[LargeFormat] about to take the jump

[William Wiseman]

>       You'll also need many smaller items which add up.  Film holders,
> focusing cloth, groundglass magnifier, a case or backpack, separate
> exposure meter and lens shade/filter holder and filters.  If you want
> to do your own black and white darkroom work there's more.

This is one reason I have been aiming for either a lower cost camera or 
a moderate priced starting kit. And since I am cheap, I get snipes a 
lot on ebay. :-)

>       I don't mean to discourage you or anyone.  I've had large
> format experience in the past, about twenty years ago.  Recently,
> I've outfitted a darkroom for a maximum size of 5x7 negatives and
> a print size of 11x14 and though modest, it's been expensive and
> taken more time than I thought it would.  Then, working with new
> unfamilair equipment takes some time before speed and ease of
> handling is reached.

I'm in the process of going from a temp darkroom to a permanent one. I 
have a 4x5 enlarger with lenses, negatives holders, etc. that covers 
from 35mm to 4x5. From 4x5 I should be able to get 16x20 w/o reversing 
the column.

>       The same is true for the camera!  With large format, a routine
> needs to be established by repeative use, at first without film!  So
> that mistakes, like forgetting to close the shutter or pull the dark
> slide, can be avoided.   It's not the creative part.  But failure to 
> establish
> a workable, repeatable routine is the biggest stumbling block for the 
> new
> large format user to overcome.

Now, nobody laugh, but I have actually been fiddling around with an 
old, plate-type 4x5 folder and a Mini Speed Graphic to get the feel for 
the process involved. The movements on these cameras are non-existent, 
but it has let me get the feel of ground glass focussing, remembering 
to close the shutter (most of the time) and using the film holders w/o 
moving the camera. So, I hope this will keep me from making SOME of the 
obvious beginner mistakes. But I bet I do still make some.

JeffW.