Ideal Beginner Large Format Field Camera

[RobC]

It's obviously a very well travelled joke then ( but not in a Lada ).

 

[flavio81]

Reminds me of the old jokes about Lada cars...

Why do Lada's have heated rear windows?

To keep your hands warm whilst pushing them.

 

[Paul Howell]

I found an add for a Brand View in Popular Photography 1946, $162.50, that would be $1975.61 in 2015 money.

 

[Jim Jones]

In 1946 many photographers were desperate for a camera. They would buy a Brand or New Vue, perhaps with intentions of upgrading when possible. Both were reasonably functional and took standard 4" lens boards. Several years later a New Vue was my first view camera. I also had a Mercury II. Now we have APUG and other sites to guide us.

 

[Regular Rod]

So I am looking to pull the trigger and get into large format photography! I have been researching for a few months in regards to different bodies and lenses (as well as studying the specifics of movements) but I want to see what people with experience in the field would recommend for a beginner on a budget.

Here are some of my credentials or ideal features

1. Field camera that is hand-holdable in a pinch (ideally only ever going to use a tripod however)
2. Inexpensive but sharp lens for full length portraits (maybe 50-60mm in 35mm)
3. No specific requirements for movements but perhaps some tilt and swing available
4. $500-600 USD for my budget (willing to go a little higher if there is a big increase in quality)

What do you all use and recommend? I appreciate your input!

If you were in the UK I'd recommend that you look for an MPP MkVII with a 150mm Symmar (convertible) lens. They are field cameras that also have a rangefinder for hand held work. You view the subject when making the exposure hand-held through a wire frame "sports" viewfinder, which folds out of the way when not needed. There is a substantial strap on the side that makes holding it a safe prospect. On a tripod they give you a very wide range of movements for both the front and the rear standards. They are built to a high engineering standard and close up with the Symmar in place, protecting it inside its all metal construction. The revolving back makes swapping from horizontal to vertical format a very easy process. A very versatile tool and ideal for your purposes...

RR

 

[paul_c5x4]

Why do Lada's have heated rear windows?

What do you call a Lada with twin exhaust pipes ?

If you were in the UK I'd recommend that you look for an MPP MkVII with a 150mm Symmar (convertible) lens. They are field cameras that also have a rangefinder for hand held work.

The MPP range finder will only work if the cam is calibrated for the lens. With these cameras passing through so many hands and a large variety of lenses capable of being fitted, it is almost impossible to find a matching cam. That said, it is possible to cut a new cam, but you'd need to do this for each lens, and if you use a convertible, two cams would be needed.

Despite the cam issues, the MPP is still a nice camera - Robust, simple to use, and reasonably compact.

 

[RobC]

What do you call a Lada with twin exhaust pipes ?

A wheelbarrow

 

[RobC]

What do you call a Lada with a sunroof?

 

[Jim Moore]

What do you call a Lada with a sunroof?

A rubbish bin.

 

[RobC]

A rubbish bin.

A skip ( aka dumpster )

 

[paul_c5x4]

What do you call a Lada with ....

Apologies to any Lada owners. Lada, like Skoda & Fiat were the butt of many jokes in the UK, and I suspect, in many other parts of the world.

 

[Dr Croubie]

Apologies to any Lada owners. Lada, like Skoda & Fiat were the butt of many jokes in the UK, and I suspect, in many other parts of the world.

Don't worry, if they drive a lada it'll be years before they read these jokes via carrier-pigeon.