Large Format View camera that shoots roll film plus possible future digital back?

[Rinthe]

thank you all for the answers. Looks like it's better for me to start with 4x5... I will do more research on the LF photography forum. one dumb question, do large format cameras require a tripod or can i hand hold it?

[2F/2F]

thank you all for the answers. Looks like it's better for me to start with 4x5... I will do more research on the LF photography forum. one dumb question, do large format cameras require a tripod or can i hand hold it?

It depends on the camera. Some are hand holdable and some require tripods. You said you want to use movements, however, so you'll need a tripod to be able to precisely do that.

[Bruce Watson]

Thank you all for the answers. Looks like it's better for me to start with 4x5... I will do more research on the LF photography forum. One dumb question, do large format cameras require a tripod or can i hand hold it?

There's a subset of LF cameras called "press cameras" which were designed for hand-holding. There's a great website at Graflex.org that is a fairly comprehensive site for the Graflex press cameras. The Busch Pressman cameras were also popular. There were some others, but I can't remember much about them.

That said, the vast majority of LF is tripod based. Why? The cameras are are often heavy, the shutter speeds are slow, and you can't use movements while hand-holding (it's nearly impossible to focus on a ground glass that's moving).

[r1ma]

It would be just about impossible to use a monorail/view camera without a tripod. maybe if you had 5 hands.

[Rinthe]

can i handhold field cameras?

[jeffreyg]

IMO unless impossible or not practical in a situation using a tripod for any format is helpful. Especially with large format focusing on the ground glass with a loupe and under a focusing cloth just doesn't cut it. Also a view camera isn't for grab shots. Take your time compose the image and remember you are looking at it upside down and backwards. I've used a Toyo field camera for a number of years and have been pleased with it. I only use it on a sturdy tripod.

http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/

[Dan Fromm]

can i handhold field cameras?

Well, there are sorta field cameras with rangefinders. Linhof Technikas, usually classified as technical cameras. There are other makes. And there are sorta technical cameras with rangefinders. Press cameras in general.

Yes, some 4x5 and 5x7 cameras were made to be used handheld.

[2F/2F]

can i handhold field cameras?

You can hand hold them, but you can probably only guess focus and composition with them. You'd need something with a rangefinder and a viewfinder, or at least a focusing scale, and generally those things are only found on press or technical cameras.

[Ian Grant]

You don't need a Range-finder or focus scale for hand held work, you just focus on the screen first, but you do need some kind of viewfinder or sight & frame finder and a s ahs been said they are only fitted on Press & Technical camera.

Press cameras have extremely limited movements, technical cameras are in between them and field cameras and so more practical. Graflex were far to late in introducing the Super Graphics, Linhof & MPP had filled the market after WWII.

Ian

[Rinthe]

thanks guys for the info. after much researching, i think i might end up getting a shen hao. they're cheap and get good reviews from many people. what do you guys think?

I'm thinking about the HZX 4X5-IIA and TZ45-IIB right now.

I watched this youtube video of the TZ45-IIB here: http://www.youtube.com/user/RobertWh.../6/H6M4BWxwAp0

It shows that if I want to use the roll film holder, i have to remove the ground glass every time, that could be a pain... is there some other way around this? also, do i have to take off the ground glass when i'm shooting sheet film too?