4x5 field camera vs monorail

Tim Boehm · Jun 5, 2013

I'd suggest a folding view camera, not a monorail. I've used a Sinar 8x10 in the field and it's really not practical. It's wonderful once setup but geepers..... I currently have a Sinar 4x5 f2 which is a little more manageable shooting from a car, but I'll probably sell it.

DannL · Jun 5, 2013

mikebarger said:
My experience is just the opposite. I also started with a Sinar F, sold it and bought a nice Zone VI (both 4x5) I give the advantage to the Zone VI for being compact (easy to get in the back pack with other gear), but every other comparison I'd give to the Sinar.

Is the difference enough to make me go back to the Sinar, no....but now having hindsight I would have stayed with the Sinar because there isn't enough of an advantage with the folder to have gone through the trouble of selling all the Sinar pieces and buying a folder....and the Zone VI was more expensive to boot. I use a back pack, with extra pouches attached, and don't mind the weight.

Everyone shoots differently, so YMMV.

Mike

Ahh, good points, but you sold your Sinar? I kept mine for the sake of close-up photography. I added two extension rails, a third standard, and a second bellows. As I gave up all smaller formats recently, the Sinar is all I'll have for this type of photography. For those who can, I'd recommend having both a monorail and a field camera. It's very doable with the prices of second-hand gear these days.

mikebarger · Jun 5, 2013

Yes, I did sell the Sinar. My investment in gear is really tied up in MF and I only use the 4x5 for landscape type stuff so one body really works out pretty well.

Mike

EdSawyer · Jun 5, 2013

Take a look at the Canham DLC. It's a metal monorail field camera, essentially. Many advantages of both.

Agreed with recommendations on Graphics, too - those are a good choice in many ways. A 150 plasmat will fold up inside of one no problem. a 150 Xenotar will even fold up inside a pacemaker speed too, with recessed lens board.

-Ed

Alan Gales · Jun 5, 2013

I own a Crown Graphic with Leitz Tiltall tripod for outdoor portraits. I added a 210mm lens to the 135mm that it came with but you could substitute a 150mm if that's what you prefer. Google Frank Petronio. He's a portrait photographer in New York and he has used a Crown for a lot of his images. I like Frank and his photography.

The Super Graphic is nice too. It has a revolving back which I like (the Crown uses a second tripod socket for mounting in portrait orientation). The only downside is that the Supers cost a little more and are a little heavier.

I have a truth to tell you. Most large format photographers don't keep their first camera or if they do they still find that they want something else. You have to try it out and find what works for you. Fortunately, if you buy right you can resell later if you need to and get most or all of your money back.

Personally, I own an 8x10 Wehman folding field camera, 4x5 Sinar P monorail, Tachihara 4x5 wooden field camera and a Crown Graphic. Each camera has it's advantages and disadvantages. Most of my lenses are mounted on Technika style boards so I can switch them between the Wehman, Sinar and Tachihara.

msbarnes · Jun 5, 2013

I have a quick question...

Are lens boards and film holders universal and/or easy to find? I don't want to decide on a 50 + year old camera and then realize that one or both of these things are not really available.

I'm mostly leaning towards a folder and just one normal lens.

If it is case by case
4x5: super graphic, wista vx, horseman FA
5x7: kodak 2d, P&J/Ansco, deardorff v5

Tom1956 · Jun 5, 2013

I've never bought a lens board. Always made my own. Film holders can be found. Some are leaky. Might have to work on them.

mgb74 · Jun 5, 2013

Some monorails come with a short rail and on some you can cut the rail to be shorter. Makes it more portable -IF you KNOW that you don't need the rail length for macro work.

ac12 · Jun 5, 2013

Having taken a Toyo 4x5 monorail into the field...I will NOT do it again.
At least not w/o a cart or wagon to carry it and the associated gear on. I was worn out well before the day was out, resulting in shooting less photos that I wanted to shoot. The monorail will stay in the home studio or near the car, no more hauling it around by foot. If I can't use a cart or wagon, I will take my 6x6 instead. A camera that I will use is better than a camera that I'm too worn out to use.

As for the rail itself. Unlike the extendable Sinar rail (very nice), the Toyo rail is a single piece. So I bought a spare rail and cut it shorter, so it would be easier to handle in the field. Unless I put a 300+mm lens on the camera I think I will just leave the shorter rail on, as it is a lot easier to use.

For some cameras you need to buy the lens board. I cannot see how I would DIY a lens board for my Toyo. Do your research on the camera you are looking at to determine the availability of parts.

Doc W · Jun 5, 2013

msbarnes said:
I have a quick question...

Are lens boards and film holders universal and/or easy to find? I don't want to decide on a 50 + year old camera and then realize that one or both of these things are not really available.

