Question about Wista 45RF

[Mesabound]

Is this a camera that I could feasibly slap a 6x9 back on and shoot handheld on the street? Asking because I'm on the verge of sinking some money into a Fuji GW690 which, while obviously more portable, would have much more limited use for me (probably strictly a travel cam), whereas I'm also in the market for a general use 4x5, and if the Wista could theoretically enable me to use my 150mm and 180mm Sironars outside of the studio, I'd be pretty keen on the various possibilities.

Appreciate any shepherding here....

 

[grat]

It's a 6.3 pound (2.86kg) camera without a lens or film back. My mini speed graphic is ~ 4 pounds, and is about the limit for what I'd want to try handheld.

Then again, there are people who use the GX680 (9+ pounds / 4.1kg) hand-held.

 

[Paul Howell]

I think a 4X5 Crown Graphic with graflock back, for street shooting use matched 127 or 135 lens with rangefinder with 2 1/4 X 3 1/4 back or sports finders with guesstamatic focus. Unlike the speed the crown lacks the focal plan shutter which makes it lighter. In the filed, 4X5 back ground glass back and your 150 and 180. Downside is that the 127 or 135 will be somewhat long when shooting 2 1/4 by 3 1/4 and these are only two lens that came matched for the rangefinder. Of course you can get a Horseman or Linhof with interchangeable lens with matched cams that would allow you to use the 6X9 back with a wide lens.

 

[Paul Howell]

As I thought about it, the Wista RF should work as well as a Horseman or Linhof, one advantage of a Linhof is support, they are repairable to a certain extent. The RF has 3 built in cams for 135, 150 and 180, and can be adjusted to work with any 135, 150 and 180 lens, the 135 is some what wide for 4X5 is long for 6X9. Looks like there is 6X9 back, the manual I found on line for the RF has only the first 7 pages. Again the big disadvantage of the Wista is that when shooting 6X9 there is are built in cams for 65 to 120 lens, which are lens most useful when shooting on the street hand held.

 

[Mesabound]

Thanks Paul, that's useful info

 

[Paul Howell]

Typo, should have said, there are no built in cams for 65 to 120 lens.

 

[quine666]

Does the 45RF viewfinder have frame lines for 6x9?

 

[Paul Howell]

That's a good question, most 4X5 RF that take 6X9 backs use a mask that slips over the viewfinder. I know that for Graphic and Speeds the masks are hard to find but easy to make.