Nice 8x10 on eBay with 4x5,5x7 backs

[mikewhi]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=15248&item=7511174149&rd=1

Also has 2 lensboards. Seems like it's very nice. I owned one as my first 8x10 and I highly recommend this camera.

-Mike

 

[donbga]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=15248&item=7511174149&rd=1

Also has 2 lensboards. Seems like it's very nice. I owned one as my first 8x10 and I highly recommend this camera.

-Mike

Sweet!

Don Bryant

 

[BradS]

I've heard good things about the old Kodak Master View. How does it compare to the Calumet C1? What do you think is a reasonable price for these?

Seems like everything for 8X10 costs another order of magnitude more than 4x5....

 

[mikewhi]

Hmmmmm, I've only tried one Calumet in my life and I do believe it was a C1, but I"m not certain. The C1 was a big beast as I recall. The KMV is a much different camera - like a metal version of a wooden Deardorf. It folds up neatly into a box with a handle. It is very sturdy, easy to setup, lightweight, plenty of movements. The bellows draw was short as I recall, maybe 23 inches if I recall correctly.

Personally, I highly recommend the KMV to anyone wanting an 8x10. It served me for many years before I got my Canham 8x10. The price right now is $807, but the reserve has not yet been met. I would expect this outfit to go for at least $1200 and I would consider that a pretty good price for everything there, a 5x7 and 4x5 back are hard to find for a KMV. It also has 2 lensboards which were notoriously hard to find, but I understand someone out there is making them custom now, but they are probably expensive. I had S.K. Grimes convert one of mine into an adapter board that would take 4x5 wista boards and had my lenses mounted to those boards. That worked out great.

So, anyone wanting an 8x10 that will be a great entre into the format, you would get a camera that would last many years, if not the rest of your life.

BTW, I'm not the one selling it<g>.

-Mike

 

[Steve Hamley]

Seems to be a nice looking camera, but it doesn't have the sliding base mount to center it on the tripod nor the front "tilt" attachment. Also note that the two reducing backs are grey wood Burke and James. For my money, I'd rather have a nice 2D for 1/4 the (probable) price that's functionally the same.

Steve

 

[Dave Parker]

Seems to be a nice looking camera, but it doesn't have the sliding base mount to center it on the tripod nor the front "tilt" attachment. Also note that the two reducing backs are grey wood Burke and James. For my money, I'd rather have a nice 2D for 1/4 the (probable) price that's functionally the same.

Steve

Steve,

I have a 2D and it is not same functionality of the Master View, the Master View has considerably more movements available than the 2D, both are great cameras and very useful for the types of shooting that will be done with them, in fact sometimes the MV may have to much movement for many people, especially if focus is landscape. But again, the KMV is a great camera and would serve anyone well that gets one.

Dave

 

[Nick Zentena]

I'm with Steve. At $800+ I can think of other choices for much less. The only things it's got over an Ansco is it's metal versus wood. Plus longer extension. But you give up geared rise. Is that worth the price difference? Not to me. Does the camera really go down to 2"? Well I guess for some that's a positive. If I needed the longer bellows and the extreme movements I've got a $200 monorail with even longer bellows and more movements.

 

[Dave Parker]

My Statements were not a disagreement in any way at all , that is why there are so many different companies making cameras with so many different features, to appeal to many different users of cameras.

Dave

 

[John Kasaian]

I had a KMV and can attest that it is a fine camera and unless the price goes through the roof it is quite a deal. Compared to the Agfa Ansco Universal the biggest advantage I find is that the KMV makes for a much smaller and lighter package when folded. The KMV is more 'dorff-like in that regard, but both are fine cameras. One advantage the Agfa Ansco has over the KMV is that is something breaks you can put it back together with Elmers. If something breaks on the KMV you'll probably need a machini$t! YMMV.