The Snapshot (Part Deux)

Yesterday I wrote about the snapshot camera and how zone focus is set up to allow a 4x5 experience without using the ground glass to focus. Today I would like to discuss the user experience of using a 4x5 compact style camera.

Firstly why am I so enthused about this style of 4x5 camera.  Own up time, my eyesight is dreadful to the point where I struggle with focusing lenses. I wear varifocals and really can't get the hang of manual focusing. Autofocus on DSLR works a treat but on my Nikon F75 35mm SLR I use a manual focus lens and use the focus markings on the lens to get decently focused photos. In fact I generally use hyperfocal distance which gives me from 1.5 meters to infinity in acceptable focus.

Moving up to medium format I use the same principle, although my Holga is zone focus and pinhole cameras are always focused.  My Chroma Camera 679 is zone focused and works a treat and gets nice sharp pictures. The picture shown below was taken on my Chroma Camera 679 using hyperfocal distance.

Using the Snapshot in this way works well for me although I sacrifice the things that most large format photographers would deem essential in front and rear movements. The sacrifice is worth it because I get mobility, lightweight and the ability to shoot on the hoof as it were. I still benefit from large 4x5 negatives.

Do I need 4x5 negatives? Well not really but they are a thing of beauty and by doing a contact print onto another negative you can get a rather beautiful positive (slide) image that looks beautiful hung in a window.

There is another side to being able to zone focus and 4x5 cameras and that is it is possible to buy a 120 rollfilm back.  I have a 6x9 Wista Rollfilm back for my Snapshot and I love having the ability to throw a roll of film in the back and take 8 pictures.  More importantly I can reload in the field without changing bags and hassle. If I take 4x5 film out I can take 6 shots (3 double darkslide holders). But then I'm done.

I could buy more film holders but per image rollfilm is more economical to use. HP5 Plus in 4x5 is 2.00 GBP per sheet (photo). Rollfilm is 68p per photo and 6x9 is not really that much smaller than 4x5.

So the Snapshot really is a multiformat camera that is mobile, light and allows a different photographic experience.

Of course I've not mentioned instant photography, yet...