My point is that view cameras, of whatever type and brand, are basically a bellows with a front and a rear for attaching stuff. Not complicated at all. That's one reason you can find some nice used ones for under $100. They are nothing like an SLR or rangefinder camera. It's the stuff you attach to it that gets costlier, and you need to consider that. And then you have to figure out how you are going to handle the film once it's exposed. If you want to take lots of pictures, and I assume you do, you have to figure out how that is going to be handled -- and that's expensive too -- not matter how you handle it. Are you ready to spend $5-25 for each picture you take?
I'm all in favor of your tackling large format. I'm just trying to inform you about what lies ahead. Or do you generally climb mountains without asking about the condition of the trail?
I had a Brand 17 for a short while until I upgraded to a Graphic View II. I think the "17" in brand stood for melted down B-17????I have both a press camera and view camera. I usually take both, the Crown for hiking and the view when shooting off the road but close to the SUV. My view is very light but not compact, it is a Brand 17 View, made in L.A after WWII from melted down aluminum from surplus aircraft. It has good movements and a rotating back, I don't think one replaces the other.
View attachment 414971
Chamonix makes some very nice light field cameras too.
That’s exactly why I came to this forum in the first place
I had a Brand 17 for a short while until I upgraded to a Graphic View II. I think the "17" in brand stood for melted down B-17????
Yes, I was just making fun of the old B17 scrap yard thing. Mine was certainly built will, but a little bulky. With a normal monorail 4X5 it could be broken down to just a rail and the standards and bellows if needed. The dual rails on the brand made it sturdy, but less compact.It is a very odd camera, the 17 was for 17 inches the length of the bellows, there are extension for the rails that allow for use of long lens. It has pretty good movements. Considering that it is now 76 years old, it has held up.
When out shooting I keep mine in large cooler in the back of my SUV, the handle helps lug it around.Yes, I was just making fun of the old B17 scrap yard thing. Mine was certainly built will, but a little bulky. With a normal monorail 4X5 it could be broken down to just a rail and the standards and bellows if needed. The dual rails on the brand made it sturdy, but less compact.
I guess we have the somewhat classic split in this thread;
camp A=Start simple with a somewhat inexpensive press camera then upgrade as needed.
Camp B= Start with the fullest featured camera you can afford and grow into it.
Camp C= Do you research first so you'll know what features you need, so you can avoid needing to upgrade or paying for features you'll never need.
I agree also! A 4x5 Crown Graphic camera is cheap, quite portable and even hand-holdable. Remember Weegee and other press photogs used it everyday as their workhorse! Among other things, there are limited front movements for architecture and you can use a roll film back too.Hey there! -- New to this forum so Hello to everyone!
I apologize in advance if this is a tired question, but i'm looking to delve into the 4x5 system: Mostly to be used for environmental portraiture and the occasional landscape.
I need something that isn't insanely expensive (I know this is relative), but very reliable --Think Nikon F3, Canon F1.
I had my eye on a Cambo SC as it looks fairly straight forward and can be found a decent prices.
Would love to know what everyone has to say or advise. Thank you!
The OP wrote environmental portraiture and landscape, but I expect there is a still a lot of variability in how people might approach those forms of photography. Did reccomendations gravitate to the Graphics because "portraiture" means handheld, which the Graphics excel at?
I don't take any kind of portraits so maybe I misunderstand that genre but I'd still be using a tripod and maybe even movements, depending on the "environmental" part of the photo. Honestly, I have no interest shooting 4x5 handheld. Medium format cameras, lenses, and film are so good, and the handling of MF cameras is far better handheld than any 4x5 will ever be. So--environmental portraits--I'd still be using a ground glass to compose and focus if using a 4x5, so the Graphics don't provide any meaningful benefit to how I would approach that type of photography.
Just buy one that has the features you need and then use the living daylights out of it. Try your very best to wear it out or break it. Along the way you will learn how to use it. As you learn how to use it you will figure out if you need something different.
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