Mostly hiking for sure.
The camera being metal, wood, plastic, or a mix will do nothing to protect the most delicate part of the camera -- the focusing screen. If you are that worried, consider getting one of those "GROUND GLASS PROTECTORS". I have no idea if them come in metal, wood, plastic, or a mix.
I really like that K.B. Canham DLC45.The Canham DLC45 is at the other extreme. It is a super capable, light weight metal field camera of unique dedesign.
I really like that K.B. Canham DLC45.
KEH has one Excellent+ condition with case for $1,679.58.....that's in my range.
I've owned two of them and it really is an amazing camera. If buying the first version used watch out for lock levers that have been over tightened. It was such a common issue that Keith Canham saw fit to address it with the second version, aka, DLC2. He used to repair this for free or at very nominal charge but that was long ago.
The only down side to the DLC, and the reason I twice didn't keep the DLC is that all of that capability comes with a price. It requires a lot of futzing around with it to get it all set up and zeroed out. I realized that I just did not need all of the movements that the DLC has and preferred to have something a little less capable, a little lighter and a little easier and quicker to set up.
That is one of the reasons that I am looking at this particular field camera, but have not heard anyone mention Toyo yet..............I'm not necessarily looking to purchase new.
Nothing wrong with a Toyo but, again, you're looking at limited bed extension, unless you add the extension back. I've never owned a Toyo and have never seen the extension back piece, but the thought of it seems fiddly to me.
Wista DXs are advertised to have 300mm (12 inches) of bellows draw. I use a top-hat lens board with my Nikkor M 300mm and can focus it to about 8 feet from the camera.Much good advice posted in this thread, but one consideration I don't remember seeing as I scanned through the replies is bellows extension. Of course, this only becomes an issue if one wants to use longer focal length lenses. The Wista 45DX, for example, has about 12.5" of bellows draw (Ian, please correct me if I'm wrong as I'm stating that from memory) which means you'll be limited to something in the 240mm range or 300mm focused on infinity only. There are wood field cameras that have longer bellows extension, if longer lenses is a focal range you'll ever consider....
I watched a View Camera Store demo on the DLC and it didn't seem to bad to me.....I'm sure it'll have to be something I need to get used to. I'll watch it again. So far I've seen a few review videos on 4x5 field cameras and they all, at least to me, seem to be engaged in about the same amount of futzing. But I've no experience with them yet, so.....
FYI, most of the "futzing" actually takes place AFTER you take the picture. If the "picture-taking" part appears challenging to you, it might be time for a reconsideration -- or a rental.
If you don't like to futz, maybe you should reconsider buying LF.
Yeah, well, I don't think you caught the context of the response I was giving to BradS in post 29.......
Mostly hiking for sure.
If you're only worried about the futzing Brad referred to, you're also in for a lot more futzing with everything else about LF photography. I started with it three years ago after MF and 35mm shooting. LF is a lot of extra work and setup. Lots of futzing. You'll find out. Good luck.
Still not right............it's BradS that was concerned about the "futzy" factor......not me, lol
Sorry. I guess I am losing it.
That's OK because all of us who use LF have OBVIOUSLY lost our marbles.
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