What film speed for old 4x5 camera.

[Grandpa Ron]

Winter is coming so it is time to play with my winter toys. I like to snowshoe and I thought it would be fun to try my 4x5 antique film camera. It has been stored for decades but still works.

I am keeping it simple and cheap.

4x5 black and white film.
Tripod mounted.
Home processing.
Most likely snow and winter colors of course.
Contact printing.
​

So the first of many questions is what ISO black and white film to start with.

 

[webestang64]

Black-n-white......Kodak T-Max or Ilford Delta 100.

Color.....Kodak Ektar 100.

 

[480sparky]

Contact printing with 4x5, grain is not really an issue. So any ISO will work.

 

[Gary A.]

Grab the film that best reflects the type of image you're after. Do want extreme DOF - go higher ASA ... shallow DOF - lower ASA. Higher ASA tends to have greater contrast, et cetera.

 

[480sparky]

........ Do want extreme DOF - go higher ASA ... shallow DOF - lower ASA. .....

Or just use the camera's movements.

 

[Chris Robert Tucker]

I find the two extra stops 400 ISO gives me come in handy when accounting for bellows factor, reciprocity failure, etc. I Use Ilford HP5 (5x7) and the contact prints are practically indistinguishable from those made with FP4 (125 ISO), smooth as butter.

 

[IanG]

I use Delta 100 when using a tripod, and HP5 for hand held work, even with 16x12 prints it's impossible to tell the difference.

For hand held work I used a Super Graphic, or less frequently a Crown Graphic.

Ian