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Some final thoughts
Using the view camera was easier than I anticipated but had its challenges. It will take many more outings to master the movements and thier effect on the image. This is definitely a slower process than digital 35mm allows, with average time between shots of 15-30 minutes. Cost is higher per image. Sheet film runs $1.00-3.00 per sheet plus processing and/or chemistry. Printing costs will be same if you scan and print yourself. Scouting locations in advance will be necessary as the camera and other gear is quite heavy. A field camera would be a better choice over a monorail camera for those who like to hike. The field cameras fold up and can fit easily into a backpack where as the monorail cameras have the monorail to contend with in packing. There are more movements with a monorail camera to consider when making a purchase. The controls on the camera will lead to more creative use of focus and improvements for converging lines. Choosing films for each shot is a huge advantage over traditional 35mm. But I doubt I will be hauling out the system for bird flight shots or action. Other areas for exploration include 4x5 pinhole photography. I can use the camera system I have and add a lensboard with a pinhole. I will eventually abandon polaroids as I gain confidence and opt for cheaper black and white sheet films. I will make multiple exposures however and probably process them myself. Mastering scanning and printing will be the next major challenges. |
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all text and images © Eric Searing 2004