While the digital revolution in photography is nearly complete - film point and shoots and even 35mm SLRs have all but faded into obscurity - there is still a healthy place for film left in the realm of large format cameras. And of course the most popular of the large format cameras is the 4x5 view camera.

4x5 cameras are still very sought after pieces of equipment for many photographers from serious amateur to professional, and for some very good reasons. The capability of the camera to produce rich extremely highly detailed images is not the least of these. Hands down, there is absolutely no digital camera - less than the price of a new car (and even then it's questionable) - that is capable of producing images of the quality that can be attained from a 4x5 negative and a sharp lens. Just as a higher megapixel CCD chip in a digital camera can collect more information than a smaller one so too can a larger piece of film.

Another reason that many photographers prefer working with a 4x5 view camera is the fact that they have more control over how the photograph looks in the end. This is achieved by the built in ability of the part of the camera containg the lens and the part containing the film to be moved independently of each other. This is called "movements" and different cameras can do this to greater or lesser degrees. An experienced photographer can use the movements to manipulate the way the image falls on the film plane to correct for visual distortions or even introduce or exaggerate distrotions to produce a desired effect.

Perhaps the greatest thing about a 4x5 camera is the way that it forces the photographer to think when using it. The additional time needed to frame and focus a shot is seen by many as a negative and would be in a lot of scenarios. You would never use a 4x5 camera for action sports photography for instance. However, it's the fact that the camera demands time and thought from the photographer that leads to a growth and increase in skill from the user. Being forced into this mode of concentration makes the 4x5 a great teacher for photographers. You may find yourself studying the ground glass a bit longer than you would normally find yourself looking at the same scene though your SLR viewfinder - with the knowledge that taking a second shot involves more than pushing down the button in another fraction of a second. I found that this methodical approach then transfers back to smaller cameras and has improved and enriched my photograph making skills over all formats and camera types.