An Exploration with the 4×5 Camera

For my own analog experience, I choose to work with a film camera, more specifically, a Large Format 4 x 5 film camera. Being a photographer, I typically work with a digital format DSLR, but I have had prior experience with 35mm film cameras. For this experience, I wanted to explore and dive deeper into the world of film cameras with the Large Format camera, one that I had never before had the opportunity to explore.

Image of a Large Format camera and its different parts

I knew it would be wildly different from my preferred digital camera experience upon beginning this exploration. Still, I had some inclination it would be similar to a 35mm film camera. Using this new 4×5 film, I wondered if the images produced would be equal to or better quality compared to my DSLR? Aside from technical aspects, I wondered if it would feel different while shooting and taking the images than with my digital camera. This camera is around fifteen pounds, requires a nearly five-foot tripod, and only comes with eight film slides. With all that being said, setting up to take the picture and taking the image will take a lot more time than it would with any digital camera. Would this impact my experience with it? And would that impact be positive or negative?

For the actual experiment, I choose to photograph simple objects around my house and backyard, even getting some pictures of my grandfather working outside in the barns. The investigation itself was a bit complicated and very time-consuming. To take an image, the tripod has to be level and at the correct height for the camera’s glass to be at eye view. To focus on the subject matter in the mirror, the dark cloth is needed, precisely what it sounds like, the black fabric called the “dark clothe” is draped over the user to see the image reflected upside down in the glass. Once the image was focused, I had to meter for the correct lighting and exposure time. To little time the image would be too dark, too much time, and the image would be too light, making the exposure the most crucial aspect of the photograph. The experiment was concluded after doing this whole setup and process eight times and changing locations midway through.

Image of an individual focusing on a subject matter under the Dark Cloth.

Reflecting on my exploration, I realized there are a lot of steps to set up the image and make sure the exposure is correct before even clicking the shutter to take a photograph. By the time I focused, I had found the light had changed and needed to re-meter the whole picture. Besides these technical difficulties, this time between taking the images and setting them up allowed me to slow down and the information I was photographing.

After developing my film from this experiment and having all of the negatives come out, I was relieved. My experiment was successful, I learned how to use the large format 4 x 5 camera, and I even got some excellent photographs. I found that these images were highly detailed and crisp, much sharper than any image my DSLR could produce. It is a long-standing truth in photography that film is the best to shoot on for higher quality and sharp appearance. I never truly believed that until I saw these images, I was honestly a little surprised. Besides technically being a successful experiment, I can’t say I loved the experience as a whole. Unlike my DSLR that I can strap around my neck and take with me anywhere, like a spontaneous trip or event, this camera was the exact opposite. The weight and its cumbersome nature overshadowed any quality of images that it produced. I did enjoy slowing down and spending more time with my subject matter while setting up my pictures. However, I found myself missing that digital aspect of taking five or more images with one click of a finger. I found this type of camera was limiting and often didn’t let me take complete creative control of the image in more ways than one. Overall this experiment was enjoyable, and I can proudly say that I now have the knowledge and experience working with another film camera under my belt. This was a great exploration, but I think I will be sticking with my DSLR camera for any future shoots.