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Thread: cheap large format

  1. #1

    cheap large format

    hello all
    as the title says i only have £100 to spend the less the better as i am not a pro, the main use of it would be day time landscapes, and large group photos

    i was thinking of 5x4 but i am confused the print size will be about 8x10 and bigger

    i would buy from ebay but with that sort of product it is a bit dodgy

    it does not need to be the lightest or the heavyest

    i could assemble a kit one but they look more money

    do they come with that curtian at the back? to look through


    [B]the beginner[B]

  2. #2

    Join Date
    Mar 2002
    Location
    Knoxville, Tennessee
    Posts
    1,789

    Re: cheap large format

    100 pounds is about 160 US, so that's going to push it. Your only options seem to be 4x5 or 8x10 pinhole cameras, or check this thread:

    http://www.apug.org/forums/forum44/7...ap-camera.html

    You use an enlarger to make prints larger than the negative. The "curtain" is called a dark cloth and a black T-shirt will work.

    To find out more, read up here:

    http://www.largeformatphotography.info/

    Cheers, Steve

  3. #3

    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Posts
    1,176

    Re: cheap large format

    Also, keep in mind that film for 4x5 is expensive. 8x10 film is far more expensive. Developing costs are even worse, unless you are doing it yourself, in which case you just need to buy chemistry (and the proper equipment for a makeshift darkroom). You need to figure all this into your budget. Here are some $USD prices I know of:

    Ilford FP4+ B&W 4x5 film - 25 sheets: $29.49
    Ilford FP4+ B&W 8x10 film - 25 sheets: $96.99

    Developing only for 4x5 B&W: $2.50 per sheet
    Developing only for 8x10 B&W: $6.00 per sheet

    B&W contact print from 8x10 negative: $9
    RC B&W 8x10 enlargement from 4x5: $17.50; $13 per add'l

    The point I am trying to make here is that the cost of the camera/lens ends up being the cheapest thing about large format that you will buy in the long run!

  4. #4

    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Posts
    1,176

    Re: cheap large format

    So, say you go 8x10 for your camera and then you decide to shoot 25 negs of B&W and do contacts from all of them. Here is your breakdown from my prices above:

    25 sheet film: 96.99
    25 sheets developing: 150
    25 contact prints: 225
    Total cost: $471.99

    Cost per finished print is a total of $18.88 each!

    I am starting to question why I am doing this!!!

    Here's what's really weird. If you do the same thing with 4x5 and get 8x10 enlargements, it's acutally more expensive: $529.40 total or $21.18 per print.

  5. #5

    Join Date
    Nov 1999
    Posts
    763

    Re: cheap large format

    I will just wait??

  6. #6

    Join Date
    Nov 1999
    Posts
    763

    Re: cheap large format

    Sorry but I couldn't wait. I just calculated the cost of my film, paper, developer, fixer etc to produce a finished 10x8 B&W print on a FB paper and it came to $4.55. That is based on 3 sheets of paper to get the final print. I added in the cost of some water and electricity as well. There are other manufacturers of film and paper other than Ilford and Kodak. My costs are based on Foma/Arista film and paper, D76 developer and BTZS tubes. The film and paper come to Australia from Freestyle so I have included freight.

  7. #7

    Join Date
    Aug 2009
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    1,176

    Re: cheap large format

    Quote Originally Posted by Steve Nicholls View Post
    Sorry but I couldn't wait. I just calculated the cost of my film, paper, developer, fixer etc to produce a finished 10x8 B&W print on a FB paper and it came to $4.55. That is based on 3 sheets of paper to get the final print. I added in the cost of some water and electricity as well. There are other manufacturers of film and paper other than Ilford and Kodak. My costs are based on Foma/Arista film and paper, D76 developer and BTZS tubes. The film and paper come to Australia from Freestyle so I have included freight.
    Yes! My quotes were based on lab processing exclusively. I'm not sure if a beginner is going to be doing their own developing and printing, so I quoted the minimum to start taking pictures and getting them printed by someone else.

    If you are printing, be sure to amortize the cost of your printer. This seems to be missing from your calc?

  8. #8

    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Posts
    1,176

    Re: cheap large format

    Let me give the OP a more realistic scenario:

    Entry costs:
    Camera ($300 used to $6,000+new)
    Dark cloth ($10 used to $60)
    Focussing loupe or magnifying glasses ($6-$200)
    Lens($100 used to $3,000+?)
    Meter($100 used to $800)
    Scanner($500 used to $800+)
    Printer($500 used to $3,000+)
    Film Holders ($6 used or $160 new for six)
    Fuji Instant film holder ($210)
    Instant film ($30 per box, 10 sheets): $3.00 per sheet
    B&W sheet film: roughly $2.50 per sheet

    My scenario while I have been learning...
    - Expose 30 frames instant film per month: total $90
    - Expose roughly 10 sheets regular b&w film per month: $40
    - Lab developing for 10 sheets: $60
    - 3 contact prints per month: $27
    - Cost of scanning = scanner cost/months in use

  9. #9

    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    The Desert * Phoenix AZ
    Posts
    133

    Re: cheap large format

    ...

  10. #10

    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    The Desert * Phoenix AZ
    Posts
    133

    Re: cheap large format

    For $160 you can get a Rolleicord 120 camera from ebay & learn to shoot. You get 12 tries for the cost or one sheet of 8x10. PLUS the cameras fit your budget.

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