Repairing & Shooting With A Classic 4x5 Film Camera

[@dennismenace4188]

The portrait in the small office is beautiful.

[@MrSimonj1970]

Fantastic portraits, it's really nice to see a KZbinr who is making top class work like this, and not just banal trendy crap. Doing it on such an uncooperative camera is even more impressive, bravo!

[@theangrymarmot8336]

Hopefully Peter sees your videos and gets to have a small "celebrity" moment with all the supportive comments. Super nice guy to be so cooperative with your photography. Of course, great shots and video!

[@KyleMcDougall]

I hope so too. I gave him the link to it!

[@cammackey]

Man that portrait was incredible. Felt so immersive.

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thank you, man 🙏

[@mattbates6500]

The portrait in his office is absolutely exquisite

[@willdegraw]

Peter has been immortalized. Absolutely incredible.

[@toeshie100]

Wonderful photos. Nice owner and nice building. I once handheld-ed my Speed-graphic and did street photographing at a port festival in San Diego. It was exhausting to have about 10 film holders in a bag and the camera in my hand on a summer day, but it was a fun experience. Many people walked up to me and asked about the camera. Husband and wife came to me and talked about their honeymoon they traveled many years ago and said, "we took the same camera with us to take photos in Europe! It takes us back to memory!"

[@admrobbins88]

I watch all these and never comment, but the portrait at 12:40 is really something.

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thank you!

[@grantmacallister]

Those portraits are really stunning! I personally loved the 2nd one for the contrast, the soft window light and the great edge light really help sepeprate him from the space nicely. Great video!

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thank you. The light in that space is great.

[@lensman5762]

Very nice photography. This is what a photography channel should be all about. A photographer, his basic equipment and lots of skill, talent and knowledge. Thank you

[@KyleMcDougall]

🙏

[@alessandropi5769]

The office portrait is just... WOW!

[@trondsi]

Love my Crown Graphic. I have had a couple of great experiences using slide film and spending a weekend just for hiking/photographing (after buying slide film sheets and E6 developer kit). Each day I went out hiking, exposed four sheets, came back and developed. The amazing thing was seeing a physical image of your photos appearing the same day; a bit like Polaroid, but much higher quality. Sadly I don't always have time for this, since it's just a hobby, but I will definitely do this again.

[@LarryManiccia]

The richness, depth, and tonality of those portrait shots is incredible Kyle. Well done! That garage and gentleman are such a blast from the past. Great video.

[@stevearcher50]

I could see you taking these portraits of old craftsman seriously as a project. The subject here reminded me of the old guy who runs Ernest Wright scissors up in Sheffield. Apparently, he’s the last one who knows the art.

[@KyleMcDougall]

It's definitely interesting to me.

[@SummersSnaps]

Lovely to see the BTS with Peter and the final shots. Super.

[@mike747436]

Lovely portraits. The office portrait is better as it reveals much more of Peter’s personality.

[@alyssamicha6060]

I bought my first 4x5 camera in 2023 (Crown Graphic Special). I spent a year getting to know it, getting better at the process, feeling comfortable with it. I am JUST beginning to move into portrait work with it. I have such anxiety about asking people to stand there while I mess around with the focus, checking the light several time, focusing again, loading the film, checking the settings again. Its such a slow process, but gosh are the resulting images fantastic. Great work on the repairs, and the photos!

[@Invincibleagent]

I really love the second portrait, the lighting is great. I prefer it to the first one by far!

[@scottchenoweth4937]

Peter's portraits are stellar.

[@mikemcnelly2780]

I recently dusted off my 1948 Speed Graphic and have been shooting at car shows with a LomoGraflok back and people absolutely love it. That setup gets as much attention as the cars! Using the Instax film with that lens (same as yours) renders images as sharp as they can be with instant film and amazing color rendition. I haven’t picked up my Nikon Z7II in weeks!

[@alyro-ls1dv]

I love the second portrait better by the composition is more my taste. Thanks for the great impressions. Thanks for being so kind to say that you kind of pushed yourself using the camera. I don't have a large format but a 6x9 technika which wants to see the world I assume and I shall push myself to take some pictures not just sometime but better sooner than later. It is just a little harder to overcome the easyness of modern cameras and dive into this process of using a camera with all these options, but I know it will be fun. Thanks and best Albrecht

[@atlantis5574]

My favorite is definitely the office portrait. The lighting + depth looks incredible!

