What is a "large format" camera?

Question: What is a "large format" camera!?
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

Large format generally uses sheet film in sizes of 4x5 (inches) or larger!. Older cameras were made to hold glass plates with sensitized emulsion on one surface; these were largely used during the American Civil War!. Currently, digital scanning backs can be fitted to create enormous image files!.

The most popular variety of large format camera is the view camera, which incorporates a front standard (fitted with lens and lensboard) and a rear standard which holds a film carrier!. The two ends are joined by a bellows-shaped compendium!. Many also have the added benefit of being able to change the orientation of the film and/or lens plane so that images' perspective distortion can be increased or decreased and the plane of focus tilted, rotated, or shifted away from being parallel to the film plane (as in standard smaller-format cameras)!.

I have used large format cameras for the majority of my 20 years of being a professional working in the advertising and fashion markets!. Due to the vast size difference between a 20-square-inch sheet of film and a 1!.5-square inch frame of 35mm film, the image quality of large format is far superior for rendering detail and for making very large prints!. The down side is the expense of the equipment (which seems unchallenged by the Digital Revolution) and the price and availability of film and processing!. Still worth every penny in my opinion!.

For more information about them, you can visit:
http://photo!.net/equipment/large-format/

I hope this helps!
DarinWww@QuestionHome@Com

I say it's 5x7 or bigger!.Www@QuestionHome@Com