Shen Hao? dayi? Or does not matter?

mark · Mar 19, 2021

I need a 6x12 roll film back. Having never shot 6x12 I’m not going to invest in a horseman. Looks like my options are Shen Hao, or Dayi. Which has the better track record?

unless of course someone has a solid calumet for a decent price.

Dan Fromm · Mar 19, 2021

There have been discussions about this. II can't be bothered to search for them -- you're the one who wants to know, please search now that you know you might find something -- but IIRC, these two brands of 6x12 roll holder come out of the same machine shop.

grat · Mar 19, 2021

The biggest difference seems to be the design of the gates for smaller formats. The Dayi uses small panels that clip into each side, and the Shen Hao uses a continuous frame that drops in.

xya · Mar 20, 2021

I would recommend to wait and get the real stuff, a horseman or a sinar. before buying a well used sinar for my cambo wide I had a shen hao and it wasn't good in my opinion...

mark · Apr 1, 2021

xya said:
I would recommend to wait and get the real stuff, a horseman or a sinar. before buying a well used sinar for my cambo wide I had a shen hao and it wasn't good in my opinion...

I have a sinar Zoom that won’t advance right. I can’t figure out why it won’t. I was just wanting to shoot some film

Nicholas Lindan · Apr 1, 2021

What's the reason for shooting 6x12cm in a 4x5" camera, 6x12cm being approximately 2.5 x 5", instead of plain-ole 4x5" and cropping the top and bottom as you see fit when printing? I can see the purpose of a dedicated 6x12cm camera (I think, though I would be tempted to use a Speed/Crown Graphic, me being a bit of a cheap (read retired) bastard).

There was a silly feature on some 35mm P&S cameras where a lever would bring a pair of blinds down, cropping the frame to 12x36mm and bring up a set of tick-marks in the viewfinder so you could take "panoramic" pictures. I remember having a Nikon 35ti with this 'feature'.

Vaidotas · Apr 2, 2021

1. Aesthetical considerations. Some folks likes 2:1 ratio.
2. Cost per frame. You paying x4 less for 120 format frame (fresh Ilford for example).
3. The only choice to use your beloved film Ilford PanF with plus or wihout it.
4. Speed of processing. It takes the same time to develop 12 frames 6x12 and 6 sheets of 4x5 in modest equipped darkroom.
5. 4x5 camera movements

And there is no wasting of film as in your example with “panoramic” point and shoot camera

My choice would be used Sinar vario or zoom.
You can easily resale it, it keeps value.

I’m happily using heavily weared Sinar vario for more than 10 years.

AnselMortensen · Apr 2, 2021

As Dan said earlier...those 2 are the same.
I had one briefly...the fit & finish was terrible.
I have a 6x9 Horseman, and it is light years more user-friendly in comparison.
I'd recommend saving up a while longer for the Horseman, unless you happen to like fumbling around with equipment and cursing like a sailor. (No offense to sailors).

xya · Apr 2, 2021

mark said:
I have a sinar Zoom that won’t advance right. I can’t figure out why it won’t. I was just wanting to shoot some film

the sinars are quite sturdy, so it's mostly wrong handling that makes them fail. the instructions are difficult to read in my opinion. try to follow different instruction sites to the letter. sometimes it's just a different approach that makes it understandable.

seen the price even of a cheap 9x12 back, you can certainly have your sinar repaired. it's worth it.

Shen Hao? dayi? Or does not matter?

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