I'm mostly leaning towards a folder and just one normal lens.

If it is case by case
4x5: super graphic, wista vx, horseman FA
5x7: kodak 2d, P&J/Ansco, deardorff v5

I think all of those boards except the Super Graphic are very easy to find or make. Super Graphic boards are a little more difficult but certainly not impossible. It is easy to find inexpensive modern film holders for 4x5, and a little harder to find the same for 5x7. I don't think anyone is making 5x7 holders now so the most recent issue are getting a little more expensive. I just bought a bunch and that was my experience. It is easy to find older, wooden holders for both formats but I have never used wooden holders.

Tom1956 · Jun 6, 2013

Personally I don't think 5x7 is viable any more. There was a thread on here a few months ago where somebody was trying to get a group of people together to pool resources to bribe the film company into firing up the equipment for a run of 5x7. Not a comforting thought.

Doc W · Jun 6, 2013

Tom, right now, B&H has the following 5x7 films:
- Ilford FP4
- Ilford HP5
- Ilford Delta 100
- Kodak Portra 160
- Kodak Tri-X
- Kodak T-Max 100
- Foma 400
- Foma 100

Even if Kodak disappears completely, I can't see Ilford dropping 5x7 film. Nonetheless, I get your point. It is definitely not a rapidly expanding market. I personally would not get a 5x7 camera but I use my 5x7 back on my 8x10.

Mick Fagan · Jun 6, 2013

I have a Shen Hao 4x5 wooden folder; it is reasonably small, light and has more movements than a belly dancer on steroids.

http://www.badgergraphic.com/store/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=120

Permanently attached I have a Fujinon W f/6.3 150, which is a very nice lens, small enough to be packed (reversed) with the camera folded. Mostly these are between $180 - $250 USD. I have it mounted on a home made lens board made out of 3 ply timber and lacquered, cost, zilch.

Apart from a tripod you only need a film holder and youre in business. A light meter is handy, as is a cable release but not essential.

Mick.

250swb · Jun 6, 2013

Shen Hao should certainly be on a list. The TZ45-II is the simpler and lighter one but still with plenty of movements. They are a joy to use and have a modern look and feel compared to older field camera's. Forty years ago I started landscape photography with a Sinar Norma monorail and would never ever go back to that type of camera. A field camera is much lighter, quick and easy to set up, packs up much smaller, and generally has as many movements as you are ever likely to need. I think however that given the price of film a light meter and a cable release are just as essential as a lens and darkslides. And for darkslides Ebay is a good source. Look for clean darkslides that haven't been bashed about, Fidelity Elite are good and easy to find, but Toyo I think are just that bit better.

Lens boards are easy to buy on Ebay, the Chinese do very cheap but well made boards, and the Shen Hao takes the standard Linhof, Wista, (etc) size board so you have those to choose from as well. Given this is new to you and you will be on a learning curve I'd suggest a box of 50 sheets of Foma 100 (despite its weird reciprocity curve) which generally works out less than half the price of FP4. It is still nice film.

Steve

Alan Gales · Jun 6, 2013

The Technika style boards used by Shen Hao and my Tachihara are available new at Badger Graphics and I'm sure other places. They are probably from China but well made and very reasonable in price.

DREW WILEY · Jun 6, 2013

Yeah... Chinese lensboard are indeed relatively cheap, but sometimes they don't even fit. You take your chances. I've had better luck with the
Bromwell generic boards.

DREW WILEY · Jun 6, 2013

... per this monorail stuff, I'm over sixty and recently bought a Norma and installed a 24 inch rail on it so I have something lightweight for when
I'm over 70, so I guess it's all relative. Being accustomed to lugging around an 8x10, just about anything 4x5 seems light.

pbromaghin · Jun 6, 2013

Well, here's how Ansel did it...

http://www.corbisimages.com/stock-p...burro-photographers-equipment-c-1925-by-ansel

Alan Gales · Jun 6, 2013

DREW WILEY said:
Yeah... Chinese lensboard are indeed relatively cheap, but sometimes they don't even fit. You take your chances. I've had better luck with the
Bromwell generic boards.

The ones from Badger Graphics fit my Tachi fine and I heard they were also a great fit for the Shen Hao.

I wouldn't use them on a Linhof Technika though.

DREW WILEY · Jun 6, 2013

They sure as heck don't fit either my Ebony or my properly-machined Sinar to Linhof adapter board.

Alan Gales · Jun 6, 2013

DREW WILEY said:
They sure as heck don't fit either my Ebony or my properly-machined Sinar to Linhof adapter board.

That's because you buy the good stuff!

4x5 field camera vs monorail

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