Discussion
Not sure if I have done the right thing but today I have bought a Calumet 4x5 today.
After my wife bought me my first digital camera I have hardly touched an analogue camera. The last time was when I picked up my mamiya 645 super to give it to my nephew. Well, I guess it's is going to be an adventure. :-)
After my wife bought me my first digital camera I have hardly touched an analogue camera. The last time was when I picked up my mamiya 645 super to give it to my nephew. Well, I guess it's is going to be an adventure. :-)
I bought an old MPP 4 x 5 for £50 around 76, called them up to date it and they said it was probably pre 1951. Had a lot of fun with that, probably did the same stuff the modern ones do.
Lens holder tilted back, could slide left to right, raise the lens holder up and down, the back with the film holder could be moved forwards, backwars, left and right or both.
It had a leaf shutter in the lense, and a focal plane shutter mechanism which consisted of a long piece of black cloth, with varying width vertial slots in it in the back of the unit, you had to wind up the system to get the right bit of cloth for the required speed which was as shown in a little window, activate it and a mighty clunk as the piece of cloth was moved by a spring, same as a modern day SLR focal plane shutter.
Loading the film was fun, couple of dry runs with the lights on, and then in the dark. Not sure if its the same today, but sort of keep safe bit of the film holder had one smooth side where you held it, and a couple of bumpy bits on the other, I figured you kept them with smooth side showing for unused film, and replaced them with bumps showing to indicate used.
Have fun.
Lens holder tilted back, could slide left to right, raise the lens holder up and down, the back with the film holder could be moved forwards, backwars, left and right or both.
It had a leaf shutter in the lense, and a focal plane shutter mechanism which consisted of a long piece of black cloth, with varying width vertial slots in it in the back of the unit, you had to wind up the system to get the right bit of cloth for the required speed which was as shown in a little window, activate it and a mighty clunk as the piece of cloth was moved by a spring, same as a modern day SLR focal plane shutter.
Loading the film was fun, couple of dry runs with the lights on, and then in the dark. Not sure if its the same today, but sort of keep safe bit of the film holder had one smooth side where you held it, and a couple of bumpy bits on the other, I figured you kept them with smooth side showing for unused film, and replaced them with bumps showing to indicate used.
Have fun.
Brilliant! Welcome to the club.
4x5 is great fun and adds new dimensions to your photography - I'd like to think that the sheer effort involved improves one's photography!!
If you're developing your own negs I can recommend the MOD54 system - probably best explained on the internet (I use this for black and white processing).
During lockdown I purchased this Gandolfi - my photography is no better but I look great doing it
4x5 is great fun and adds new dimensions to your photography - I'd like to think that the sheer effort involved improves one's photography!!
If you're developing your own negs I can recommend the MOD54 system - probably best explained on the internet (I use this for black and white processing).
During lockdown I purchased this Gandolfi - my photography is no better but I look great doing it
seanyfez said:
Brilliant! Welcome to the club.
4x5 is great fun and adds new dimensions to your photography - I'd like to think that the sheer effort involved improves one's photography!!
If you're developing your own negs I can recommend the MOD54 system - probably best explained on the internet (I use this for black and white processing).
During lockdown I purchased this Gandolfi - my photography is no better but I look great doing it
Love that camera!4x5 is great fun and adds new dimensions to your photography - I'd like to think that the sheer effort involved improves one's photography!!
If you're developing your own negs I can recommend the MOD54 system - probably best explained on the internet (I use this for black and white processing).
During lockdown I purchased this Gandolfi - my photography is no better but I look great doing it
Another option for processing 5x4 sheet film (if you can get hold of one from eBay - they do come up from time to time) is to use an old Paterson Orbital print processor. They allow you to develop four 5x4 sheets at once, or even one 10x8, and due to the shape use fairly small quantities of chemicals (supposedly 55ml, but most people use between 75ml and 150ml). Guide to using one here.
Nowhere near as nice as the Gandolfi, but I have a Chroma 5x4.
Chroma by conradsphotos, on Flickrseanyfez said:
On youtube I follow Todd Korol (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ33ldV4AWqroqqjDFbrSuQ) and he has a video about how he restored a 100 years old wooden camera: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJY0lqJFe7gAnother photographer I follow is Steve O'Nions (https://www.youtube.com/c/SteveONions/videos) He has a video on how he develops his films and he recommends a Stearman Press SP-445 (https://youtu.be/3ydz1K1iQP0), so I bought one and I am going to try this. He also shows the Paterson Orbital print processor in this video
The camera is on its way to me: looking forward to using it, hopefully it will be fun to use it.
Edited by MGJ2 on Saturday 13th March 16:30
Gosh, that Calumet takes me back, we had a couple in art school but from memory, preferred using the MPP monorails. The Gandolfi is lovely and there are some wonderful wooden (and metal), folding view cameras out there at all sorts of prices, depending on complexities, axis of tilt and swings and whether that are on the front and back standards etc.
Just checked my bookmarks and remembered this company which offers a very affordable, light weight, compact camera for landscape work https://intrepidcamera.co.uk/products/intrepid-cam... Even their 8x10 is relatively cheap, compared to the film holders and lenses...
This forum might also be of interest to LF analogue enthusiasts: https://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/inde...
Always had a hankering for an Ebony but at used car prices, would be happy with a Wista or Tachihara…
Just checked my bookmarks and remembered this company which offers a very affordable, light weight, compact camera for landscape work https://intrepidcamera.co.uk/products/intrepid-cam... Even their 8x10 is relatively cheap, compared to the film holders and lenses...
This forum might also be of interest to LF analogue enthusiasts: https://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/inde...
