Shen-Hao TFC45-IIA..where to buy and...

[marcwilson]

Hi,

I am trying to buy a shen-hao TFC45-IIA and wondering where I can get one from..I can't seem to get onto the shen-hao website and badger graphics in the states and robert white here in the U.K. do not seem to stock it any more.

Also does anyone know what is the shortest lens that can be used with this body..is it a 35mm like on the (similar!) ebony SW45 and can it take a wide angle bellows.

Thanks,

Marc

 

[Neil54]

Hi,

In the UK the Shen Hao model that you want is sold be a company called Foto-Arte. I bought mine from there and the service was very good. This model can be fitted with a wide angle bellows.

Regards Neil.

 

[Bryan Miller]

Marc are you sure about Badger not stocking the camera any longer? I purchased one from Badger about 1.5 years ago and still purchase Shen Hao accessories from Jeff (most recently 2 weeks ago).

I also have the wide angle bellows which works beautifully (very easy to install) but have never used anything as short as 35mm.

 

[coriana6jp]

Badger is still very much selling Shen Hao, a friend just bought one from them. But, they have not sold the TFC45AII as long as I can remember. They are selling the more current HZX45AII, which you might be thinking of. The TFC45 is a non folding camera.

Hope it helps.

Gary

 

[marcwilson]

Yes it is the non folding TFC45 I am after..most places including foto arte, robert white, badger in the U.S. seem to have stopped selling it.did they have problems as it was too similar to the ebony?

I prefer the non folding type for various reasons.

I have just emailed them directly as somewhere else on this forum I have seen an updated price list that includes it...hopefully I got the right email address.

Marc

 

[Donsta]

Can't help you with a source, but beware - the really big advantage of the SW45 Ebony it is copied from is a very flexible set of bellows which enable you to use lenses from ultra wide out to about a 180. Unfortunately, the Shen Hao has way inferior bellows (stiff and hard) which means that you really need the wide angle bellows for anything much wider than a 90. Seems really dumb to have to change out bellows on a camera with only 180mm of total extension?

Yes it is the non folding TFC45 I am after..most places including foto arte, robert white, badger in the U.S. seem to have stopped selling it.did they have problems as it was too similar to the ebony?

I prefer the non folding type for various reasons.

I have just emailed them directly as somewhere else on this forum I have seen an updated price list that includes it...hopefully I got the right email address.

Marc

 

[Kobin]

This is a message I received in September from Joyce of camerachina.com re: the TFC45 when I was thinking about buying one...

From Joyce of Camerachina:
> Dear Kobin
> I don't know what happened to shenhao's web site. I asked Mr. Zhang to
> check it.
> The TFC4x5 camera with an aluminum case is 500usd.(without freight)
> This time we will go to Cologne for photokina show during 26 Sept. to
> 1 Oct. If you can go there, you can take the camera on 1 OCT.
> But if you cann't go there, we can supply it on about the end of Oct.
> But you will pay the freight. If sent by UPS, it is about 75usd(total
> gross weight is about 5kgs.)
>
> If you have any other questions, pls feel free to contact me.
> Best Regards,
> Joyce
> Shanghai Seagull Trading Inc.
> 2F,No.1038,Yang Shu Pu Road,

Give her an email or a shout.

I assume the Shen interests you because of the price differential vis a vis the Ebony. It was the reason I considered the Shen.

K.

 

[marcwilson]

Yes I am looking at the shen-hao for the costs!..otherwise I would be ordering the ebony today..its just the $1500 dollar difference helps me towards the two extra lenses I need.

I would use it with the bag bellows that they can supply and as that would cover my most used lenses without the need to change that would be ok.

The movevments I need are front rise / fall and shift and i do like the non folding type..lighter also and need to use lenses from 38mm to 180mm

Unfortunately the ebony rsw45 only has rise and fall but no shift (as does the walker ultrawide) so from what I can see from my research it is down to these two only..unless someone can suggest some alternative?


Marc

 

[sdphoto]

Marc,

Plwase don't listen to the Shen Hao detractors. There are many of us who use these cameras quite successfully.

The bellows work just fine. Every field camera (with the exception of some Ebony models) use a standard bellows with an option of using a bag bellows or recessed lensboard to handle wide lenses. That includes Linhof, Toyo, Walker, and others.

I have a TFC45-IIA and use a 65mm lens with the standard bellows, and have all the movements the lens allowed available to me. I have a bag bellows, but rarely use it.

There are two models, the TFC45-I, which has a fixed standard bellows, and the TFC45-IIA, which allows you to change the bellows.

There are those who say the design of this camera is flawed because it doesn't use an Ebony-like Universal bellows (which is a very good design of the Ebony camera), but those same people say Shen Hao ripped off the design of the Ebony. It they had, they would have copied the Universal bellows design. Instead, they opted to use what every other field camera on the planet uses, which is a tried-and-proven design.

There is only so much you can do to make a non-folding field camera different. Shen Hao chose to stick with a traditional design.

If you can find a TFC45-IIA, go for it. You won't be sorry.

Steve Daniels

 

[sdphoto]

Sorry for the misspellings in the previous reply, my fingers are not working properly today.

I just had a thought...

I could REALLY get the Ebony purists upset by purchasing an Ebony Universal bellows and fitting it to my Shen Hao. That option would cost me almost what I paid for the camera. If what they say is true, and my camera really is a clone, they should fit.

 

[marcwilson]

Steve,

I actaully ended up with the ebony (sw45) as that was what i could get at the time..it really is lovely but I would have no hesitation in getting the similar ebony if I was in that position again.
Marc