Evaluation: 
Conclusion: Awesome intro, thorough coverage of basic camera movements and good examples
Review: I used this to get me started using my first view camera. I've also read several others, including Ansel Adam's "The Camera" and Jack Dykinga's "Large Format Nature Photography." While the others are outstanding, they have different a focus than this one, which in my opinion, homes right in on the meat of what you'll need to get started.
Simmons, in this book, is much better at simplifying and going through the fundamental movements showing images to accompany each description of the movements. It also covers basics such as different types of cameras (monorail, field, view), lenses, lensboards, shutters, etc. The only problem I see is the types of film discussed is a little dated since the film market has changed since the publication of the book. Otherwise, it covers everything you need to get started and makes a decent reference after that.
It's also more straightforward than the other books mentioned. Ansel Adam's book on "The Camera" is more of an overview of 35mm, medium format, large format, and covers reasonable detail on each, but does not get as thorough on LF cameras, so frankly I found his description of rise/fall and tilt/shift rather confusing. Dykinga's book is also fantastic but focuses (as the title implies) on specifics for landscape photographers and thus skirts over the fundamentals a bit too much.
I give this book 5 stars for doing what it's intended to do, and does it very well. That said, if you're looking for something that goes well beyond the fundamentals, this one isn't for you.
Evaluation:
Conclusion: Excellent information about Large format photography!!
Review: I'm glad that I bought this book. The other large format book that I own isn't this informative, this book clearly explains everything. A great buy.
Evaluation: 
Conclusion: Mailed old worthless edition & can't find an avenue of redress
Review: God damn it. Amazon you have ways to drive a person insane. I'm trying to reach you to obtain a copy of the latest edition of "Using the View Camera" that you listed on the page that I ordered from. You sent me about a 1982 edition. The page I ordered from listed it as about 1993. I am demanding you exchange the the '82 for the '93 as listed. Stop ignoring me or give me some channel to which you will respond.
I've been shopping @ Amazon for 10 + yrs, & in general I've been quite happy. But boy when there is a problem you put up so many barriers as to be maddening. This is unacceptable. I have the distenct feeling that you deliberately raise these barriers to make it impossabile for wronged customers to receive justice. This is the 2nd time I have written about this, J. McGraw
Evaluation:
Conclusion: Comprehensive
Review: I found this very helpful being old to photography but new to large format. Illustrations are excellent as well.
Evaluation:
Conclusion: Goodle
Review: A very nice introduction to large format. Gives more then a few a-ha moments that I needed badly after reading The Camera. Good to have around while starting your LF journey :-)
|
