Large Format: Thoughts of a madman!

Happy New Year! Yes, I know by the time you read this we will be well into the year, but as I sit writing this, New Years Eve is approaching. I don’t make New Years Resolutions, a pointless activity, I never manage to keep any even till the end of January! I do like to reflect on the year past, a little for a short time, take stock, and think about what I’d like to do and achieve this coming year. For example I have far, far, far too great a film stash – I’m not going to say how big, I’m embarrassed by it, so this year I intend to buy no more film, unless I really need/want too. My mission is to use what I have and buy no more. Same with cameras, lenses, developing tanks, chemicals and especially camera bags. So much stuff – I have far too much.

Back to the title of this post, I once owned a 5×4 Toyo 45A with 150mm lens, few film holders etc. I used it little, eventually sold it back to West Yorkshire Cameras from whence it came, and that lead to me owning a Leica (another slippery path!). Before that I had a 5×4 Ilford Obscura Pin Hole. That was fun, not least as I developed in small trays in the toilet – I can tell you a tank is much easier! In fact the first pin hole I made was the subject of my very first ever post! Since then I’ve discovered Ben Horne on You Tube, Mat Marash’s LFF, and many others and have always slightly regretted selling the 5×4. I also rather like the idea of 8×10 and making contact prints. Danger!

With that I mind I spent an evening online getting a feel for current prices, lens options, I learnt much, found a couple I even got as far as making offers on – both rejected luckily! I went around in circles and then did the sensible thing, deleted everything in the wish list – closed all the windows, and brought a 5×7 camera!

I know, I know, but not just any old camera, a really old decerped thing that’s 100 years old – or near enough! It may be a Kodak 2D 5X7, but I have yet to confirm that or indeed it’s age. It’s a project. I “watched” it for ages, and just kept coming back to it.

It’s a disaster area, obviously no lens, but there is no back either! While the bellows look like they are about to disintegrate they actually look light tight to me – they will need replacing none the less. In fact the whole thing needs a full strip down and regeneration. That said, I was pleasantly surprised when I un-packed the box. The wood is battered, and the brass filthy, but it’s firm, everything that is geared seems to still run smoothly, and what should tighten, does.

The Plan (that may or may not happen..)

I intend to strip it right down. The base plate that allows the tripod to be attached at the centre of gravity, slides off easily, so that will be my test bit! I hope to gather tools, skill, materials as I go. I shall literally start at the bottom and see how I get on. I’m not looking for a museum grade restoration. I don’t have the skill for that. What I’m looking for is a working camera that is just a bit of fun to use every now and again, and maybe make a few 5×7 contact prints. I’ve not even decided whether it will end up as a 5×7 or a 5×4 camera yet – again time will tell. This will be an evolving story, and I’ll keep you posted with the odd progress report as/if things happen!

To finish I found this lovely quote on a website selling bulk load film that made me smile and may well be appropriate here: