I shot photostat in the 80s on a big Walzberg camera that took two people to operate when we got busy up to 24x32. I made halftone shots using various screens to imprint a pattern to use in printing off large negatives.
great video, nice to see the whole assembly process slowed down, and explained. one other advantage of practice, is that muscle memmory again, esp. the one about pulling the right dark-slide and closing the shutter, and taking the rear lens cap off :-))
Thanks for the kick in the pants! I'll be getting out my 4x5 and cooling down my sheet film. All your videos and the new PPPodcast RUclips videos are really great. We all get to final see you all in action!
Your Friday series is a great concept...thanks for putting in the extra effort it takes to continually produce something like this...content is well done.
Thanks Mat, appreciate the time and effort you took to give us that fast motion sequence. :-). I haven’t ever taken the time to check focus after stopping down for the final shot...great tip.
Here are a few steps I do before I set up my tripod: Days before the event, check film inventory Pack film, camera kit, and tripod At the location, take composition and exposure test shots with digital camera Select the best location and set up tripod
Thanks for the videos!! I will try my first 4x5 shoot this weekend. I do have a concern about getting the camera out of focus when inserting the film holder. It just doesn't go as smooth. A well, we'll see. Again thanks for making it seem so easy. Greetings from Sydney
Thanks! With ample practice that concern will become confidence in no time. But do make sure everything is locked down before inserting that film holder!
What 4x5" camera do you have? Some come with a bail back and others offer a bail back as an option. A bail is a lever that one uses to oppose the spring in the back so it easily opens. Once you slide in the sheet film holder, then you use the bail to close the back down onto the film holder. Gently check to be sure the sheet film holder's rib has dropped into the slot cut into the back. My monorail 4x5" Cambo did not come with a bail back that *also* rotates to change between vertical and horizontal compositions. I had to watch for a used one to come up on eBay and I grabbed it when it did. If your camera does not have a bail back, don't just try to push the sheet film holder in because you risk the danger of rotating your camera slightly which changes the composition. This is because all that is holding it in place is friction where the base of the camera rests against the top of your tripod. Instead, try this: 1. use fingers of your free hand to gently hold open the camera back a little bit. 2. slide in the sheet film holder just slightly, then pause. 3. move your free hand to the opposite side of the back. 4. use your free hand to hold the camera in place as you now slide in the sheet film holder all the way. You want the two forces to equal each other. With some practice, this move will become second nature and your camera will maintain the composition. About that friction. You can increase it quite easily. Go to a bicycle or motorcycle tire repair shop and ask for a blown-out inner tube from their trash bin. Wash it well and air dry it. Then cut out a section sized to fit between your tripod head and the base of your camera. Pierce a small hole in the center just small enough for the tripod screw to barely pass through. If you can not find a blown-out inner tube, cut out a piece of cheap soft plastic shelf liner from a discount store. I like the kind that has alternating soft bumps and spaces because I think it might compress more. Just after you set up your tripod but before adding your camera, place that piece of inner tube or shelf liner over the tripod screw then thread the screw through it. Now when you attach your camera to the tripod, you will find that the amount of friction has increased greatly. Every one of my camera kits has a couple pieces of cut out inner tube or shelf liner. They weigh almost nothing but can come in handy for other things. For example, if I need to apply a clamp to hold a light, a flag, a wire, etc. but I do not want the clamp to damage a surface, I place one of those pieces of soft material between the clamp and surface. Also, the soft material increases the grip friction of the clamp. Check to see why those sheet film holders are not easily sliding into your camera's back. It might be dirty or have some other problem. If you want to reduce friction, you can apply some Bee's Wax to surfaces. Most beekeepers in your area will sell you some wax. I apply Bee's Wax to the sides of my sheet film holders. I also gently apply Bee's Wax to the corners and long edges of my dark slides to prevent them from binding. I do not apply it to the short edge of the dark slides since it *could* foul the felt light trap over time. I hope these tips are of some help. Terry Thomas... the photographer Atlanta, Georgia USA
I don't understand, when I open my 4x5 field camera and I am using a 180mm lens or a 90mm, how do I decide when to stop and place the front standard before I would rack out the bellows to focus? Infinity focus stops?
Infinity stops aren't typically present on field cameras and aren't necessary if you're doing ground glass focusing. If you have a field camera like an Intrepid, Chamonix, or ShenHao where you screw the front standard into the bed, you'll choose the hole that's closest to your lens focal length to start.
108/5000 Which tripod head are you using here? What is the advantage over a 3-d panhead or a ball head? I hoped Google translator knew the right words.
Hi Frank thanks for the question. That's an old Majestic geared head. It's a super heavy duty two way head that has a large carrying capacity and can be found used for a cheap price. The top of the head has an Arca-Swiss quick release mount from Novoflex called the Q=Base.
@@MatMarrash Hello Mat, I was not familiar with this type of tripod. I will also order the Novoflex Mount now. It is manufactured around here. So far I thought cheap wasn't bad either. Now I'm going to buy something really good! Thanks for the great video! The Dance --- there is no better way to say it! And yes ... I like to dance!
