Graflex.org

[Padeye]

I now have all the bits and pieces I need to start using my Crown. I got a new Fidelity film holder and managed to load a sheet of hp5 emulsion side up on the first try. Naturally I ruined it so I could check but I figure my first box of film is pretty much doomed anyway.

I think I'm ready to start taking pictures but what I need to know is what are the accepted practices for organizing sheet film holders so I don't double expose, forget to expose, etc. Should I put the dark slides in backwards after exposure?

BTW what is everyone's preferred film holder? Is a Toyo really worth more than a Fidelity as the salesman says?

[45PSS]

Did you notice that the dark slides are white with dots on one side only? Choose your own system, black unesposed/esposed
and white the other. Stay consistent! Load in total darkness or just get a good film changing tent about $65 to $150 new. I don't know about the second question, but I use Fedility and grafmatics and a Photoflex changing room which is barely big enough for my grafmatics.
Charles

_________________
While a picture may be worth a thousand words, a photograph is worth a million.

[ This Message was edited by: 45PSS on 2002-02-22 20:10 ]

[Les]

I've been an LF photographer for 15 years, 10 of them professionally, I don't own any Toyo film holders. fidelity & Lisco are tied in my opinion. Old Riteways in great shape are better, New Riteways are better still but too expensive.

Old wood filmholders are iffy. I use them in places where if a holder gets trashed from sand or water or ??? I won't mind too much.

[hartwell_a_m]

Most photographers who use large format cameras use the white side of the dark slide to indecate unexposed film, that way if you end up using LF profesionaly anny asistants you hire will allready know whats what with the film holders.

[Padeye]

Thanks all, that seemed the most intuitive way, I just didn't want to make sure I was doing it backwards from everyone else or something. I've learned an awful lot from this site and all the contibutors but I'm flying by the seat of my pants a bit.

[dkt]

white or silver out= unexposed
black=exposed

I use the liscos, and fidelity holders...if you can find them, try to use modern holders...old, ratty holders can lead to problems. I'll plaster my holders with tape or little stickers saying what the film is...or what exposures are in which holders. To keep it simple (and to give me spare sheets in case I--or the lab--mess up), I double up on my exposures...shoot 2 of the same on each holder--process only one. The second is your safety...you can either run it later or toss it after you get the film processed. Make sure the little safety clasp things slide over the darkslides & hold them in place too....it's a drag to accidentally expose a sheet of film when you reach to pick up the holder....on location, I tape the slides in place with a little piece of masking/gaffer tape...Murphy always lurks.

hope this helps

_________________
as always, MY OPINIONS only.

[Frank_E]

OK folks, have a little mercy. This is my first foray into medium format, at least with the Graflex type cameras.

I've got the 4x5 sheet film holders (Riteway) and didn't have much trouble loading them in my darkroom and getting the dark slides in place. The question is how do you securely attach them to the Graflok back? I've tried sliding the shiny metal grips to the right and although they hold, it sure doesn't take much effort to pop them off. Looking at the edge of the Riteways, there are three raised ridges on each edge with a smooth place in the middle. The metal grips do fit into that smooth space, but boy the film holders can pop out much too easily for my taste.

Do some of the other sheet film holders have actual grooves where the grips fit into? The Graflok back works great with the ground glass back for focusing, but the sheet film holders make me a little nervous.

A new Graflex owner, obviously.........

[Henry]

The film holder slides in behind the ground glass frame, i.e., between the frame and the back of the camera. Sounds like either you don't have a ground glass frame (unlikely) or you removed it and are trying to attach the film holder by the Graflok slide locks. This won't work (obviously!). The ground glass frame is hinged to allow it to be pulled part-way open from the right side (as you look at the camera from the back). Into this opening insert the film holder with the dark slide on the right and push the holder firmly to the left until it is seated. Spring pressure on the frame will keep the holder in place as you pull the dark slide, make the exposure, and replace the dark slide.

[alecj]

Paul Butzi has some great articles on LF techniques, and they are illustrated with pictures. Maybe they will help those who can't visualize the process.

http://www.butzi.net/articles/articles.htm

[45PSS]

When looking at the gg, rotate the camera 90 degrees right. The gg frame should be rounded from the center of the back. Lift up or push left. Once open enough to insert the flap end of the film holder, do so. Push the film holder in until you hear it snap into place. That will be the ridge below the dark slide mating into its grove.

To remove the film holder, pull back toward rear of camera enough to disenguage the ridge then pull out.
Charles

_________________
The best camera ever made is the one that YOU enjoy using and produces the image quality that satifies YOU.

[Padeye]

[45PSS]

Perhaps I should have said "turn (horizional axis)". And maybe learn to spell also..

So, Frank, are you inserting and removing film holders like a pro yet??

Charles

_________________
While a picture may be worth a thousand words, a photograph is worth a million.

[ This Message was edited by: 45PSS on 2002-03-05 23:04 ]