If $$ was no obstacle, what would you buy?

[Holly]

HI all,

I am curious to know what people think is the gold standard in LF:

If you had the money magically in your pocket and could get
any LF camera you wanted, which brand would you go for and why?

My first thought would be Linhof...but then I am only just taking my
first strokes into the ocean of large format cameras, from a medium
format base.

Holly

 

[eclarke]

Arca.......EC

 

[keithwms]

Ebony. From what I've seen and felt in my hands, they are among the very best. Clever way of implementing movements, very solid construction, modern and clever while also traditional in feel.

 

[removed account4]

i already have what i would buy, except for a lifetime supply of expired film and paper.

 

[resummerfield]

Arca. There is no equal.

 

[Vaughn]

A Ritter 11x14 with an interchangable 7x17 back...and about 12 holders for each. Not sure if I spelled his name right...

Vaughn

 

[Holly]

Well Jnanian, lucky you! what is your precious camera then?

Why does Arca have no equal? flexibility? available parts? endurance? all of the above?

 

[sidearm613]

Ebony. I wish

 

[Wyno]

I'll second your idea Vaughn, except I'd probably get either an 11x14 or 14x17
Mike

 

[Vaughn]

That would make more sense, Wyno. I should get a 14x17 and just cut a darkslide in half like I do with 8x10 and do two 7x17's on a sheet of 14x17! Vaughn

 

[Jim Fitzgerald]

I have two already. My 8x20 and 11x14 Walnut cameras I built myself. I like the lifetime supply of film and expired paper!

Jim

 

[John Kasaian]

I'm thinking along the same lines as john nanian. I've got more than enough cameras and lenses. If I had seriiouos $$ I'd spend it on serious travelling. Italy and Switzerland for sure. Mexico, Alaska, and a bunch of other places. I'd also spend $$ on film (FP-4+) paper (Fomabrom 111) and chemicals (Ansco 130 and D-76) maybe even build a "for reals" dark room. If I were obscenely wealthy I'd get a A-26 as a platform for my K-17 aerial camera and something like a Jersy Pilot Cutter for exploring the coast of Alaska, where I could take LF photographs and perfect talking like a pirate--arrr!

 

[MattKing]

House with room for both a studio and a darkroom - outfitted for both B & W and colour!

Matt

 

[BradS]

I'm thinking along the same lines as john nanian. I've got more than enough cameras and lenses. If I had seriiouos $$ I'd spend it on serious travelling....

Yeah. me too. I'd travel with what I have.

I've bought and sold more LF gear than I care to admit - hunting for the perfect camera...and I've come to the conclusion that it simply does not exist. They all fall short.

 

[2F/2F]

If money was no object, I would start my own custom camera company. An 8x10 Speed Graphic clone would be nice...as would an 11x14 Sinar back.

...but as for things I would just go out and buy if a bag of money were dropped on my head, here is my short list:

- The world's greatest assistant
- Lots of powerful Mole-Richardsons (4Ks, I believe) and the electrical system to handle them
- The world's remaining supply of tungsten-balanced film (at least a large chunk of it!)
- 5x7 Speed Graphic or Technika
- 8x10/5x7 Sinar kit
- 8x10 enlarger; Durst or DeVere

 

[Graham.b]

All the post are all what we would like, to have, well with one or two, travel but to me the most important would be time, i don't think money no matter how much, could get you this.

 

[Steve Smith]

I have two already. My 8x20 and 11x14 Walnut cameras I built myself.

If money was no object, I would by the tools and materials and build my own exactly as I wanted it.


Steve.

 

[Ian David]

I would get a top-end Ebony - both very good (by all accounts) and very beautiful

 

[eddym]

Money has never been an obstacle for me.
I've never had enough for it to get in my way.

 

[gandolfi]

I'd get a Gandolfi.. (4x5, as I already have the 5x7, 8x10, half plate stereo, full plate and the 12x16....)

money enough? Then I'd go but lenses, rather than cameras. top of the list would be: Pinkham and Smith - Universal Heliar, and Nicolai Perscheid...

Then I'd be happy.....

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

I'd have something custom made - a 12x20 studio portrait camera in the vertical orientation. It would be capable of supporting film and wet-plate shooting. Oh, and a suitable lens to put on the front of it. And a decent size studio of my own, instead of the sharing arrangement I have now.

 

[Willie Jan]

I would hire a person that must carry all my stuff.

 

[Valerie]

I'd buy time, in the form of a full-time house keeper, gardener, and maintenance person. Seems like all I do is clean, mow, and fix things.. and take care of the kids (but that's MY job and cannot be farmed out to anyone else).

 

[Jeff Kubach]

House with room for both a studio and a darkroom - outfitted for both B & W and colour!

Matt

Same here!

Jeff

 

[removed account4]

Well Jnanian, lucky you! what is your precious camera then?

hi holly -

i wouldn't call it precious ... it works and i feed it ..
i drive just as poorly in a minivan or 72 beatle as i do in a bmw bavaria

john