Portable LF/6x9 solution - recommendation?

[Luminousoctaves]

I'm looking for advice on buying a large format camera (or medium format) that can handle perspective and parallel lines-control (bellow), that is portable (meaning relatively quick to set up and shoot + relatively easy to carry around) and that can support roll film backs for 6x9-format.

The reason for 6x9 is that I mostly use a Focomat IIc enlarger.

I have been recommended the Linhof Technica IV with roll film back.
But another source said that they can be a bit kranky and unreliable. Opinions?

PS. I am pretty unfamiliar to large format photography, and prefer something simple DS.

 

[baachitraka]

This has been my search too. A nice wooden camera with all those movements and take rollex roll film back.

 

[Dan Fromm]

Not mine and I have no connection to the seller. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cambo-69-6-...-exc-EXTRA-set-from-japan-73290-/252502432478

I do, however, have 2 1/2 of them. Full movements. For transport, remove the bellows, rotate the standards 90 degrees so that the rail is in the planes they define. The camera will then fit in a briefcase or backpack.

baachitraka, when you say "rollex" which Linhof roll holder do you mean? As far as I know, could be mistaken, the jes' plain Rollex won't attach to a Graflok/International back.

 

[baachitraka]

I am looking something like Rollex that is available for plate camera to attach a roll film.

 

[monst]

a plaubel peco junior is a gem of a small monorail

 

[Moopheus]

If you can live with 6x8 instead of 6x9, a Fuji GX680 might be a solution. Thought it might also be pushing the limit of 'portable'.

 

[jeffreyg]

I have a Toyo 4x5 field camera and a roll film holder that fits in like a film holder. Not the most glamorous set up and although I rarely use that back since for medium format I use my Hasselblads it does work. It is the metal version of the Toyo and is not heavy and has enough movements for my purposes. A sturdy tripod and good lenses are the key IMOP.

http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/

 

[Luminousoctaves]

a plaubel peco junior is a gem of a small monorail

That look very promising, thank you, will look into it. Do they come with roll film backs? I have just found them with 6x9 plate holders so far.

 

[Luminousoctaves]

If you can live with 6x8 instead of 6x9, a Fuji GX680 might be a solution. Thought it might also be pushing the limit of 'portable'.

Yes, 6x8 would also work. but the Fuji GX680:s are quite rare and expensive I guess?

 

[Nokton48]

Makiflex Bellows Attachment by Nokton48, on Flickr

Front end of Plaubel Peco Jr. This turns the Plaubel Makiflex into the Pecoflex.
A very elegant and precise to use small view camera.

 

[Luminousoctaves]

That looks spot on! What's the value for one of those and a roll film back? How about lenses, anything works?
Nice bonus with mirror viewfinder.

 

[Nokton48]

Makiflexes can be pricey. The camera dealer Igor Reznik just put his Makiflex outfit (no extra Bellows Attachment) up for sale for $1500 with some accessories. He sold all his Makiflex stuff. I bought the Bellows attachment which was the last thing he had.

The Plaubel Peco Jr is a -VIEW- Camera, the Makiflex is a 9x9cm -SLR-. Peco Jrs can be seen on Ebay.com and Ebay.de and not not too expensive. Take a look and see what is available. They made several versions, some 6x9cm and some 9x12cm/4x5"

 

[Dan Fromm]

Makiflexes, Pecoflexes and Arca-Swiss Reflexes are lovely but can't use lenses shorter than 150 mm or so. This because of their mirror boxes' depths and the non-existence of retrofocus lenses for formats larger than 6x8. If I'm not mistaken -- there was a discussion about this on the US LF forum not long ago -- lenses for the GX680 are in non-standard electronic shutters and their cells aren't direct fits in standard shutters.

OP, if you want to use lenses much shorter than 150 mm and to shoot 6x9 with movements your only choices are 2x3/6x9 and 4x5 press, technical and view cameras.

baachitraka, there are many, many roll film holders. Which camera do you want to use one on? Make, model and back type, please.

 

[Nokton48]

That look very promising, thank you, will look into it. Do they come with roll film backs? I have just found them with 6x9 plate holders so far.

