Thank you for all your comments. I have found a place that I can have my PDFs available for photographers: issuu.com/frednewmanphotography/docs/view_camera_basics1 I am planning to add more PDFs - instructions for the 4x5 BTZS tubes and articles from Phil Davis & me from Photo Techniques magazine.
Thank you for your comments & watching my videos. I wanted to try to give you the experience of viewing the ground glass - so it would be like you are there working with me. I always remember the Wendy's commercial with the line "where's the beef". I always think that when I teach.
Excellent video Fred. Thank you so much for emailing the PDF on view camera movements. I have watched the video three times now and always found something I missed the last time. Kind regards Michael.
Thank you for your comments - very appreciated. I really like the idea of showing how it looks on the ground glass - like you are a student looking over my shoulder as I demonstrate each camera movement.
Hi Duncan - Quick tip - figure your 35mm focal lens & multiply by 3. So a 50mm lens in 35mm is a 150mm lens for 4x5. Good portrait lens would be 210mm & a good normal would be a 150 or a 135mm. A good wide angle might be a 90mm or a 120mm.
Hi kylebind - I thought that showing the movements on the ground glass was the easiest way to understand the camera movements - thank you for your comments.
Hi Daniel J. Schneider - I had the same thing in my head when I first learned base tilts "focus on the far, tilt to the near - repeat 2 more times". Thank you for watching & have fun - Fred
I just bought my first view camera (Toyo 45A) and this video just helped me a lot to understand the movements. Thanks! PS: Can you recommend a photo lab closer to the East Coast that will develop 4x5?
+Raúl Rodríguez - Thank you for your comments. If you are doing color - there has to be a really good lab in New York City. If you are doing black & white that I would recommend you do the processing - check out my early videos. If you need help with black & white film & developer combinations & BTZS film testing - please contact me - thank you - Fred
I love that we can see the movements through the ground glass! One quick question. When you're doing the axis tilt, what is your f stop? Would you typically do the tilt shift opened all the way up, or begin the movement at the f stop that you have a desire to shoot at?
So just to be sure: open the lens wide open, focus and tilt, and then stop down? Would I actually even need to stop down since everything will be in focus with it all the way open?
+Christian Savini - You then stop down. It is fun to watch the middle become in focus as you stop down. Remember with tilting you are getting the near in focus & the far in focus - stopping down gets the middle in focus. Try looking through the loupe & with the other hand slowly stop down the lens.
I'm looking into getting into LF with 4x5, so this was quite helpful to see, thanks! Any suggestions for good focal lengths for "normal" and "short telephoto for portraiture"?
210 - 250 mm would be flexible enough for portraits. 300 for a much closer headshot portrait but you will have to make sure you have enough bellows draw on your camera.
+Pablo Beck Garreaud - I have never noticed this - have always used lenses with a large image circle such as my favorite 4x5 lens the Schneider 110mm Super-Symmar XL. With this lens even with maximum rise I never saw any fall off. You might see what you are asking about with older lenses with minimum coverage. You shouldn't see this problem with most modern lenses from Schneider or Rodenstock. I would recommend getting modern lenses with more coverage than you need. If you have specific lens questions, I will try to answer with recommendations from lenses I have used.
where would be a good place to get a used 4x5 field camera for less than a few hundred bucks? I've seen toyo field and the metal construction interests me, and what are the possibilities of getting a good zoom lens for a field camera? also could i get a pdf of those movement instructions?
+J T - Please send me an email (viewcamerastore@gmail.com so I can send you the PDF. The only inexpensive view cameras would be some of the older monorail 4x5's. Make sure you have a return policy when buying a used view camera & lenses. Check the bellows for light leaks. View camera lenses are fixed focal lengths - you can get good deals on lenses - such as the Schneider Symmar-S lenses. You should do a search on Ebay for 4x5 view cameras - you may find a bargain. Good luck & thanks for watching my videos - Fred
Hi Douglas De Franceschi - Thank you for watching my videos & you comments. I was trying to take some of the mystery out of view camera movements. Fred
Hello Fred, Thank you for your video. Is your field camera a Chamonix? Is that the standard ground glass? With the standard fresnel? On mine I've got a very dark image, much brighter in the center (spot). Thank you for your answer, François
François Vermot - This camera had the added optional fresnel screen. I have always used fresnel screens, just easier for me to see & focus. They are very easy to install on the Shen Hao cameras. I'm not familiar with the Chamonix accessories but see if they have a fresnel available for your camera. I also like fresnel screens when teaching - having the camera in the shade you can work with a student without a dark cloth
hello Fred, I am new to 4x5 and your vidio is perfect. You show the vidio from both the camera view but most importantly from the ground glass view unlike other vidios produced. Thank you very much for your vidio. I have been attempting to do 4x5 photographing a christmas fairy but when I get the head focused and tilt for the wings only less that a centimetre behind it still does not get the wings focused. I am using close up as the subject which is only 4 inches tall and used 65mm, 90mm and 150mm lenses doubling the lense difference away from the subject. Do you have any suggestions.
