Brooks-Veriwide

jmccl@yahoo.com · Dec 10, 2015

Somebody please talk me out of getting a Brooks-Veriwide with 47mm f/8 super angulon. It has a Graflock back, so I can use the GG focus screen and roll holders from my Mini Speed Graphic. The idea of a really wide angle lens on 6X9 negative intrigues me. What's the down side?

Dan Fromm · Dec 10, 2015

Down side? Only one. It is a fixed lens camera.

A Century or 2x3 Crown Graphic is a heavier more flexible alternative. FWIW, I have 35/4.5 Apo Grandagon, 38/4.5 Biogon (covers 84 mm, not even enough for 6x7), 47/5.6 SA, a variety of lenses in the 58 - 65 mm range and longer lenses for my Century. I focus all of them on the ground glass. But my Century is larger and heavier than a Veriwide. And the Veriwide is prettier, at least in my eye.

Sirius Glass · Dec 10, 2015

Oh dear, where should I start? How about here, with a swing lens and not distortion.

Dead Link Removed

darinwc · Dec 10, 2015

If you are planning on paying more than 500 for it. Forget it. A 2x3 century graphic or graflexs will accommodate a47.. Lens. And you can find a47mm f5.6 for less than that.

Sirius Glass · Dec 10, 2015

But will it cover 140 degrees? No, but the WideLux 120 will.

Dan Fromm · Dec 11, 2015

Sirius Glass said:
Oh dear, where should I start? How about here, with a swing lens and not distortion.

Dead Link Removed

Super Angulons are rectilinear.

xya · Dec 11, 2015

another possibiliy would be the cambo wide. 47mm 5.6 lens, other lenses available. GG and any 4x5 attachment possible. I like mine.

ic-racer · Dec 11, 2015

jmccl@yahoo.com said:
Somebody please talk me out of getting a Brooks-Veriwide with 47mm f/8 super angulon. It has a Graflock back, so I can use the GG focus screen and roll holders from my Mini Speed Graphic. The idea of a really wide angle lens on 6X9 negative intrigues me. What's the down side?

THIS:
http://138.23.124.165/exhibitions/suburbia/#

Oh wait, you wrote "talk me OUT of.." Sorry, can't do that.

Sirius Glass · Dec 11, 2015

jmccl@yahoo.com said:
Somebody please talk me out of getting a Brooks-Veriwide with 47mm f/8 super angulon. It has a Graflock back, so I can use the GG focus screen and roll holders from my Mini Speed Graphic. The idea of a really wide angle lens on 6X9 negative intrigues me. What's the down side?

Hey, this is APUG. Our job is to enable your addictions and increase the force of GAS.

You want it. You need it. You deserve it. Now go get it!

There is no down side. It is your job to stimulate the economy and keep film cameras in action. Now stop wasting time and click the BIN!

EdSawyer · Dec 11, 2015

I would look at the earlier veriwide, the 6 x 10 version. It's far more elegant, compact, and better designed than the later model. That said Cambo wide is an even better choice.

xya · Dec 14, 2015

EdSawyer said:
I would look at the earlier veriwide, the 6 x 10 version. It's far more elegant, compact, and better designed than the later model. That said Cambo wide is an even better choice.

+1

I have both, the cambo and the early veriwide. the plaubel veriwide 6x10 is beautiful, compact and elegant indeed. it's a better choice if you want to walk around, kind of "street photography". the viewer is excellent. it handles like little 35mm camera from the fifties and it's hardly bigger.

I have had a 6x12 viewer made for my cambo, no parallax correction, just a guess. but it helps a lot, no ground glass necessary in most situations. but it's there, the ground glass, just in case of. the best thing with my cambo is that I can swap the film back for a polaroid back. since 4x5 polaroid (fuji) is no longer made, I live with fp-100, only 9.5 cm wide, but better than nothing.

frank · Dec 14, 2015

Sirius Glass said:
Hey, this is APUG. Our job is to enable your addictions and increase the force of GAS.

You want it. You need it. You deserve it. Now go get it!

There is no down side. It is your job to stimulate the economy and keep film cameras in action. Now stop wasting time and click the BIN!

What he said.

You want to be talked OUT of it? Discus it with your significant other.

Sirius Glass · Dec 14, 2015

jmccl@yahoo.com · Feb 11, 2016

Well, I dallied too long and the sub $500 Veriwide with Graflock back got snagged by somebody else. I have looked at the Veriwide 100 and it is indeed a lovely looking instrument. The idea of having a unique 6X10 format is appealing also. As I continued researching 47mm in a MF body, I learned about a Plaubel 69W Proshift. It uses the more contemporary 5.6 lens plus it has tilt and shift. The film carrier is essentially from a Mamiya 23 press and I have read that it has excellent film flatness characteristics. Of course, the Veriwide 100 or the Plaubel are closer to $1,500. I suppose that a Crown or Pacemaker fitted with a 47mm lens and a "23" Graphic roll film back might come out a bit less expensive, but could these 75 year old bones want to carry that weight around. Makes me think that the real Superman was Jimmy Olson. So, I'll take it on face value that the Veriwide 100 is a good choice. What about the Plaubel? Does the tilt/shift really work? Can you really see the effect of the movement looking through the viewfinder? (there is not focusing screen) Any other input on the Plaubel will be greatly appreciated. By the way, my intended use for the wide angle medium format is in places like Arches Park, Monument Valley. Thanks for all the input thus far.

aoresteen · Feb 11, 2016

Go wider. get a 617

Nokton48 · Feb 12, 2016

I own a lot of Plaubels; A Makina III, three Makiflexes, and two Peco Profia 4x5's.
Even a Plaubel Camera Stand in my studio. I would love to find an original Brooks
Veriwide, but I am always put off by the cost or condition. Eventually I will find one.
This camera makes great sense to me.

Dante Stella did nice writeup on it here:

http://www.dantestella.com/technical/veriwide.html

Brooks-Veriwide

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