Just won my first LF camera!!!

[Regencyriggs]

Hello all! Well, I just got this...I'll let you all inform me as to if I got a decent deal

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=290240772739

I know it's not a II, but just a regular Graphic view, but it looks to be in very nice shape, and comes with three backs and a lens, all ready to go!

I can't wait to get it and shoot up a storm!

-Will

[Curt]

With a lens and some holders it looks like a pretty good deal, the Ektar lenses I have are very good. Better order some film, cable release and a dark cloth!

[Regencyriggs]

With a lens and some holders it looks like a pretty good deal, the Ektar lenses I have are very good. Better order some film, cable release and a dark cloth!

Woo! I was happy to see shipping was only 15.00, that's one thing I was worried about getting something like that off ebay. It just so happens that some one an hour from me on craigslist posted an ad today for large format film, about 30 sheets for what should be a nice low price. Things are working out well! I have a cable release and the darkcloth I shall get soon.

SO EXCITED.

One question, what would be a good secondary lens to get, I would like to get something nice and wide for a project I have upcoming that I intend to use this and a Hasselblad for. Weee!

-Will

[rwyoung]

Looks good. FYI, if you have some B&W photo paper on hand, particularly RC with no back printing (i.e. blank) then you can cut it down to fit your film holders and do a little playing (testing).

1) You can practice your film holder loading/unloading under safelight before learning to do it in 100% blackout conditions.
2) You can test your camera for light leaks
3) You can practice focusing and movements
4) WAY cheaper than 4x5 film with the exception of Freestyle's APHS litho film. Which, by the way, also produces great results.
5) Testing of your lens and iris but not so much the shutter except for B and T.

Best is graded B&W paper, grade 2 but multigrade is fine. Matte or pearl is better but glossy will be fine too. Start with a rating of ISO 8 and fine tune from there. You don't need to worry much about reciprocity failure with the paper. Results will be somewhat high contrast unless you get into pre-flashing the graded paper and work with high dilution paper developers. But you can do some great stuff right away and get comfortable while you wait (and save your $$$) for that box of "real" film!

And by the way, darkcloth can be an old bath towel or even a t-shirt where you slip the neck around the camera back and poke your head in from the bottom. Or a trip to the fabric store and make a dark cloth. Otherwise I highly recommend the BlackJacket line.

Cable release you might still be able to find at the local camera shop (if you can find a local camera shop). There are some special ones with a right angle tip that will help in the long run should you need to use recessed lensboards for the short/wide lenses.

And for a wide angle lens you might have some trouble with this camera and <120mm lenses since the bellows will be smashed quiet tightly. Not uncommon with any camera, really. Recessed lensboards (home made are fine) and bag bellows are common solutions.

[epatsellis]

Actually, it is a II, the original has base tilts, the II has center tilts.

[Regencyriggs]

As for the mention of the local camera shops, we actually own one. My dad has had it for 30 years, and I've been working here since I was 13 (23 now). I have some black and white paper from awhile back, 5x7 and 8x10 ilford RC matte, both multi-grade. I'm going to look for some cable releases as you say it's different than what I know we have. I'll certainly test it out that way though as it makes a lot of sense.

Thanks again for the advice and I can't wait to start shooting!

-Will

[Frank Szabo]

As for the mention of the local camera shops, we actually own one. My dad has had it for 30 years, and I've been working here since I was 13 (23 now). I have some black and white paper from awhile back, 5x7 and 8x10 ilford RC matte, both multi-grade. I'm going to look for some cable releases as you say it's different than what I know we have. I'll certainly test it out that way though as it makes a lot of sense.

Thanks again for the advice and I can't wait to start shooting!

-Will

As an FYI - your new shutter has flash contacts on it. If you want to use a flash of some kind (ever), you can either spend a bundle for a specialized cord from Paramount Cable or steal the electric cord from an electric shaver - they fit the contacts rather handily.

Welcome to the insane world of large format photography!

[Craig Roberts]

This was my first LF camera in 1970 - it's solid. Craig

[Fotoguy20d]

Looks like a pretty good deal - nice that it comes with a Graflok back and the Ektar lens should be very nice. I won a II on ebay a couple of months ago. Just finished loading up 3 holders and a Grafmatic that came today - I'll be trying it out for the first time with 4x5 film tomorrow - can't wait. Enjoy it.

Dan

[k_jupiter]

Nice deal for what you get. You don't need a secondary lens, 152 is about a 45mm in 135 land. To go wider costs money. Learn with what you have. I shot for years with a 150/6.3 Fuji lens and it's still the best combo I have. If you want something different, go 210mm plus.

Next is the darkroom stuff. We all await your posts.

tim in san jose