Hi dubtom11 - Thank you for watching my video. The email address is at the end of the video - viewcamerastore@gmail.com. I will email you the PDF as soon as I see your email. Fred
Thank you for this video! I've got a hao hzx 45 a ii, and was looking for some advices on focusing and movements. Your tutorial is very helpful! Can you please share what kind of fersnel glass were you using with shen hao ptb 45 used in this video and what focal length? Is it 210mm? Im wondering because im using nikkor 90mm f/4,5 sw with a fresnel, but the viewing angles are just too narrow to use. Can you recommend a good fersnel to use with hzx 45 iia? Thanks in advance.
Thank you for watching my videos. Shen Hao makes a 4x5 Fresnel for their 4x5 cameras. I posted on the View Camera Store how to install the fresnel - facebook.com/ViewCameraStore/photos/a.771411849595235.1073741840.159930977409995/771411869595233/?type=3&theater - let me know if this helps. It is not difficult to install.
Excellent vid - thanks so much! I have been interested in view cameras and I was wondering exactly how they are operated. This answers all my questions.
Hi Fred, thanks for the video! The tilt focusing instruction was very helpful. I'm just learning how to get a bit more out of my Bender 4x5, this is great.
great stuff thanks so much! you might consider editing in final cut proX. one it will help clean up the audio a little as the echo makes it hard to follow in this video. also i would love to have the ground glass clips inserted after each of your explanations. while they are fresh in my mind. keep up the good work!
Fred,I really appreciated for your video of demonstrating view camera movements,I've been trying to take photos through view camera and finally found a great clip.
Hi MsMcccc - In the video I'm using the Giottos MT-8260 MT II Classic Carbon Fiber Tripod & the Acratech Leveling Base with the Acratech Panoramic Head. When I have a chance I will do a video on this combination.
Thank you for all your comments. I have found a place that I can have my PDFs available for photographers: issuu.com/frednewmanphotography/docs/view_camera_basics1
I am planning to add more PDFs - instructions for the 4x5 BTZS tubes and articles from Phil Davis & me from Photo Techniques magazine.
The ground glass view is very helpful. Thanks, Fred!! Other UA-cam presentations are words and hands waving... Fred rocks!
Thank you for your comments & watching my videos. I wanted to try to give you the experience of viewing the ground glass - so it would be like you are there working with me. I always remember the Wendy's commercial with the line "where's the beef". I always think that when I teach.
Excellent video Fred. Thank you so much for emailing the PDF on view camera movements. I have watched the video three times now and always found something I missed the last time. Kind regards Michael.
Great resource for new 4x5 photographers! Thank you!
+Andrew Bakken -glad I could help. Just remembering when I was a beginner. Thank you for your comments. Fred
Very nice presentation: structured, touching the points that really matter and showing the results on the ground glass.
Thank you for your comments - very appreciated. I really like the idea of showing how it looks on the ground glass - like you are a student looking over my shoulder as I demonstrate each camera movement.
Wonderful instructions! The best I've seen.
Thank you so much for your comments!
Hi Duncan - Quick tip - figure your 35mm focal lens & multiply by 3. So a 50mm lens in 35mm is a 150mm lens for 4x5. Good portrait lens would be 210mm & a good normal would be a 150 or a 135mm. A good wide angle might be a 90mm or a 120mm.
Hi kylebind - I thought that showing the movements on the ground glass was the easiest way to understand the camera movements - thank you for your comments.
Hi Zyxarix - Thank you for your comments & watching my videos. The camera is a Shen Hao PTB 4x5.
Hi Alexander Peitersen - Thank you for your comments. I wanted to take some of mystery out of camera movements - Fred
Hi jhon gris - Yes the Shen Hao PTB is a good camera to take portraits with. I would recommend getting a 210mm lens and a fresnel for easier focusing.
Thanks for posting this on Facebook! I'm a subscriber!
+Dennis Vandal - Thanks for watching my videos & being a subscriber.
Thanks Fred, I leard a lot today!
You are welcome
This is great :) The best video on the subject I've found :)
I'll also send you an email for the PDF if you don't mind...
Hi Daniel J. Schneider - I had the same thing in my head when I first learned base tilts "focus on the far, tilt to the near - repeat 2 more times". Thank you for watching & have fun - Fred
Hi Fred, great video that really simplifies the whole process of large format camera movements.
