4x5 field - wood vs. metal

[BradS]

Mostly hiking for sure.

Then I'd suggest a light weight wood field.

The Toyo 45CF presents a nice compromise however. Made of super tough carbon fiber, it shares some design characteristics (it is self casing!) with the heavy metal Toyo field cameras but has the very nice light weight that is characteristic of wood field.

The Canham DLC45 is at the other extreme. It is a super capable, light weight metal field camera of unique design.

 

[abruzzi]

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.

this was my big fear when I first started with LF. It still raises a few hairs on the back of my head. My TK45 has the standard linhof hood and GG protecotr built in. My Rittreck 5x7 also has a built in protector, but my 8x10 and 6x9, as well as all my other 4x5 and 5x7 cameras don't have any protection on the glass. (I have wanted to find a Graphic hood for my Sinar Norma.) That has eased my fears of breaking the GG, and made me more careful on how I pck the cameras when outside. I don't feel they're necessities anymore, but I'd still prefer to have one over not having one.

 

[Chuck_P]

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.

 

[BradS]

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 used, watch out for lock levers on the first version 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.

 

[Chuck_P]

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.

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.....

 

[Alan9940]

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.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/135448-REG/Toyo_View_180_223_45AX_Metal_Field_Camera.html/specs

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.

 

[lecarp]

Nothing fiddly about it, attaches just like the back, fast and easy.

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.

 

[Doremus Scudder]

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....

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.

@OP,
Do get a ground-glass protector. I have on on every camera I own. For the wood field cameras, it's just a doubled piece of plastic or plex with enough space between the two surfaces to slide into the filmholder slot and then loop around and cover the ground glass. Nice to have in the field.

One feature of the Wista DX that hasn't been mentioned: it will fold up with a small lens mounted on the camera. When I hike, either a 135mm Plasmat or my 203mm Ektar lives folded up in the camera. Saves space in the pack.

Best,

Doremus

 

[grat]

Not that I'm particularly trying to pimp the Chamonix (although I do have one, and I think it's a great camera), there's one other advantage-- If I break something on my 45N-1 (classic), Hugo can get me up and running again. Spare parts and accessories are available.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

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.....

If you don't like to futz, maybe you should reconsider buying LF.

 

[xkaes]

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.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

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.

Not really. With LF, you have to load film into the film holders in a darkroom or change box before you leave the house to go shoot. With 35mm or 120 roll film, you simply drop in in in the light.

 

[xkaes]

You're missing my point. I spend ten times more time "dealing with" a picture after I take the picture than before taking it. At least for me, taking the picture is the easiest part.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy both "sides" of the picture -- before and after the shutter is pressed. Otherwise I wouldn't be doing it -- but most of the work is afterwards. At least for me -- and every LF photographer I've known.

 

[Chuck_P]

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.......

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

Yeah, well, I don't think you caught the context of the response I was giving to BradS in post 29.......

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.

 

[xkaes]

No wonder so many people think we are crazy. We are all "FUTZOPHILES".

Maybe we should spell it "PHUTZOPHILE".

 

[Bob S]

Or get a 45 metal monorail field camera like theLinhof TK or TKS

 

[Two23]

Mostly hiking for sure.

The Chamonix is perfect for that. I've hiked with my 045n in many places east to west. They were built for that. I added a light but sturdy Feisol carbon fiber tripod that's a perfect match.


Kent in SD

 

[Chuck_P]

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

 

[nosmok]

For 4x5 I have both wood and metal cameras, with a soft spot for the "American Linhof", the metal Meridian 45B. Just a marvelously thought out machine.

 

[Vaughn]

If I take 30 minutes or more to expose a sheet of film, I am not futzy around, I am creating, exploring possibilities, learning, or something along those lines.

I did manage to get myself messed up a few times this summer. I went on a few backpack trips with the old Gowland PocketView (light-weight metal rail 4x5, 1100 grams w/ lens). Since I've not taken it out much in the past couple decades (usually take the wood 5x7), and being a very simple rail camera with a non-rotating back and no indents for zeroing movements, I did stupid things like forget to check for swing when turning the camera on its side to do a horizontal. To save weight I took a too-short tripod -- what a hassle. But by the third backpack trip I finally got everything sorted out.

Both the 4x5 and my 5x7 are easy to carry for most of the day on the tripod, with film holders and meter in a shoulder bag. I put the darkcloth over the camera and then a stuff sack (for rain protection and also from branches, etc). Nothing except the tripod legs and one's own legs need to touch the ground and the camera is ready to use if fleeting light is encountered.

Both cameras are light enough and both are a design type that carries well on a pod. My cameras and lenses are not of the highest quality (that is, very costly), so as a photo-friend of mine looked at it...there is risk walking in the landscape with the camera on the pod, but it is worth the risk if one comes across a 'money shot' that requires a very speedy set up. His idea of a money shot was one that will sell for more money than it would cost to repair/replace the camera.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

Still not right............it's BradS that was concerned about the "futzy" factor......not me, lol

Sorry. I guess I am losing it.

 

[xkaes]

That's OK because all of us who use LF have OBVIOUSLY lost our marbles.

 

[Chuck_P]

Sorry. I guess I am losing it.

No problem, just keeping the record straight......

 

[Jay Schrotenboer]

That's OK because all of us who use LF have OBVIOUSLY lost our marbles.

I never had any marbles to lose!