Bought a 4x5, time to get started in the LF pond

[Nicole BM]

It's been a long time coming, but I'm finally the owner of a 4x5!!
Bought a Graphic View M.P.P. 25cm (10") Graphlex Tele-Optar f/5.6 lens.
Time to play!! (Any tips on how to use this beast... please send them my way)
I'll keep you posted how this relationship evolves.
Best wishes,
Nicole

[Robert A. Zeichner]

I think you will discover that the 10" Tele-Optar does not have a tremendous amount of coverage. You will certainly be able to make 4x5 negatives/chromes with this lens, but you may have to restrict any movements you use to the rear of the camera to avoid vignetting. This lens was more designed for press style cameras that have limited bellows draw. Nevertheless, you will certainly be able to make pictures and experience the wonders of big negatives with this outfit. Best of luck to you.

[John Powers]

You spent enough time recovering Nicole. Glad to read that you can now play. Come on in. Plenty of room in the pond.

John & Dolly Powers

[Shen45]

It's been a long time coming, but I'm finally the owner of a 4x5!!
Bought a Graphic View M.P.P. 25cm (10") Graphlex Tele-Optar f/5.6 lens.
Time to play!! (Any tips on how to use this beast... please send them my way)
I'll keep you posted how this relationship evolves.
Best wishes,
Nicole

The 10" should prove to be a fun lens to use as it will allow you just a bit of distance between you and you subject. I have a reasonable number of focal lengths but reach for a 10" Raptar I have more often than not. It will be a nice portrait length and being a tele design will allow you a bit more bellows to play with.

all the best Nicole, have lots of fun.

[Ralph Barker]

Congrats on the LF purchase, Nicole. I'm anxious to see how you blend the Graphic View into your work.

[Joseph O'Neil]

Shooting B&W or colour? If shooting B&W, get yourself a decent yellow filter, lighter, and put it on and leave it on. Reason is focusing through a yellow filter will give you a better idea of what a shot will look like in terms of monochrome and overall tonality.

good luck
joe

[Sandeha]

Lots of people have had a successful start using an MPP. It's a slippery slope, you know!

[walter23]

Congratulations. It's a fun world, but don't *ever* get anywhere near an even larger format lest you start sliding down that slippery slope. I was sure I'd stick with 4x5 when I entered, but I just got an 8x10 this month and now my 4x5 seems tiny (which means it seems like less of an encumbrance than it once did, but also means the ground glass just doesn't strike me with awe quite as much as it once did).

[SamReeves]

Congrats! Another member of the large format cult.

[Michael Wynd]

Congratulations Nicole. It'll only take a couple of years to find that you want to go bigger. I'm not sure that I could go back to 4x5 now, even though it's lighter. You're going to have lots of fun.
If you ever make it over to Victoria, let me know and I'll let you play with my 8x10.
Mike