Using the View Camera User Reviews:
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Customer Rating:  
Summary: Using The View Camera - My Review
Comment: I finally took receipt of this book yesterday and have been reading through it ever since. I was really looking forward to this book as I am contemplating purchasing a view camera soon. I was hoping for a book with ALL the detailed techniques required to know, in order to effeciently and effectively use this type of camera. Unfortunately, despite this book being OK, it is not the book I thought it was going to be. I know the book is relatively old, but I didn't realise just how old 1993 is! The images are extremely dated, the cameras and lenses are too old and redundant, this book could really do with a complete revision. The techniques described in the book are extremely basic, and are limited to specific function only. The techniques of Tilt for instance is covered and described, but the additional information needed such as effects on the negative are not? I just so happen to know from speaking with a well known LF photographer, that tilt applied on the rear standard (the film plane) will underexpose that part of the image that is furthest from the lens. This is not detailed in the book and has left me feeling like I still cannot go ahead and purchase my camera as I am now aware of possible other techniques and information that could be missing in this book. With regards to the Zone System covered this I found adequate, although I would recommend a book such as Ansel Adams 'The Negative' for a much more detailed explanation. The book is also from the US, and I do not recognise any of the black and white filter factor numbers described, which is also confusing. I would probably not recommend this book for anyone wanting to move forward into LF photography, no matter whether you have ever owned a camera or not. I am pretty sure all this basic information can be obtained, for free, over the internet. Very disappointing.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Why I Couldn't be without this book.
Comment: An ageing Arca Swiss monorail was a impulse buy in the Bluewater Shopping Centre of all places. Addled by the pre-Christmas musack I took home something I had always aspired to but had no idea how to operate. Steve Simmons, 'Using The View Camera' was one of many books I tried to read for guidance. It rapidly became the only reference I use, and is dog-eared from being dragged from Northumbria to Switzerland. This book is written in a simple, non-assuming style which would encourage anyone with even basic 35mm camera skills to operate a view camera. The basic science of the process is explained, but the emphasis is always on the practical steps involved in the process. Different types of camera and lenses are well illustrated as well as the authors recommendations for generic types of lens. The 'mystery' of camera movements is beautifully demonstrated by a photograph of the camera with each movement as well as the pictorial effect achieved. There are superbly useful tables of reciprocity corrections (before I bought this book, I had no idea what a reciprocity correction was, let alone whether one was needed) for different film brands and step by step guides to developing sheet film yourself. The zone system is explained simply and examples of how this relates to a particular photograph are well illustrated. There is a final creative section of inspirational photographs of different film types, techniques and processing styles. Each photograph is accompanied by a detailed 'how it was done' account. This is by far and away the best practical guide to using a large format camera and I hope that the author will be encouraged to produce further 'revised editions'
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