need some help venturing into large format

[bernhardas]

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[exaklaus]

That kickstarter project sounds interesting. Was thinking about opting in, but as I am quite lucky with my Jobo 2520 for 6 sheets of 4x5", I will skip that idea.

1) do not know to much about, as I am using a Tachihara, which has the same lens boards as the small Linhof or Toyo-View. There are frequently boards from chinese makers at pretty attractive prices available.
2) (will answer for the Linhof/Tachihara/Toyo-system, as this is the one, I know)
a) in a second
b) yes, you can by unscrewing a ring, you will need a tool for this
c) copal 0 is the same as the other 0 sizes. Older compur or Compound shutters have their own sizes.
d) Graflex Speed Graphic! Otherwise, you will have to find your own trick for that. Big Compur or Compound shutter added to the lens, or vice versa
3) don't know

So much or less from my side


Klaus

[dan_]

There is a special developing tank from Jobo for processing 6 4x5 sheets at once in quite little solutions. They have a reel for 6 4x5 sheets for the normal thank, too, and it is a cheaper.
See it here:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TOP-JOBO-Multitank-2-Planfilm-Set-2509-sheetfilm-set-DECKELWAHL-choice-of-lid-/172020372012?hash=item280d36922c:g:SoIAAOSwCQNWfahn
I have one and it works very well both with and without their rotating home developing machines. For slides and color negatives you'll need to get, later, a thermostated tank.
I've got a "CPE-2 lift" like this:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Jobo-CPE2-processor-with-lift-6-month-warranty-/281892198044?hash=item41a215969c:g:jIYAAOSwhkRWecs5
and it works very well for color slides and negatives.
The great advantage of the Jobo developing system is that you can add later, if needed, other facilities and they match the ones you already have (reels, paper developing tubes, thermostated developing tanks, etc).

To answe your questions:
1 - some (very few) lensboards can be used on more cameras (ex.Linhof-Wista -Toyo) but moast of them can only be used on the camera they are made for.
2 - some (very few) 4x5 cameras (Graflex Speed Graphic) have a focal plane shutter and the lens can be mounted on the lens board, without a shutter, but most cameras need lenses mounted in shutter and the shutter (with the lens) is mounted on the lens board. There are more standards for shutters (dependin on how big is the lens). The Copal shutters (European standard) has #00, #0, #1, and #3 dimensions. There is a #2 dimension too, but is very rarely used. There are American standards as well, but the Copal standard is now the universaly accepted one.
a - Usually yes.
b - Usually yes.
c - Copal and Compur are the same. The American standards are different.
d - The barrel lenses can be used with a shutter mounted in front or at the rear of the lens. With a Speed Graphic you don't need a shutter for them.
3 - Usually as described on point "d". To mount the shutter between the front and rear groups of the lens is possible (I did it for some lenses) but a bit more difficult (you'll need a lathe).
4 - As shutters are standardized and lens boards can be found quite easily you can adapt barrel lenses to any 4x5 camera. With a Speed Graphic, having the focal plane shutter, is easyer to adapt barrel lenses - you only mount them on the lens board, without shutter. But they are quite old cameras and the accuraty of the focal plane shutter is a problem with many of them.

I am a Linhof fan and I have 3 Linhof cameras. They are very well made, comparable with the Leica build quality, but they are not cheap. Probably a Speed Graphic is the best 4X5 camera to start with, if price matters.

Other things to consider are:
- Do you intend to use the camera hand held? Then you'll need a camera with a range finder (the Speed Graphic has one).
- You'll certainly want to use tilt-shift movements with your 4x5 camera. Some cameras have better movements than others and are easier to use.
- You'll need film holders for the 4X5 sheets, too. In addition to the normal film holders I'll recommend the Grafmatic film holders. They take 6 sheets of film at once. Very nice engineered pieces of gear.
See it here:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Graflex-Grafmatic-45-Graphic-Cut-Film-Holder-w-6-Septums-690-/201485100077?hash=item2ee972a42d:g:dTIAAOSwHQ9WZOtQ

[480sparky]

As for the Kickstarter developer, it really can't enter into the equation since it's not available. But there are lots of options available to develop 4x5 film. Myself, I use a MOD54 (http://mod54.com/collections/mod54-processor-1/products/mod54-film-processor) in a Patterson System 4 tank.

[bernhardas]

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[480sparky]

As with all start-ups, one never knows truly when it will come to market..... if at all. Just don't bet the rent money on it.

[bernhardas]

edited

[dan_]

SK Grimes do a very good job on mounting exotic lenses in shutters and they have a long experience but, AFAIK, they are not cheap at all.
I'll only send to them the most expensive and rare lenses I want to re-mount in shutters.
Anyway, it's a very good thing they still exist.

[bernhardas]

edited

[danfromm]

Many questions, most of which have already been answered well.

http://www.suaudeau.eu/memo/pratique/Les_obturateurs_centraux.html is the most complete list of shutters' dimensions that I'm aware of.

Using lenses in barrel. In general, unless the lens' cells are direct fits in a standard shutter adapting a lens in barrel to a shutter usually costs more than buying the equivalent lens in shutter. Adapters for hanging a lens in front of a shutter or hanging a shutter in front of a lens can be quite expensive, become more attractive when several lenses can use the same adapter. See http://www.galerie-photo.com/telechargement/dan-fromm-6x9-lenses-v2-2011-03-29.pdf for a fuller discussion of using barrel lenses.

Lenses in barrel often have mounting flanges that can be used to attach them to lens boards. Once on boards they can be used with behind-the-lens shutters. See, e.g., http://www.packardshutter.com. Also educate yourself about the Sinar system. Sinar offers b-t-l shutters that are more flexible (more speeds, faster highest speed) than Packards. Sinar shutters can be adapted to other view cameras with large enough front standards but their native habitat is Sinar cameras.

If you can live with its limitations -- minimal movements, minimum/maximum extensions around 65 mm/300 mm -- a 4x5 Speed Graphic will let you use barrel lenses with the camera's focal plane shutter. If you can live with its limitations a 4x5 Speed Graphic can be a relatively inexpensive way to shoot 4x5.

Re cameras' backs. Nearly all modern view camera backs will accept all modern sheet film holders. Spring/bail backs will accept only insertion type roll holders, a Graflok/International back is needed for clip-on roll holders as sold by Graflex Inc. and successors, Horseman, Linhof (think Super Rollex), ...

Good luck, have fun,

Dan

[exaklaus]

[bernhardas]

I just got the camera. Still waiting for some of the bits and pieces. most importantly the film holders and the development tank.

[kds315*]

[jamaeolus]

Just getting into this as well. I picked up a "no-name" wooden camera off eBay for 83 usd plus 30 shipping, seller claims bellows is good, we will see. It appears to be a 5 x 7. I'll wait to see it before going further. If the shutter works I will start with that. The local camera shop doesn't deal with 5×7 so I will have to send out for processing unless I go into that as well. Advice will be greatly appreciated.

Camera images from seller:

[jamaeolus]

Oh yeah if anybody knows about this camera please share.