Need a camera for printed large scale work - recommendations?
- Thread starter Louloubelle
- Start date
tom_craggs
Well-Known Member
Agree I would prefer to use film myself but if you are still looking at digital I think the only dslr which can produce anything near medium format right now is the Canon EOS 1ds MK 3, would have thought this should be fairly straight forward to hire but as said, you'll a damn good lens as well.
Louloubelle
Well-Known Member
Louloubelle
Well-Known Member
On researching this further, it's definitely a large format camera I'm looking at
I've found one that looks great it's a 2nd hand Cambo monorail camera
The lens is a Symmmar-s 300mm
Are there any reported flaws or problems with either the brand of camera or the lens as far as anyone knows?
I'm not at all knowledgeable about these things
Many thanks
I've found one that looks great it's a 2nd hand Cambo monorail camera
The lens is a Symmmar-s 300mm
Are there any reported flaws or problems with either the brand of camera or the lens as far as anyone knows?
I'm not at all knowledgeable about these things
Many thanks
pogofish
Testicle Hairstyle
Cambos are a good solid basic make, which model is it? Some of the basic/budget ones were a bit flimsy/fiddly to use IME but others were the full equal of the more expensive brands. All allow a good range of movements & spares/accessories are not as breathtakingly expensive as other makes.
The Symmar-s is a fine lens, on 5x4, it will be a reasonable medium-telephoto lens, with a good sized image circle that will let you use plenty of movement. Is it the APO or non-apo version. IIRC, the APO has the larger & most usable circle. Depending on its age, it may be worth getting the shutter checked/serviced.
A good solid tripod/camera stand ought to be your next purchase.
Optical info for all Schneider lenses, old & new is on their website:
http://www.schneideroptics.com/info/vintage_lens_data/large_format_lenses/symmar-s/
http://www.schneideroptics.com/
The Symmar-s is a fine lens, on 5x4, it will be a reasonable medium-telephoto lens, with a good sized image circle that will let you use plenty of movement. Is it the APO or non-apo version. IIRC, the APO has the larger & most usable circle. Depending on its age, it may be worth getting the shutter checked/serviced.
A good solid tripod/camera stand ought to be your next purchase.
Optical info for all Schneider lenses, old & new is on their website:
http://www.schneideroptics.com/info/vintage_lens_data/large_format_lenses/symmar-s/
http://www.schneideroptics.com/
Monorail LF cameras are designed specifically for studio and static work. The stands they attached to are bulky and don't allow for any free camera movement.
A Large Format Field camera can be used hand held, or on a tripod. They're far more flexible. Unless you intend to do all your shots in a studio and build a set, I'd recommend a field camera.
Louloubelle
Well-Known Member
this is a sharp learning curve, thanks so much for the advice, this really is incredibly helpful
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pogofish
Testicle Hairstyle
However, the downside of field cameras is that they can be more mechanically complex, usually have fewer & a smaller range of movements of movements (often lens only), less extension - at both ends of the scale - maximum & minimum which can restrict lens choice & makes them less than ideal for close-up work. The accessories are often model specific & very expensive. Nonetheless, in some circumstances, they are very useful.
Makes to look for here might include Linhof & Wista. Some of the older makes are also worth looking at as they are still competent tools & easy to get spares for. The MPP technical/field camera & the classic wooden Gandolfi are two leaders here - The compact wooden construction of the Gandolfi also gets around a lot of the weight issues. It is however a bit of a cult/historic camera now, with a lot of collectors after good examples. There are also a whole range of lightweight wooden field cameras from small manufacturers plus homebuild options that will give you a servicable bit of kit if you are in any way crafty.
However, most of them are aimed at the landscape photography or "thing of beauty" market & again, suffer from restricted movements/versatility.I have to say that unless you have a compelling technical reason, or are going for specific effect, I would be unlikely to choose to use one handheld these days - There are other formats that are easier to use.
Agreed. It's a very clumsy way to work, but if needed it can be hand held.
The output is the real issue. I was looking at some very large advertising posters yesterday (covering the scaffold on a building restoration project). It's huge. Possibly 20 Meters x 5 Meters and it features a digital shot. As it's only intended for viewing from a distance it looks fine.
I'm thinking MF rather than LF for what we know about this project. Something shot on a very fine grain transparency film at 6 cm x 7 cm would probably be more than adequate for Louloubelle's purposes and allow far more freedom of movement when shooting.
Plenty of good quality old Bronicas and Yashicas on ebay for very little dosh.
Louloubelle
Well-Known Member
what do you think of a Tachihara 810F 8x10 Wooden Field Camera?