I just bought my first view camera (Toyo 45A) and this video just helped me a lot to understand the movements. Thanks! PS: Can you recommend a photo lab closer to the East Coast that will develop 4x5?
+Raúl Rodríguez - Thank you for your comments. If you are doing color - there has to be a really good lab in New York City. If you are doing black & white that I would recommend you do the processing - check out my early videos. If you need help with black & white film & developer combinations & BTZS film testing - please contact me - thank you - Fred
Great video. Thanks for sharing!
Paul
This was wonderful thank you! This is the first video I've seen that shows what the movements do from the ground glass perspective.
I love that we can see the movements through the ground glass! One quick question. When you're doing the axis tilt, what is your f stop? Would you typically do the tilt shift opened all the way up, or begin the movement at the f stop that you have a desire to shoot at?
+Christian Savini - Thank you for your comments. Start with the lens wide open.
So just to be sure: open the lens wide open, focus and tilt, and then stop down? Would I actually even need to stop down since everything will be in focus with it all the way open?
+Christian Savini - You then stop down. It is fun to watch the middle become in focus as you stop down. Remember with tilting you are getting the near in focus & the far in focus - stopping down gets the middle in focus. Try looking through the loupe & with the other hand slowly stop down the lens.
I'm looking into getting into LF with 4x5, so this was quite helpful to see, thanks! Any suggestions for good focal lengths for "normal" and "short telephoto for portraiture"?
210 - 250 mm would be flexible enough for portraits. 300 for a much closer headshot portrait but you will have to make sure you have enough bellows draw on your camera.
Great Tutorial, thank you!
By raising and schifting you loose some luminocity? you have to compensate the exposure?
+Pablo Beck Garreaud - I have never noticed this - have always used lenses with a large image circle such as my favorite 4x5 lens the Schneider 110mm Super-Symmar XL. With this lens even with maximum rise I never saw any fall off. You might see what you are asking about with older lenses with minimum coverage. You shouldn't see this problem with most modern lenses from Schneider or Rodenstock. I would recommend getting modern lenses with more coverage than you need. If you have specific lens questions, I will try to answer with recommendations from lenses I have used.
Hi Huddliethegreat - Yes the lens is being tilted forward. Fred
where would be a good place to get a used 4x5 field camera for less than a few hundred bucks? I've seen toyo field and the metal construction interests me, and what are the possibilities of getting a good zoom lens for a field camera? also could i get a pdf of those movement instructions?
+J T - Please send me an email (viewcamerastore@gmail.com so I can send you the PDF. The only inexpensive view cameras would be some of the older monorail 4x5's. Make sure you have a return policy when buying a used view camera & lenses. Check the bellows for light leaks. View camera lenses are fixed focal lengths - you can get good deals on lenses - such as the Schneider Symmar-S lenses. You should do a search on Ebay for 4x5 view cameras - you may find a bargain. Good luck & thanks for watching my videos - Fred
Thank you very much for your explanations and sharing the pdf. It has been very helpful.
You are welcome. Glad I was able to help you. Have fun!
Just beginning my large format journey with a Graphlex Super Graphic and your video and reference to camera movements PDF was very helpful. Thx!
Thank you - enjoy large format!
Hi Douglas De Franceschi - Thank you for watching my videos & you comments. I was trying to take some of the mystery out of view camera movements. Fred
Hello Fred,
Thank you for your video. Is your field camera a Chamonix? Is that the standard ground glass? With the standard fresnel? On mine I've got a very dark image, much brighter in the center (spot).
Thank you for your answer, François
François Vermot - This camera had the added optional fresnel screen. I have always used fresnel screens, just easier for me to see & focus. They are very easy to install on the Shen Hao cameras. I'm not familiar with the Chamonix accessories but see if they have a fresnel available for your camera. I also like fresnel screens when teaching - having the camera in the shade you can work with a student without a dark cloth
hello Fred, I am new to 4x5 and your vidio is perfect. You show the vidio from both the camera view but most importantly from the ground glass view unlike other vidios produced. Thank you very much for your vidio.
I have been attempting to do 4x5 photographing a christmas fairy but when I get the head focused and tilt for the wings only less that a centimetre behind it still does not get the wings focused. I am using close up as the subject which is only 4 inches tall and used 65mm, 90mm and 150mm lenses doubling the lense difference away from the subject. Do you have any suggestions.
Hi dubtom11 - Thank you for watching my video. The email address is at the end of the video - viewcamerastore@gmail.com. I will email you the PDF as soon as I see your email. Fred
Hi Paul Franke - Thank you for your comments & watching my videos. The PDF was very helpful to me when I was a beginner.
Hi George - Thank you for your comment. I remember when I was starting large format.
