I've got a new camera!

Messiah Khan · 30 Sep 2009 at 14:24

Do you like it...

It's a Wista 45SP Also have a 90mm f8 and 180mm f5.6 to go with it. It's got no AF, no Auto white balance, no GPS or video. Infact, it has very little in the way of modern comforts. It does however have full lens movements and takes 4"x5" sheet film that can be scanned to produce HUGE image files. This is going to be a new learning curve.

dekez · 30 Sep 2009 at 14:30

Very nice, I've always fancied giving large format a go. Will you be developing the film yourself?

SteveOBHave · 30 Sep 2009 at 14:31

Wow - that is one hell of a daunting camera. I wouldn't know where to start! Very impressed!

ichabod crane · 30 Sep 2009 at 14:38

Got an sample shots?

syke · 30 Sep 2009 at 14:46

Where is....the LCD...?!

Nice camera!

Messiah Khan · 30 Sep 2009 at 14:49

dekez said:
Very nice, I've always fancied giving large format a go. Will you be developing the film yourself?

Nope. I've got the facilities to develop B&W, but not colour. I think I'll mostly be shooting colour negs then scanning them in, so I'll get them professionally developed to save me the time and hassle

ichabod crane said:
Got an sample shots?

Nope. Only got it yesterday. Haven't even bought any film yet. I doubt I'll use it very often, but I certainly want to experiment with it from time to time.

Johnny|lucidcomposure · 30 Sep 2009 at 15:05

Very nice friend. I have been on the look out for a rollixflex TLR at the moment. Funny how digital makes you go back to film isn't it.

V-Spec · 30 Sep 2009 at 17:10

lol!

Nice one!, join the world of awesome lenses and serious sharpness.

It certainly is a big learning curve, but I love my LF to death - I've spent £700 on Velvia 50 quickload to go in the freezer

should last me a few years.. hopefully

King4aDay · 30 Sep 2009 at 21:49

Mmm, yummy.

diverse180 · 30 Sep 2009 at 22:17

Messiah Khan said:
It's got no AF, no Auto white balance, no GPS or video. Infact, it has very little in the way of modern comforts

Music to my ears

It's been a while since I've done any LF work...and seeing that has given me "the itch".

She's a beauty

Messiah Khan · 1 Oct 2009 at 09:52

Fstop11 said:
Very nice friend. I have been on the look out for a rollixflex TLR at the moment. Funny how digital makes you go back to film isn't it.

Well it's something I've wanted to try for a long time. Also since I have access to top of the range film scanners and large format printers, I want to try and make some huge landscapes for exhibition (Think 40"x50") with loads of detail.

V-Spec said:
lol!

Nice one!, join the world of awesome lenses and serious sharpness.

It certainly is a big learning curve, but I love my LF to death - I've spent £700 on Velvia 50 quickload to go in the freezer should last me a few years.. hopefully

£700!! That should keep you going for decades surely!

And why did you go with quickload? I think im going to try and stick with normal darkslides and load it myself for now. Also going to get one or two packets for film at a time until I discover the film that I like (First time with film). You obviously like Velvia. Why is that? I'm trying to figure out what to go with first, but I'm not sure.

diverse180 said:
Music to my ears

It's been a while since I've done any LF work...and seeing that has given me "the itch".

She's a beauty

Thanks. What kit did you use when you did LF?

V-Spec · 1 Oct 2009 at 11:46

Messiah Khan said:
£700!! That should keep you going for decades surely! And why did you go with quickload? I think im going to try and stick with normal darkslides and load it myself for now. Also going to get one or two packets for film at a time until I discover the film that I like (First time with film). You obviously like Velvia. Why is that? I'm trying to figure out what to go with first, but I'm not sure.

Getting hold of Velvia is a pain, I use Velvia 50 simply because its so fine and sharp, and has colours suited perfectly for landscape. (Check out some of David Ward and Joe Cornish's work)
I use quickload, simply because I can carry more of it, don't have to worry about loading and unloading in a changing tent, and it means you never physically need to touch the film.
Its more expensive but it just makes the whole process simpler and easier for me.

I shoot transparency colour film (Velvia 50, Provia 100 F) primarily because it scans better, its harder to expose correctly but the end result is well worth it.

Tomsk · 1 Oct 2009 at 12:29

Messiah Khan said:
It does however have full lens movements and takes 4"x5" sheet film that can be scanned to produce HUGE image files.

Why not just hack and bolt a scanner straight on the back.

(this is not an original idea...)

diverse180 · 1 Oct 2009 at 16:41

Messiah Khan said:
Thanks. What kit did you use when you did LF?

I've used a few, but not for a long time

The last one I used was an old Technika.

If possible you should try getting a Polaroid back and some film (55 for instance) as the prints/negs just look and feel fantastic

It's discontinued, but you can still find it if you keep your eyes open.

btw, I'm assuming you have a meter already...but if not, I've listed a Sekonic L-358 Flash Master in the MM if you're interested.

Have fun with the Wista

Gaffer · 1 Oct 2009 at 18:02

Messiah Khan said:
This is going to be a new learning curve.

I'm looking forward to seeing the results.

Here is a tip from the guy who shoots LF at my local club:

Shoot two identical frames.

Send one for processing.

If it comes back the way you want, then throw away the second one.

If you don't like it, then you send the second one to the lab with instructions to push or pull it by a stop or two...

Andrew