Its been about a month since I shot with my large format camera, so this morning, I headed up the local canyon for some early morning photography.

We had some snow yesterday and it was a cold 2° F this morning. This was my first time using my large format camera in such cold conditions, which made for some not so easy photography. I've had my eyepiece on my DSLR fog up occasionally, but when using a ground glass for composing/focusing, it is a whole other matter.

That and a frozen tripod made it a little harder than normal for shooting. My shutter also didn't like the cold temperatures. I could only use down to 1/8 sec. shutter, the slower settings were too slow because of the cold.

I'll be removing the lubricant from my large format shutters and finding a better method for keeping my ground glass free of ice before I head back out with it.

Anyway, here is one of the photos I shot today. Shot with a Zone VI 4x5 large format camera on Fomapan 200 using a Nikon SW 180mm F5.6 lens. Shot through a 25A Gel filter and processed using HC-110 Dilution H at 8.5 minutes.

[MSL]

It is a nice photo, but let me ask the following as a serious question: given the effort and difficulties involved, was it worth it relative to the shot you could have taken with a (D)SLR?

[Colorado CJ]

It is a nice photo, but let me ask the following as a serious question: given the effort and difficulties involved, was it worth it relative to the shot you could have taken with a (D)SLR?

Yes.

The shot would have been impossible with a DSLR. The best thing about large format cameras is.... Movements. I was shooting up at a near 45 degree angle to get this shot. To make the trees look "normal" and not falling away, and to get the whole scene in the correct perspective, I had to use a lot of front rise, front tilt and back tilt.

The shot would just not be possible with a DSLR.

[Hattifnatt]

It is a nice photo, but let me ask the following as a serious question: given the effort and difficulties involved, was it worth it relative to the shot you could have taken with a (D)SLR?

I wonder that also... but I guess the effort and difficulties were a challenge by themselves. Nice shot, and indeed it looks a bit different. Perhaps this is the reward.

[MSL]

The shot would have been impossible with a DSLR. The best thing about large format cameras is.... Movements. I was shooting up at a near 45 degree angle to get this shot. To make the trees look "normal" and not falling away, and to get the whole scene in the correct perspective, I had to use a lot of front rise, front tilt and back tilt.

Thanks for the detailed answer. Having never looked at how large format works I'm not sure I follow the combination of front and back tilt in terms of how you set up a shot like this. Something for me to delve into.

[Colorado CJ]

Thanks for the detailed answer. Having never looked at how large format works I'm not sure I follow the combination of front and back tilt in terms of how you set up a shot like this. Something for me to delve into.

Here's a decent short article on Large Format camera movements and "Scheimpflug" or shifting the camera's focal plane to get subjects at different distances at the same focus.

camera movements

Once you use movements, it is hard to go back.

I'm actually contemplating building a back for my DSLR to attach to one of my large format cameras so that I can use movements with the DSLR.

[Jacquot]

Its been about a month since I shot with my large format camera, so this morning, I headed up the local canyon for some early morning photography.

We had some snow yesterday and it was a cold 2° F this morning. This was my first time using my large format camera in such cold conditions, which made for some not so easy photography. I've had my eyepiece on my DSLR fog up occasionally, but when using a ground glass for composing/focusing, it is a whole other matter.

That and a frozen tripod made it a little harder than normal for shooting. My shutter also didn't like the cold temperatures. I could only use down to 1/8 sec. shutter, the slower settings were too slow because of the cold.

I'll be removing the lubricant from my large format shutters and finding a better method for keeping my ground glass free of ice before I head back out with it.

Anyway, here is one of the photos I shot today. Shot with a Zone VI 4x5 large format camera on Fomapan 200 using a Nikon SW 180mm F5.6 lens. Shot through a 25A Gel filter and processed using HC-110 Dilution H at 8.5 minutes.

Gorgeous photograph.

[Jean Poitiers]

Excellent and well done ... TFS, J

[Colorado CJ]

Gorgeous photograph.

Excellent and well done ... TFS, J

Thanks guys! I really need to take it out the large format more. I am a beginner with it, but can see the huge potential it has. I haven't yet finished the first 50 sheet film pack.

What I really like about the large format film is the extreme detail and very high dynamic range available. I don't know for sure, but I'd say the dynamic range is half again as much as the best DSLR's out there.


Here's one shot with the same film where the best DSLR would be hard pressed to get the detail and DR, not to mention the movements I used to correct the perspective.

[Hattifnatt]

I'm not quite convinced a DSLR could not do this. But it's a gorgeous photo, that's for sure.

[Jean Poitiers]

I'm not quite convinced a DSLR could not do this. But it's a gorgeous photo, that's for sure.

Agreed ... it's an excellent capture. J

[Na Horuk]

Very nicely framed and processed! Good stuff

[takis63]

Excellent picture. And on film nonetheless!!!

[Volker76]

I'm not quite convinced a DSLR could not do this. But it's a gorgeous photo, that's for sure.

maybe with some bellows?

but back to the pictures: AWESOME!

[lesmore49]

Nice pix....but with a tripod why just F 5.6 ? Shutter issues...ie; too long a shutter opening with F 16 or so ?