I was sent a PM by Akalai, who is interested in the Walker 5x7XL and realise that I am one of the few active people online who has one. However, shortly after buying it I found myself vanishing overseas and have hardly been back to the UK. When I have I have been busy printing! I have used it a few times and will therefore add some comments, which might help anypone thinking of using it.
In use the camera has been ridiculously easy to use. I am used to the Ebony 45s/SW45 layout and this camera, being a non-folder, is just as easy to use. However, it is even more rigid. Mine has not bedded in yet and it is stiffer to use than an Ebony, but not in a worrying way. Quite the opposite, it feels rock solid in every possible way and even the focus you feel is not going to shift even if you dont lock it down. Mike treated by focus locking knobs to ensure that they dont undecrew when I rack the camera in/out and fall off. The ebonies have a retaining screw but the Walker does not. Instead he drips some superglue in the hole, screws it onto the axle and then leave is for a few secs before then working it along the thread before it sets. This results in a knob which you can tighten, but which will revolve with the axle when you focus the camera. This means it wont fall off, or lock up, depending on which way you rak the focus in/out. Handy, but it does mean that on mine, to lock down, I hold the focus knob to ensure it does not move and then tighten. Works fine and means no lost knobs, but is not perhaps perfect as my paranoia obliges me to use two hands to be sure the focus does not move.
Did I say the camera is solid? Nothing more need be said - nothing comes close, not even an Ebony. This camera inspires total confidence as the ABS is evidently very tough indeed and stable. Long lenses out to max extension feel very solid and here it feels more solid than some wooden camera racked in...
Front std movements. They are smooth and really easy to control. No nasty aggressive detents ruining your very slight tilts as is the case with many cameras. This you zero by flattening two flat pieces of metal up against one another. Easy to do and allows for smooth precision in adjustment without the fear that the ball detente will pop the thing back to zero! This is one of the best things about this camera. Sounds triffling, but it speeds you up and allows for greater precision. There is no slack whatsoever in the movements.
I also have the 5x4 back and found it smooth and easy to use. GG on both is bright and of high quality - no probs focusing lenses at all. You do have to refocus when switching, but I dont mind that at all.
Spirit levels nicely laid out and easy to use (I rarely do however).
Finish - no probs. I like these cameras. Not pretty wood, but more like your Glock except with far greater sense of solidity
They are IMO attractive cameras and look very sharp.
Bellows - nice and light, flexible etc -no issues. I have not used very short lenses and so I cannot comment on bunching up. The camera will take a 72XL although moevement is limited without the bag bellows. I dont have the bag, but Mike demonstrated and they are very easy to use - quick and simple!
Despite my limited use of the camera (so I cannot comment on wear and tear) I can see no issues with this camera. It does not pretend to have bells and whistles but does what it does with great ease and confidence. Is this the perfect 5x7 camera for me. Yes - no question and I cannot wait to use more of it. I want stability and simplicity (speed) over features and fancy wood. My main interest is 110 to 300 on 5x7 with the potential for 72 or 90 if I want to go really wide. I can do this with no probs! If you can live with front movements only (for landscapes and scenics this is easy) and will use lenses up to 300 or 400T, then this camera is without peer as far as I can tell. With the 5x4 back, it is very convenient as an alternative to a 5x4 camera and offers more extension than a Ebony 45s, although it won't go as wide (although in relative terms it does if using an equiv 5x7 FL). Using it as 5x7 you get plenty of extra negative for a camera that weighs 3kg, so about the same as a folding Ebony 5x4 with all the bells. On a scale of 1-10, in terms of ease of use I woud rate an Ebony RSW45 as 1, a 45s at 3, the 5x7 XL at 4 (taking into account physical size) and a 10x8 folder at 8. It is far more like using a 5x4 than anything else and faster to set up than any 5x4 folder that I can think of. The only issue is that it does take up more bag space than any 5x4, partly because of its square dimenstions and also because if does not fold so does not compress so far. If you have a Lowepro photo trekker it goes in just fine with a few bits and pieces. I use a super-trekker and have tonnes fo space for lenses, backs, holders, filters, loupes, meter etc.
The PM was about using it for std or shorter lenses as well as short teles on 5x4 - mainly environmental portraits etc. I cannot think of any better camera if you want the option of 5x7 or 5x4 with little convenience difference and dont need the movements. If working in hot dry environments, ABS is a boon. I found wooden cameras expand and contract like crazy depending upon humidity and this can result in a camera that is tight one minute and slack and wobbly the next. ABS - No problem.
The simplicity of this camera means that there is less to go wrong. I am a very disorganised shooter and tend to get very excited
when the light and scenery is great. I tend to rush to nail or shot or two then slow down. With such a camera I can concentrate on what I need to, rather than having to concentrate on unfolding and erecting the darned thing, or fighting the tilt detente or worrying about bellows sag....or wobbling at extension or thinking that the heavy long lens might cause the front standard to tilt fwds slightly etc Its like using a Leica M after playing with a top end SLR - refreshinginly simple!
If you can put up with the additional size and can print 5x7, there is a strong argument in favour of this camera over its 5x4 sibling or the ebony non-folders. Mine might come to Kabul at some point. I would not even entertain the idea of bringing a folder for speed and simpolicity reaspons, but this camera I can get up in a snap, or if I know the shot I am going to take and if it requires a wide, I can prefocus at the hyperfocal distance before I even get there and drop it onto the tripod with a quick release. I am also hoping to get a trip to Scotland done after Xmas and will report back after. I recently sold my 10x8 because I found it a PITA. I did want a neg larger than 5x4 and all reality this camera is as easy as it gets, regardless of LF format. I love the results of LF but hate the fiddling. With non-folders, I feel somewhere bwteen MF and LF but with the IQ of the latter. The 5x7XL takes that to the limits - nothing else IMO has the same balance of neg size and simplicity. Even the Ebony 10x8 nopn-folders have very littke additional extension and are a lot bigger overall. Then 5x4Xl has only 180mm vs the 320 of the 5x7, so the 5x7, to me, is the golden compromise.
