I started shooting 4x5 tin types back in August, added 5x7 in October with no problem, and think I've just bought an 8x10 Kodak 2D from a member here plus a 5x7 back from another. This morning I bought a Lund 8x10 silver tank plus a pour spout lid and enough silver to fill it. I have everything I need except a holder. Right now I have a Lund 4x5 wet plate holder and a Chamonix 5x7. The Lund is often difficult for me to close and can be fiddly. The Chamonix is beautiful and works very well but it does not take full size plates which is a pain in the ass. I want something better than the Lund that takes full sized 8x10. The Svedovsky looks promising and is priced relatively well, and the Stenopekia would probably work for me too. The Svedovsky is a traditional style with two slide that exit from the top of the holder. The Stenopekia has one slide that opens to expose the plate but the back is hinged along one side so it opens like a book. I always shoot in the field and will be using a box of some kind. At first I thought the Stenopekia might not work in a cramped box but thinking about it I could lay it along a side and open it so the back just leans up against the wall of the box, out of the way. It might actually be a better choice in that regard. I have enough lenses but am going to have Zimiba1 on ebay make an adapter lens board so I can use my lenses that are mounted to Technika 110 metal boards. Will also have him make me some new lens boards for my 19th C. brass lenses.
The only thing missing will be a dark box of some kind. I work out the back of my Subaru Forester most all the time and don't have a dark room at home (yet.) I could go two ways. A fast and easy way would be to buy one of the big black plastic storage tubs from Walmart etc and cut big holes in one side to mount sleeves. For the top instead of using the lid I could build a PVC tube frame that will support a black-out cloth tent top that rises a foot or two over the top edge that I could stick my whole head into. I could have a red LED light fastened to one or two of the PVC tubes for light. I think this would be easy to build and they are plenty big enough. My other route would be to build a PVC tube frame that fits into the back of my Subaru and then enclose it in a sort of bag made of light proof material. This would need to be sewn together by my wife but could give me something like 9 cubic feet! The tail gate opens from the top so I could simply attack the back part of the tent to that so it would fully enclose me.
I have enough lenses to start with but eventually will look for an 1860s or earlier 14-15 inch Petzval. I have a 12 inch Voigtlander Petval c.1862 and a couple of 14/15 inch pillbox lenses from 1854 and 1840s. Also have a few other anastigmat lenses from 1910 to 1935 that would work on 8x10. My plan is to mostly shoot wet plate--tin first then glass negs. Will also shoot Lane dry plates and possibly some b&w film. (I will be getting a film holder also.) The wet plate holder should be able to shoot wet plate & dry plate. Will probably buy at least one dry plate holder from Jason when available. I do have a Stearman SP810 tray coming any time now. The 8x10 will produce tins, ambros big enough to frame on their own. I also plan on getting into albumin contact prints in the coming year.
This is my plan at the moment. Any advice? Anything else I should be thinking about? Anyone using the Svedovsky or Stenopekia wet plate holders, or something else that's available and just as good?
Kent in SD
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