Large Format Tachihara 4x5

When I acquired this camera, Polaroid 4x5 films were still available (although quite expensive). BW, sepia and color were readily available and using this camera with the polaroid back was a pleasant experience.

Kodak was selling the ready-load film packs that, along with the dedicated back, allowed to shoot without the annoyance of manually loading the 4x5 sheets into the film holders. No issues with dust, finger prints etc.

I was so excited about this camera that I ventured into building a clone of it, just for the pleasure of doing it. Bellows construction was quite a challenge but results were satisfying.

The day I got the information about Polaroid and Kodak demise i was quite sad and the camera sat still for some time. I then re-started using it with 4x5 sheet film and holders with the same pleasure I experienced in the past.

Large format picture taking is an experience in itself. Composition, visualization, tilting and shifting moves you in an uncharted territory that you should practice by taking the time it mandates you to take.

The day I acquired the Hasselblad CFV50c digital back for my 205TCC Hassie, I found that FOTODIOX was still producing a back for using the back on view cameras. The back is a shifting back allowing you to take multiple shoots by shifting it. Once finished, you stitch the pics together digitally. This process is obviously limited to static images. Results are however very good. Large format lenses combined with a 50 megapixel back are a nice combination.

I have many lenses and, for simplifying picture taking, I decided to 3d print multiple lens boards in order to switch equipment quickly.