Compact and lightweight 5x7 camera.

haziz · Nov 16, 2005

I actually have a Canham 5x7/4x5 wood field camera which would actually score fairly highly in the lightweight category but which I find not particularly compact and slightly inconvenient. It's range of movements and bellows extension is however superb.

So I am looking possibly for a compact (1st priority), and lightweight 5x7. One that should ideally fit in a traditional 4x5 camera bag (e.g. the old Zone VI 4x5 white bags). I will be using it mostly for landscapes and therefore range of movements is less critical.

Any suggestions for an easy way to carry 5x7 holders since they also don't fit easily into such a small bag. If you are going to suggest coolers etc. please include full details of brand, model and possibly even store since I have had difficulty trying to track some of these items down.

Thanks.

Sincerely,

Hany.

Loose Gravel · Nov 16, 2005

I would think that a Canham would be about the best. For their weight, Canhams are very solid with good bellows draw and movements. There may be lighter cameras, but you would sacrafice bellows draw or rigidity. Film holders are just a pain. Maybe there are Graflock (sp?) backs with 6 shots. What you're trying to do would be much easier with 4x5.

I prefer 5x7 and use a Deardorff and standard holders. I carry the camera on the tripod on my shoulder and carry the rest in a backpack. This is pretty comfortable if the trip is only a mile or so. As the distances get longer, the cameras get smaller.

sanking · Nov 16, 2005

Try to find a used Nagaoka or Ikeda 5X7 camera. These were made in the 80s. Someone mentioned recently that this camera is still are made in Japan but not imported to the US. Remarkably light and compact. A 5X7 weighs less than 3.5 lbs and folds in a package that measures 9"X 8" X 2 1/4". Bellows draw is enough for a 300mm lens but not 450mm.

Sandy

haziz said:
I actually have a Canham 5x7/4x5 wood field camera which would actually score fairly highly in the lightweight category but which I find not particularly compact and slightly inconvenient. It's range of movements and bellows extension is however superb.

So I am looking possibly for a compact (1st priority), and lightweight 5x7. One that should ideally fit in a traditional 4x5 camera bag (e.g. the old Zone VI 4x5 white bags). I will be using it mostly for landscapes and therefore range of movements is less critical.

Any suggestions for an easy way to carry 5x7 holders since they also don't fit easily into such a small bag. If you are going to suggest coolers etc. please include full details of brand, model and possibly even store since I have had difficulty trying to track some of these items down.

Thanks.

Sincerely,

Hany.

karl · Nov 16, 2005

I had similar issues with my Canham and sold it. I just couldn't get along with it quite as well as the Deardorff I had been using. Then I realized that for the size and weight there really wasn't a better and more flexible option than the Canham. So, I bought another one. Which, sadly was not in as nice of shape as the first one I had. I have really grown to like it, so much so that I picked up an 8x10 Canham as well.

When I want to use something smaller I take a Technika IV that I have, but its just as heavy. I generally just put 5 (10 4x5) holders in the with camera in a Lowepro Trekker.

karl

Kevin Roach · Nov 16, 2005

here's what I use as a light knock-around camera.

http://cgi.ebay.com/5x7-Kodak-Premo...ryZ15247QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I think this #9 may be a 4x5 but I'm not sure. I have a 4x5 #9 premo. There are also conleys, and other types. They all fold up into a box. There is no tilt unless you can use the drop bed for tilt. Usually rise and shift is available.

You would need to work on them to make it work. The bellows is probably shot. Tightening screws, cleaning, and lubricating would be needed. And you would probably have to check the spacing between the film plane and the ground glass. It might need to be shimmed to bring it in line with modern film holders.

They are fun old cameras to use once you clean it up and put on a modern lens. kind of like a crown graphic without the rangefinder.

TheFlyingCamera · Nov 16, 2005

Are you talking about the white Zone VI cooler-bag from Calumet? I have one of those bags, and I could get three lenses, a dozen film holders, my Polaroid 545, my meter, a box of Polaroid film, and an Agfa/Ansco tailboard 5x7/4x5 (the battleship gray beast) all in that bag. It was frightfully heavy to lug around, so that prompted me to get the Shen Hao I now have and love. Thinking of which, Shen Hao does make a 5x7, with titanium bits too if memory serves correctly. You'll have to call Midwest and Badger to see if they can order one in for you, and what the price would be.

