HOW TO USE A LARGE FORMAT CAMERA: What you need to know, to get started,

How to use a large format camera, the basics of what you need to know. In this video i show you what you need to get started shooting with large format cameras.
How to Open the camera, Focus the camera, load the film, change between portrait and landscape modes and of course how to take the picture. Large format cameras may be a little bit different to 35mm Digital or even Medium format cameras, but they shouldn't be daunting, especially after you've watched this video.

[oudviola]

Nice brief overview of using these cameras. I have a Wista (not Wister!) 45dx field.

[eccentricsmithy]

FINALLY!!!! A photographer that uses the dark slide correctly!!!! White=Exposed to exposed to light!!!

[fingerhorn]

What a wonderful channel. I wish you all the best with it and hope you grow your audience.

[stephengibsontaylor]

Very helpful. I've just bought and restored my first LF camera - a 1905 Lizars Challenge - so I'm trying to learn as much as I can before I load film into it.

[sespela]

Just found your channel. Quality content! Cheers.

[robertwelsh]

Clear and precise . Excellent job. Thank you.

[NeillRobinson]

Doubt i'll ever get to shoot one, but what beautiful machines!

[mallardsamduck]

Great video! Every thing felt well organized, were I could understand, thanks! I'm into medium/standard format photography and have been wanting to get into large format photography. I wanted to ask, do you have any recommendations for a large format camera? I have been looking at some of those Crown/Speed Graphics, but those don't have a adjustable film standards. I just wanted to inquire your opinion, thanks. Cheerio!

[brianmccutcheon]

Good information thank you: Don’t suppose you have a Horseman Topcon 970 kicking around there you could do a review on?

[andyvan]

good video, and tips, but as a starter, after focussing, LOCK all the controls, or check the tension knobs!- as you operate the shutter, insert film holder and manipulate the slides you Don't want the shot going out of focus, or any movements ill applied (cause unwanted distortion, blur of image parts) because of an accidental nudge.

[mikebaker]

You may want to further research the standard practice for which side of the darkslide corresponds to exposed and unexposed film. In practice, it wouldn't matter, but I believe in your video, you state it opposite of what system most photographers practice. Which is, white for unexposed film and black for the exposed film.

[matzul]

Man, I stopped the video at 19 sec. I couldn't watch any more without writing my comment! You got me amazed just by how you started. Wow! What a nice upside down frame at the beginning! Amazing!!! I'm gonna keep on watching now. And you've just got another subscriber

[cowboyyoga]

Nice video! Subscribed! Thank you! )))

[Narsuitus]

Thanks for a very informative video.

My only comment is that I wish you had used a field camera and a monorail camera for the demonstration instead of two field cameras.

[lonniepaulson]

One very important rule you got wrong is loading the film in the holders. The black slide shows that the film has been exposed. The silver or white slide on the newer holders means the film has just been loaded and has not been exposed yet. This rule was always universal in the days of film. I used to work in a catalog photography studio; I used to load hundreds of 8x10 holders. If I ever got it wrong all the film would be wasted. So you see there has to be only one way of loading film. However, if you are not working for anyone, it probably won't matter, just don't confuse yourself.

[motorvelo]

A dark slide with unexposed film should have the white side facing out. That is the traditional convention.

[johnsciara]

White side out for exposed film, and dark side out for unexposed film. That makes perfect sense.

[rickmcginnis]

You didn't mention the little bit of maths you have to do to calculate the bellows extension factor.