12x20 Holders - Which One?

[Francesco]

Any experiences and thoughts on the following available-new brands: Lotus View (Austria), AWB, S&S and Wisner? Does Canham make one too?

 

[Jorge]

I have 3 from S&S and they have served me pretty well.

 

[Francesco]

Thanks Jorge.

 

[Richard Wasserman]

I have 8x20 holders from S&S and they are very nice, well made and they fit my camera perfectly. I have no experience with the other makes.

Richard

 

[Jay Packer]

I have 3 AWB holders for my 12x20 Canham, made of walnut so as to match the finish of the camera. The holders are very well made, and fit perfectly. I also have AWB cases for both the camera and filmholders. Alan Brubaker works deliberately, but his products exude craftsmanship.

-- Jay

 

[Francesco]

Has anyone used the AWB filmholders with Wisner 12x20?

 

[sanking]

Francesco,

What you need to know about 12X20 is that there never was, and there is not now, any standard. In the old days Korona and F&S holders were not interchangeable and most cameras were built and fitted to the holders as a one-off operation. There was some standardization by both Korona and F&S but in spite of that fact you will sill find a wide variance in size of critical dimensions between backs and holders, even those made by the same builder.


The same is pretty much true today. There is no standard. The dimension of S&S, Lotus and AWB are all slightly different. The difference is usually in the location of the rib-lock, since width is close to the same with the three types. In practice what is done today is that camera maker builds cameras of this size to fit a specific make holder. In most cases the only way you can use several different holders in the same back to is rout a different groove in the back for the rib-lock. This is a critical issue because it is the rib-lock that make the holder light tight with the back. In fact, I estimate that at last 50% of the problems experienced by new users of ULF equipment is light fogging from improper fit of the back and holder.


Sandy King

 

[David]

Just a note of experience with Lotus holders. They have made 6) 8x20 holders for me and they are all superb and then some. I've never seen the others but the quality of the Lotus holders lacks nothing.

 

[Francesco]

David, I own a Lotus 8x10 and it is wonderful. Very expensive now though, thanks to the weaker dollar. It is the easiest 8x10 holder to load that I have ever experienced.