Help me decide which 4x5 camera to buy...

Charles Webb

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A super expensive brightly colored 4x5 camera will always make sharper, cleaner, better contrast and even toned negatives than a plain old black or wood stained camera. Even at f wide open! My vote is for the 5x7 B&J then spend the mega bucks with J. Galli for a super good batch of lenses! Charlie........
 
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gr82bart

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No worries. It doesn't meet the 'appeals to me' test!

Regards, Art.
 
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gr82bart

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Now there's a Cambo PC Master 4 x 5 View Camera for sale at a cheap price of $540. How's that camera? Why is it so cheap? What's wrong with it? Does it meet the technical specs? If you guys say it's a good first camera, that camera will be sold tonight.

Art. (I guess I could paint it yellow!)
 

mark

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David A. Goldfarb

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I haven't used one myself, but it looks like a very capable studio camera. L-frame cameras can sometimes do asymmetric tilts and swings. You might find out if this one can, because that would be a particularly attractive feature, in addition to being a rigid studio camera with precision gearing.

Day hikes? Mountaineering? 16 lbs? Well, if you hire a sherpa who can go for days without food, maybe.
 

Peter De Smidt

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If I were you, I'd get an F-line Classic, unless most of your work would be multi-day backpacking. The ARCA is a joy to use, and it packs down really small. It's not as sturdy as a Linhof Technika 2000, but it's easier to use and has more movements. If I remember correctly, you can get an ARCA with Orbix, which gives asymmetric tilts. Once you use them, you won't want to use other types.

I used to have a Toho 45CR-X (approximately 3 lbs.) because I thought that I'd occasionally go on back packing trips, and I did. But the camera was not that fun to use. I sold the Toho and bought a Sinar P, and two Fuji medium format rangefinders, and I don't regret it the least. I can easily go a mile or so with the Sinar 8x10, and for overnight trips I take the Fujis. The ARCA would be more of a do everything camera than my Sinar.

One other thing to consider would be an Ebony with asymmetric tilts. This would favor the longer hikes, while still being a very capable camera in the studio or near the car.
 

BradS

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laz said:
Uh oh! Brad, should we be insulted?
Click to expand...

Not in the least....and...ah, I'll just leave it at that.
 

jovo

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Boy, if you're willing to spend a bunch o'bucks, consider the new Layton L-45A. Go to: www.laytoncamera.com and check it out. I saw one demonstrated by John Layton last spring at the View Camera conference, and I decided if I won the lottery, that would be the camera for me. The only other high end machine I saw there was an ARCA that was too cool to even begin to describe, but I'd have had to win the lottery twice for that puppy. Go shopping....!!!
 

sattler123

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This entire discussion seems somewhat unreal to me. Brad wants a camera, but doesn't quite know what to do with it - as long as it looks cool, it'll do, money is not an issue - again, as long as it looks cool, he'll pay whatever it takes. I don't think this is the right mindset to jump into LF. Sorry, Brad, I don;t want to take a shot at you, but I really find this discussion unreal. Start by reading Steve Simmon's book on how to use a view camera (it is easy to read and explains all the movements of a view camera), then think about what you will use the camera mostly for, then start looking at different manufacturers. Just my two cents worth.
 
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gr82bart

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Thanks, I think you meant to direct this at me. Yes the thread reads a bit unreal, but let me assure you, I'm not looking for something just as long as it looks cool. I am on the other hand a big fan of something that is not only functional but does look appealing too. I mean why not?

Just because most folks, if not all, that get an LF camera don't think like me doesn't mean I need to change my mindset. I'm pretty clear with what I want and what I want to use it for. This is the way I do things and it has got me to where I am today.

Art.
 

Bob F.

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It's Art that wants the shiny new camera - Brad wants the tatty old one...

Cheers, Bob.
 
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gr82bart

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David A. Goldfarb said:
Day hikes? Mountaineering? 16 lbs? Well, if you hire a sherpa who can go for days without food, maybe.
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Yeah I saw that and asked in an e-mail if that was correct or a typo. It's correct. One heavy camera! But for only $500 bucks, it's pretty inexpensive. This model seems to be an old one though since I didn't see on the Cambo website.

I'll be in NYC this weeke and weekend so I'll be looking around. I saw a used Sinar F2 on ebay, but I'm wary of ebay. Lots of very good reviews on that camera.

