Most cost effective (bang for buck) 5x7 view camera....

[John Earley]

One of the positives regarding the 5x7 format vs 8x10 is the cost of lenses. https://www.largeformatphotography.info/lenses/LF5x7in.html Generally, lenses that cover the 8x10 format are considerably more expensive than those that cover 5x7. For example I recently purchased, for $179, a mint Fuji 125/f8 lens that is the equivalent to a 26mm on a 35mm camera. An equally wide lens for 8x10 coverage would cost 2 to 5 times as much.

 

[HalideReducer]

Hopefully this isn't too much of a thread hijack, but it's helping crystalize my thoughts on a 5x7. I know there are some fantastic new 5x7s being made by Ritter, Canham, Chamomix, etc. Somebody just paid $2600 for a slightly used Canham 5x7 on KEH - a nice discount from the $3100 retail price but far more than I'll spend on this project. I'm aiming for something in the ~$150-500 range. I've also heard that Intrepid may come out with a low cost one. But I'm drawn to the old wooden field cameras. I'm a long time 35mm/med format shooter and a new 4x5 shooter.

I'm looking to incorporate wet prints in my portfolio. It's been a long time for me and I was just a novice. These days I process film in daylight tanks, scan, and outsource the inkjet print production. Our community darkroom is closed to covid and I don't have the space for an enlarger and darkroom at home, so I'm going to start with positive papers, dry plates, contact prints, and wet plates. The 5x7 would be the tool I use to experiment with these processes.

My preferred subjects are landscapes and closeups of found objects in nature as well as some outdoor portraiture for the plates.

These are the cameras I'm generally eyeballing:

• Vageeswari - Indian view cameras. They occasionally pop up, usually in need of repair, seem like good project cameras.
• Korona - early 20th century view cameras. The ones I've seen have front shift, which I'm not sure I'd use much but nice to have. Looks like it can handle pretty long lenses. Bulky?
  
• Kodak 2D - the ones I've seen have been near the top of my price range but looked like decent condition.
• Burke & James - uuuugly, lots of them are painted, may be a real good value?
• Conley - just another 80-100 year old wooden camera.

Whaddya all think of these? Any others come to mind?

 

[ic-racer]

One of the positives regarding the 5x7 format vs 8x10 is the cost of lenses. https://www.largeformatphotography.info/lenses/LF5x7in.html Generally, lenses that cover the 8x10 format are considerably more expensive than those that cover 5x7. For example I recently purchased, for $179, a mint Fuji 125/f8 lens that is the equivalent to a 26mm on a 35mm camera. An equally wide lens for 8x10 coverage would cost 2 to 5 times as much.

I use my Fujinon 125mm on 8x10 . It does not even fit on my 4x5 camera.
I do agree with you though. For example a few years ago it seemed the most common and inexpensive LF lens on the market was a 210mm which is the 'normal' for 5x7.

Weight is a factor. 8x10 is NOT twice as big as 5x7 but the "NORMAL" lens for 8x10 is MORE than twice as heavy.

210mm Fujinon = 465g
300mm Fujinon = 1075g

 

[voceumana]

FYI, there are some compact 300 mm lenses made, if you want something in that focal length. I have a Congo 300mm f/6.3 that is quite compact, although it is in a Copal 3S shutter, so the shutter is large in diameter.

 

[HalideReducer]

And now I've added the Pony Premo to my list. This is a giant folder, made from ~1898-1912 or so (going by memory). I wonder what it takes to:

1. Repair or replace the bellows. The ones I've seen claim to have original red leather. Even if it was replaced 50 years ago I assume I'll have some work to do here.
2. Adjust the air piston shutters as the slow speeds seem to go off with time.

Great idea for a project? Terrible one?

 

[Rick A]

Hopefully this isn't too much of a thread hijack, but it's helping crystalize my thoughts on a 5x7. I know there are some fantastic new 5x7s being made by Ritter, Canham, Chamomix, etc. Somebody just paid $2600 for a slightly used Canham 5x7 on KEH - a nice discount from the $3100 retail price but far more than I'll spend on this project. I'm aiming for something in the ~$150-500 range. I've also heard that Intrepid may come out with a low cost one. But I'm drawn to the old wooden field cameras. I'm a long time 35mm/med format shooter and a new 4x5 shooter.

I'm looking to incorporate wet prints in my portfolio. It's been a long time for me and I was just a novice. These days I process film in daylight tanks, scan, and outsource the inkjet print production. Our community darkroom is closed to covid and I don't have the space for an enlarger and darkroom at home, so I'm going to start with positive papers, dry plates, contact prints, and wet plates. The 5x7 would be the tool I use to experiment with these processes.

My preferred subjects are landscapes and closeups of found objects in nature as well as some outdoor portraiture for the plates.

These are the cameras I'm generally eyeballing:

• Vageeswari - Indian view cameras. They occasionally pop up, usually in need of repair, seem like good project cameras.
• Korona - early 20th century view cameras. The ones I've seen have front shift, which I'm not sure I'd use much but nice to have. Looks like it can handle pretty long lenses. Bulky?
  
