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Very Large Format Film Cameras
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Oct 16, 2018 11:39:13   #
PhotoSomnambulist
 
I have created images at places like Point Lobos, Big Sur, Venicia, Bella Roma, and a few other places all with my DEARDORFF 8x10. While I commonly carry smaller cameras [ HASSELBLAD 1000F, ANNIVERSARY GRAPHIC in 4x5 ], my Soul procliveates to my 'DORFF. There is nothing like working with an 8x10. I now am looking for a LARGE(er) camera that is 16x20. I am having a hard time finding cameras, lenses, holders, tripods, film developing tools, etc. Do any of this Forum's members have suggestions as to where such Photo-Juggernauts can be found for sale ? Baring this, does anyone know if plans are available for building / DIY my own ? Thank You

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Oct 16, 2018 12:00:06   #
Kuzano
 
Did not Photrio become the new name for large format APUG, or the other larger format group?

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Oct 16, 2018 12:01:52   #
PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago
 
PhotoSomnambulist wrote:
I have created images at places like Point Lobos, Big Sur, Venicia, Bella Roma, and a few other places all with my DEARDORFF 8x10. While I commonly carry smaller cameras [ HASSELBLAD 1000F, ANNIVERSARY GRAPHIC in 4x5 ], my Soul procliveates to my 'DORFF. There is nothing like working with an 8x10. I now am looking for a LARGE(er) camera that is 16x20. I am having a hard time finding cameras, lenses, holders, tripods, film developing tools, etc. Do any of this Forum's members have suggestions as to where such Photo-Juggernauts can be found for sale ? Baring this, does anyone know if plans are available for building / DIY my own ? Thank You
I have created images at places like Point Lobos,... (show quote)
Consider an ULF

http://www.lg4mat.net/1620.html
Welcome to the forum

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Oct 16, 2018 12:47:56   #
PhotoSomnambulist
 
PixelStan77 wrote:
Consider an ULF

http://www.lg4mat.net/1620.html
Welcome to the forum


Thank You for your riposte and recomendation.

Next will be getting film. When I NEEEEEEDED to Create but was out of film, I used b&w printing paper. Have to be careful though, 8x10 film and 8x10 printing paper are slightly different in size, so the paper did not cleanly fit into my holders. Paper was exposed at ISO ~9. Never did many exposure reciprocity studies though.

The lack of an anti-halation backing on the paper allows for a glowing bleed along high contrast boarderlines. Contact printing gave me reasonable results. Need to try a drum scanner and PHOTOSHOP for a final output.

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Oct 16, 2018 14:33:41   #
rpavich Loc: West Virginia
 
Kuzano wrote:
Did not Photrio become the new name for large format APUG, or the other larger format group?


Yep. Photrio.

LOTS of film shooters there and more likely to get information there.

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Oct 16, 2018 15:41:15   #
E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada
 
I used to love GIANT cameras. In my commercial work, I routinely used my 8x10 Linhof gear but I also had an 11x14 "Dorf". a monster banquette camera and a circuit camera.

Back in the day my supplier was the Lens and Repro Company in New York City- they had all the big guns and the lenses that coud cover those formats with enough of a circle of coverage to accommodate all the camera movements. Alas, the are gone- but the good new is that some of the staff opened their own repair and fabrication facility (The Camera Doctor) at 36 East 30th Street New York, New York 10016. Phone- 917-499-1951. I suspect the may have something for you or at least be able to supply some leads for you to follow up.

Another tip- In super-large format, there may be some graphic arts cameras kicking around. There are some wooden models they may not have too many camera movement but would accommodate big lenses and film holders.

The only problem I can foresee is the availability and price of lenses that can cover a 16x20 format that coud sill accommodate camera movements, especially vertical rises and lateral shifts.

Another wild idea- Remember the Polaroid 20x24 camera. Rumor has it that B&H may have one. What with the lack of materials, I wonder if they are still in use somewhere or are there a few kicking around waiting for a buyer- this may be worth some detective work on your part. Can't get much bigger than that.

