Jon Warwick
Member
Former 5x4 user here, wanting to get back into using a camera with (a) movements, mainly front rise, and (b) with film.
An obvious choice is simply to go back into LF film, but the Alpa STC and dedicated Alpa roll film back attracts me hugely due to its smaller size for travelling, use of 120 rather than sheet film, & modular platform if I do want to use digital later on.
I print huge (60"x50" lambda prints) using films like Acros or even Adox 20. Clearly 5x4 is better than 120, but I've also been pleased with look for such a huge print off my Mamiya 7 via a 500mb+ drum scan. Hence why I'm also toying with an STC and film back.
The issue, and hence my question, is lenses. To get movements on the STC, I would need LF analogue lenses (given their large image circles) like the Super Angulon 58xl or 80mm Super Symmar XL (some data courtesy of Alpa website is here ...https://www.alpa.ch/_files/80SS_MTF.pdf)
It could be that nobody knows, but I'm trying to gauge how these LF lenses perform on 120 film for massive drum-scanned enlargement? Presumably with 120 film I'd be mainly using the "middle sweet spot" of these LF lenses middle, but is resolution likely a step down from the much lauded Mamiya 7 lenses when printing at a huge 60"x50" size?
Any insight much appreciated.
An obvious choice is simply to go back into LF film, but the Alpa STC and dedicated Alpa roll film back attracts me hugely due to its smaller size for travelling, use of 120 rather than sheet film, & modular platform if I do want to use digital later on.
I print huge (60"x50" lambda prints) using films like Acros or even Adox 20. Clearly 5x4 is better than 120, but I've also been pleased with look for such a huge print off my Mamiya 7 via a 500mb+ drum scan. Hence why I'm also toying with an STC and film back.
The issue, and hence my question, is lenses. To get movements on the STC, I would need LF analogue lenses (given their large image circles) like the Super Angulon 58xl or 80mm Super Symmar XL (some data courtesy of Alpa website is here ...https://www.alpa.ch/_files/80SS_MTF.pdf)
It could be that nobody knows, but I'm trying to gauge how these LF lenses perform on 120 film for massive drum-scanned enlargement? Presumably with 120 film I'd be mainly using the "middle sweet spot" of these LF lenses middle, but is resolution likely a step down from the much lauded Mamiya 7 lenses when printing at a huge 60"x50" size?
Any insight much appreciated.