Thinking of Getting an 8x10 View Camera

[Roger Thoms]

This was the thread I was thinking of over on LFPF. https://www.largeformatphotography....-Intrepid-8x10-experiences&highlight=Intrepid
Roger

 

[Peter Schrager]

Personally never used the intrepid but as in all things you pay for what you get. I use a wooden rajah which is a deardorff clone and I love it.
I see quite a few of the intrepid cameras being sold off..that should tell you something
Cameras are tools..buy the best you can afford

 

[Peter Schrager]

You can also pick up a nice older brass or barrel lens for cheap...pm me if you want a good contact for that

 

[John Earley]

As Peter mentioned above, you can get some very nice older lenses in barrel for a very good price and if they are mounted with a Packard shutter they make a great set up for portraits. Make sure you get a mounting flange with the lens as they can be hard to acquire. Also get a strong tripod if you get a Calumet C1 as they are a bit heavy


Calumet C1 8x10 View Camera by JOHN EARLEY, on Flickr

 

[Doc W]

Like a few others, I would shy away from the very heavy Calumet. It will make your experience in the field a lot less pleasant. I recommend a wooden Kodak which not exactly a field camera but it is a LOT lighter to carry. Even an old B&J, although they often need a bit of tightening. I use a Kodak Master 8x10 now and it is relatively light. I can easily carry it plus a few lenses in a (very large) kit bag. However, they usually sell for more than your budget, but before that I used an old wooden Ansco (I just realized that I still have it in the basement. I will send you an email).

 

[Ian Grant]

I bought an Agfa Ansco 10x8 Commercial View from a US Photography Professor in Portland, Maine, it's a lovely camera to use and came with a 12" Dagor which had been coated after WWII. Included were 3 DDS film holders, 3 spare lens boards, a Compendium lens hood, a 5x4 reducing back, and a brand new Beattie Intenscreen. Despite the Dagor being around 80 years old it's a superb lens.

You'd be better looking for a complete package camera, lens(es), accessories etc, you'd get a far better deal.

Ian

 

[Lars Bunch]

The Eastman View 2D is a really good portrait camera so long as you have the extension rail. I have used it with a 300mm, a 360mm and a 450mm. It doesn’t have a lot of movements, but it is simple and easy to use.

The 450mm gives a really nice field of view although you will get plenty of bellows draw if you want to focus within about 6 to 8 feet (a good range for a wide portrait) - about 1 2/3 stops in my case.

The 360mm is a very nice long normal (comparable to a 50mm on a 35mm camera) and might also be good for portraits. I have both 450 and 360 Nikkors and they are really nice lenses.

I would avoid a 300mm for portraits as it is a bit of a wide normal (comparable to a 39mm in 35mm). My first attempts at portraits in 8x10 were with a 300mm and I found it to be very unflattering.

 

[Alan Gales]

You'd be better looking for a complete package camera, lens(es), accessories etc, you'd get a far better deal.

Ian

Great advice.

If you buy a kit and it includes any extra lenses you don't want then just sell them. I've bought whole medium/large format kits including camera, several lenses, etcetera for just the one lens I wanted. By the time I parted out the rest of the kit, I ended up owning the lens I wanted for close to free. Yeah, it's a lot of work but if you are on a budget...

 

[braxus]

I've made a deal with someone for an inexpensive Agfa Ansco 8x10. Comes with a 5x7 back too and possibly a lens too. I still need to get the small stuff.

 

[Ian Grant]

Let us see te camera when you have it. I have 2 Agfa Ansco 10x8 a Commervial View and a Universal View, the latter is a cheaper version no extension rail no front tilt (some have), no front focus.

They don't usually have front swing, this Commercial View was a feature requested by the original owner, be aware that the far left bottom thumb screw allows additional extension, and is on the Commercial and Universal..

Ian

 

[braxus]

Here yeah go.

 

[Ian Grant]

That's an Ansco camera made after the US Government took over Agfa Ansco and moved LF camera production from Bingham. The cameras were redesigned so features differ from earlier Agfa cameras, still a good camera tough so have fun with it

Ian

 

[Lars Bunch]

What are your thoughts on the Intrepid 8x10 camera, which is currently produced in the UK? Pricing is $415 Pounds which works out to $702 Canadian on my end. Much cheaper then Ebay options on older cameras, especially ones in need of work. Plus its new and only weighs 5 pounds and folds up nicely. Could be backpacked on hikes. Any comments on this inexpensive piece? Also what size lens board fits in the Intrepid? Would some Graflex boards fit?

I wish I could give you more information, but the 8x10 Intrepid which I ordered over 12 weeks ago still hasn’t arrived. When I asked them about it, they said they were having an issue with one of their suppliers. I’ve heard from others that you should expect it to take longer than the lead time they give.

The lens board size for the 8x10 is a standard Sinar 140x140mm board. They also offer an adaptor board so you can use Technika boards on it.

Also you might want to email them with any questions you have about the price. I’ve ordered a couple of things from them and the final price comes out significantly lower than the GB Pounds to US Dollars conversion that I do on another web site. Not sure if it would be different in Canada.

 

[braxus]

After the threads I've read about the quality control and issues after use of the Intrepid, I wasn't too comfortable to get one. Now that the Ansco has come up, with a better price, this is the camera I decided to buy.

