Shooting landscapes with a monorail?

[GLS]

In the same range I’m thinking about paying fur a new Chamonix, thanks. More than an old used field camera sure, but not at all out if the question.

I would think twice about that one if I were you. Looks pretty abused. Besides, the S45 version has a more robust and rigid design to the standards, and the tilt & swing functions have zero detents. The latter in particular are well worth having.

 

[Roger Cole]

I would think twice about that one if I were you. Looks pretty abused. Besides, the S45 version has a more robust and rigid design to the standards, and the tilt & swing functions have zero detents. The latter in particular are well worth having.

Well I actually didn’t mean that specific sample but I can see how it came across ghat way. Thanks for the info on the S.

 

[el_37]

And if you have the budget of a small nation, you can afford one...

Under $1500 used requires the budget of a small nation? You couldn't buy a used Sinar F1 for that in 2002.

LF has always been expensive and almost all of the monorails are now a fraction of what they cost 20 years ago. Most of the Technikardons seem to sell for $1300 and under now.

OP- Sinar F2. Cheap, plentiful, light easily foldable and if you leave the rail clamp on your tripod it is even more compact. Useful accessories (boards, fresnel, reflex viewer, bag bellows, rails, shade setup, gel filter holder, etc) are also inexpensive and plentiful and can also still be even rented if only needed for a short period.

I used one for architecture and landscape/cityscape photography and was able to get away with keeping the bag bellows on it 80% of time even with the 180mm. My main lens setup back then was 72mm/90mm/120mm/180mm/240mm with occasional usage of a 300mm, 600mm and a 58mm. Camera is also a dream to use with wides since you don't need a recessed board until you get down to under 58mm.

There are other compact monorails (Technikardon, Arca Swiss F series, etc) but they are not common and accessories are hard to come by.