Louloubelle
Well-Known Member
I need gallery size (v large) size prints. Apparently the market if for people's loft apartments and they like the prints to be heruuge
Would a mf camera deliver?
Yep.
I've printed 3x2 Meter (approx) from 120 roll film. It works well. Obviously, the larger the negative/transparency the better the quality, but a fine grain 120 film would be adequate.
10" x 8" field cameras are monsters to use. Good fun and fantastic quality, but there's a lot to learn and each shot will cost around £10 a go after processing and contact printing/scanning, so mistakes are expensive. Well worth it though IMO.
On the MF front. I printed digitally from a scanned negative. Client was more than happy. Photograph of a woodland scene with lots of texture and contrast, so the resolution wasn't so noticeable. I used Fujichrome Velvia 50 rated at 32 ISO. Excellent film.
Louloubelle
Well-Known Member
This is exactly the kind of info that I need
thanks so much
what's the best mf camera in terms of quality and portability I could try for?
Also, how much are the comparative costs per print?
sorry to ask so many questions
thanks
Look on ebay for any 6x7, or 6x6 (Centimeters) MF cameras made by Bronica, Hasselblad, Mamiya, Yashica.... any quality make. Bronica are excellent value. They're no longer manufactured and so even cheaper. Avoid anything that is ridiculously cheap.
You may be able to find an affordable Bronica SQ with a metered prism viewfinder. No need to buy a separate light meter. A standard MF lens (equivalent to a 35mm SLR 50mm lens) would be around 75-90mm. They offer the best value, but I guess you'll be looking for a decent macro lens (plenty to choose from).
Costs per print vary. I usually get film processed and scanned at a medium resolution (about £15 for a quality service) and then print an inkjet at A4 for reference and colour check. Then I get chosen negative/transparency scanned at very high resolution (60MB file Tiff) usually on a drum scanner and print on a quality inkjet printer using pigment inks. Can't remember the exact cost. Plenty of online services available. The scanning is the expensive bit, but worth it.
You may be able to find an affordable Bronica SQ with a metered prism viewfinder. No need to buy a separate light meter. A standard MF lens (equivalent to a 35mm SLR 50mm lens) would be around 75-90mm. They offer the best value, but I guess you'll be looking for a decent macro lens (plenty to choose from).
Costs per print vary. I usually get film processed and scanned at a medium resolution (about £15 for a quality service) and then print an inkjet at A4 for reference and colour check. Then I get chosen negative/transparency scanned at very high resolution (60MB file Tiff) usually on a drum scanner and print on a quality inkjet printer using pigment inks. Can't remember the exact cost. Plenty of online services available. The scanning is the expensive bit, but worth it.
Louloubelle
Well-Known Member
You're a star stanley
thanks so much
thanks so much
pogofish
Testicle Hairstyle
Don't run before you can walk, leapt to mind. You should start asking arounf photographers or colleges to see if you can get some proper hands-on to see what suits you best.
Personally, I doubt you would need to go much beyond 5x4 or top-end MF for this. Although for MF, the degree of enlargement will restrict your film choices somewhat.
There are also a variety of technical cameras that use rollfilm & large format lenses to combine some of the advantages of both formats.
Louloubelle
Well-Known Member
This could be a very nice outfit for the money. I'd bid if I was in the market.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Photography_C...rkparms=72:12|39:1|65:12&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Photography_C...rkparms=72:12|39:1|65:12&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14
ViolentPanda
Hardly getting over it.
Although with the Mamiya Cxxx series of TLRs you'd need a "paramender" to correct parallax, so probably best to go for a medium format SLR.
pogofish
Testicle Hairstyle
could you please let me know which ones they are?
thanks
I'll get some info up soon. Been a bit busy the last couple of days.
Also, what VP says above is right - The Mamiya TLRs are great cameras & their standard lens is a classic but the RB & moreso the RZ series of 6x7cm slr's are a much more modern & functional design for this sort of work.
George & Bill
semiotically superfluous
This is right. Louloubelle, if you have very limited experience of any type of film camera, then you're going to have to spend some serious time learning about the actual medium your shooting on - the silver - before you can even begin to think about working with large format equipment!
A medium format camera is a good idea, because it's not much more complicated to use than a 35mm, but can potentially get you close to the sort of results you're after. But don't underestimate how different even this type of camera will be from working with a mid-range DSLR.
Ultimately, if you've got the impetus, you'll get over the hurdles, so go for it.
Louloubelle
Well-Known Member
I spent most of friday morning learning how to use a lf camera
still not completely confident but am getting there
sincere thanks for all the help
still not completely confident but am getting there
sincere thanks for all the help
