Using the View Camera: A creative guide to large format photography by Steve Simmons Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Using the View Camera: A creative guide to large format photography
Book Review: A little bit of a lot of things in a small book
Summary: 4 Stars
This short book contains more than enough information for the large format novice to get started. From pictures showing effects of all the movements, to instructions on film handling and processing, to basic background on the Zone system, and finally many example photos, there's a lot of substance here. I needed a couple of re-readings to "get" some of the sections. The pages on the Zone system are the best introduction I've seen in print. The "expose for the shadows" mantra of the Zone system finally made sense after this explanation. There aren't many books about LF cameras, but this is the one to get.Book Review: Awesome intro, thorough coverage of basic camera movements and good examples
Summary: 5 Stars
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.
Book Review: Basic training book
Summary: 4 Stars
In my opinion this book gives you a basic training of view camera. In particular it explains very well all view camera movements, but I would have preferred if there had been more details in those explanations, with more examples and other. Another point that I would have preferred different was the sequence of the chapters. In firsts chapters where is explained camera structure, accessory and other, there are too many reference at camera movements, that you haven't known yet, because chapter of movements is after.
Anyway, this book, is well written and easy comprehensible, but in my opinion in some parts is too condensed; so my rate is 4 stars.
Book Review: Comprehensive
Summary: 5 Stars
I found this very helpful being old to photography but new to large format. Illustrations are excellent as well.Book Review: Delicious book.
Summary: 4 Stars
I love this book.
This book is useful to understand movements of view camera support by very good pictures explained.
I'm thinkink that it's a must for anybody interessed by view camera techniques.