Monorail for field with good rise

[abruzzi]

I used my "Once upon a time... " Sinar F, for a while as a car camera, sans box storage, back seat only and it gave great results.

Toting, a monorail a couple of hundred yards or more, vs. inside a stone's throw really shows you the value of a proper field or even press camera vs.
Mono rail studio camera in my opinion, though a young, careful assistant can negate a lot t of stress, so try one today.

I get that, but I spent a couple years trying to get into LF using first a Shen Hao, then a Master Technika. Between the two I probably shot a dozen sheets. LF didn't make sense to me until I started using a Monorail, so it was when I got a Technikardan the LF made sense to me. I need to buy another pack of 4x5 printfile sleeves, which means I've shot a total of almost 400 sheets using a monorail in the field. The Shen Hao and Technika have been unused on a shelf since them. So I'd definitely take a Sinar Norma or Sinar F over any folding box cameras, even for a multi-mile hike. Even better is a later Arca Swiss. I have an F-metric and I also have an F-Classic Field that I bought as a 6x9 view camera, but it also came with a rear 171 4x5 frame and bellows. The post-Oschwald cameras are really trying to be a more modern Sinar in that they are nearly infinitely configurable.

 

[xkaes]

I forgot to mention the Toyo VX125. Price may be an issue, although it's been seen below 1K. But this is precision camera equalled by some to Linhof. It sure looks quick to set up and precise to operate.

VX125 on YT

One thing to consider with many studio cameras is the rail itself. The TOYO VX125 is a good example. It has a 250mm rail and "designed" to be more portable, and used in "the field" -- while TOYO's other studio cameras come with rails about twice as long. However, most of their studio cameras can be quickly fitted with a short 250mm rail -- pretty much making them a VX125 -- in sheep's clothing. The studio cameras will be about 50% heavier -- even with the shorter rail -- but if weight is not a major concern, just using a shorter rail might be an option.

When I'm in the field, I often want a long lens, so a short rail is a non-starter.

 

[Doremus Scudder]

I'm surprises no one has mentioned the Sinar Alpina. I have one. I packs down into a lightweight case, sets up quickly and is easily portable. Sure, it's "bare bones," but it has way more movements than any of my wooded field cameras.

Best,

Doremus

 

[xkaes]

Me too. The Alpina is slightly heavier than the VX125 at 6.25 pounds, but it has a 450mm rail.

 

[DREW WILEY]

One of the problems with the Alpina is that it used the clamp-style intermediate standard as the front standard, just like the early F's. That works fine, but is nowhere near as durable as the later f2 standards, which also have the advantage of separate swing and shift locks. There are also distinct advantages to the regular round rail instead of the odd Alpina extrusion. But the f2 has ridiculously long riser rods, well beyond any kind of actual lens image circle I can think of unless one is thinking of using this in combination with an 8x10 rear.

 

[Rod Klukas]

Most compact and one of the lightest: Arca-Swiss 4x5 F-Line field. This camera allows indirect displacement, and so has as much movement as any lens can supply.

You can also purchase it with geared movements and even geared tilt.

Bellows is universal for Wide-Angle lenses , 65mm to 240mm, or 300mm with small plug-in extension. Available long bellows and rail extensions as well, for up to 450mm lenses.


Very nice camera.