[@davidgunalan7225]

Lovely images. I can’t wait for the next video when you visit him to pass the b&w prints you took 😊

[@hramakrishnaiah413]

Love the portraits of peter here.

[@jasongold6751]

First I hate LF! I did it! Linhof Color!! I simply realized the work, the details, on a system that was not me! I like your work. The Portaits of that garage man, super! But the size of your gear, made that man very proud! I'm now too old and always, knowing my Leica M3, 50mm or 35mm is sufficient.Bravo!

[@kriswould]

You could see how good the office portrait was going to be from the video, the light was insane.

[@hoggif]

That is a nice gesture to bring a photo of a shoot. People may want to see them and like them. A lovely portait. I'd be sure to at least mail a copy for anyone willing to pose in photos. The old office is such a lovely shot, with the office user included.

[@samue1991]

My first 4x5 camera was a speed graphic from a thrift store. The old lens was pretty bad, and I had to rip the focal plane shutter out because it was stuck, but I took some amazing pictures on it while I was using it. Especially after I got a more modern Nikkor lens. 4x5 really is indescribably

[@renemies78]

The portraits of Peter are so damn good! I regret not getting this camera from Ebay a few weeks ago. It was a good price but I was too slow to purchase it. I can't wait to own one though. Really inspiring video.

[@EisaALSHAMSI]

We really enjoyed your work, especially your interaction with the workshop owner. I personally appreciated the last portrait of the owner; it captured his spirit. Thank you, Kyle.

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thank you 🙏

[@ricomichel]

14:20 that's the shot!! Very good! 🙂 (I like the expression better but both are very good)

[@warren4261]

The portrait you shot is truly amazing

[@Jonas_Bernotaitis]

Oh man, such an inspiration watching you work. Thanks for the video, Kyle!

[@KyleMcDougall]

My pleasure!

[@ckhicks]

Love everything about this. The pacing, the process, and great images to boot! Keep it up.

[@tomwoodstock1740]

Those portraits of Peter are beautiful man

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thank you, Tom.

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thank you, Tom.

[@robdixon5016]

Great video. Love the office portrait!

[@EarlofGray]

What a wonderful film Kyle, best thing I’ve watched for a long time. I must say that I too preferred your second portrait of Peter in his office.

[@ShawnPBruce]

I keep looking at these with the intention of using the Lomograflok back. Such a neat camera.

[@lightytan5404]

Thank you for a great content with beautiful delivery and special thanks to Peter, what a lad and natural model!

[@tudorevans9306]

Lovely shoot. Peter was so Welsh chatty, open and charming.

[@KyleMcDougall]

He's a beauty!

[@linusfotograf]

Your environmental portraits are superb Kyle

[@sebastianfichtner1876]

Boy would I love to see these portraits printed!

[@CristianGeelen]

Always love to see you at work, Kyle. :) Peter looks like an amazing man. :)

[@Jake-g9l7i]

This is all so impressive Kyle . I have one of these cameras and now I'm old I would not dare to use it for portraiture like this. Too much to go wrong and my hands shake now. But Who Dares Wins as they say, you dared and you won . You must make a video of when you go back and give Peter another print or one of each of these pictures. Top quality and such a nice guy with so much character in his face. Suggestion, tour around Wales or the UK taking pictures like these and when you have enough great pictures try selling the idea of a book to a publisher. I'm sure it would sell well. You can just see the effort required in the final product. Very best wishes, Jake Everyman.

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thank you, Jake! Glad you enjoyed this one. I have something in the works for a book about my UK work. It'll come together at some point. Cheers!

[@Jake-g9l7i]

I'll look forward to seeing it . Best wishes for every success, you deserve it. Jake Everyman.

[@joedonohoe22]

That office portrait is stunning 👏

[@Larpy1933]

Peter in his office: the living person jumps right off my screen. Wonderful. Then you showed the negative and how thin it is. It seems to me that you are a wizard with scanning technology. I’m a moderately-accomplished darkroom printer and I’m not sure I could produce a paper print from that negative that would hold a candle to the scanning result you showed on-screen. And: I’m old and see no path forward towards learning really good scanning practices. Kudos to you!!! Currently heavily overcast in Victoria, BC.

[@KyleMcDougall]

The negative was definitely thin. It's amazing what you can do with a scan though, even though I would have preferred some density in those areas on the negative.

