Large Format Panoramics in the forest 

You’re welcome Marko 😊

Thanks Phillip.

I agree. When you can't see to focus, it's hard to get it just right, but what a difference a little more light makes!

Will do Keith 👍

It does have an appeal Roy, much more saturated but I can’t get past the flaws in it 😕

Thank you 😊

Thank you 😊

Thank you Alan. I could have shot with Ektar and easily got the highlights in range but it would have lacked the impact Provia delivers. I’m also not that fussy about small technical shortcomings - if the result looks good that’ll do for me 🙂

Thank you 🙂

It does sound wonderful on listening again Michael, I'm usually too preoccupied with finding the right scene to notice at the time :)

It did jump out at me Nigel, not often you find such a well organised arrangement in a busy forest scene. I believe I will be returning again, perhaps one image per season?

Thank you - it was a win for colour 😀

Thank you Philip, I’m lucky to have this woodland just 2 miles from home.

Cheers Andy 👍

Thank you 😊

That sounds like me normally John 😀

Thanks Vicente. I find 2:1 quite calming and a perfect match for my favourite 1:1 ratio, both are quiet yet expressive.

Take both Ian and I really must visit with an Ortho film soon - there are just too many cameras and film stocks fighting for my attention 😀

Thank you Gene.

Thanks Diz. Although the shot in the video can’t be cropped any further (vertically) without spoiling it I plan to go out looking for images that suit 2.5 or even 3:1. The vertical reduction doesn’t harm image quality of course but it gives a true panoramic if necessary and it’s a lot cheaper than a 6x17 setup with those expensive wideangles. My friend Robin has an Xpan with all the lenses, even the 30mm of which I am super jealous!

Many thanks 🙂

Thanks Chris.

😀

Thanks Martin.

Thanks Bob. Provia has excellent reciprocity characteristics, no compensation required up to 2 minutes. None of the colour negative films can match this, indeed they don’t publish official reciprocity charts for most colour neg materials.

Many thanks Ken.

Thanks Ray, 6x12 is very flexible and can be easily cropped to give an even greater letterbox effect.

Thanks as always Teddy 🙂

Wow, you really are North David, I passed very close to you last October whilst driving round the Highlands and I loved the scenery once I got West of Thurso.

@@SteveONions Yes the land is flatter farm land with coastal castles and ancient Iron Age brochs on the east coast and where we are at Strathy the geography of the landscape changes to a more rugged mountainous terrain with rocky sea inlets with sandy beaches open moorland and lochs. I must confess I find it difficult at times wondering which direction to head off and photograph. Still trying to do it justice. We have a gorge at the back of the house which leads to the sea its a great playground for a camera. Will post some photos on flickr when I get the chance. You remind me of my photography lectures back in the late 70s at Art College so full of knowledge and with an infectious enthusiasm. I think I speak for everyone here you are the icing on the cake of RU-vid channels, with the information you provide to ignite our passion for everything photography. Thanks again and look forward to your next video posting.

Thank you David, that’s very kind of you. I was fascinated with the terrain to the West of you and the narrow bridges that cross the numerous inlets. I’d never realised that the main road narrows to a single track either although given the low traffic volumes I can see why. There were also some terrific views of derelict houses with mountainous backdrops that I’ve never seen before online, you truly have one of the best locations in the UK to photograph.

It’s a great back and I love the aspect ratio too. Despite the initial outlay it’s been worth it.

Thanks Michael. If I’m somewhere where the sounds of nature are clear enough I don’t need any other soundtrack 🙂

Thank you and I hope you get a rollfilm back for your 4x5 soon.

I love it Jack.

Thank you. I think the processes are largely the same with digital except it is a lot easier to check that everything is setup correctly.

Steve O'Nions I appreciate the similarities but have not the patience, knowledge, experience or tools to do what you do. You are awesome.

Thank you 😊

I’d love a dedicated panoramic camera Stephen.

Steve O'Nions which camera would you choose?

Stephen Milner the Fuji GX617 👍

Steve O'Nions nice choice

Thanks Steve and I am jealous of your 6x17!

The first frame was also nice Steffen but all I see are the faults (the colours are great though). I also reach for the dedicated camera a lot of the time but my SQA-I is a lot heavier than the 4x5.

Thanks Alan, I’d forgotten all about those pointers 👍

You’re welcome Mike. I’m surprised by how often I use mine, I think many landscape work better in this format compared to the stubby 4x5 frame.

Steve O'Nions Indeed - it’s a great format, more economical and much less hassle than sheet film. Thanks for your content - I really enjoy your videos!

