Large Format Sheet Camera

SWDesertTaco

SWDesertTaco

Adventurer
So Christmas came early for me this year.

My grandfather passed his Meridian sheet film camera on to me!

Can't tell you all how excited I was to receive it.

I have searched the web and local library for info on use and shot framing etc etc...and discovered that I am either a dumba$$ when it comes to using Google or there isn't much present day info available (plus I lose my patience quickly sorting through surplus web pages)

Is anyone familiar with some books or pointing me in the right direction (aside from forums, though valuable as they are...not exactly what I am looking for in terms of study in hand info).

Anyways.. any information would be appreciated.

Thanks

-C
 

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SWDesertTaco

SWDesertTaco

Adventurer
Yeah,
Found those sites pretty quick after I started looking into cameras.

Honestly, I just lose patience weeding through websites for information. Websites are informative but books are what I prefer for better digestion of information.

The 'view camera' hint was a good hit though. I had pretty much gone through any combination of words for searches except that one. Brilliant!

Thanks. Gives me a few more points to hunt down.

Saturday I hope to make it to the local camera store and see what other info I can find.
 
paulj

paulj

Expedition Leader
I recall seeing people with cameras like that at a couple of spots:
- the stone hedge replica along the Columbia River
- California Redwoods Nat Park

With that up/down adjustment of the lens, these cameras were valued for taking pictures of buildings and other tall items where tilting a normal camera produces abnormal convergence of the vertical lines.
 
SWDesertTaco

SWDesertTaco

Adventurer
paulj said:
I recall seeing people with cameras like that at a couple of spots:
- the stone hedge replica along the Columbia River
- California Redwoods Nat Park

With that up/down adjustment of the lens, these cameras were valued for taking pictures of buildings and other tall items where tilting a normal camera produces abnormal convergence of the vertical lines.
Click to expand...

--See the above said is more information that I didn't know!

I am really into this camera for the nostalgia of photography and knowing my grandfather carried it all over the west.

I'd like to continue using it in the same fashion.

I like technology but having history in hand is way too cool.
 
bigreen505

bigreen505

Expedition Leader
Search for large format photography, large format technique, large format forum. I think Michael Slade teaches classes in large format technique as well.
 
Michael Slade

Michael Slade

Untitled
I was using an 8x20 'sheet film' camera today out in the West Desert. You learn how to use it and you can have a lot of fun with it. They're really called 'view cameras' or 'field cameras'. Yours was used for photojournalism work in the 40's and 50's.

It looks VERY similar to a Speed Graphic or Crown Graphic. If you Googled either of those two you'd get very close to being able to figure out your own camera.

Very nice. Congrats!

EDIT:

There are several ways that you can really have some fun with this camera in an easy, inexpensive way. You don't have to go crazy and get a full-on darkroom to use this thing. You could use photographic printing paper for your 'negative' material and then you could make very simple 4x5 contact prints in your bathroom with an inexpensive red lightbulb. If you want I could do a whole thread dedicated to the uber-simple ultra-cheap bathroom/darkroom.

Also there are many good tutorials on the internet available to teach you the various techniques involved with that camera. It can go from simple to crazy very fast. I would suggest sticking with simple.

Let me know if you have any questions. My high-school juniors used the view camera for the first time last term and they were able to do some really stunning work with the basic set-up you have and the techniques I have described. Some of their work can be seen HERE.
 
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SWDesertTaco

SWDesertTaco

Adventurer
Bill,

Thanks for the additional ideas. I seem to have infinite patience when it comes to working on a vehicle or while outdoors...however, I am not known for my patience otherwise including my web searches. I really appreciate the extra clues.

Michael,

The camera was the 'press camera'. Despite that impasse title, my grandfather used it to take incredible landscape photos and hundreds of images while working here in the southwest on several Indian Reservations.

I feel that using the camera and taking the time to plan a shot will only help my digital experience. I've gotten altogether lazy with the comfort that digi point and shoots now provide.
What great images your students were able to capture.
I don't mind spending the $$, but learning how to properly use the camera could become expensive if I fly through negatives and improperly expose them etc..

I have some old negative sheets that I have been practicing with (using the film bag, etc) thanks again for your help and wisdom. I'll let you know how things progress.

-C
 
Photog

Photog

Explorer
There is a whole new world out there, when you start working with a field camera. You will probably need to aquire a good, hand held light meter; or maybe one of the spot meters. Enjoy the slower, more methodical approach to photography.

I agree with the idea that it will help improve your digital work.

:arabia:
 
go4aryd

go4aryd

Adventurer
Large Format photography is ALL about patience and precision. Once you get used to using your camera, do everything the exact same way - everytime. There are many ways to ruin your work with large format. Using a formal process is the best way to prevent errors as you learn. I created a cheat sheet I would carry with me until I had shot enough that I no longer needed it - and promptly began making errors I previously caught. :)

One of the best things about large format photography is it forces you to slow down and artistically plan the composition - no point & shoot. (If the equipment doesn't slow you a little bit, the $4 per click might).

Here is a great place to start (I had this bookmarked for a long time). Have a great time. I loved it before I lost my favorite local processor. Now I am just another digital SLR addict.

http://www.largeformatphotography.info/how-to-operate.html


...and yea, you are going to need/want a light meter. Find one that contains both a spot as well as a diffuse meter.
 
Every Miles A Memory

Every Miles A Memory

Expedition Leader
Cindy and I were camping this spring in the Coyote Buttes area in Southern Utah when this young guy walked past the camper early in the morning. We were getting up early to go try and put our name in the lottery to hike the Wave

The guy started talking to me about my camera gear I was loading into the truck and I noticed he had a monstrous Lowpro backpack on himself along with a chest pack

After talking for a few, we wished each other well and he went on his way.

Cindy and I didnt win the lottery that day, or any other day we were there for 6 days straight so we hiked Coyote Buttes North instead.

After a long day of hiking in blarring hot sun, we were sitting back in the shade of the camper eating some dinner and sipping on a few cold drinks and browsing through our photos of the day

A few hours later, just as it was getting real dark, this young kid came hiking back out from Buckskin Gulch and was passing our camper. He looked beat and I asked him if he'd like a cold beer. I think he thought I had just offered him a pould of gold and lit up like a little kid

We sat for the next few hours polishing off the case in the fridge and talking shop

I guess he was lugging around a field camera in that huge case of his and told me that he had been out from before sun-up till after sun down and only took a total of 10 pictures all day long.

We talked about how many photos we burn through with our digital stuff and he said he was trying to go back to basics and felt this was the best way to meditate and get the shot he was after.

I had to hand it to him, that pack had to weigh 50lbs and the tripod alone to mount the thing was a beast. Its no lie when they say its a whole nother field of photography when you go back to the field cameras

Good luck and I cant wait to see some of your shots with that beauty!
 
L

ljb0904

New member
I'm a 4x5 shooter.

Try Jack Dykinga's Large Format Nature Photography. Or Steve Simmons View Camera. Or Leslie Stroebels View Camera. Being in Phoenix, you could also go into Photomark and hook up with Rod Kluklas. He'll try to sell you an Arca Swiss camera, but he also teaches classes up at a community college up there. The best thing to do is to get one of those books and just start playing with the camera without using film. You'll need a darkcloth and a focusing loupe.

Hope that helps.
 
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