For Sale Shen Hao TFC-617A Panoramic View Camera

[TBen]

Shen Hao TFC-617A panoramic view camera with factory installed fresnel lens, Roll Film Back and 7 Shen Hao lens boards.

Mint condition. Purchased new. Used twice.

$950 - Free shipping in CONUS

Specs from Shen Hao website:
-CAMERA TYPE：Non-Folding
-BELLOWS DRAW EXTENSION：65 - 310mm
-Weight/Dimensions：2.2kg / 200 x 260 x 140mm
-MATERIAL USED：Black Walnut, Aluminum Alloy
-FRONT：Rise 56mm, Fall 22mm, Shift ±36mm, Swing ±45° , Tilt ±20°
-REAR：Rise 58mm, Swing ±10° , Tilt ±11°
-FORMAT：6x17cm

 

[lbenac]

PM sent. Interested in the camera, can do PayPal.


Cheers,

Luc

 

[jolimon]

Sorry, Luc..... bought it this week... I will let you know how it works for me.... Richard

 

[lbenac]

You lucky devil, I am sure you will enjoy it. Let me know how it goes

That is why I did not get an answer to my PM from the seller.
Cheers,

Luc

 

[jolimon]

So Luc, if you come across the Rockies, you can always visit the camera in Canmore and even take it for a spin.
I love panoramics ..... earlier this year I got a nice Canham 5x7 traditional with the motorized 617 back but never bonded with it.... somewhat fussy but beautifully made.
One of the issues with these film cameras is that the closest store for me to view and handle the beasts is either seattle or columbus. So one has to buy it, try it and if it doesn't work
for you, then sell it.
I also have an art panoramic 617 with a 90 f8 Nikkor.... a great point and shoot. But i want to use a 75mm all the way up to my 360 nikkor..... and a lot of the film i do in this size is
for wedding portraits here in the mountains. The little nobles 135U I have used for years is a little small and harder to scan/print than the 617 which is why I am trying the shen hao.

A little nervous about quality as the only shen hao I have ever seen was purchased by a close friend here in Canmore and it was garbage. Many issues.... so much lacquer that you couldn't
fit the film holder in under the gg. Jeff at Badger speaks highly of their quality now so it will be fun to see it. Picking it up in Bozeman next week on a road trip. Maybe pano shots of Yellowstone
in winter.
Will let you know impressions.
Richard

 

[jolimon]

So Luc, if you come across the Rockies, you can always visit the camera in Canmore and even take it for a spin.
I love panoramics ..... earlier this year I got a nice Canham 5x7 traditional with the motorized 617 back but never bonded with it.... somewhat fussy but beautifully made.
One of the issues with these film cameras is that the closest store for me to view and handle the beasts is either seattle or columbus. So one has to buy it, try it and if it doesn't work
for you, then sell it.
I also have an art panoramic 617 with a 90 f8 Nikkor.... a great point and shoot. But i want to use a 75mm all the way up to my 360 nikkor..... and a lot of the film i do in this size is
for wedding portraits here in the mountains. The little nobles 135U I have used for years is a little small and harder to scan/print than the 617 which is why I am trying the shen hao.

A little nervous about quality as the only shen hao I have ever seen was purchased by a close friend here in Canmore and it was garbage. Many issues.... so much lacquer that you couldn't
fit the film holder in under the gg. Jeff at Badger speaks highly of their quality now so it will be fun to see it. Picking it up in Bozeman next week on a road trip. Maybe pano shots of Yellowstone
in winter.
Will let you know impressions.
Richard

 

[lbenac]

Hello Richard,

Ok I think that you are set for panoramic cameras
The feed-back on the latest Shen-Hao seems to be very good so you probably have nothing to worry about. I know that my Chamonix 45N-2 is very well made.
We were around Banff, Lake Louise and Yoho a couple of summers ago and just loved it so much. The Iceline Trail in Yoho is one of my favourite...
BTW in Banff there was a gallery with some nice pano that could have been with one of the 617. I do not remember the name of the photographer and the student in attendance had no idea of what I was talking about.
Let me know how it goes. I am still thinking about a SHen-Hao PTB617 which look like the same concept than my Chamonix (that is how I rationalize my lust).

Cheers,

Luc

 

[jolimon]

Hi Luc..... heading to Bozeman tomorrow and the shen hao awaits. Hope I don't run into a lot of snow.... Pincher Creek had winds of 100kph today so I am leaving in the morning.
I think I know who did the panos of which you speak.... nice work.... i will find the name and send it to you.... check Avens Gallery in Canmore.
I didn't want to get the PTB model as i don't like that chamonix style knob focusing and need the extra bellows length nor a nikkor 360T... and that was a sweet deal. If it doesn't work
out to my needs, I will likely post it here and on large format forum for sale but at this point, it should be fine.
Must go pack film..... and that silly D800 thingamabob.
Ciao
Richard

 

[lbenac]

Hi Luc..... heading to Bozeman tomorrow and the shen hao awaits. Hope I don't run into a lot of snow.... Pincher Creek had winds of 100kph today so I am leaving in the morning.
I think I know who did the panos of which you speak.... nice work.... i will find the name and send it to you.... check Avens Gallery in Canmore.
I didn't want to get the PTB model as i don't like that chamonix style knob focusing and need the extra bellows length nor a nikkor 360T... and that was a sweet deal. If it doesn't work
out to my needs, I will likely post it here and on large format forum for sale but at this point, it should be fine.
Must go pack film..... and that silly D800 thingamabob.
Ciao
Richard

Could luck and good driving. If you don't like it let me know before you post it

Cheers,

Luc

 

[jolimon]

receipt

Hi Ben... love the camera.... perfectly packed and shipped. I hope you see this message as I need a receipt for going across the border in two days.
Can you email me please with the $950 invoice.... thanks.
Richard

 

[TBen]

All.

Sincerely apologize for not updating this thread earlier with 'Sold'. Thought I had done so. Once again, mea culpa.

 

[angusparkengusparker]

So how is the camera? I just got the PTB 617 and it is great except for two things - front tilt is hard to do since unlike the Chamonix it has an extra screw control (i.e. two on each side of front standard) and there is a small metal plate at the bottom of where the lens boards go in and it stops a Chamonix lens board from being fully mounted. Unscrewing and reversing that plate will allow you to mount those kind of boards. Otherwise, it is very light and the film back looks well made, the view camera is nice but not the same quality as the Chamonix which I kind of knew would be the case - but for the price you get so much flexibility (assuming you already own LF lenses) and movements. Can't wait to take it out.