Thanks Mike. It’s so easy to crop down to 2.5:1 which is about perfect for me as a panoramic ratio.

Thanks John, the letterbox crop makes it is lot easier to exclude things like excessively bright skies and also gives the impression it was taken with a wider lens.

Cheers Yul.

Rosso Moto Does that work well. If so, it’s a great idea. Thanks.

Could you recommend a pointer on amazon? Thx

Great idea, I’d like a recommendation too and what colour is best (or do you use different colours for different situations?).

I want sharks with frickin lasers......

@@joeiscoffee go to your local Dollar Tree store and get one for $1.

Thanks Yannick and I hope you have fun with your own 4x5 👍

@@SteveONions i need To do something because my plate is jussssssst To big for my 4x5

I can definitely recommend it, 6x12 is very flexible and can be further cropped to give a greater letterbox effect.

Thanks Alex.

It is Michael, all sound was captured on the microphone on the camera at the same time.

I’ve tried a small penlight Richard and pointed it back towards the camera but it does require the point of focus to be easily accessible IE - not down a cliff 😀

@@SteveONions Infinity focus is easier to catch I think. In the woodlands the flashlight will be very helpful I think.

I was lucky to have come across it earlier when our shooting with the Intrepid, the b-roll convinced me to go back with colour.

I do use a Fresnel Kevin to even out the illumination. I only drop it in to get the composition right than remove for focussing. I rarely need it above 90mm and bright scenes help (but I tend to shoot in dim early morning conditions).

Very nice Terry, 65mm is very wide - I had an older Super Angulon in that focal length.

Hi Dan, great to see the print arrived with you eventually! The falloff is the same as vignetting but it will depend on the image circle of the lens in question. If there is a large image circle you are not likely to see any falloff unless you use rise/fall or shift etc. Some lenses are only just capable of covering the film however and they will often show the vignette so the manufactures make special (and horribly expensive) filters to correct this. Cameras like the Fuji 617 need such a filter especially if shooting slide film where is really shows up. All the best.

My lenses are quite modest so I get away with cheaper 85mm square filters. The holder I use is by SRB (UK supplier) and also their ND graduates. B&W coloured filters are by Cokin.

I’m fortunate with 6x12 in that the image circle is sufficient to avoid vignetting. If I had a 617 back my 90mm would run out of coverage.

Hi Juan. The roll film holder is put on after you remove the ground glass, it totally replaces it once you’ve focussed the image. Some holders can sit behind the glass but not on the Intrepid. Starting large format can be intimidating but if you practice extensively without using film Eg. Set up shots, go through all the settings, pack the camera away again then it all becomes second nature. I hope you get out and shoot with your camera soon 🙂

Steve O'Nions thanks Steve for the feedback, yeah is intimidating but as you said I have to practice, I can’t wait. Thanks always watch your videos great photography and good advices 👍

It is hard to begin with but if you establish the same routine every time it helps. I always make sure I do a test firing of the shutter (often twice) and ensure the dark slide is removed and replaced for every shot - you’d be surprised how easy it is to forget this!

I thought the same Johannes but there are many advantages other than cost. I can pack a while range of films for each trip and it weight very little. It’s also easy and cheap to make a number of frames of the same scenes like a roll film camera. I also find landscape scenes suit the letterbox format. I am definitely using it more often than I thought. One final thing, there is a greater range of film stock available in 120 too.

That’s a good point, it should be possible to rig up something to hold the phone parallel to the ground glass. It would be easier than struggling under the dark cloth.

@@SteveONions I had the same problem with my 75mm F5.6 when I used it last with a 6X9 back on my Wista DX and this one already has a factory fitted Fresnel lens attached. I just couldn't focus . I used it inside the house to do some arty farty stuff so the light levels were low. I am afraid that the eyes are not what they were in my 30s. The 90 F8 didn't even need a focusing cloth back then but now it is unusable....?

@@SteveONions I wonder if something like this could be of use? Its cheap enough and keeps the phone at a same distance from the GG to examine the focus at different points. www.amazon.co.uk/Phonescope-Mobile-Phone-Microscope-Magnification/dp/B010QV9DUK/ref=asc_df_B010QV9DUK/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=310867156304&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5615860553310636307&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006912&hvtargid=pla-565408217703&psc=1

I’m the same which is why I really like using the longer lenses, I can see them snap into focus immediately.

It made quite a big difference Stuart. I previewed it with and without and there were quite a few overly bright areas when it wasn’t in place.

