Shooting 4x5 is REALLY FREAKIN DIFFICULT.

[dmora]

I LOVE IT.

I'm pretty sure i've ruined 4-5 photos out of 10.
Today im going back out to shoot another 10. Hopefully i dont ruin these.

[billbunton]

Try doing it with ektachrome, then those failures _really_ hurt :-)

[venchka]

As I recall, somewhere between my 10th and 20th sheet I kinda got my act together. I still blow a sheet from time to time. I have a habit of forgetting bellows factor for close ups.

The important thing: Keep doing it. when you get it right, it's FREAKIN awesome.

When the light bulb dose come on, it's all very simple. A checklist for taking a photo will help a lot.

[dmora]

I have a problem remebering to switch the direction of the cover on the film holder to tell me if its been exposed or not yet. :( So i might have some double exposures or non exposures. :(

[The Philos]

Yes it is, I'm still having some difficulties in adjusting to it and can get a good shot every now and again, but nothing like I'm used to with digital or MF.

[Flea77]

Originally Posted by ThePhilosopher

Yes it is, I'm still having some difficulties in adjusting to it and can get a good shot every now and again, but nothing like I'm used to with digital or MF.

Ahh, but as Wayne says, once you do get a good shot, those little shivers run down your spine, your jaw hits the ground and all the hair on the back of your neck stand up because it really is freaking awesome.

Allan

[CaptainTom]

It's been years, but I remember LF back in the dark ages. I was shooting manual focus, manual everything 35mm film and thought that going to LF was soooooooo sloooooow. I had to learn to slow down and think over everything I did.
I imagine that a transition from digital with auto everything is even harder.

Sloooow Dooown and use a check list until it becomes second nature.

Seeing that perfect negative in the darkroom is a real rush.

[silversixx]

I remember when I was first in school using the 4x5. I messed up loading the film in the containers and when I went to expose the film in the camera the film would pop out into the bellows haha.

It also sucks when you leave the shutter open and accidently expose the film. Though school I wasted so much money on film and processing. The results you get are amazing though. I cant wait until I can get a digital attachment for mine.

[CaptainTom]

I cant wait until I can get a digital attachment for mine.

LSHIPMP

[TXFZ1]

My routine:

After focus and I've determined the aperture/shutter speed. I do a final check for focus at aperture to ensure nothing moved after lockdown and the DOF is what I expect. Remove hood.

Close the lens, cock the shutter and test fire. Most shutters won't fire unless the lens is closed. Even my self-cocking won't fire unless I've closed the lens.

Load the filmholder, pull the dark slide, cock/fire the shutter, replace dark slide. remove the film holder. White unexposed, dark exposed....write it down in your book. I like the quickload and instant film so this is slighly different than my routine.

I then check the focus again as insurance nothing moved since the last check and before breaking down the camera.

David

[tropicpine]

I have noticed several LF photographers logging exposures in a note book.
I have started logging my exposures on a post-it pad and then putting the post-its on the dark slide (after slide has been reinserted into holder). Not only does this serve as a double check to the orientation of the dark slide but it also makes sure my notes stay connected to the correct film.

[Valerie]

Next step......... 8x10!!

[Gildersleeve]

Ditto on the 8x10, it's my favorite!

[bondarnes]

To help with the darkslide issue practice cocking the lens, inserting the film holder, removing the darkslide and flipping it over, click the shutter, then reinsert the darkslide and remove the film holder. Do all this at least a hundred times without film. That will help you establish your routine. It should be second nature by then.

[tropicpine]

Originally Posted by bondarnes

To help with the darkslide issue practice cocking the lens, inserting the film holder, removing the darkslide and flipping it over, click the shutter, then reinsert the darkslide and remove the film holder. Do all this at least a hundred times without film. That will help you establish your routine. It should be second nature by then.

When I did that I thought I was just messin up again.