• Kodak 2D - the ones I've seen have been near the top of my price range but looked like decent condition.
• Burke & James - uuuugly, lots of them are painted, may be a real good value?
• Conley - just another 80-100 year old wooden camera.

Whaddya all think of these? Any others come to mind?

B&J's come from the factory with battleship gray paint. Sometimes, not always, they can be stripped and refinished to either natural or stained, and then there are the ones that you end up repainting. Still and all, a good serviceable camera, rather utilitarian but very capable. I have had, and currently have a couple of 5x7 B&J's, I also have an Indian copy of a Deardorff. The Teak Dorffclone is quite handsome, needed no repairs, and has more movements than I need or use, and weighs about the same as the B&J's, and is a triple extension. I rather enjoy the format.

 

[Vaughn]

Eastman View No.2. Just rise/fall in the front, but I can get what I need via back tilt/swing. I do not have the back extension rail, but the longest I use on it is 250mm, so no issue there. I have the sliding block .. which is very nice to have -- and on the 2D, also, if you go that route. It makes the whole camera a bit more stable by bridging and stiffening the hinge...and centering the weight over the tripod.

The second photo shows how it bridges the hinge nicely.

The geared movements in the back (tilt and swing) are sweet. Light camera, 7.75 lbs (add another pound and an ounce with the FujiW 180mm and board)...but then I am use to 8x10 and 11x14s. My 4x5 weighs 2.5 pounds with the 150mm/5.6 on it.

I would like a modern version of this with front movements...the new Chinese offerings come close (non-folding 5x7) but either have no back movements, or are horizontal only or some other deal-breaker for me. Saving me money, though!

 

[harlequin]

Wanted to Thank everyone for the great information suggestions and sample photos, thanks for confirming the merits of the 5x7 format and it’s feasability too!

I will keep you posted and share photos of the 57 I end up with, perhaps an intrepid?
Did Peter Gotland make a 5x7?

Thanks for making the journey informative!

Harlequin

 

[MattKing]

Are you by chance thinking of Peter Gowland?

 

[Vaughn]

Yes Peter made some 5x7s, but my guess, not many. I have never seen one for sale, but they were on his website.

https://www.petergowland.com/gowlandflex-cameras

 

[GregY]

Harlequin, As stated in many posts, 5x7 is beautiful aspect ratio and size. Since you mentioned a studio in Texas, I'll mention that there are several Toyo-view monorails currently on Ebay for $500 or less. 5x7 was my go-to for about 10years, but with the rise in cost of TMY2 and the USD/Canadian exchange rate 50 sheets with shipping was over $500/ box. Given that i only occasionally print 20x24, i downsized to 4x5. Holders do come up for sale. I sold all my plasic ones here last year, but i've got 9 or 10 wood body holders in working condition you could have for $10 @. plus shipping.
You get 35 sq in of film compared to 20 on 4x5, and that great aspect ratio. Freestyle has a really good selection of film. I can't say enough encouraging things about the format. BTW, if it's a field camera you're after, Rittreck & Tachihara are quite plentiful and cheap. My #1 was a'38 Deardorff & it was a great and reliable camera.

 

[Neil Poulsen]

How about an Ansco 5x7. I had a friend who was a professional portrait photographer back in the 50's, and he used an Ansco 5x7 for most of his work.

 

[B+WFriend]

I too, like the 5x7 format and most of my shooting is with an old type Arca Swiss. They aren’t much money, but take a while to find. And are fairly light weight for a monorail type camera. Lots of movements. I found the early plate cameras workable, but either requiring too much repair work, or just not solid enough for good stable longer exposures.
The Arca system also has the benefit of being modular, so one can change formats and accessories easily.

 

[GregY]

With three of you sharing the costs, you can pretty much have your choice. There is a Burke & James Rembrandt 5x7 on ebay for $325. I used a Canham, then a Deardorff (my favourite) & a Chamonix. Yes Intrepid is supposed to come out with one, but they've had their growing pains. (I'd prefer an older camera than the cheapest made new one). To put things in perspective, when I sold my 5x7 & downsized to 4x5 (I mostly shoot medium format & enlarge to 16x 20 or 20x24 at the largest).... the film i sold from my fridge brought 3x more than the Deardorff. With three sharing the price...don't scrimp. It's a great format!

 

[nosmok]

There's also a pretty cheap Eastman View No.2 5x7 on evilBay right now (*cough cough*). One thing I would add is: even if you're using a very old camera, you may not want to use very old film holders. Some of the really old ones, say a self-casing Poco IIRC, may require them, as they have non-standard holder widths. In general, newer Lisco or Fidelity plastic holders are well worth the investment.

 

[GKC]

B&W film is certainly available. As Vaughn mentioned film holders are pretty much a second(maybe third or fourth) hand item.
I have two "senior''5x7 cameras, an Agfa Ansco Universal and a Speed Graphic. New cameras are still being made.
Jump in, the water is fine