Thank you for this video! I've got a hao hzx 45 a ii, and was looking for some advices on focusing and movements. Your tutorial is very helpful! Can you please share what kind of fersnel glass were you using with shen hao ptb 45 used in this video and what focal length? Is it 210mm? Im wondering because im using nikkor 90mm f/4,5 sw with a fresnel, but the viewing angles are just too narrow to use. Can you recommend a good fersnel to use with hzx 45 iia?
Thanks in advance.
Thank you for watching my videos.
Shen Hao makes a 4x5 Fresnel for their 4x5 cameras. I posted on the View Camera Store how to install the fresnel - facebook.com/ViewCameraStore/photos/a.771411849595235.1073741840.159930977409995/771411869595233/?type=3&theater -
let me know if this helps. It is not difficult to install.
Thank you so much for the information!
Excellent vid - thanks so much! I have been interested in view cameras and I was wondering exactly how they are operated. This answers all my questions.
+Sensible Musician - Thank you for watching my videos & your comments.
Hi Fred, thanks for the video! The tilt focusing instruction was very helpful. I'm just learning how to get a bit more out of my Bender 4x5, this is great.
You are welcome
Great video Fred. It covered exactly what i wanted to know about this type of camera.
Thank you for your comment & watching my videos - practice & have fun!
great stuff thanks so much! you might consider editing in final cut proX. one it will help clean up the audio a little as the echo makes it hard to follow in this video. also i would love to have the ground glass clips inserted after each of your explanations. while they are fresh in my mind. keep up the good work!
+Christian Hogue - Thank you for your comments - iMovie is what I use for editing. It sounds like you know a lot more than me about video editing.
+Fred Newman iMovie probably has some similar effects in the audio menu. echo remove or some such. I'll check and let u know used to use it
Fred,I really appreciated for your video of demonstrating view camera movements,I've been trying to take photos through view camera and finally found a great clip.
Hi MsMcccc - In the video I'm using the Giottos MT-8260 MT II Classic Carbon Fiber Tripod & the Acratech Leveling Base with the Acratech Panoramic Head. When I have a chance I will do a video on this combination.
Hello Fred...Do you still have the pdf's ? It would be great to have them. Cheers
Yes the PDF is still available - please email me at viewcamerastore@gmail.com - thank you for watching my videos.
Nice video!!!! Would u please tell me what camera it is?? It looks lighter than regular 4x5
Shen Hao 4x5 PTB - yes very light - 3 lbs!
Thank you!
Thanks for your video and I got a lot of knowledge of large format camera .
Thank you for sharing my video.
Thank you, Fred. This video has been of great help.
You are welcome
Many thanks for this tutorial! With it is easy to understand the camera movements and the effects of them.
+Carlos Moura - I wanted to take some of the mystery out of using a view camera. Thank you for watching my videos.
Very clear introduction to view camera phography. Nice work. Thanks.
Thanks for the video Fred, very informative. Any chance I could get your pdf,can't figure out how to get your email address,cheers, Tommy.
Thanks a lot for this video! I saved it to when I have a view camera! :-)
+itai bachar - Thank you
is this good camera to take portrait picture,is yes how work?..than kyou
Nice discussion, Fred. Many thanks.
Great demo. Many thanks.
+jemmojemmo - Thank you - practice & have fun.
What a great video, i have been struggling with the movements a little, since i moved to using large format in college.
Wow....great....in less than 10 minutes you've covered the basics. Like you said, now it's time to go out and practice.
very nice ...thanks
You are welcome
very informative, thank you
+Andy Coones - Thank you
Perfect to the point introduction!
+tor1302 - Thank you
Thank for teaching me how to use it.
You are welcome!!! Thank you for your comment!!! Please practice and have fun!!!
I just bought a 45DX and want to learn how to use it. Thank for your class, now I understand more.
You are welcome - enjoy your 4x5 camera!
Hi Rick - Thank yo for your comment.
good quality video man!
You are welcome & thank you for watching my videos.
Great lecture
+simon lu -Thank you
Wow! You've done a great job of clearing up my question about functionality. Thank you for this great instruction.
+Thomas Allen -Thank you for watching & glad I could help clear things up. Now practice & make the camera movements yours.
MrShobar - Thank you
thanks Fred
+pat clifford - You are welcome
Many thanks for sharing
Thank you for watching and you comment. I just remember when I was a beginner & wanted to share this info on how to.
It very useful for me.
Glad I could help. Have fun!
Fred can I please get a copy of your sheet? Thank you!
Hi K Tor - Please email me at viewcamerastore@gmail.com& I will send you the view camera basics PDF - thanks - Fred
Very informative, Fred. Thanks !