 

[Alan Gales]

Film holders for 8x10 are not cheap like 4x5 film holders. It's nice to have at least 5 so you can load a box of 10 negatives. It pays to be patient and watch eBay for deals on used holders. I recommend only buying ones in really good shape. Leaky holders really suck with 8x10 film being as expensive as it is.

 

[Adrian Bacon]

I was looking at some 8x10 Lisco Regal Film holders, as that is what I use for 4x5. I like these holders. So I'd probably go with these. Im also thinking of maybe getting a Kodak Ektar 305mm f4.5 lens to go on the camera. Is there any other lens that would be recommended (for portraits) for 8x10 that wouldn't be extremely expensive? I'd hopefully want one with a small enough f stop, so its not hard to focus in daylight.

Finally what used 8x10 view camera (folder or whatever) would you recommend that is inexpensive, works with the Regal holders, and still can get lens boards for (new or used)?

Im hoping the camera would also have a standard tripod mount. And ground glass on the back that is easy to see and focus with, and hopefully shows all of the image.

I haven’t read through the whole thread yet, but it might be worth it to look at an intrepid 8x10. Less heartburn with regards to things that can go wrong, and it’s a new camera that isn’t outrageously expensive.

For lenses, I have the fujinon 300mm f/5.6 lens. It’s good. I don’t know if it covers 8x10 though.

 

[Roger Thoms]

Congratulations on the Ansco, that’s an excellent choice. I have a 810 2D and am quite happy with it, but always thought a Ansco would be nice to have.

Roger

 

[Ian Grant]

I haven’t read through the whole thread yet, but it might be worth it to look at an intrepid 8x10. Less heartburn with regards to things that can go wrong, and it’s a new camera that isn’t outrageously expensive.

For lenses, I have the fujinon 300mm f/5.6 lens. It’s good. I don’t know if it covers 8x10 though.

At least read the two or three previous posts in a thread and you'll see why the OP didn't buy an Intrepid. Personally I wouldn't either because for the same price you can buy a far better second hand camera and usually with a lens and other bits.

My Agfa Ansco is 60 years old and works as good as new, an Intrepid might last 5 or 6 years if you're lucky. Chances are if you stick with LF you'll have moved on to a better camera anyway.

Ian.

 

[braxus]

Im hoping I wouldn't feel the need to upgrade after getting the Ansco. I just hope its weight in a backpack is okay. Im watching some Lisco holders right now. Some can be had for $70 US dollars each or 2 for $140. Im not sure how many to buy, but Im thinking 4 to 5 holders total might be enough. I already have my choice of films picked out. Oh my poor film freezer. Its already full of film, and now will be even more full. I still need to upgrade my scanner and get a larger changing bag. And of course get my lenses figured out.

 

[Vaughn]

...For lenses, I have the fujinon 300mm f/5.6 lens. It’s good. I don’t know if it covers 8x10 though.

Covers with plenty of room for movements (Fuji W 300/5.6). It has been my main 8x10 lens for years. A big piece of glass...would match the Ansco just fine.

 

[braxus]

Covers with plenty of room for movements (Fuji W 300/5.6). It has been my main 8x10 lens for years. A big piece of glass...would match the Ansco just fine.

The 210mm lens I have only covers 4x5, so I need to swap it with an earlier version of the same so it will cover. The seller has a 14" Ektar lens, but that option will be pricey, so Im considering it for a future purchase as a possibility. Im aiming to get the camera in the second half of next month.

 

[Vaughn]

Another option is a FujiW 250/6.7. It covers 8x10 very well...room for movements. Useful for 4x5 up to 8x10. The FujiW 250/6.7 paired with the 14" would give you a nice spread of focal lengths. I have the (all Fuji Ws) 250/6.7, the 300/5.6 and the 360/6.3. The 250/6.7 seems to see the most use these days...or at least as much as the 300mm (which was my only 8x10 lens for a decade or so).

 

[braxus]

I want wider then 250mm. Even 210 isn't quite as wide as I'd like. The 210 will be used for panorama landscape shots. Im already planning to get the 300mm. Anything above that (like a 360mm) is for a later purchase. I wish I could swap my later 210mm lens for the earlier one with someone. I have it up for sale, but its a hard sell.

 

[Vaughn]

The 250 would probably be instead of the 300 -- just in case a 250/6.7 fell into your lap. Much lighter than the 300mm (Copal No.1 instead of the 300's No.3), and I use it for 4x10, too.

I should play with my 210 more...it is a barrel lens (Graphic Raptar)...it's the shutter on the 250mm that helped seduce me, but not so important under the redwoods with long exposure times. This image was with a 159mm/12.5 Wollensak extreme wide angle. My copy of the lens has never covered 8x10 well -- soft dark corners. I thought I'd might use it on the 5x7, but I have a Fuji W 180mm that is close enough and sharper/contrastier.

 

[braxus]

How good does your Fuji 180mm cover 8x10? The info I saw says it only covers 305mm which isn't quite enough for 8x10. Can you confirm? The 180mm seems like a better choice in terms of framing for both 4x5 and 8x10. 26mm in 8x10 and 58mm for 4x5. Is there some W lenses in 180mm that are better then others? Or some I should avoid?