I have an old Kodak Master camera (8x10) and I am pretty sure it is both magnesium and aluminum. If I recall correctly, it weighs only 12 lbs. That sounds like a lot until you put it beside a Calumet. Check it out at
I have an old Kodak Master camera (8x10) and I am pretty sure it is both magnesium and aluminum. If I recall correctly, it weighs only 12 lbs. That sounds like a lot until you put it beside a Calumet. Check it out at
There are many practical problems involved with making a consumer product out of Beryllium, including cost and the serious toxicity and pyrolytic nature of the metal during fabrication operations. It's not something that a small camera-making shop could do.
might fulfil your wettest dreams
There are many practical problems involved with making a consumer product out of Beryllium, including cost and the serious toxicity and pyrolytic nature of the metal during fabrication operations. It's not something that a small camera-making shop could do.
How about the Toyo CF. It had a polycarbonate and carbon fibre composite body, and was lighter than the metal version. They were reasonably priced when they came out, and I seriously considered buying one, but never did.
I wonder how they've held up in the long term. There should be some users that can give us the scoop.
this expression or feeling might not exist in the Anglo-Saxon world
No, the spikes would tend to ground the electrical charge. It might make all the difference between you being fried medium rare versus turned to charcoal. If I had to hunker down, I'd quickly look around for a low place where there weren't any burn marks on the trees, and then leave the metal tripod about 20 yards away. I'm obviously still alive; but there have sure been some close calls up on high passes or peaks. Those storms can move in mighty fast.
The stupidest one I ever heard about is when a Boy Scout troop leader had them erect a tall mess hall tent central support pole right below a set of high voltage power lines. A fatal mistake.
Magnesium is fussy stuff and needs to be a special alloy with other materials to die cast well. That barrier was broken in the 80's. But what you almost entirely see today are lower quality softer aluminum-magnesium alloys which aren't very durable.
I don't think I'd want a camera made out of that, since there are better options.
I like the titanium hardware on my Ebony camera. But no way I'd be a sucker for such and such a marginally useful camera made of it. I'm an actual user, not someone looking for a conspicuous consumption fireplace mantle conversation piece next to the silver DeLorean parked on the rug.
My 8x10 is the original Phillips design (serial no. 009, in fact). He was the first to use custom plys, in this case, fiberglass bonded to veneers or expoxy-impregnated cherrywood. Now carbon fiber to wood plys have entered the scene and make lot of sense.
Durable, rigid, lightweight, and better thermal insulators than metal. And simply too light of a view camera is basically a kite in a breeze. You need some kind of sensible balance.
There have been aluminum monorail 4x5's clear down to 2-1/2 lbs, like Gowland and Toho. And some non-folding wooden models are nearly as light.
I believe that's the camera that Clyde Butcher used so successfully wading around in the Everglades.I have an old Kodak Master camera (8x10) and I am pretty sure it is both magnesium and aluminum. If I recall correctly, it weighs only 12 lbs. That sounds like a lot until you put it beside a Calumet. Check it out at
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