Ole · Nov 16, 2005

Compact and light, yet rugged enough for backpacking?

Gandolfi Traditional (yet again. If they had a marketing budget they should have given it to me...) !

sanking · Nov 16, 2005

I can't speak for the other compact lightweights mentioned but my 5X7 Nagaoka has backpacked all over the mountains of Georgia, and North and South Carolina, and in Spain, France, Chile and Mexico. It is still in one piece and looks almost as pretty as the day I bought it in 1981.

Perfect camera? No, but damn close to perfect when the major criteria is compact and lightweight. And a fair amount of movements as well. It will be the last view camera I sell when one day film disappears and we all have to prepare ourselves and our equipment for another space and time.

Sandy

Ole said:
Compact and light, yet rugged enough for backpacking?

Gandolfi Traditional (yet again. If they had a marketing budget they should have given it to me...) !

k_jupiter · Nov 16, 2005

sanking said:
I can't speak for the other compact lightweights mentioned but my 5X7 Nagaoka has backpacked all over the mountains of Georgia, and North and South Carolina, and in Spain, France, Chile and Mexico. It is still in one piece and looks almost as pretty as the day I bought it in 1981.

Perfect camera? No, but damn close to perfect when the major criteria is compact and lightweight. And a fair amount of movements as well. It will be the last view camera I sell when one day film disappears and we all have to prepare ourselves and our equipment for another space and time.

Sandy

Speaking of which, my 5x7 B&J Watson fits into a shoulderbag (rucksack type thing), weighs no more than my 4x5 Speed Graphic and is as pretty as the day I bought it. Meaning of course, butt ugly. It was cheep too and has most major movements. The lens and film boards are interchangable with my Grover. Maybe not for you, but a viable option for the cheep ones of us.

tim in san jose

glennfromwy · Nov 16, 2005

Those old Premo cameras are indeed pretty cool. I have a "B" model, ca 1896. It's 4X5 and only weighs 36 ounces with lens. Personally, I don't think it's old B&L Rapid Rectilinear lens is anything to sneeze at, too. They are indeed available in 5X7 and I seen quite a few on the auction thingy lately. For 5X7, I have a Speed Graphic. Now that thing is impressive.

JG Motamedi · Nov 16, 2005

I understand fully. I have and use (and love) a wooden 5x7 Canham, it is light weight, but takes up quite a bit of space in my bag. I am not a hiker so this is not of real importance to me, however I can see how size does matter...

jonw · Nov 17, 2005

As an alternative, I truly enjoy my 4x5 Tachihara with a 5x7 extension back. Yes, it is not perfect, but it does provide me with greater flexibility. The entire setup fits fine in my Lowepro. If I truly need a camera with greater bellows length, I have an old 5x7 Korona with a 4x5 reducing back. The Korona does not have the movements one finds with the Tachihara, but it sure beats digital!

ChuckP · Nov 17, 2005

I've got the 5x7 Ikeda. Similar to the Nagaoka. You're not going to get much smaller or lighter. Maybe Gowland has something. I use a second gen Zone VI bag that I strap to a backpack frame. Downside is camera has a short bellows so not great if you're into long lenses. I use an extension board for my 355 lens and have no problems. Minimum focus is about 110mm with the front straight. You can use a 90mm by playing with the front standard and tilting backwards. The camera isn't the most rigid but seems to get the job done. I have a 4x5 back and use it often. I'd say my old Wista 4x5 was better built. If you get one of these cameras do not sell your Canham first. You may not like it. Also they (5x7) seem very hard to find used and are expensive. I have two Zone VI bags. I use the larger newer type for the 5x7. Holds camera, 6 holders and a few lenses. I like these white bags because it's very easy to see bugs on them after you've had them on the ground while shooting.

Frank Petronio · Nov 17, 2005

I'm wondering if a 5x7 Arca - the older model - with the small rail section - would be a simple yet light outfit? Especially if you hunt down a lensboard adapter so you can use smaller technika lensboards. I have the 8x10 and it is light yet sturdy.

Oren Grad · Nov 18, 2005

The 5x7 Nagaoka or Ikeda is the champion. Very compact, 3.75 lb light, and because of the way the detents are designed I can open and close it in seconds on autopilot. Direct front rise is a bit limited, but as always you can get more with a combination of front and rear tilts. It is a bit dainty in construction, but with care can serve for a good long time.

