Arca Swiss - $5,000

[Rod Klukas]

Sorry, forgot this as well, the Universalis 4x5 is only 4.5 lbs.

 

[Craig75]

I had one of the last few SFs made. I ended up selling it not long after purchasing as it wasn’t the camera for me, but it was very robust. I imagine the XLs are basically indestructible.

what didnt you like about it Michael? Ive used precisely 3 large format cameras so all i have to go on is a walker, a technar, and a silvestri and only one of those was a field camera

 

[Craig75]

There wasn't really anything wrong with the camera. It just wasn't right for me. I wanted something more precise and easier to "zero" upon setup.

what did you end up going for? (because pointless camera browsing during the dying embers of UK lockdown)

 

[Craig75]

The saga for me was totally unnecessary, and I more or less ended up back where I started except not as good. Lessons learnt the hard way. The short of it is, I stupidly sold my Sinar A1 (my first LF camera, used it for a long time, worked fine and was well suited to my photography) and then went through a very frustrating search for something which simply does not exist. Eventually stopped and got a Linhof Kardan RE, which was available at a reasonably good price directly from HP at the time, and later a Chamonix to supplement. I still wish I had either not sold the Sinar, or had been able to replace it with a P2.

There is no perfect LF camera out there (for me at least). If I had the money, the closest thing currently in production would probably be a Linhof TK45s. At the time they were about half the price they are now, but I couldn't bring myself to spend that much without being able to hold it in my hands and try it first. Similar story with the Arca. I was afraid I'd still end up being disappointed, and with a lighter wallet.

Urgh thankfully ive never been down that rabbithole. Im sure i will end up there sooner or later though because shiny things.

Geared linhof and geared arca swiss do look the overlords though. I only ever really use front rise tho so a 5x4 widish angle in helical mount with a bit of geared rise in it would be my ideal. I looked at silvestri s4 but people seem to say they are too big and heavy so i backed off like a coward.

 

[Bob S]

More of a rat hole than rabbit hole. But don’t be discouraged by my bitter ramblings on this topic. I am a stickler and am rarely satisfied with anything.

I eventually had to grit my teeth and just focus on the photography. Whenever I get too annoyed with my LF camera I remind myself George Tice has been using the same crap Deardorff since the late 1960s.

Tice has also been using a LInhof TK for several years.