- Joined
- Jan 17, 2006
- Messages
- 1
- Format
- 4x5 Format
I had searched the forum a few days back on Fatif and was very surprised to read the number of posts on how hard it was to get/fit lens boards to Fatif cameras and what a great mystery the round corner bellows were to make.
As a long time owner and user of four 4x5 and two 8x10 Fatif cameras (that happily displaced Sinar P systems that were poor replacements for Linhof Kadans but, thats a diatribe for another time), I can confirm that they are indeed heavy cameras but thats a VERY GOOD THING.
The last thing one wants in a large format camera is movement and a flimsy camera. And, lets face it, its not like any 4x5 or large view camera is a hand-held camera and the more mass one has, the more stable the system is the old adage you cannot have too heavy a tripod . . . They are actually lighter than a Sinar P or the big Horseman or Claumet/Cambo, and not all that much heavier than a Arca or Linhof (except the Technikardan, maybe). Yes, there are field cameras that are lighter, but they are NOT studio monorail view cameras and do not have the stability or movements/feature of a studio view camera. Heavy is good.
Lens boards first off, all you need to do to buy a lens board is to email Fatif and order one, just like you would do with Calumet, Sinar, or whatever whats so hard about that? Fatif also makes lens boards that take Linhof lens boards and Sinar lens boards, so it is a very flexible system.
Fatif offers three different bellows. The standard bellows is a conventionally made bellows with standard bellows material and a lined interior it has corners that are at a 45-degree angle and are made like almost all other manufacturers bellows. The wide angle bellows is lined glove leather and is or conventional design as well.
The rounded corner bellows is the deluxe soft leather bellows (also lined). Its no great mystery as to how its made if you look at it. A rectangular piece of glove leather is formed over a corner tool (using steam), just as one would form a shoe, setting in the round pleats. The remaining pleats are then formed on a second pleat-shaped tool and the now bellows-shaped unit is sowed in one seam. Very simple.
Oh, fellow Fatif owners with wounded cameras. I have some factory repair parts like the corner castings, rise licking levers, springs, etc. if you need repair parts and dont want to go through Italy, I may be able to help.
Ron Bennett
Monmouth, OR
PS I have a bunch of extra Fatif lens boards and a couple of compendium hoods without homes.
As a long time owner and user of four 4x5 and two 8x10 Fatif cameras (that happily displaced Sinar P systems that were poor replacements for Linhof Kadans but, thats a diatribe for another time), I can confirm that they are indeed heavy cameras but thats a VERY GOOD THING.
The last thing one wants in a large format camera is movement and a flimsy camera. And, lets face it, its not like any 4x5 or large view camera is a hand-held camera and the more mass one has, the more stable the system is the old adage you cannot have too heavy a tripod . . . They are actually lighter than a Sinar P or the big Horseman or Claumet/Cambo, and not all that much heavier than a Arca or Linhof (except the Technikardan, maybe). Yes, there are field cameras that are lighter, but they are NOT studio monorail view cameras and do not have the stability or movements/feature of a studio view camera. Heavy is good.
Lens boards first off, all you need to do to buy a lens board is to email Fatif and order one, just like you would do with Calumet, Sinar, or whatever whats so hard about that? Fatif also makes lens boards that take Linhof lens boards and Sinar lens boards, so it is a very flexible system.
Fatif offers three different bellows. The standard bellows is a conventionally made bellows with standard bellows material and a lined interior it has corners that are at a 45-degree angle and are made like almost all other manufacturers bellows. The wide angle bellows is lined glove leather and is or conventional design as well.
The rounded corner bellows is the deluxe soft leather bellows (also lined). Its no great mystery as to how its made if you look at it. A rectangular piece of glove leather is formed over a corner tool (using steam), just as one would form a shoe, setting in the round pleats. The remaining pleats are then formed on a second pleat-shaped tool and the now bellows-shaped unit is sowed in one seam. Very simple.
Oh, fellow Fatif owners with wounded cameras. I have some factory repair parts like the corner castings, rise licking levers, springs, etc. if you need repair parts and dont want to go through Italy, I may be able to help.
Ron Bennett
Monmouth, OR
PS I have a bunch of extra Fatif lens boards and a couple of compendium hoods without homes.
