I dropped of my first 4x5 sheet film (kodak E100) today from my new CG and was exceptionally pleased to see the results of my first four shots a few hours later. Each of the shots I took were with all the adjustments zeroed. Though I did play around a bit with each control, in the end I just wanted to know if I could at least get decent shots in the normal settings. However, now that I know I can focus on a dime from 10 miles off, what kind of subjects can I use to fully utilize the CG in its view camera potential? I know it is not a true view camera, but I did buy this to test the waters of LF and view cameras. Any suggestions to try as practice? Along the same vein, if I did try to take a photo of a skyscraper, would it appear focused on my GG if I adjusted my controls properly? (I know this may be beyond a CG). In other words, how do I become a better CG photographer; how do I learn to do things with my CG that I can't do with 35mm or MF? I have a 135mm lens. Oh, and I'm going to buy a Polaroid 405 back in the next couple of days for focus and exposure testing - I figure I'll use this for my/your practice subject suggestions as well (overall cost is so much lower).

-Phillip

About the only movement on a Crown that I use is rise. For building photography, this allows you to reduce the foreground (usually asphalt or grass) and include either the top of the building, more of the building (sky scraper) or more sky, while still keeping the film plane parallel to the building.

Side shift is minimal and could only be used for the most subtle of effects, and the backwards tilt it's really a movement as much as it is a way to get the front standard straight when you tilt the bed.

I'll let someone else try to desicribe the scheimpflug principal.

Thank-you, Les. I've read quite a bit on the Scheimpflug principle, but what I needed, and still do, is examples like yours; using rise to remove the foreground. The principle explanations are fine, but where it can be useful with the CG is a set of experience I wish to gain other than by trial and error at $5 per pop. If there are other examples of people using their CG for purposes other than as a 35mm on steroids, I'd love to know about them.

-phillip