Looking for a 6x7/6x9 View Camera

[IanBb]

This is something I've been discovering the more I research medium format view cameras and it's rather interesting to me. So the designs of most LF lenses just aren't good enough to produce tact sharp results with roll film? Makes sense to me. Are certain lenses better than others? I do love sharp results. I'm a MF RF shooter now so I'm pretty much spoiled by sharp lenses. I remember when I used to use my 4x5 with a 6x9 film back the results were always un-impressive. Somewhat soft and it seemed disappointing to me. But I just assumed it was my lens which was a 135mm fujinon. Shouldn't the dedicated lenses made for the horseman VH-R perform well enough with that camera? I mean they were designed for 6x9.

Sorry - I may have given the wrong impression. Modern lenses from the likes of Schneider, Rodenstock etc. are all fine on MF, but older LF lenses can be a problem. Even the new ones are designed to be used stopped down, though. You may not, however, get the same punchy contrast as with Mamiya 6 or 7 lenses (these are exceptional anyway), although actual resolving power will probably be very good. Rodenstock Sironar S and Grandagons are usually excellent, for instance.

I would expect most Fuji lenses such as your 135 to be really pretty good (although it may depend on its age). The weakness here is more likely to be imprecision in the camera - lack of accuracy in ground glass/film registration; slight movement in the camera as you tighten up lock knobs; slightly out-of parallel standards; inaccuracy of focusing on ground glass (which is more difficult on MF) etc. MF is much less tolerant of these issues than LF. That's all.

Re: Horseman VH-R - check how wide you can go with a design like this, as it might not be able to properly use the wide angle lenses you need for architecture - there may be restrictions from both the body and the bellows. I don't think Horesman make their own lenses - they may be rebadged Fujis anyway (nothing wrong with that, though).
HTH

 

[ic-racer]

I don't think Horesman make their own lenses - they may be rebadged Fujis anyway.

Why would make you think an optical company does use their own lenses on their own cameras?

 

[Dan Fromm]

Right, ic. To name names, Tokyo Optical, who make Topcon and Horseman lenses, own Horseman. Good lenses, too.

 

[polyglot]

Have you considered a Fuji GX680? They seem to be remarkably cheap and functional, though not the most portable.

 

[brian steinberger]

Have you considered a Fuji GX680? They seem to be remarkably cheap and functional, though not the most portable.

Yes, I remember looking at one of those a while back. Read up on it. While it was a great camera, most users found it bulky and had problems with certain backs with electronics. It is a focal plane shutter camera too which I'm not thrilled about.

At this point I'm really leaning toward the Shen Hao 6x9 from Badger Graphics. Seems like a great little camera with tons of movements, lightweight, and not too bulky. The GG also flips out of the way when the back is attached. So there is no need to remove the GG for every shot. Now I just gotta sell my Hasselblad 500cm body I have sitting around to help fund this..

 

[Sal Santamaura]

Right, ic. To name names, Tokyo Optical, who make Topcon and Horseman lenses, own Horseman. Good lenses, too.

How did you establish that? The TOPCON (nee Tokyo Optical) Web site

http://global.topcon.com/invest/faq/​

says it exited the camera business more than 20 years ago and makes no mention of Komamura Corporation as being a subsidiary.

Komamura Corporation's company profile

http://www.komamura.co.jp/e/pdf/co_profile.pdf​

includes nothing to indicate it's owned/run by TOPCON or anyone other than Tosh Komamura.

Inquiring (non-Japanese-speaking) mind wants to know.

 

[Dan Fromm]

Sal, thanks for asking. Its a fair question and I'm glad you asked it. It made me examine why I thought that I was right.

Here are a few links that support my assertion:

http://camerapedia.wikia.com/wiki/Topcon_Horseman_Press

http://camerapedia.wikia.com/wiki/Komamura

http://camerapedia.wikia.com/wiki/Komamura

There's no doubt that Komamura makes Horseman products or that Komamura sold LF Topcor lenses, see the Horseman catalog on cameraeccentric. That Komamura sold LF Topcor lenses proves nothing.

The sources I cited are pretty shaky, so I think I was mistaken.

Thanks again for making me reconsider my position,

Dan