Newbie.....Help me buy a Large Format Camera.....

[TheFlyingCamera]

Take a look at the Shen Hao HZX 45AII. Has more movements than you'll ever need (you can easily outrun the image circle of most of your lenses with bellows contortions), has interchangeable bellows, the accessory bag bellows is very inexpensive. They go for about $600 give or take.

 

[JBrunner]

SK Grimes just posted a CLA'd Toyo View 45D with a bag bellows & lens boards in the APUG classifieds for $300. Add a decent wide-ish lens and the bits, and you've got a super good set up for architecture, and you're also still going to be well within your budget.

It's not a pack camera, much more suited to architecture, working out of the car, etc.

Consider a start with this type of set up, build up a lens selection/collection, and then add a field camera for hiking, etc. Since you've gone against all good advice from "sane" persons, and fallen into the abyss, it's unlikely that this will be the only LF camera you will buy, but rather just the first.

 

[raucousimages]

I am a big Toyo fan. For the money the best bet is a 45D but you do not have interchangeable bellows. A 45G, 45GII, 45GX or 45CX are all great cameras and can be had for good prices. Avoid the 45E. The geared rise/fall is plastic and breaks.