And...what about film in that size? In 1980 Kodak spooled color negative for my circuit camera- I had to by 150 rolls! I don't know if anyone can suppl cut film in 16x20 or even 11x14 anymore.

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Oct 16, 2018 15:48:46   #
E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada
 
Now THESE are cameras!


(Download)


(Download)

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Oct 16, 2018 17:02:16   #
BebuLamar
 
Polaroid made a number of 20x24 cameras. They rented them for shooting Polaroid but since they don't make the film any more perhaps these cameras are available for sale somewhere.

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Oct 16, 2018 17:43:57   #
Bipod
 
PhotoSomnambulist wrote:
I have created images at places like Point Lobos, Big Sur, Venicia, Bella Roma, and a few other places all with my DEARDORFF 8x10. While I commonly carry smaller cameras [ HASSELBLAD 1000F, ANNIVERSARY GRAPHIC in 4x5 ], my Soul procliveates to my 'DORFF. There is nothing like working with an 8x10. I now am looking for a LARGE(er) camera that is 16x20. I am having a hard time finding cameras, lenses, holders, tripods, film developing tools, etc. Do any of this Forum's members have suggestions as to where such Photo-Juggernauts can be found for sale ? Baring this, does anyone know if plans are available for building / DIY my own ? Thank You
I have created images at places like Point Lobos,... (show quote)

This supplier stocks wooden film holders up to 14 x 17", and will make largers sizes for bespoke orders. A 20 x 24" is shown!
http://www.filmholders.com/filmho1.html

I don't think you'll be loading these in a changing bag. Maybe in a changing tent.

The above suggetion to buy rather than build seems good to me. That way, you'd be
starting with a proven design.

If you do decide to build one, be sure to work out all the details of your design before you start
buying parts. One approach would be to copy an existing 8 x 10 camera and just scale it up.

Seems like lens/shutter, bellows and plateholders are the key parts to source. I don't know
anyone who has made a bellows, and that's a big one!

It's not complicated to make a ground glass from a sheet of window glass. But grinding
one that large by hand would take a long time.

It might be possible to design an easy-to-build large view camera, but it would require a
complete re-think. And portability and range of motion might have to be sacrificed.

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Oct 16, 2018 22:43:35   #
ORpilot Loc: Prineville, Or
 
I sold my 8x10 years ago but I still have my 4x5. You might consider contacting the companies that sell the film. See what size is available. Then ask them if they would give you the contact info of the photographers that buy that film. Then ask the camera owners if they know of any cameras or other needed items for sale or who may make custom cameras. Good Luck

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Oct 17, 2018 03:33:14   #
Bipod
 
PhotoSomnambulist wrote:
Do any of this Forum's members have suggestions as to where such Photo-Juggernauts can be found for sale ? Baring this, does anyone know if plans are available for building / DIY my own ? Thank You

I assume you saw these websites, but in case not:
https://jongrepstad.com/building-a-large-format-camera/
https://petapixel.com/2017/10/24/building-8x10-large-format-camera-entirely-hand/

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Oct 17, 2018 07:48:27   #
ELNikkor
 
The old print shops had 20x30 process cameras for making half-tone negatives. Check out some of these old-timers collecting dust in some back storage room. One guy put a process camera into his Econoline and would drive around looking for scenics he could shoot out the back door.

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Oct 17, 2018 08:17:44   #
GGerard
 
If I were to venture into the world of ULF, I would give X-ray film a try. Not the same as panchromatic film, but results I've seen on line are kind of similar esp. with some digital manipulation. The price of even 8X10 conventional film makes me swallow hard these days, if I ever drag my 'dorff out again it would probably be X-ray film being used. I wouldn't wait too long though - digital has started to take over that world also.

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Oct 17, 2018 09:21:17   #
PhotoSomnambulist
 
Thank you ALL ! Your suggestions are invaluable !!! Photo Somnambulist.

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Oct 17, 2018 09:56:58   #
Ron Dial Loc: Cuenca, Ecuador
 
For the camera you want, I would check the bulletin boards around colleges that teach photography, and the classifieds in View camera and Rangefinder. Good luck It has been years since I used a 16 x 20. Transparencies are just beautiful.

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