Want to Buy R H Phillips 4x5 Large Format Camera

J Durr · Aug 22, 2022

WTB: R H Phillips 4x5 Large Format Camera or comparable model......

What's in your collection?

I know that this is the RHP 8x10, but "ain't she a beauty?"

hap · Aug 22, 2022

I had a Phillips 8x10. Regret selling it.

J Durr · Aug 23, 2022

hap said:
I had a Phillips 8x10. Regret selling it.

I know .... I have sold many things that I wish I had back!

hap · Aug 23, 2022

Mine was one of the early composite versions of the 8x10

J Durr · Aug 23, 2022

hap said:
Mine was one of the early composite versions of the 8x10

They were all cool! And well made, so I hear.

zenfoto · Apr 7, 2023

Are you still looking for one? I have two and may be willing to part with one.

J Durr · Apr 7, 2023

zenfoto said:
Are you still looking for one? I have two and may be willing to part with one.

Hi, I never found one so I bought something else to make do. I would love to see yours and find out the particulars.
The Phillips is still at the top of my want list.
If you get a minute please send pics etc.

thanks for your reply,
J

Jurgen Estanislao · Apr 7, 2023

zenfoto said:
Are you still looking for one? I have two and may be willing to part with one.

Mind sharing as well?

zenfoto · Apr 8, 2023

Last photo of it out in the wild… will get some “studio” shots of it this weekend and post.

MTGseattle · Apr 8, 2023

There needs to be a gallery for these. They seem to be highly regarded and uncommon at the same time with a lot of variations. In the above picture I definitely see some elements that went into the Chamonix cameras.
Does anyone know where I can source a couple of the mini levels with mounting plates? McMaster-Carr?

Michael Mutmansky · Apr 8, 2023

MTGseattle said:
There needs to be a gallery for these. They seem to be highly regarded and uncommon at the same time with a lot of variations. In the above picture I definitely see some elements that went into the Chamonix cameras.
Does anyone know where I can source a couple of the mini levels with mounting plates? McMaster-Carr?

Yes, McMaster Carr is where Dick got the levels originally. Not sure if they still make the ones he used or if anything about the ones he used were custom fabricated. I don't think so, but not positive.

MTGseattle · Apr 9, 2023

I'll do some looking. I thought about contacting Chamonix to see if they would sell a few, but that seems like the long way around.

Terence · Apr 9, 2023

Michael Mutmansky said:
Yes, McMaster Carr is where Dick got the levels originally. Not sure if they still make the ones he used or if anything about the ones he used were custom fabricated. I don't think so, but not positive.

I can't believe it was almost 25 years ago that I read your review of the Philips 8x10 Explorer on LF Photography Forum.

Michael Mutmansky · Apr 10, 2023

Terence said:
I can't believe it was almost 25 years ago that I read your review of the Philips 8x10 Explorer on LF Photography Forum.

Now you're making me feel old! Hahaha...

I used to have a 4x5 model just like the one in the second photo and I consider it to have been possibly the finest 4x5 field camera ever made (and I've used a bunch both through the VC Magazine articles I wrote and personally). What a joy to use, and Dick was such a great person to meet and get to know.

In a span of time, I owned an 8x10 Explorer (while I waited for my 8x10 Compact II to be built) and a 7x7, plus one of the very rare 12x20 cameras Dick made. All of them have been passed off to friends to shoot with and I miss the 7x17 and the 4x5 the most.

I lost track of him a few years ago (maybe 5-8 years ago now?) so I don't know if he's still living in Texas or not. I hope he's still shooting and kicking about.

Terence · Apr 10, 2023

Michael Mutmansky said:
Now you're making me feel old! Hahaha...

I used to have a 4x5 model just like the one in the second photo and I consider it to have been possibly the finest 4x5 field camera ever made (and I've used a bunch both through the VC Magazine articles I wrote and personally). What a joy to use, and Dick was such a great person to meet and get to know.

In a span of time, I owned an 8x10 Explorer (while I waited for my 8x10 Compact II to be built) and a 7x7, plus one of the very rare 12x20 cameras Dick made. All of them have been passed off to friends to shoot with and I miss the 7x17 and the 4x5 the most.

I lost track of him a few years ago (maybe 5-8 years ago now?) so I don't know if he's still living in Texas or not. I hope he's still shooting and kicking about.

They came out just as I was getting into LF. Works of art.

MTGseattle · Apr 10, 2023

I found an Italian review of the compact II on youtube. The Explorer is the horizontal only back correct?

DREW WILEY · Apr 10, 2023

Cool. Original post - same Phillips 8x10 compact as I use, though mine is earlier (only the 8th one ever made), and I replaced some of the minor hardware with stronger stainless steel. I actually prefer the simplicity of this original version over the slightly more featured II version. It's held up extremely well.

Michael Mutmansky · Apr 11, 2023

Yes, horizontal only, unless you wanted to risk flopping the tripod head on its side.

I did it because I shot a lot of verticals, but was happy to get my hands on the Compact II once my order came up.

Want to Buy R H Phillips 4x5 Large Format Camera

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