Which Camera for portraits?

[Pete Bartlett]

Hi there,

I've just started out on the large format path. I have a very specific portrait project in mind at the moment - it's a series of fairly uniform portraits - available light, inside/daylight from big bay, north-facing window, waist up, white background (think Avedon's In the American West), room dimensions 10sq m, so 3 metres from the subject.

I've been offered an MPP MK 7 with a Rodenstock Apo Ronar 150/f9. Apparently the lens is a good one but I'm concerned about the f9 for lack of depth of field options and indoor low-light situation.

Can anyone please advise. Would I be better going for an MPP with a Schneiger 150/f5.6? Any other sub £500 cameras and lenses to contemplate?

Many thanks,

Pete

[Ash]

Hi Pete,


UK I see!

You need to try different lenses, and different cameras!

I tried a monorail and hated it, field camera and liked it, Razzle and loved it. A Razzle is a 5x4 handheld camera, custom made. Mine has a Fuji 150/5,6

To be honest for portraits I'm shoots about f/8 anyway.

You'll find that large format lenses work differently to 35mm or medium format lenses. f/9 on 10x8 may look as shallow as f/2 on 35mm.

For this reason I recommend trying the camera before you buy it, set it up and look at the ground glass. If the depth of field is too deep, then get a faster lens. I'd recommend a faster lens either way, but for those types of portraits you'll be stopping down to f/8-ish anyway, so you get the whole person in focus.

Remember, if you need a faster shutter speed, increase the amount of light in the room (you can do this easily and it still look natural) or use a higher ISO film, say, 400 instead of 100. You can push 5x4 film just as easily as 35mm/120.

Also, if you're shooting Avedon-style, you need to get that background lighter than the subject by a couple stops anyway, or it won't look white.

[Robert Budding]

I, too, usually shoot portraits at f/8, or smaller, when using 4x5. The DOF table that's down the following link may be of help:

http://dofmaster.com/doftable.html

[Walter Calahan]

You can do this on a Crown Graphic with a f/4.7 135 mm lens.

Lens camera combo should cost less than 500 pounds sterling.

Remember, Avedon shot his stuff on an 8x10 camera, so had less DOF and a slow lens.

[IanG]

An MPP MkVII sounds fine,they a quite capable cameras, another option is a Speed or Crown Graphic but don't over pay they can be expensive in the UK and they have more limited movements.

Ash is right you need a better lens, 150mm Symmarsor Sironars are very easy to find second hand in the UK, and Nikons & Fuji's are excellent as well.

Ian

[Frank Petronio]

Get the fast lens and shoot wide open with natural or hot lights.

I shoot a lot of handheld shots but they usually come out better with a tripod mounted camera... monorails are great bargains and make it more conducive to use more movements for effect. Avedon certainly used a tripod under his 8x10 for the American West portraits.

[IanG]

Don't be afraid of buying from the US, there are some great bargains to be had on this forum or APUG, and the exchange rate is heavily in your favour. Shipping for a lens isn't very much, and even if you end up paying Duty &VAT (21&#37 you'll still make very significant savings.

Ian

[eddie]

hi pete,

my only suggestion would be a slightly longer lens. 150 on 4x5 is pretty normal. something in the 210-240 range may give you the results you are looking for. another advantage of a longer lens is you can shoot at f8-f11 pretty easily and still get some pleasing OOF areas. the closer you are to your model the more you can stop[ down and still have a bit of softness in your photos.

like the above posted suggested look here and at apug.org first. many great sellers and you do not have to worry as much as say ebay.

good luck.

eddie

[Ash]

Eddie remember the room size vs portrait length. I think any longer than 180 will be toooo long (I know this from experience!)

[eddie]

Eddie remember the room size vs portrait length. I think any longer than 180 will be toooo long (I know this from experience!)

oooppps! forgot that part. maybe 210 is too long......are you sure? i shot a head shot witha 12 inch lens and i was under two feet from my model. so figure i needed about 4-5 feet of working area.....i bet you could get it done with a 210. i am going to check tonight.