Here's a 6x9cm Peco Jr Outfit:
More expensive than Cambo, usually:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Plaubel-Pec...445886?hash=item36072a49be:g:c6cAAOSw-itXsJuq

 

[Dan Fromm]

Peco Jr manual: http://www.cameraeccentric.com/html/info/plaubel_2.html

Rear swings only, not sure that will matter to the OP.

There are other 2x3 view cameras if the OP wants a 2x3 view camera instead of a 2x3 technical camera or a 4x5er. Linhof made several, still offers at least one. Arca-Swiss too. Now that I think of it, there's the 2x3 Galvin too.

I'm happy with my little 2x3 Cambos but if I hadn't been given the first one as a gift I'd have been better off with a 4x5 Cambo or Sinar. Both are easy to find and less expensive than nearly any 2x3 camera with movements.

 

[Luminousoctaves]

Beautiful kit! Something like that with a 6x9 roll film back would be perfect for me.

 

[Luminousoctaves]

Rear swings only, not sure that will matter to the OP.

How do rear swings, and no front swings, affect the control of parallell lines and perspective?
Are there any downsides apart from the fact that the viewing glass position can become an issue?

 

[DREW WILEY]

Any decent 4X5 with a graflock back and appropriate bellows length for the lenses under consideration. But with one caution, many lightweight wooden field cameras are not suitably rigid. The weight of a roll film holder can deflect the back and tug your shot out of focus. Horsesman and Wista holders have an excellent reputation; just be certain they're for 4x5 rather than dedicated smaller cameras if a 4x5 is what you actually start with.
There are lot of older roll-film backs out there that aren't particularly precise, and not all cameras will even accept the heavy slide-in-style holders.
Focus is also more fussy than with full sheet film, so you need a good groundglass loupe. And of course, you need to learn how to employ the suite of controls inherent to a view camera, regardless. Remember, that with the shorter lenses used for smaller film area, you might need a bag bellow for
architectural shots with a wide angle lens and significant rise. Regular long bellows might crimp. Try to actually get your hands on your prospective
camera model before purchasing it, so you know the strengths or limitations beforehand.

 

[Dan Fromm]

Well, you don't need swings to eliminate converging vertical lines. Level the camera, then use front rise and/or rear fall to get the framing desired.

But what you need most of all is to learn how to use a view camera. Start with a book. The two most commonly recommended on the US LF forum are Steve Simmons' Understanding the View Camera and Leslie Stroebel's View Camera Technique. The first edition of Morgan & Lester's Graphic Graflex Photography explains movements very well too. All available at reasonable prices from sellers on abebooks.com, alibris.com, amazon.com, ...

 

[Luminousoctaves]

Thanks for input Dan. I'm not a complete stranger to large format photography, so I think I'll manage. But great tips for reading.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Not sure what it supposed to be "cranky and unreliable" about a 2x3" Technika that's been set up properly and in good repair. The rangefinder works, if it's in good adjustment and has cams that are serial-number matched to the lenses, and the system is solid and precise for use as a view camera. I have a 4x5" Tech V and 2x3" Tech V 23b. The 2x3" isn't the lightest or most compact 2x3" field camera, but that's a tradeoff for features like film flatness, parallelism when the standards are zeroed, rangefinder accuracy, ability to stand up to the wind, and quick setup.

 

[DREW WILEY]

Diecast metal cameras are nice. With lightweight wood ones, you gotta be picky. I'll be using a little 4x5 Ebony over the next two weeks with Horseman 6x9 holders. It's about as good as they come. But with shorter focal length lenses, not much of the gear track gets engaged, so I need to
insert a little plastic wedge to assure the film plane won't shift. With normal to longer focal lengths, no problem. If I wanted full lens versatility rather
than having pack weight as the priority, I'd simply use my Sinar monorail with its interchangeable bellows and extension rails. But even Technikas are
dependent upon the quality of the roll film holder. They're not all created equal, by any means. Some of the older Calumet holders were awful.

 

[ic-racer]

I use a Horseman VH-R, it is pretty nice while traveling because it gives me the option of using it as a view camera or a rangefinder.

 

[Moopheus]

Yes, 6x8 would also work. but the Fuji GX680:s are quite rare and expensive I guess?

Not especially; I think you could put together a kit for a few hundred dollars. Less than a Linhof, certainly.

 

[Luminousoctaves]

Ok, then it's very interesting. Is there a catch? Batteries?