First 4x5 images with my new (to me) Wista

[jonno85uk]

Sorry if this is possibly a bit banal but I thought i'd post my 1st 3 4x5 images. I have already made most mistakes with my 1st roll on the 6x9 roll film back: pulling out the darkslide whilst lens is open, forgetting to stop down, taking shot without any film in place of the ground glass.

I wanted to see how bad my handling of 4x5 would be. Turns out I shouldn't have worried so much.

Some test shots in my back garden whilst I wait on getting camera bag (lowepro flipside 400 aw turned up yesterday)

Fujinon 75mm, Foma 100, Ilfotec HC using taco method in roll-film tank.

Taco method worked but required so much solution and I couldn't guarantee that the centre piece would be in the correct place. Bought a SP-445.

Fujinon 150mm, Foma 100, xtol-r

Fujinon 75mm, Foma 100, xtol-r


So far I've been using the viewing hood and frankly I can barely see a thing with it. Any recommendations on what focus cloth to use? I'm not sure where to get one apart from e-bay and i think a fresnel would be a nice addition. I'm also on the hunt for a rotating-back and a decent spirit level.

Also, loading film-holders in a changing bag is a pain. Are changing tents much better? I'm working on making a home-darkroom soon so not sure if I should just persevere with the bag until then.

 

[Joanna Carter]

Any recommendations on what focus cloth to use? I'm not sure where to get one apart from e-bay

I use the Paramo https://www.paramo-clothing.com/en-gb/explore-range/product/paramo-dark-cloth/

 

[James T]

Also, loading film-holders in a changing bag is a pain. Are changing tents much better? I'm working on making a home-darkroom soon so not sure if I should just persevere with the bag until then.

I find a shoe box with the lid taped open into a tray inside a changing bag works nicely both for loading holders and developing tanks.

 

[David M]

Does your Wista not have a rotating back already? Some cameras have a kind of turntable, but I believe the Wista simply unclips, is turned ninety degrees and then re-attached.
A tent is much better. You could construct a light frame to go inside your bag.
If you know someone who sews (I am lucky) some black and some white fabric sewn together can be made to your exact specification. Some people like a huge cloth, some a tiny one. Some like weights or Velcro or whatever.
My current one, from eBay seems to work well and is very light. There are other kinds with sleeves, drawstrings and so on. Perhaps best to use any old rag until you find out what you are going to like.
A darkroom is better still, of course.

 

[jonno85uk]

I use the Paramo https://www.paramo-clothing.com/en-gb/explore-range/product/paramo-dark-cloth/

Huh, i wouldn't have expected Paramo to have made these. It looks well made like the rest of their stuff.

I find a shoe box with the lid taped open into a tray inside a changing bag works nicely both for loading holders and developing tanks.

I'm having difficulty visualising that. Do you have a picture?

Does your Wista not have a rotating back already? Some cameras have a kind of turntable, but I believe the Wista simply unclips, is turned ninety degrees and then re-attached.

It doesn't unfortunately. I thought it would as I thought they all rotated. There are only location for clips to orient it one position

 

[Ian Grant]

It looks like it has a rotating back, it's a Wista 45D, and you just need to find the lock. From the back it should be top left I think.

Ian

 

[jonno85uk]

Am i missing something?

 

[Ian Grant]

Look at this Wista 45D on ebay, it has the same back and rotates. In that last photo my guess is there's sprung ball bearing under that chrome screw that clicks it in place, that's how the MPP rotating backs work.

There may be no lock, the MPP backs just turn and click into place. It’s definitely a rotating back, perhaps a bit stiff from lack of use.

Ian

 

[jonno85uk]

Look at this Wista 45D on ebay, it has the same back and rotates. In that last photo my guess is there's sprung ball bearing under that chrome screw that clicks it in place, that's how the MPP rotating backs work.

There may be no lock, the MPP backs just turn and click into place. It’s definitely a rotating back, perhaps a bit stiff from lack of use.

Ian

Well, i applied more force than i was comfortable with and then it suddenly broke free. Yep, it rotates. Cheers
I had seen other backs with extra parts on the black tabs and assumed that was needed.

 

[James T]

I'm having difficulty visualising that. Do you have a picture?

I posted a sketch a while back in this thread

Greetings from west London

Hello all As one of the very few positives of the lockdown this year, I rediscovered the joy of film photography when I dug out my Nikon F3, MPP Microflex TLR and 25 rolls of expired, unexposed film to play with. This resulted in an absorbing voyage of education and rediscovery, picking up...

www.5x4.co.uk

not sure if I've ever taken a picture of it.

 

[Hendo'svan]

I use 2 xxl t-shirts with the White one on the outside and the Black on the inside for my dark cloth, I used a bit of wonda web to stick them together, the t-shirt neck fits snugly around the intrepids focusing screen.

 

[jonno85uk]

I posted a sketch a while back in this thread

Greetings from west London

Hello all As one of the very few positives of the lockdown this year, I rediscovered the joy of film photography when I dug out my Nikon F3, MPP Microflex TLR and 25 rolls of expired, unexposed film to play with. This resulted in an absorbing voyage of education and rediscovery, picking up...

www.5x4.co.uk

not sure if I've ever taken a picture of it.

Thanks. That worked a treat. It was also helpful with my stearman



@Joanna Carter i followed up on your recommendation. The paramo dark cloth works nicely. Thanks

 

[James T]

It was also helpful with my stearman

I originally devised it for loading tanks (before I started LF). My box can be a bit cramped for the MOD54, but is fine for the Stearman and for roll film tanks.