Another great video! The time lapse in particular was great - really drove home the idea of practicing until you have it down to muscle memory. Quick question - is there a "standard" for which side of the dark slide to use to mean exposed vs. unexposed? I've been using the white side to mean exposed and the black to mean unexposed (just seemed intuitive since black = no light) but I thought I noticed in the video you do them in reverse. Or am I mistaken?
You can use them however you wish, but typically holders on the white portion of the darkslide have ridges so you know which side you're working with in total darkness. I also recommend some painter's tape for labeling holders and colored stickers for processing instructions.
The convention is: white side out means unexposed, black side out means exposed. It doesn't matter as long as you're consistent, but most photographers I know use white unexposed, black exposed.
Mat: a future Friday subject: dark cloths. As simple as an XXL black T-shirt? Black with a white backing? Make one out of "blackout curtain" material? Dress weights sewn into the corners? Optimal size? etc.
a couple of other steps you left off, adding an ND or polarising filter, and a lens hood both stop glare/flare ( flare has two left feet, and is a terrible dancer!) or adjust contrast of the scene, like getting a bright sky down a stop or two.
Stunning,Large Format forever!!
excellent, no BS, straight to the point, instructions.
Great video! "that's the way"
I shot photostat in the 80s on a big Walzberg camera that took two people to operate when we got busy up to 24x32. I made halftone shots using various screens to imprint a pattern to use in printing off large negatives.
Whoa that must have been a blast to setup and shoot!
Thanks for sharing your talents and knowledge!
Martin thanks for tuning in, I appreciate you!
Don't forget the exposure compensation for bellows extension and bigger lens shifts/tilts!!!
Bellows extension factor is such a big one to remember there's a whole episode! :D Cheers!
As someone who's planning on getting into large format photography I cannot thank you enough for the amount of information you gave me! Great series
Thanks Ammar, glad to see so many folks getting into large format. These videos are for everybody interested in shooting big sheets of film.
@@MatMarrash it would be nice if you do a video on in depth metering. I couldn't find good stuff about it out there.
It's like you've read my mind! Stay tuned...
Sure will 🔥🔥
great video, nice to see the whole assembly process slowed down, and explained. one other advantage of practice, is that muscle memmory again, esp. the one about pulling the right dark-slide and closing the shutter, and taking the rear lens cap off :-))
Thanks for the kick in the pants! I'll be getting out my 4x5 and cooling down my sheet film. All your videos and the new PPPodcast RUclips videos are really great. We all get to final see you all in action!
Hey Gerry thanks and happy shooting!
Great work, Mat. I’m really enjoying this series.
Awesome, thank you!
Your Friday series is a great concept...thanks for putting in the extra effort it takes to continually produce something like this...content is well done.
Thanks and glad you're enjoying the series!
Excellent!!
Glad you like it!
Thank you so much ! I realy needed a large format video ! Cant wait to get out and shoot some 4x5 ! With huge thanks and respect from Iceland.
Thanks and happy shooting!
Great Stuff Mat... You've inspired me to start shooting 4x5 again. When is the next FPP Walking Workshop? I really enjoyed your LF talk in Findlay!
Hey John, thanks for the comment, hope to see some 4x5 from you soon! I'm totally in for whatever FPP has planned later in 2020 and 2021.
.....and I thought 35 and 120 made me slow down and consider the shot!
Maybe slow to start, but increases in speed with time. That's why we gotta do the "dance"!
Thanks Mat, appreciate the time and effort you took to give us that fast motion sequence. :-). I haven’t ever taken the time to check focus after stopping down for the final shot...great tip.
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks for another excellent video. Can you do a tutorial on getting your hair to look like that?
Maybe one of these days!
Here are a few steps I do before I set up my tripod:
Days before the event, check film inventory
Pack film, camera kit, and tripod
At the location, take composition and exposure test shots with digital camera
Select the best location and set up tripod
Thanks for sharing your steps!
Yo, what's the backpack? Im gonna be looking for a backpack for 5x7 and things. Thanks for the great content!
It's an old LowePro Super Trekker AW II. More about it here: ruclips.net/video/U11vqnS6nhU/видео.html
No lens hood,I always use a hood or flags when using a large format camera.
I have taken about 200,000 + photos that way.
Thanks for the videos!! I will try my first 4x5 shoot this weekend. I do have a concern about getting the camera out of focus when inserting the film holder. It just doesn't go as smooth. A well, we'll see. Again thanks for making it seem so easy. Greetings from Sydney
Thanks! With ample practice that concern will become confidence in no time. But do make sure everything is locked down before inserting that film holder!
What 4x5" camera do you have? Some come with a bail back and others offer a bail back as an option. A bail is a lever that one uses to oppose the spring in the back so it easily opens. Once you slide in the sheet film holder, then you use the bail to close the back down onto the film holder. Gently check to be sure the sheet film holder's rib has dropped into the slot cut into the back.
