Using the View Camera (Paperback)

by Steve Simmons (Author) "In this age of small, electronic, 35mm cameras and fast films, why is the ancient view camera undergoing a revival in popularity?..." (more)
Key Phrases: recessed lensboard, presoak tank, monorail camera, Zone System, Scheimpflug Rule, Kodak Vericolor (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
A guide to the basic procedures of large-format photography which also focuses on the creative potential of the medium. This is illustrated in a gallery of pictures taken by 15 view-camera artists. This revised edition includes up-to-date information on films and technology.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Amphoto Books; 1st edition (October 1, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0817463534
• ISBN-13: 978-0817463533
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #57,129 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Book!, May 6, 2004

By	Gregory A. Gilbert (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is an excellent book which meets its purpose well: providing all the important information you need to dive into the greatest format there is in photography: the view camera.

It's important to note that this book is not titled "How To Be An Artist" - this isn't at all the point of the book. Too many people are interested in being 'creative' before they have a clue technically as to what they're doing, which wrecks a lot of photography that could be excellent. I teach large format photography, and the skills taught in this book are absolutly essential to the technical aspects of the large format camera as a necessary step BEFORE the creative aspect.

This book explores the endless possibilities in shooting with a view camera; possibilities that are nearly never available to those shooting smaller formats. Everything is covered in the book from shooting to processing to printing, in an easy-to-read fashion, with excellent photos and diagrams along the way to help guide the reader.

I would recommend this book to all those just becoming interested in the view camera, as well as those who have quite a bit of experience.

55 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent introduction to large format photography, November 29, 1999

By	Georges Pelpel (Lafayette, CA) - See all my reviews

This book is very well organized. Beginners in the large format world will find all the needed info to select and start using their equipment. Intermediate and advanced shooters will appreciate the detailed technical data next to each photo in the showcase section.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent into to Large Fomat, February 7, 2002

By	D. Gould "djeeg" (East Coast, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As beginer to large format, I was looking for a book that would give me the basics of view cameras and their use. I already have a good foundation of photographic and exposure techniques. I found this book to be just right. No time is wasted discussing basic photography (although a nice intro to the Zone system is included, very basic), and very non-technical introduction to view cameras is presented. There is just enough math and science in this book to make you realize how much you may want to learn. After reading this book just once, I feel I can go out and use a view camera to take a picture.