And yes, Nagaoka Seisakusho is still in business, but so far as I know, nobody is currently importing their cameras to the US.

sanking · Nov 18, 2005

I thought the Ikeda and Nagaoka were of identical construction but based on your comment about focusing the 90mm lens there would appear to be a difference. On my 5X7 Nagaoka a 90mm lens focuses very directly and there is no need at all to play with the front standard and back tilts. In fact, the original literature that came with this camera suggested that it would focus a lens down to 75mm and though I have never tried to do so, based on the position of the standard when the lens is focused at 90mm I feel pretty sure that it is capable of this.

Sandy

ChuckP said:
I've got the 5x7 Ikeda. Similar to the Nagaoka. You're not going to get much smaller or lighter. Maybe Gowland has something. I use a second gen Zone VI bag that I strap to a backpack frame. Downside is camera has a short bellows so not great if you're into long lenses. I use an extension board for my 355 lens and have no problems. Minimum focus is about 110mm with the front straight. You can use a 90mm by playing with the front standard and tilting backwards. The camera isn't the most rigid but seems to get the job done. I have a 4x5 back and use it often. I'd say my old Wista 4x5 was better built. If you get one of these cameras do not sell your Canham first. You may not like it. Also they (5x7) seem very hard to find used and are expensive. I have two Zone VI bags. I use the larger newer type for the 5x7. Holds camera, 6 holders and a few lenses. I like these white bags because it's very easy to see bugs on them after you've had them on the ground while shooting.

ChuckP · Nov 18, 2005

I looked at it again and now I'm not sure how I came up with 110mm. Must have confused it with something else. Mine will come together with the front standard in the groove with about 95mm between the ground glass and lensboard front. The travel is limited by the angle bracket holding the front standard hitting the back. So right on the edge for the 90 and distant focus. Seems like I had a problem the couple times I used it but maybe that was wanting to swing the focus in and out on both sides. My eyes need that with my f8 90. But for closer focus looks like it should work OK. On mine a 75 would need tilt the front backward to get close enough. Sorry for the bad information.

Oren Grad · Nov 18, 2005

sanking said:
I thought the Ikeda and Nagaoka were of identical construction but based on your comment about focusing the 90mm lens there would appear to be a difference.

Sandy - I have a 5x7 Nagaoka as well as a 5x7 Ikeda body that, unfortunately, came only with a 4x5 reducing back. While the mechanical design is identical, the materials and dimensions are ever so slightly different. I have to shim the 5x7 back from the Nagaoka with tape to get it to fit securely on the Ikeda, the Ikeda has a stiffer, springier bellows, there's a slight difference in front rise, and probably other differences of detail as well.

Also, bear in mind that the classic-design Nagaoka itself came in at least two versions, that use different lensboards. Mine is an older one that uses proprietary wooden lensboards, while my Ikeda takes Technika boards, like the newer classic Nagaokas. I think the 5x7s that Nagaoka currently builds are a different design entirely - the 4x5s they currently build certainly are.

wfwhitaker · Nov 20, 2005

I have a Rochester Optical Company (ROC) Universal 5x7 I picked up last year on Ebay. I put a new bellows on it and modified the front standard to take Technika boards since the original boards were very small. The camera is very light. (I haven't weighed it, but compared to a 5x7 Deardorff it's a featherweight.) Movements are limited to front rise and rear tilt. The front rise is the crude ROC "click-stop" ratchet, but it suffices as long as the lens isn't too heavy. I carry a 165mm Dagor and a 12" Artar with the kit. The camera and lenses easily fit into a Domke F-802 Reporter satchel. The two front flap pockets on the satchel are the perfect size for three 5x7 film holders each. Yes, movements are limited - but it's a very lightweight and portable kit for 5x7. Just a suggestion...

haziz said:
...So I am looking possibly for a compact (1st priority), and lightweight 5x7. One that should ideally fit in a traditional 4x5 camera bag (e.g. the old Zone VI 4x5 white bags). I will be using it mostly for landscapes and therefore range of movements is less critical.

Compact and lightweight 5x7 camera.

haziz

Loose Gravel

sanking

karl

Kevin Roach

TheFlyingCamera

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Compact and lightweight 5x7 camera.

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