I'm looking to invest in a large format for outdoor photography and specially for aerial photography. The beautiful Linhof aerotechnika is way to expensive for me and is probably unusable for for "normal" pictures. But what about a normal field view camera like the Technika? Is it possible to fix once accurately on infinity (before the flight for example) and then only have to change the film during the flight? I have no experience with large format but I'm used to shoot at least at 1/250s with a medium format. I do not shoot through a window so the wind might be a problem for the camera? So here my question: can you imagine yourself hand holding a view 4x5 camera and shooting through an open window at 90 mph with high enough shutter speed and expecting sharp images?

Thank you for your ideas and camera suggestions.

Colin

-- Colin Barschel (colin@barschel.com), July 14, 2000

Answers

A Speed/Crown/Super Graphic might work for this  not a full view camera, so less movements, and a little more solid. BUT, Id worry about all that wind on the bellows (unless you were using a very short focal length lens). Maybe you could rig up some kind of wind block on the wind side of the bellows.

-- sheldon hambrick (sheldon_hambrick@hotmail.com), July 14, 2000.

I have done this with both 4x5 and 2x3 speed graphics. I have also tried it with a 2x3 Crown Graphics, but the shutter speed (nominally 1/250 but actually about 1/125) was not fast enough to eliminate blur. My 4x5 Speed came with an aluminum shield for this -- it is not necessary unless you slick the camera outside the window (which I find too awkward, especially since I am piloting the airplane at the same time -- I just open the side window and shoot thru it).

-- John Lehman (al7jj@yahoo.com), July 14, 2000.

Used a Speed Graphic all the time in the Navy leaning out the door of a helicopter. Every time a ship came out of the yard it had to have a complete photo "rig" done. I was also the photo lab camera repairman, and we used to set up a couple on infinity and add some extra screws to lock the rail down. We also made a simple back-of-the-lens-board bracket to hold a yellow filter gel. We used Grafmatic magazines instead of two-sheet holders. No darkslide to blow away.

-- Tony Brent (ajbrent@mich.com), July 14, 2000.

What about that HOBO rig. It's fixed focus and suposed to be built like a door? There was an earier post and they are always advertised in View Camera. Never tried one, it just occured to me. Dean

-- Dean Lastoria (dvlastor@sfu.ca), July 14, 2000.

Peter Gowland still makes metal aerial cameras (you can get his contact details at the Shutterbug.net site), and Granview cameras (http://www.granview.com/) are another possibility.

-- K H Tan (kahheng@pacific.net.sg), July 15, 2000.