Who knows the Tachihara Super Wide 4x5 camera?

[numerus]

Hello,

I have read in many posts here that some people are very satisfied with their Tachihara 4x5 field camera. I have seen that there is also a Tachihara Super Wide 4x5 and I would like to ask if any of you have had experience with this camera? Which lenses fit the camera without special lens boards? What movements are possible?

Thank you very much.

 

[xkaes]

Over the years Tachihara made different "special" 4x5 cameras, one of which is the Super Wide. Another was the "Compact". But they never made a lot of any of them, so they are difficult to find. And if you actually want specifics on these variants, all I can say is "Good Luck with THAT!!!"

 

[MarkS]

Forum member B.S. Kumar lives in Japan and may have answers for you.
I bought a 'standard' 4x5 Tachihara in 1982 and was very pleased with it; they are well-made, lightweight cameras and generally a delight to use.

 

[Chuck1]

Never heard of the tachihara superwide version, I've seen a few nagaoka's which have a graflock back (which is a bonus) IMHO.

 

[numerus]

Thank you for your answers.




I'm not asking by chance, of course. Yesterday such a camera appeared on German Ebay. It's up for auction and I'll see how the prices develop. But I'm not sure whether this camera would give me any significant advantage at all for my shortest focal lengths. The shortest focal length I use is 90 mm. And I have the impression that my Wista Field DX probably has similar characteristics. Perhaps the bellows of the Tachihara is a little easier to move, but as it looks to me so far, the camera doesn't have that many advantages. It looks like a normal Tachihara, but has shift on the front standard, is not collapsible and has a wide-angle bellows.

 

[Steve Goldstein]

Could you post a link? I'm curious to see how it compares with the super-wide version of the Ebony, which I've seen.

 

[numerus]

Hi Steve,

of course I can do:

Link to Ebay: Tachihara Super Wide 45

I have decided not to place a bid. I don‘t want to have to decide between two cameras all the time and I don‘t plan to go below 90 mm lenses

 

[xkaes]

The minimum extension on most Tachiharas is 65mm -- probably the same as your Wista. The only reason for a bag bellows is for more movement on very short lenses. With 90mm there should not be a problem with your Wista. The main problem with the bag bellows is lack of extension for longer lenses. Sticking with your Wista was the right move.

 

[Marcelo Paniagua]

Probably you can get some minimal info on archived Tachihara site:

Tachihara Super Wide.


If you are using Chrome, you can traslate the page:


SW45F
Mahogany rose paint
Gold plated finish
Black nylon bellows
Maximum length 170mm, weight 1.5k



SW45BR
Black Rose Paint
Chrome Plated Finish
Black Bellows Nylon
Rise 30mm
Fall 15mm
Tilt Front/Back 30°
Swing 30°
Optical Axis Front Shift Left/Right 20mm



All SWs are made of nylon bellows

 

[Ian Grant]

Thank you for your answers.

I'm not asking by chance, of course. Yesterday such a camera appeared on German Ebay. It's up for auction and I'll see how the prices develop. But I'm not sure whether this camera would give me any significant advantage at all for my shortest focal lengths. The shortest focal length I use is 90 mm. And I have the impression that my Wista Field DX probably has similar characteristics. Perhaps the bellows of the Tachihara is a little easier to move, but as it looks to me so far, the camera doesn't have that many advantages. It looks like a normal Tachihara, but has shift on the front standard, is not collapsible and has a wide-angle bellows.

I've been using a Wista 45DX for over 35 years. I tend to like WA lenses, with a 90mm & 75mm it's easy. I also have a 65mm which I rarely use, particularly since buying the 75mm5 or 6 years ago. There is a workaround to prevent the end of the focus track being in the image, using the front and rear tilts.

Ian

 

[B.S.Kumar]

The Tachihara Super Wide is a "wide" version of a normal Tachihara. It is a great camera to use with short lenses, with all the movements of the regular model. If you don't use lenses below 90mm there is no particular advantage.

The Nagaoka Super Wide is a different sort of camera. It is an architectural camera with a fixed front and rear focusing. The front has rise/fall and left/right shift. The rear has no movements. It came in two versions with panels accepting Horseman 80mm or Linhof Technika lens boards. Since the lens standard is fixed, there is no danger of the bed intruding into the image. It is very light and surprisingly rigid.

Kumar

 

[Axelwik]

With a recessed lens board my standard Tachihara can accommodate a 65mm lens (only just); my 90mm lens works fine with full use of movements.

Special wide cameras tend to lose the ability to use longer focal lengths, and if the shortest lens you use is a 90 there's usually no need.