Galvin 4x5 - How much?!

Hi all,

I have the opportunity to acquire a Galvin 4x5 and I was wondering if anybody could give me their opinion on the seller's asking price. I have no other LF equipment (just some LF lenses on MF cameras).

It is in "user" condition cosmetically, but had a new bellows put on about a year ago. It comes with 3 lens boards.

The seller wants $475 + shipping for the package. Do you think that's a fair price? These seem to be pretty rare cameras, so I can't really find any previous sales to compare to. I've read a bit about the 2x3 version, people saying it's not worth more than $300 tops.

I'll have to get a bunch of holders and a lens separately, of course.

I'd really appreciate any input. Thanks.

(And if he's on this forum reading this: Hello! )

p.s. apologies if any of you read my similar post on the LF-forums site

If I was looking for an entry level (and/or cheap) monorail, I wouldn't get this.

Too hard to get parts for.

I'd look at a Toyo G or C. There are way more parts available, and they are significantly cheaper than this camera.

There are a couple on eBay at the moment for under US$200. I'd get one of these and put the $275+ saving into a good quality lens.

YMMV.

Yeah, there A LOT of much cheaper monorails available.
My attraction to the Galvin was its light weight. I'd like something equivalent to or lighter than a folding field camera. Getting that weight with the increased movements of a monorail (and hopefully ability to use my Nikkor 65mm lens with a roll-film back) was the reason I was looking at it.

But yeah, you're right - even Sinar F's are going for $200.

Thanks for your input.

What do you want the movements for? (In other words, don't believe the "Pretzelled" camera hype if you're going to be shooting anything other than table-top).

LJH said:

What do you want the movements for?

Click to expand...

Good question! I don't know...I want sufficient rise for architecture (i'm into that), I like the idea of rear shift for stitching together perfect panoramas, and... I can't really remember why else right now

I guess also by "movements" i meant bellows range - the ability to use the 65mm Nikkor (which I currently own already) with a ~70mm flange back distance up to a Nikkor M 300/9 (which I do not own at his point).

It seems to me if using a 65mm Nikkor is one of the things you have in mind, you want a camera with interchangeable bellows so you can use a bag bellows, and have decent movements. Looking at the 4X5 Galvin that didn't sell on eBay recently, it doesn't seem to have a Graflock style back with removable focusing panel, so it really limits the choice of roll film holders you can use (maybe some Galvins have a Graflock. I don't know about that).

I bought a 4X5 Galvin new back in the 1980s and didn't keep it long. Yes, it was light weight, but it wasn't very sturdy, and it seems the lock knobs didn't function very well. Keep in mind that was a long time ago, so someone else may disagree.

For $475 you could have a Sinar F, or Cambo, or something else with extra lens boards, a bag bellows, and an extension rail. I'm not familiar with systems other than Sinar to know which models have interchangeable bellows, but that is something to find out. With Sinar, if you were just using a 65mm lens, you could mount everything on a 6" rail and have a pretty compact camera. I remember the Galvin had a one-piece rail and wasn't very convenient to get into a bag and carry around.

Len