My first 4x5 Polaroids

padu

A few months ago I started purchasing equipment to start taking large format pictures (4x5 film). I ended up buying a calumet view camera and a Schneider Symmar 180mm,315mm lens. Since the probability of screwing something on the first shots, I decided to start taking polaroids.

Bought a box of type 54 (BW) and start shooting my family in my studio... let me share with you the first fruits of my new passion.


My wife. The thing on her nose was a dirt spot on the roller of the polaroid 545 film holder. I cleaned that for the other pictures.



My daughter. A little bit underexposed.



Myself. Looking at the polaroids, this is the better exposed of them all.


My dog Negao.



I've scanned these with a super cheap canon lide25 scan. A better scan is in my "to buy" list, but for now it's enough.


I have to say that shooting with a view camera is way different from the digital. The process is much longer, and you really have to pay attention to all the steps, otherwise you'll just loose film. I won't retire my digital, but I'm hooked with this thing now.

For those of you who like very high megapixels, you can scan a 4x5 negative at around 200MP!

cletus

Good for you!

Working with a large format camera is a great way to improve your photographic eye.

Art Scott

Good shots.....so when is the scan back going to arrive for that thing....just think you could put everyone to shame just with MP's let alone the actual resolution you could command.

padu

Art Scott wrote:

Good shots.....so when is the scan back going to arrive for that thing....just think you could put everyone to shame just with MP's let alone the actual resolution you could command.

I don't know how true it is, but I've heard that digital backs for 4x5's are like scanners (linear CCD's that scan the area) instead of an array of sensors. I can see the economics on why it would be like that. If that's true, it would certainly limit the type of photography you can take with those cameras (which is already limited).

For my level of photography, it would take years to even the investment on a digital back compared to film+scan.

Skippy

padu wrote:

A few months ago I started purchasing equipment to start taking large format pictures (4x5 film). I ended up buying a calumet view camera and a Schneider Symmar 180mm,315mm lens. Since the probability of screwing something on the first shots, I decided to start taking polaroids.

Bought a box of type 54 (BW) and start shooting my family in my studio... let me share with you the first fruits of my new passion.
My wife. The thing on her nose was a dirt spot on the roller of the polaroid 545 film holder. I cleaned that for the other pictures.
My daughter. A little bit underexposed.
Myself. Looking at the polaroids, this is the better exposed of them all.
My dog Negao.
I've scanned these with a super cheap canon lide25 scan. A better scan is in my "to buy" list, but for now it's enough.
I have to say that shooting with a view camera is way different from the digital. The process is much longer, and you really have to pay attention to all the steps, otherwise you'll just loose film. I won't retire my digital, but I'm hooked with this thing now.
For those of you who like very high megapixels, you can scan a 4x5 negative at around 200MP!

This is where the expense comes in, the fact that you have to use film that cannot be re-used, in order to see the actual image after it's been taken.

Not a lot of room for error is there with this type of photography.

We will be looking forward to seeing your work,
as you get more acquainted with your setup.
Thank you for sharing you passion for photography with us.
....... Skippy
.

padu

Skippy wrote:

This is where the expense comes in, the fact that you have to use film that cannot be re-used, in order to see the actual image after it's been taken.

Not a lot of room for error is there with this type of photography.

We will be looking forward to seeing your work,
as you get more acquainted with your setup.
Thank you for sharing you passion for photography with us.
....... Skippy
.

Some view that expense as an attractive. To be forced to think your photo thoroughly before clicking the shutter. Remains to be seen.

System

neat-

good luck with your endeavor-