[@doriangasseling]

Those portraits were beautiful Kyle. As someone who also started out with a Graphic, a speed in my case, this was a neat little trip down memory lane. I still have mine, as the focal plane shutter allows me to run some wild barrel lenses - I've been meaning to do a video on all the mad lenses I've got for it. Maybe I'll waste some time and film putting that together. I've seen people modify these to get front swing, its not a major modification. Hope you're well brother!

[@KyleMcDougall]

Cheers, man! And yeah, the Speed has always intrigued me for that reason. Love how it opens unique options for lenses.

[@tomislavmiletic_]

I bow to your dedication for large format photography. I've tried it once, in photography school, and I immediately knew that's not for me - the process is too slow. Medium format up to 6x9 is more than enough for me...

[@chrisbone7149]

Such a pleasure to watch you working with this camera. The results are great!

[@digitalportraitist]

Love the portraits, I actually prefer the closeup more, but they are both really well done. You can tell by his gesture and expression his is very comfortable with you and trusts you. It really comes thru his eyes. well done!

[@samul85]

Amazing portrait photos! ✌

[@carbonejack]

I like your favorite image as well. Beautiful tones.

[@mandopacheco7097]

DUDE! those portraits are just FIRE!!

[@nick_a_pagan]

that portrait was amazing.

[@NateG459]

Love all your Britain road trip videos, so excited for rhe British Mile photobook

[@metalmike6313]

Peter is such a good sport, and I enjoy both of the portraits you made of him.

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thank you. And yes, he's a great guy.

[@SathyaPeacock]

Fantastic portraits man, and that crown graphic is a beaut!

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thanks, man!

[@jprichard]

Terrific photos!

[@andretim75]

Both portraits are stunning -- the one you like more is great for showing his workshop and him in the centre -- the other one in the office speaks a lot to me and others here , since it just has this contrast and pop and that comes together in a great way with Peter`s expression here ! Amazing work -- incredibly good video as always ! I admire it a lot !!!

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thank you!

[@FranklinGervacio]

I own a crown graphic special that I'm too scared to shoot with and this really inspired me. Thanks Kyle!

[@TheMungo54]

Wonderful images.

[@ricardoromanach]

Kyle fixing a large format camera and experimenting with it? You’ve got my attention!

[@KyleMcDougall]

🙌

[@stephenross6640]

Bringing the past back to life! Love the images Kyle thanks for another great video. Thanks to Peter as well what a unique and super nice guy sharing his time with you.

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thanks, Stephen!

[@dmay1100]

hey Kyle; wonderful video inspiring once again. I will say I am surprised just how Sharpe this old lens is. I think with out doubt this might be the deciding factors with my return to film. It will have to be 4x5 with out question it makes me excided to go back to the roots of my photographic adventures. I always say to the new photographers start with one camera and only one lens, learn from there with out all the confusions. Good to see you back I hope the rest was awesome, thanks again for the inspiration's and the videos, they make my day!

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thank you! And yes, the beauty of LF is that even these old affordable lenses are quite impressive!

[@flyingo]

Nice. I’ve been repairing little things on my various old 4x5 gear - Graflex Crowns & Speeds, Burke & James and Busch Pressman models - in anticipation of getting film run through them again after a few years of them just chilling in their cases.. waiting for me to finally get them working again. I really like your portrait shots and will definitely be pushing a few Ilford stocks to 1600 as I just love the look. Thanks for sharing!

[@MatthiasHaltenhof]

Love the last portrait, I think the light is outstanding :)

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thank you 🙏

[@lognott]

I love this video. I want to get into large format but have not found one that fits my budget yet. Love watching your videos!

[@sbills]

Love the portrait photos. I kind of want to get one of those Crown Graphics now🤣

[@KyleMcDougall]

If you keep an eye out for them, they often pop up for quite cheap.

[@TomNorthenscold]

Oof! That second portrait is killer.

[@elijahbrune]

That last portrait is breathtaking, Kyle! What an incredible opportunity.

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thank you!

[@RichardPerez-mm2ow]

What amazing pictures, you absolutely nailed on the Portraits, Great job! You are a real inspiration.

[@KyleMcDougall]

Very kind. Thank you.

[@seeingmonochrome]

While I enjoy all of the photos, as others have said, I prefer the last portait much more, I just find it a much more interesting image, excellent photography and video!

