Are there any MF cameras with lens movements?

Nuff · Apr 22, 2014

Are there any MF cameras with lens movements? I'm aware of Fuji GX680III, but it's out of the question because of the weight and cost.
Are there any older folders around that have this ability? I would prefer to use 120 film over 4x5... I don't feel like stocking up on another film format that I will not use too often.

Jon Shiu · Apr 22, 2014

There was a rollei slr with lens tilt movements, but it was not thought to be very reliable. Also, you can get lenses with movements called Hartblei Superrotator for different cameras.

Jon

Pioneer · Apr 22, 2014

There are various 120 roll film holders that will fit to a 4x5 large format back.

Poisson Du Jour · Apr 22, 2014

A folder with shift sounds adventurous. Shift alone is an insignificant feature to seek out unless there is a complimentary tilt (for introduced perspective distortion) either with or at the lens or at the camera body e.g. LF (at the back or front). A previous post mentioned the Hartblei lenses (in 35mm format with adaptors for MF) but that's not really a useful format for tilt and/or shift because of the very small movements necessary to introduce effect (I have used Canon's TS-E lenses for 25 years). The Pentax 67 system has a 75mm f4.5 shift lens but it is a weighty beast and does nothing to lighten the load on an already hefty camera.

EdSawyer · Apr 22, 2014

RZ67 has a tilt-shift system and a couple of lenses that go with it.

ntenny · Apr 22, 2014

There's at least one shift lens for the Mamiya 645, and I think for the Pentax 67. Pricey though.

Several companies make tilt-shift adapters, but I don't know how well they work.

And there are all those 6x9 view cameras, with or without a rollfilm back. That's probably the best way to get serious movements in MF sizes.

-NT

Dan Daniel · Apr 22, 2014

I picked up a Horseman VH, 6x9 field view camera. Works very well. Obviously you can't do much with lens movements without using a tripod, so you might as well do it right.

itsdoable · Apr 22, 2014

Linhof Technika 70.
Full lens motions with ground glass, rangefinder focusing with up to 3 lenses.

Horseman and Plaubel also made them.

The GX680 is much nicer to use though, reflex viewing is really nice when working with lens motions. And not much heavier.

Jon Shiu · Apr 22, 2014

I forgot Hasselblad also makes a flexbody.

Jon

Arcturus · Apr 22, 2014

I believe the Mamiya Super 23 has rear tilt/swing, I've never used one though.

illumiquest · Apr 22, 2014

Fuji GX680

illumiquest · Apr 22, 2014

(all the versions had movements and are ridiculously cheap compared to other options out there). Yes they're heavy but not much more so than an RZ with an adapter (which isn't very good)

Check out the earlier versions of the GX, either the I or II, last I saw they were going for a song.

Nuff · Apr 22, 2014

Thanks for the tips everyone. Yes, the nice thing about GX is the reflex viewing. The Horseman VH looks very interesting.
Hasselblad Flexbody or Arcbody would be awesome. I already have the backs and lenses, but it's more expensive than GX.

gone · Apr 23, 2014

There's the Arca, Toyo TV23G, and the more popular Galvin. You will pay dearly for those movements though.

http://www.largeformatphotography.info/cameras/toyo/toyo-galvin-2x3.html

Simon Howers · Apr 23, 2014

Plaubel 69W

Nuff said:
Are there any MF cameras with lens movements? I'm aware of Fuji GX680III, but it's out of the question because of the weight and cost.
Are there any older folders around that have this ability? I would prefer to use 120 film over 4x5... I don't feel like stocking up on another film format that I will not use too often.

Plaubel made a model called a 69W Proshift which has vertical and horizontal movements on the lens carrier. It's a 6x9 on 120 hand held camera. Mine has a wide angle lens fitted, a Schneider Super-Angulon 5.6/47. This is equivalent to 21mm on a 135 camera.

Cheers

Simon

Nuff · Apr 23, 2014

I have to say, both of the above options make hasselblad flexbody look like a bargain.

k.hendrik · Apr 23, 2014

Rolleiflex SL66(SE)

bdial · Apr 23, 2014

The "baby" Linhof Technica has movements at the back and front. And, for that matter, the baby Graflexes also have some front movement, though it's pretty limited.

Linhof also made a MF view camera along the lines of the Arca, and the others. But that would be another option that would make a Flexbody look cheap. Probably more like pocket change, assuming you could find one.

nosmok · Apr 23, 2014

The old Ensign Auto Range 120 folder from the late 20's/ early30's had both horizontal and vertical shift, the former with a neat lever action. Probably a carry-over from its plate camera roots.

--nosmok

tessar · Apr 23, 2014

Depends on what movements you need: A 2x3 Speed or Crown Graphic has generous front rise in landscape orientation, minimal front shift and backwards front tilt (for use with dropped bed and wide-angle lenses). On the later Pacemaker models with a Graflok (universal) back, roll-film holders are not hard to find. They come in 6x6. 6x7 and 6x9 formats.

TheFlyingCamera · Apr 23, 2014

Calumet also sold a 23 SF, which was a 4x5 view camera stuck in the dryer on high for a while. They didn't sell them for terribly long so I don't think there's a ton of them out there. But that doesn't really solve the light and compact question. I don't know if any medium format folders had movements, but that shouldn't stop the intrepid and mechanically competent from trying to add some to a folder. God knows Li**man (of Polaroid conversion "patenting" fame) was able to do it to some of his polaroid conversions, so it can't be that hard. The problem is that any medium format folder that would be cheap enough that you'd be willing to take a hacksaw to it probably doesn't have a lens that would support much in the way of movements.

John Earley · Apr 23, 2014

Bronica ETR series had a the Bronica/Schneider 55mm tilt shift lens and though they are not very common they can be found.[h=2][/h]

Peltigera · Apr 24, 2014

The up-market Zeiss Ikon folders from the 1920s and 1930s usually had shift facility. My 1930 Icarette does though I have never found it to be very useful.

Xmas · Apr 24, 2014

A speed/crown graphic or MPP clone is very compact and light in gbag even with a 6x9 roll back and 6xdouble dark slides. The snag is the tripod is heavy and difficult.

But for movements you probably need the tripod with any camera.

The graphic takes a while to unpack but probably not a problem, my RB67 is heavier and also slow to deploy.

You need a lens to cover the movements you plan on some of the faster lenses only do a little more than 4x5.

If you want medium and movement the Fuji GX680 has some but makes the 67 seem dinky @ 4.6kg...

David Allen · Apr 24, 2014

If you win the Lottery then you could buy a Silvestri camera.

I used to hire them in the 1990s for certain jobs and they were awesome but, even then, ssssssssoooooooooo expensive!

On a budget (and with time to spend searching) one option (well in Europe at least) is to hunt down a good Pentacon Six and match it with the 55mm Arsat shift lens.

Bests,

David
www.dsallen.de

Are there any MF cameras with lens movements?

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