View Single Post
Old 09-01-2006   #3 (permalink)
Blinky
F1 Camel
 
Blinky's Avatar
 
Posts: 4,134
Blinky has a reputation beyond reputeBlinky has a reputation beyond reputeBlinky has a reputation beyond repute
CamelKarma: 262
Default Re: first timer with 4x5

Oustanding! Everybody should have the opportunity to use a view camera.

The best advice I have is to use a focusing light... though it may be that my old eyes need it more than yours. View cameras are so versatile that a list of tips would take pages. The best thing is to just buy a bunch of Polaroid film and practice a lot. Start with a geometrical object like a box or a cube of blocks and notice how swinging or tilting the back will change the shape of your subject and how swinging or tilting the lens will change the angle of the focal plane. Try to visualize that happening inside the camera.

...Oh, and mark your film holders and keep up with what's what by taking notes... it really sucks when you can't remember which side(s) you've made the exposure on and you double expose one side and don't expose the other side at all.

Have fun... view cameras are the ultimate image recorders. I want a Sinar X3.

Chip
__________________
In the beginning the Universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry and has been widely regarded as a bad move.
Blinky is offline   Reply With Quote