Always had a hankering for an Ebony but at used car prices, would be happy with a Wista or Tachihara…
Simpo Two said:
I seem to remember offering to make you one out of six bits of plywood and a hole.. the Simpoflex GTMk1.
An old mate built exactly that, a box which could hold an 8x10 film holder with a very thin copper pinhole in the front. It was only about 3" deep, so very wide angle. The 8x10 chromes had an amazing magical, ethereal quality...Bacardi said:
Simpo Two said:
I seem to remember offering to make you one out of six bits of plywood and a hole.. the Simpoflex GTMk1.
An old mate built exactly that, a box which could hold an 8x10 film holder with a very thin copper pinhole in the front. It was only about 3" deep, so very wide angle. The 8x10 chromes had an amazing magical, ethereal quality...MGJ2 said:
seanyfez said:
On youtube I follow Todd Korol (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ33ldV4AWqroqqjDFbrSuQ) and he has a video about how he restored a 100 years old wooden camera: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJY0lqJFe7gAnother photographer I follow is Steve O'Nions (https://www.youtube.com/c/SteveONions/videos) He has a video on how he develops his films and he recommends a Stearman Press SP-445 (https://youtu.be/3ydz1K1iQP0), so I bought one and I am going to try this. He also shows the Paterson Orbital print processor in this video
The camera is on its way to me: looking forward to using it, hopefully it will be fun to use it.
Edited by MGJ2 on Saturday 13th March 16:30
satans worm said:
Another good youtuber to follow is Nick Carver , nice and relaxing to watch with interesting subjects
Perhaps the subject of a new thread: who do you follow on youtube?Anyway, yesterday I received the camera. First impressions: the camera is in a very good shape and looks like it is hardly used. Some questions so far: the screen is very dark. Without a dark cloth it is impossible to view (btw: a 5.6 lens is used) and when I use a 100 mm lens the front end is very close to the back end.
MGJ2 said:
Anyway, yesterday I received the camera. First impressions: the camera is in a very good shape and looks like it is hardly used. Some questions so far: the screen is very dark. Without a dark cloth it is impossible to view (btw: a 5.6 lens is used) and when I use a 100 mm lens the front end is very close to the back end.
Welcome to the world of old photography! Yes those old screens are very dark, even worse in the corners. The newer cameras have a Fresnel screen which makes viewing a lot easier. You can possibly fit one but would need to check the sizing... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ultra-Super-Bright-Fres...100mm lens is a wider angle lens, roughly similar to a 30-34mm-ish equivalent on 35mm FF. Makes using movements difficult with the bellows squashed up, but higher end cameras have interchangeable bellows so you can swop them out for bag bellows, not sure if that's an option on your calumet.
It's well worth investing in a decent focussing cloth before buying a fresnel screen (even with a fresnel in place the cloth will enhance the image)
I use one on my Gandolfi and Linhof Technika - both which date from the 1920's and 1950's and still have the original crappy ground glass focussing screens but the view is dramatically enhanced beneath the cloth. Frankly it can be a pain in the backside on a windy day but a bit of velcro and tape.....
Use a loupe for fine focussing - a bit of a faff but it will make all the difference.
I find the focussing cloth is essential outside but in a controlled studio environment it is less important when the light is directed on the subject only.
For a demonstration of incompetent focussing cloth management take a look at - https://youtu.be/cbI2Tue6sRM - I was going to create a tutorial but everything conspired against me on the day.
I use one on my Gandolfi and Linhof Technika - both which date from the 1920's and 1950's and still have the original crappy ground glass focussing screens but the view is dramatically enhanced beneath the cloth. Frankly it can be a pain in the backside on a windy day but a bit of velcro and tape.....
Use a loupe for fine focussing - a bit of a faff but it will make all the difference.
I find the focussing cloth is essential outside but in a controlled studio environment it is less important when the light is directed on the subject only.
For a demonstration of incompetent focussing cloth management take a look at - https://youtu.be/cbI2Tue6sRM - I was going to create a tutorial but everything conspired against me on the day.
Edited by seanyfez on Wednesday 17th March 13:52
seanyfez said:
For a demonstration of incompetent focussing cloth management take a look at - https://youtu.be/cbI2Tue6sRM - I was going to create a tutorial but everything conspired against me on the day.
Do we get to see the finished photo? 
seanyfez said:
I use one on my Gandolfi and Linhof Technika - both which date from the 1920's and 1950's and still have the original crappy ground glass focussing screens but the view is dramatically enhanced beneath the cloth. Frankly it can be a pain in the backside on a windy day but a bit of velcro and tape.....
Use a loupe for fine focussing - a bit of a faff but it will make all the difference.
Yep, loupe is essential, along with dark cloth… which can be further helped by sewing lead weights into the corners for windy days.Use a loupe for fine focussing - a bit of a faff but it will make all the difference.
Love the fogging, reminds me of when we had a project to build a pinhole camera at art school. Mine leaked light down one side…
Simpo, I don’t recall you offering to make me a camera with your wood working skills, but by all means, give it a go if you’re bored… but I would hope for Gandolfi standards… a little documentary from 1974 should help… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJq04wKCKSY or a later one from 81 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mos6-cvehys
Thanks to this thread, I nearly bought a Wista on ebay the other day, but missed it. The only 4x5 film camera I currently own is a Sinar F2, which I believe is currently residing in the corner of the garage buried under the Griff’s original shocks. But it is in it’s own case but far to big and heavy to lug around…
… so I’m currently rather tempted with the Intrepid Camera Company’s offerings, along withe the option of Roll film holders as mentioned by Steve O’Nions who has also been mentioned on this thread… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwUIeesq99k&li...
Not quite a cabinet made Gandolfi, but an affordable modern version and refreshingly made in Britain, here’s how… . https://youtu.be/xrRC3M1bPZ8
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