OK.
This group has been very quiet for some time now so I thought I'd chuck out a gloater.
The Ritter 8x10 arrived 3 weeks ago! Still getting used to it - a very different beast to the Ebony sv45ti.
Frank

You lucky, lucky.......person. I've sort of been lusting after one of these for a while now. What's it like to use, and how much lighter is it than the Ebony?
Mike

It's all swings and roundabouts Mike!

The Ritter is light for an 8x10 (about 2.9kgs) but the ebony (being 4x5) is more compact, slightly lighter (2.1kgs) and much better finished.
However, the Ritter's party trick is in its configurable carbon fibre base. It's made up of 3 pairs of tubes - the outer pair support the rear frame, the inner-most pair support the front standard and the middle pair provide the link between the inner & outer tubes and additional extension. Changing to a W/A bellows, turning the middle rail section about face and reversing the front standard allows a short focus lens (150mm in my case) to be focused to infinity without any of the hardware digging into the bellows. You can't do that on an Ebony!

Now, I'm wondering if I can get a 90mm to do the same.

Sadly, though, I've had to return the rear frame. The plumb level wasn't level and I managed to strip the 2 bushes that hold it upright. I don't expect it back until late Jan, at the earliest!!!.
In short, this camera is like the woman your parents disapproved of - far from perfect, but a joy to be with when you understand her.

Frank...

Sounds like the one I'm with now.
2.9kgs is not very much for an 8x10. Mine weighs over 6kgs. The Ritter does sound like fun though.
I bought a Nikkor 120mm for my Tachihara, but haven't developed any of the shots that I've taken with it yet. and I have to buy some more Efke 25 from B&H coz Freestyle haven't got any at the moment. I'm also looking at buying a bag to carry my 8x10 and tripod on the motorbike, although I might have to get a smaller tripod than the Manfrotto 075 that I've got. Once I've got all this stuff, maybe we could meet up for shoot (depending on how far apart we live).
cheers
Mike

Interesting.
I use a Manfrotto 75B tripod with a #160 head - total weight 6.5Kgs. Carried it over my shoulder a few times in the past, but it would probably break bones if I did that now!
The pod and a Gorilla stepladder combine to bring a different perspective on the subject, but this is now dependant on having 4 wheels. Not sure about carrying a pod that size on a motorbike!
Frank

Christmas cheer!
The rear frame returned last Friday - just in time for our white christmas in Melbourne!
A much stronger bushing installation than the original and the plumb level is just that.

I've been out & about the Arthurs Creek area getting used to setting it up, configuring it for w/a use, putting the first 10 sheets through it and carrying it around. I've whittled the load down to 3 bags - A new Kata bag seemingly built for this 8x10 camera (from Michaels of all places!!), an old laptop bag for the 6 film holders and a small digital-camera bag to hold the four lenses. These and the Manfrotto and a small set of steps allow me stray about 100m from the car, on a good day!


Happy New Year to you all
Frank..

Christmas cheer!
The rear frame returned last Friday - just in time for our white christmas in Melbourne!
A much stronger bushing installation than the original and the plumb level is just that.

I've been out & about the Arthurs Creek area getting used to setting it up, configuring it for w/a use, putting the first 10 sheets through it and carrying it around. I've whittled the load down to 3 bags - A new Kata bag seemingly built for this 8x10 camera (from Michaels of all places!!), an old laptop bag for the 6 film holders and a small digital-camera bag to hold the four lenses. These and the Manfrotto and a small set of steps allow me stray about 100m from the car, on a good day!

Happy New Year to you all
Frank..