What is a Large format camera ?
That’s grand-dad’s bellows box-like camera, where you had to disappear under a dark cloth. The principle remains the same, however nowadays they have evolved into precise and sophisticated instruments.
With a few notable exceptions, these cameras share the following characteristics:
1. Large image size: 4×5 inches (10x12cm), the most popular format by far, up to 20×24 inches (the Polaroid camera, which can be rented on-site for a reasonable fee). The film comes in separate sheets rather than rolls, but see below.
2. Flexible bellows connecting the front and back: they allow the use of a range of focal lengths (with different lenses. there are no zooms in such formats) and focussing distances, as well as providing for lateral adjustments and angular adjustments between film plane and lens plane.
3. Ground glass viewing: makes it possible to assess the image with great accuracy once you get used to the dimness and inversion.
4. Interchangeable lenses: you are not limited to a particular mount.