My monorail 4x5" Cambo did not come with a bail back that *also* rotates to change between vertical and horizontal compositions. I had to watch for a used one to come up on eBay and I grabbed it when it did.
If your camera does not have a bail back, don't just try to push the sheet film holder in because you risk the danger of rotating your camera slightly which changes the composition. This is because all that is holding it in place is friction where the base of the camera rests against the top of your tripod.
Instead, try this:
1. use fingers of your free hand to gently hold open the camera back a little bit.
2. slide in the sheet film holder just slightly, then pause.
3. move your free hand to the opposite side of the back.
4. use your free hand to hold the camera in place as you now slide in the sheet film holder all the way. You want the two forces to equal each other.
With some practice, this move will become second nature and your camera will maintain the composition.
About that friction. You can increase it quite easily. Go to a bicycle or motorcycle tire repair shop and ask for a blown-out inner tube from their trash bin. Wash it well and air dry it. Then cut out a section sized to fit between your tripod head and the base of your camera. Pierce a small hole in the center just small enough for the tripod screw to barely pass through. If you can not find a blown-out inner tube, cut out a piece of cheap soft plastic shelf liner from a discount store. I like the kind that has alternating soft bumps and spaces because I think it might compress more.
Just after you set up your tripod but before adding your camera, place that piece of inner tube or shelf liner over the tripod screw then thread the screw through it. Now when you attach your camera to the tripod, you will find that the amount of friction has increased greatly.
Every one of my camera kits has a couple pieces of cut out inner tube or shelf liner. They weigh almost nothing but can come in handy for other things. For example, if I need to apply a clamp to hold a light, a flag, a wire, etc. but I do not want the clamp to damage a surface, I place one of those pieces of soft material between the clamp and surface. Also, the soft material increases the grip friction of the clamp.
Check to see why those sheet film holders are not easily sliding into your camera's back. It might be dirty or have some other problem. If you want to reduce friction, you can apply some Bee's Wax to surfaces. Most beekeepers in your area will sell you some wax. I apply Bee's Wax to the sides of my sheet film holders. I also gently apply Bee's Wax to the corners and long edges of my dark slides to prevent them from binding. I do not apply it to the short edge of the dark slides since it *could* foul the felt light trap over time.
I hope these tips are of some help.
Terry Thomas...
the photographer
Atlanta, Georgia USA
I don't understand, when I open my 4x5 field camera and I am using a 180mm lens or a 90mm, how do I decide when to stop and place the front standard before I would rack out the bellows to focus? Infinity focus stops?
Infinity stops aren't typically present on field cameras and aren't necessary if you're doing ground glass focusing. If you have a field camera like an Intrepid, Chamonix, or ShenHao where you screw the front standard into the bed, you'll choose the hole that's closest to your lens focal length to start.
108/5000
Which tripod head are you using here? What is the advantage over a 3-d panhead or a ball head? I hoped Google translator knew the right words.
Hi Frank thanks for the question. That's an old Majestic geared head. It's a super heavy duty two way head that has a large carrying capacity and can be found used for a cheap price. The top of the head has an Arca-Swiss quick release mount from Novoflex called the Q=Base.
@@MatMarrash Hello Mat, I was not familiar with this type of tripod. I will also order the Novoflex Mount now. It is manufactured around here. So far I thought cheap wasn't bad either. Now I'm going to buy something really good! Thanks for the great video! The Dance --- there is no better way to say it! And yes ... I like to dance!
Another great video! The time lapse in particular was great - really drove home the idea of practicing until you have it down to muscle memory.
Quick question - is there a "standard" for which side of the dark slide to use to mean exposed vs. unexposed? I've been using the white side to mean exposed and the black to mean unexposed (just seemed intuitive since black = no light) but I thought I noticed in the video you do them in reverse. Or am I mistaken?
You can use them however you wish, but typically holders on the white portion of the darkslide have ridges so you know which side you're working with in total darkness. I also recommend some painter's tape for labeling holders and colored stickers for processing instructions.
The convention is: white side out means unexposed, black side out means exposed. It doesn't matter as long as you're consistent, but most photographers I know use white unexposed, black exposed.
Mat: a future Friday subject: dark cloths.
As simple as an XXL black T-shirt?
Black with a white backing?
Make one out of "blackout curtain" material?
Dress weights sewn into the corners?
Optimal size?
etc.
Interesting suggestion, thanks Terry! I feel like the longer this goes on the more it's going to be a DIY channel.
@@MatMarrash I join the question. I can't find a suitable high-quality and inexpensive dark cloth...
@@sergeydorovskikhNot sure what you consider inexpensive, but for high quality look into Wanderer or BlackJacket focusing cloths.
@@MatMarrash Thanks!
a couple of other steps you left off, adding an ND or polarising filter, and a lens hood both stop glare/flare ( flare has two left feet, and is a terrible dancer!) or adjust contrast of the scene, like getting a bright sky down a stop or two.
Care to Dance?
Spoken like a true gentleman.