That could work Terry but I'm not one for much manipulation and prefer to keep it as close to the original as possible.

Good point Michael, I now have a laser pointer in the bag, can’t wait to try it out.

@@SteveONions A laser pointer? Have you ever tried to use a flashlight on to "paint" your image with the light?

I was the same Chris, thought about it for a year and kept thinking I’d never recoup the cost of it in film savings. What swung it for me was the convenience however, I can take as much film as I like and lots of different types. It’s also very light and easier to use once setup - multiple shots are like any rollfilm camera. The final benefit for me is just how many landscape benefit from the letterbox format, I rarely miss the top and bottom of the frame in the subjects I’m finding with it.

I noticed that too. On ebay the Horsemans go for about $500 or so used. I have a couple of Dayi 6x12 that were much cheaper with the option of 6x9 and 6x6. However you don't get the nice ratcheted film advance and need to use the little window.

I looked for about 6 months until I came across mine and was lucky to get a perfect one for £250. Just a year earlier they were only £150 and now they are considerably more.

@@SteveONions I've got a 6x9 horseman for my 2x3 graflex and call it my poor man's Fuji 6x9. That horseman stuff is top notch.

It is Chris, I keep thinking I should get a 6x9 or 6x7 back while they are still cheap.

It’s 4x5 to me and I also at 8x10 so I’m obviously back to front 😊

oh, that was stupid. answered that question in the very beginning of the video and few moments later you mentioned it 😁

No problem, I do this all the time 😀

I’ve not had any problems myself but given the design is quite simple I’d imagine it would reasonably simple to fix any light leaks.

I tend to use terms interchangeably Terry, sometimes I’ll call it E6 or perhaps Reversal.

That must have been a very taxing photo shoot!

@@SteveONions But it was not my worst - thankfully photoshop had just come onto the scene - and Hass provided the scans for us - not sure to this day how they did it - but it is one of the reasons I subscribe to their brand - the support they give is next level - I admire your tenacity here - 5x4 is a wonderful thing when done properly and you proved it - hands down - at 52 I am almost sort of retired now but still maintain an interest and have kept back a few select clients such as jewelry and a few fashiony bits and bobs - but I still miss film based mediums - digital has its place of course - but with some strong caveats - constantly upgrading is a blessing to manufacturers as it keeps customers locked in, Pros can get good S/H gear for little money but the costs have soared exponentially - digital is quicker and more accessible but the biggest change is that of processing - I was never that good at it, didn't apply myself to it - despite owning a studio which had pro labs on site - Devere enlargers, a room full of dip and dunk E6 - Cibachromes printers, and everything else in between including a 10x8 Toyo rail cam with Sinar lenses - lovely thing- fiddly though.. In 2001 I saw the writing on the wall - the internet had properly arrived and most of my money was made making 'dupes' from E6 - Tesco would have 100 copies at £7.50 + VAT each for every final shot. Some weeks we would make more doing that that anything else, including catalogue shoots. When they asked for just 1 - which they then sent out down a phone line to the other recipients for advertising in newsprint media I saw the final days of wet based photography. Then Kodak introduced their digital camera and I saw the other end of it. But we have had to adapt and learn new skills - If you aren't a at least a bit of a wizz with a computer in PS and or LR, Phocus etc, you can basically forget becoming a pro - as you have shown us time and time again acquisition is only half of the story - and the final image is a culmination of many skills coming together. You have a great channel - very inspiring even for us old and past it shooters. Have a super day.

I also saw the way the internet changed the world of work and I had already been in IT for a long time. It made the skills we’d all learned redundant in just a couple of years, no longer did we get hired based on our past work, it was enough to read a few articles online and experiment with software that counted. I also worked for Ilford for a couple of years when it was booming and found it sad to see the factory shrink back so quickly. It’s been interesting watching the film world rebound recently and so many young people giving not a try. I hope it means we will be able to get materials for years to come. All the best - Steve

@@SteveONions Rock on - its all about adapting - you can't stop the world, or live in the past. As for Ilford -My studioI not only used thousands of their films from 25 to 10x8 but ALL of our B+W was printed on Ilford and nothing else. I was also very sorry to see their demise but even they have managed to fight on as we must. Have a super one - Simon

Totally agree Simon, adapt or die as they say 🙂

It does have its merits Eugene but it is way out of focus in parts.

I might Thomas, drop me an email (details in the notes).

I’ve not 🙂

I thought this after the first trip Gregory, it kept nagging me that the group of trees was the better shot.