also recommend starting with a 4x5. In LF it is common practice to develop each sheet with in a particular way, this is a resource not common with roll film, as you have to make a common development for all the roll. One can also develop all sheets in the same way... but custom development for each shot is a valued resource in LF, so while you learn that you will waste less film.

IMHO LF is cheaper than MF because you waste less film, when you shot you normally think twice.

With 4x5 you will learn easier about lenses, without wasting much money.

Then you can make the "mistake" to look through a 8x10 ground glass, this is a problem because it is fairly adictive... by when you make that "mistake" you should be very well informed about what kind of photography you are to make, what kind af glass you want and what camera you need. Can you start directly with 8x10 ? yes !! nothing wrong with it...

What's about image quality 4x5 is more than needed, IMHO, 8x10 is a clear overkill, but 8x10 has other aesthetical nature, using longuer focals.

I started with a cheap CAMBO SC 4x5, and a cheap Symmar 150mm convertible, single coated, unlimited movements to learn, and a competent glass. This was a cheap way to start. And that may not require you sell your hassy, for fome jobs the hassy is better.

You can start with xray film, but I'd start with a box common pictorial 4x5 film, you also can emulate xray tonality with color filters, and in the future you can go X.


I'd encourage you to engage.

Regards,
Pere

[Michael E]

Welcome, Saba.

I would like to suggest a cheap starting solution, but you sound like a perfectionalist, so you might not like this. In Georgia, you should be able to find a cheap russian 18x24cm wooden field camera with a barrel lens. Try this with x-ray film and, if you like it, move up to a Sinar with Schneider or Rodenstock lenses.

Personally, I prefer a small 4x5" field camera, because I can carry it all day. It only needs a small tripod, too.

Best,

Michael

[Pere Casals]

hmmm, wood !!! I use a FK 13x18cm (5x7") , with a lomo... from a 11x14 RX sheet you can cut four 5x7 sheets...

I love that camera, I use it with dry plates.

This is a cheap way to start, but it is also a very nice way to start...

[Michael E]

Here in Europe, x-ray film usually comes in metric sizes. 18x24cm is common, 8x10" hard to get.

[Pere Casals]

Here in Europe, x-ray film usually comes in metric sizes. 18x24cm is common, 8x10" hard to get.

yes, but ebay has plenty in every metric or imperial sizes...

[sabamosiashvili]

thank you guys, i think about 4x5 now. maybe LF is not what i really want and 4x5 must be easy and cheap way to experience.
have you shoot with X-ray? what can you say? is it good?

[Pfsor]

...
have you shoot with X-ray? what can you say? is it good?

Great! Especially the colours!

[neil poulsen]

Hi Saba, and Welcome Aboard.

I generally do not recommend that anyone start in LF with an 8x10 camera.

They're large and expensive, with limited options for lenses and film.

You might try a 4x5 camera first. Many more lenses available from wide angle to telephoto.
You can always sell it if you want an 8x10 later.

- Leigh

I think that this is good advice. Whatever 4x5 you might get, I would suggest one for which a wide angle bag bellows is available. That way, you're not limited on your choice of lenses.