Regards, Art.
 

BradS

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ah...um, Art wants a new, good looking camera. I am content with the old, tired and orphaned equipment. Thanks for yor concern. I actually approached large format from an entirely differerent tack than that being taken by the original poster. I ended up buying a view camera out of frustration. In order to satisfy my thirst to learn so to speak. It happened like this....
I had stumbled upon a perfect copy of Leslie Strobel's View Camera Technique - third edition with dust jacket at a used book store in Maui - of all places. After reading the book twice, I still didn't quite understand but, needed to figure out how these things worked. Two years later, I ended up buying a nice used monorail just so that I could learn how it worked. I am currently on my third LF camera...and I'm pretty clear on what I want and why...and I'm still learning how to use the darned things.


Art, It is curious. I recently purchased a Sinar F2 after looking at the Canham DLC and the Arca Swiss. I dismissed the Arca simply because, nobody in this neck of the woods had one for me to lay hands on prior to purchase. My local pusher carries both Canham and Sinar however. The decision between the two was very difficult. They are both fantastic cameras. As an engineer, I certainly appreciate the quality and fine workmanship of both of these cameras. Considering your need for the camera of your choice to also have that...je ne se qua, I still think the DLC is the right one for you (hey, you asked for my opinion. Here it is for free. Take it for what it's worth). The sinar is pedestrian by comparison. Boring in its finely engineered simplicity....The DLC is an engineering marvel of another kind. It has panache. Go for it. Nobody stops at just one view camera anyway. If it's not all you ever need/want no big deal....
 

David A. Goldfarb

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Hey, I wonder if that copy of Stroebel belonged to Christian Olivet. Not too many LF users on Maui.
 

BradS

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David A. Goldfarb said:
Hey, I wonder if that copy of Stroebel belonged to Christian Olivet. Not too many LF users on Maui.
Click to expand...

Could be but there's not a mark in it. I bought the book in Kihei about...geez, was it six years ago already? We were there celebrating our tenth anniversary so, yeah, it was 1999. I guess it took me more than two years to digest the reading before buying the kit. I've only been at LF since June of last year!
 

MattCarey

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sattler123 said:
This entire discussion seems somewhat unreal to me. Brad wants a camera, but doesn't quite know what to do with it - as long as it looks cool, it'll do, money is not an issue - again, as long as it looks cool, he'll pay whatever it takes.
Click to expand...

Boy, you got the wrong guy there. I have recently nominated Brad for membership in Team Cheapskate (tm). I expect his membership to fly through.

Matt

(the only problem with Team Cheapskate is that no one will pay dues!)
 

BradS

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MattCarey said:
Boy, you got the wrong guy there. I have recently nominated Brad for membership in Team Cheapskate (tm). I expect his membership to fly through.

Matt

(the only problem with Team Cheapskate is that no one will pay dues!)
Click to expand...

(giggling severely to self)

 

markbb

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>I'd start with the 'standard' lens. Then go wide angle. Bellows? It comes witha bellows.

If you intend to shoot with a wide lens, you will need bag-type bellows capable of scrunching up without vingetting the image. On the other hand, longer lens' will clearly need longer bellows. You shoot MF, right? Think about the lenses you use, and then consider their LF equivalent (e.g. 80mm = 150mm, roughly). Your camera must be able to extend or collapse enough to hold these lenses.

I agree with others, read a few books to get an understanding of LF. As money doesn't seem to be too much of a problem, get yourself on a hands-on workshop. Rent a camera or two and try them out.
 

Curt

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If money is not a problem you could get two or more, use them for a while then keep the one you like. You could sell or give away extra ones. Since money is not a problem you could give them to struggling photographers. That's if money is not a problem.
 

steve simmons

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In all of this thrashing and hashing about which camera he should buy no one has asked

what do you want to photograph?

what range of lensdes do you want to use?

You should not select a camera without answering these questions first.

When people suggest this or that camera they should tell him

what they photograph and what range of lenses they use to give their answer some context.


steve simmons
www.viewcamera.com
 

BradS

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Actually Steve, I think somebody did try to ask this and the reply was basically, "I want it do do everything and use every lens but above all, it has to look good....". So, I don't think this is necessarily an excercise in rational use of one's money.
 
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