new 4 x 5 press camera, anybody doing it? Ok, Ebay got me, but I have always wanted a 4 x 5 large format film camera. Now I am anxiously waiting delivery. It is a Burke and James 4 x 5...

randymoe

Ok, Ebay got me, but I have always wanted a 4 x 5 large format film camera. Now I am anxiously waiting delivery. It is a Burke and James 4 x 5 Speed Graphic copy made in Chicago. http://lommen9.home.xs4all.nl/Burke/index.html

Is anybody here into large format?

Badger Loc: Fort Worth, Texas

randymoe wrote:

Ok, Ebay got me, but I have always wanted a 4 x 5 large format film camera. Now I am anxiously waiting delivery. It is a Burke and James 4 x 5 Speed Graphic copy made in Chicago. http://lommen9.home.xs4all.nl/Burke/index.html

Is anybody here into large format?

GOOD FOR YOU!! I LOVE large format press cameras. Great for just about anything from macro to portrait & landscape. I have even shot weddings with a 4x5 press camera. Just be sure you have enough film holders to get all the shots you want. An old trick with the holders is on the top side of the slide frame. Notice one side is bright metal, the other painted black. Bright = unexposed, black = exposed so you won't ever get double exposures :-) PLUS you can blow the prints up to 30" x 40" with very little grain degradation.

randymoe

Oh, I have much to learn. i may start by developing my own film and then scanning it. I have a 4x5 enlarger, but I am not ready to set up a full darkroom. I have fairly recent and extensive wet darkroom experience. Spent several years in a college environment with 24 hour darkroom access and free chemicals! I loved the hours and magic of printing large B&W. And I just found some abandoned packets of D76, stop bath and fixer.

Badger wrote:

quote=randymoe Ok, Ebay got me, but I have always... (show quote)

cgchief Loc: Jarrettsville

randymoe wrote:

Ok, Ebay got me, but I have always wanted a 4 x 5 large format film camera. Now I am anxiously waiting delivery. It is a Burke and James 4 x 5 Speed Graphic copy made in Chicago. http://lommen9.home.xs4all.nl/Burke/index.html

Is anybody here into large format?

I still shoot b&w until my supply of film runs out.
Have a fully equipped darkroom: 4x5 Omega,Bessler 23cII, and Lietz 35mm enlargers. No longer use them.

randymoe

I live in a very artistic area. I bet when the youngin's see me using the 4x5 some will try it. Retro is big in some areas. I have friends who only shoot with really bad old 35mm point and shoots and they are the ones selling prints!

cgchief wrote:

randymoe wrote:

Ok, Ebay got me, but I have always wanted a 4 x 5 large format film camera. Now I am anxiously waiting delivery. It is a Burke and James 4 x 5 Speed Graphic copy made in Chicago. http://lommen9.home.xs4all.nl/Burke/index.html

Is anybody here into large format?

I still shoot b&w until my supply of film runs out.
Have a fully equipped darkroom: 4x5 Omega,Bessler 23cII, and Lietz 35mm enlargers. No longer use them.

dgb

i was discharged from the US Navy late 1945 and had accumulated a few hundred dollars~~so I bought a minature 2 1/4 X 3 1/4 Speed Graphic from Gimbels Dept Store/Milwaukee. Well marriage came along and had the camera less than 3 months and returned it for a full refund. Anyway I now collect vintage cameras. Just bought a Kodak Retina (35mm) made in Germany ~~with a Seiz Tessar lens and shutter.Had one for a few years starting 1947. Used it a lot until it mal functioned and sold it. Anyway now would like to also find a small speed Graphic to add to my collection.ANY SUGGESTIONS AS TO WHERE TO FIND ONE???? dgb

photocat Loc: Atlanta, Ga

You are in for a lot of fun.

I no longer have one, but i have several students who do and they really enjoy working with them.

ole sarg Loc: south florida

There really is no replacement for a big negative. Also, you take real time getting a picture with a 4X5. One doesn't seem to be in such a rush. With digital, you can shoot and shoot and out of all that mess probably get a good picture or two. With a 4X5 you shoot less but get more!

ole sarg Loc: south florida

My first camera in Nam was a speed graphic issued by the US Army. It was kinda neat,hunkered down in my hole, popping up getting a shot and back in the hole with pot back on my head. But, then again that was in the days of MACV. Later was issued a Leica, got more action shots because of the situation, but still miss the speed graphic!

Have you tried contacting B&H, Adorama or KEH and letting them know about your quest. They just may know someone...

randymoe

look on ebay under "4x5" there are plenty of mini speed graphics for sale cheap, but there is no store bought cut film sold in usa anymore. you could cut 4x5 down to size with a jig you can operate in the dark... let us know! sounds great!

dgb wrote:

i was discharged from the US Navy late 1945 and ha... (show quote)

rcervini Loc: joshua, texas

Not me but I was introduced to photography with it including the Omega enlarger. Manned my uncles photo shop while he did wedding & I played with equipment. Loved the Speed Graphic and enlarger. Much easier than now to use dodging tool to refine photo plus timer to expose negative. I was 14 then, does that show your age?

randymoe

there also is a large fomat forum and info pages that are proving to be very helpful to me

http://www.largeformatphotography.info/

Eugene G Campbell

I have an old Burke & James 8x10 I modified for backpacking and there's nothing like a contact print from an 8x10 negative or better yet a Velvia color transparency on to Ilforchrome super glossy printing material. Also handcolored contact prints from 8x10 are in a class of their own. This may be way beyond the scope of what you intend to do but even 4x5 format yeilds great detail and tonal values beyond that of the smaller formats. I've been scanning a lot of the 4x5/8x10 material and it's really suprising what you can do with post-processing in either Lightroom or Photoshop. Good Luck, Gene C.

Jer Loc: Mesa, Arizona

I just has the shutter on my Crown Graphic fixed. I doubt if I'll ever use it but it's nice to have a working classic. I started out with a Speed Graphic. Fantastic detail and enlargements.

Roger Hicks Loc: Aquitaine

You might find this useful for an easy and economical way to process the film:

http://www.rogerandfrances.com/subscription/ps%20how%20orbital.html

and this for how to load holders:

http://www.rogerandfrances.com/subscription/ps%20how%20loading%20cut%20film.html

(Ignore 'subscription' because it's all free now)

Cheers,

R.