[@stefanbadass5357]

So nice,I wish I had the time, space and money to get back into 4x5. Keep up the great work.

[@alexnoble3411]

Loved the first time you stopped at the spot. Was great to see you revisit it

[@TheKetchupPacket]

Dude, you need to do more portrait work. These are stellar.

[@KyleMcDougall]

I do enjoy it.

[@Bertzcommodities]

I shoot with a speed graphic and a crown graphic as well !! I’m currently restoring/building a 5x7 Eastman view camera no. 2-D Love my speed graphic

[@KyleMcDougall]

So many interesting and great old options to explore.

[@chriscorey5164]

Beautiful shots. I’d love to find a Graflex camera in good shape to begin my LF journey. This is very inspiring!

[@AlejandroVisuals]

Those portraits are beautiful, really nice job

[@Pembers357]

Lovely portraits, Kyle. And really enjoyable content. Thank you.

[@irvb9881]

Beautiful images Kyle, the light in those portraits!

[@brianbeattyphotography]

love the portraits! well done on the restoration

[@kg5491]

More fantastic content from Kyle for all of us - inobtrusive creativity, quality of the work, gear envy (that part has cost me quite a bit of coin:-) . Thank you! You have one of the best analog photography channels on this platform. Keep up the great work.

[@KyleMcDougall]

I appreciate that. Thank you!

[@yetanotherbassdude]

How is it you always manage to time your videos so perfectly?! I literally took delivery of a very similar vintage camera to the Crown Graphic, an MPP Micro Technical Camera Mk VII, a few days ago and it's been sitting on my dining table in bits since I dismantled it yesterday for cleaning. Mine came with a Schneider 135mm Symmar lens and a *lot* of small issues that need fixing, but I already love it and I can't wait to start shooting with it, even more so now I've had this video to inspire me! Can't wait to see what else you can do with yours too!

[@KyleMcDougall]

I've always been interested in the MPP models. Very similar to the Crown, but of course with a British background. Enjoy!

[@JohnnyMcMillan]

Lovely portrait Kyle!

[@discotechwreck]

Brilliant photos as always 👏🏽

[@Dan_photo]

Excellent work once again! Great to see you enjoying yourself and the process.

[@StepsAndStoness]

Absolutely insane shots!

[@tim_meyer]

so good to have you back Kyle!

[@KyleMcDougall]

🙌

[@MrBusby]

Outstanding work. I’ll have to get the Speed Graphic dusted off.

[@homvyoon]

What a lovely gear to have! just added to my wish list :))

[@robertkerner4833]

Images are fantastic. I had a Crown many years ago, it was a bit of a trash heap. Sold it and regret it. Now looking for one with a working range finder so I can use it as a press camera hand held as they were originally used. Hard to find one with all the working parts. Congrats on overhauling yours.

[@c.augustin]

Nostalgia? I don't know. I got into 4x5 very reluctantly (with an Intrepid), being unsure if I would stick to it. After two or so years I bought a Chamonix F2, and I love shooting it - rise/fall, shift, swing and to a lesser extent tilt are incredible tools, and I wouldn't use a 4x5 without all of this (at least for the front standard). Even though I could get better technical results (perceived sharpness and resolution) with a modern 60 MP FF mirrorless, the slow and meticulous process necessary with a 4x5 leads to photos that are different. I think this is part of the "magic" of LF photography. And your portraits are just gorgeous!

[@kapurar]

Thanks for a great video and wonderful photos.

[@RichardTran0]

beautiful work Kyle

[@digitalportraitist]

Kyle, every video keeps getting better and better thank you so much for all the quality content!

[@KyleMcDougall]

Glad you've enjoyed them. 🙏

[@FachyMarin]

Incredible work in every possible aspect. Not a single thing about this lacks quality at all!

[@mattbray_studio]

the images are great man. love both portraits in particular

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thank you, Matt. 🙏

[@ribsy]

Excellent portraits

[@KyleMcDougall]

🙌🙏

[@dan.allen.digital]

I live in Rochester not far from the plant where they likely made that camera. As such this video was so much fun to watch. Thanks for highlighting this camera and how capable it is. You should plan a trip to Rochester and visit the Kodak factory and George Eastman Museum.

[@KyleMcDougall]

Would love to visit there one day!

[@pushingfilm]

Wow man, great work! And nice way to turn up everyone's large format GAS 😁

[@KyleMcDougall]

Haha, thanks man!