Suggestions on cheap 4x5 folder--B&J 4x5 woodfield

[Jeremy]

I'm looking for a cheap 4x5 field camera as the calumet c400 is just too difficult for me to easily use it in the field. Right now I'm considering the Burke and James 4x5 woodfield. It's not a box folding camera, it actually folds more out into a monorail type with movements like one (it actually has more rise and tilt than my calumet!). Does anyone have any info or suggestions? It only has 14" of bellows w/o an extension bed, but I'm getting better in the shop and will try to fashion my own to cut down on costs--same goes for lens boards. The lens board are also 5.25" square and will therefore accept most lenses usable for 4x5. The cost for one of these with new bellows, an uncoated 150 xenar, 4 double film holders, and w/o the extension bed is under $300. Though I'm going to go for a more modern lens in a modern shutter. Good deal?

 

[Robert]

Uncoated Xenar? How old would that be? [You can check the scheinder website under vintage lens info] My understanding is that the older lenses from this company had less then ideal QC. So IMHO you're paying almost $300 for just the camera and holders. I don't know just seems high for any B&J-) Didn't Calumet make a woodfield to? Could it be the same camera?

I'm assuming the problem with the CC400 is the shape more then the weight?

$300 isn't much less then one of those new Chinese cameras.

 

[Jeremy]

I'm probably going to be buying it from Midwest photo exchange. After totaling it up (like you just did Robert) it may not be worth it (it's $269). For $219 they have the B&J w/o any of the extras but with new bellows. The plus about the package with the 150 is that it comes with a lensboard and I was going to see what size it was cut for and if I could change the uncoated xenar for a more modern lens and how much I would be paying for that (deducting the cost of the xenar). Or just getting the camera for $219 and checking to see if they have any lens boards and their cost. There is a B&J woodfield on ebay right now w/o lens board but it has the extension bed, but there's still 5+ days remaining.

Yes, the problem with the cc400 is more shape than weight. The weight really isn't the problem *though lighter would be a plus.

 

[Jeremy]

Here's the ad from midwest and I was wrong about the lens. It's not an uncoated xenar, it's an uncoated Zeiss Tessar in Deckal Compur shutter.


B+J 4x5 wood bed field with lens! 4x5 bed camera with newer bellows! Standard 4x5 ground glass back. Full moves on both front and back standards. 14” bellows draw. Lens is 150 older uncoated Zeiss Tessar in Deckel Compur working shutter. Also includes 4 4x5 cut film holders. 8+ $269.

4x5 B+J wood bed field with NEW bellows. Standard 4x5 ground glass back. About 15” of bellows draw. Top strap missing. Else 8 $219.

 

[Jeremy]

My minimum bellows requirement is around 14" as I like to do close-up shots.

 

[hbc]

hi. check out a corona view 4x5. i found one for 150.00 with an ektar 150 lens. it was a little funky but with alittle tightening and cleaning it turned out great. its very light and compact though there is no front tilt or swing only rise. it was stilla great deal. sometimes you see the on ebay under vintage folding cameras. good luck.

 

[Ole]

I paid about $80 for a 9x12cm Voigtländer Bergheil, with uncoated Heliar 150mm lens. No tilts or swings, but lots of shift and rise. Very nice little camera...

 

[Jeremy]

I'm thinking I may just try to deal with taking the c400 out right now and save up to purchase a shen-hao or or used wista. There's no point in purchasing something that I don't enjoy using.

 

[Jeremy]

After doing some more research and calling around to a bunch of places I went with a used Gowland Front Moves 4x5. A 2.5 lb monorail with 16" of bellows extension segregated over 2 8.5" rails allowing easy backpacking. Also, I've found that I don't need very much at all in the way of movements and the movements that this camera has works just great (and hey, if there's something I need more movement on I still have the c400).