Wista 45 RF or Wista SP Dilemma !

Brian M Harris · Jul 10, 2018

Hi,

I have been shooting large format for about 3 months, I use a Horseman 4x5 mono rail camera with a Schneider 180mm lens.
in my home studio. 99% of what I do is portraits of one kind or another (fashion, art nude, regular etc etc). I cant deny I have been well and truly hooked by large format.

I also shoot on location a lot using a Mamiya RZ67 and Rolleiflex 2.8f and love both these camera. I tried taking the Horseman on location on a dummy run and its basically not practical.

I really want to shoot large format on location, and have settled on a Wista 45, my dilemma is should i go for the Rangefinder version or the non Rangefinder version, keeping in mind I shoot people most of the time. Cost wise the Range Finder version is about 30% more and theres not too many for sale. My heart is telling me Rangefinder, but the Wallet telling me not.

Buying the wrong camera will cost me more, I no i have answered my own question, i just need a bit re-assurance !!

Any comments/opinions would be helpful.

Thanks

Brian

shutterfinger · Jul 10, 2018

On the fly subject or camera position - get the rangefinder model.
Fixed subject and camera position - the non rangefinder model.

Brian M Harris · Jul 10, 2018

Thanks, daft question probably but if i get the RF version, I assume I can also focus through the ground glass and not use the RF as an option ???

B.S.Kumar · Jul 10, 2018

Do note that the RF couples only to 3 lenses - 135, 150 and 180mm lenses. For all other lenses, you must use the ground glass. So that is something to think about.
The differences among the various Wista cameras are minor.
45N - basic model, brown leatherette, fixed bellows, manual front rise/fall, tilt, shift, rear tilt, swing.
45D - usually brown leatherette, later ones with black leatherette. Front rise/fall, tilt, shift, rear tilt, swing, micro-swing.
SP - same as 45D, with the addition of front swing.
VX - same as SP, no rear micro-swing.
RF - same as VX, added RF

The N, D and SP have a different method of attaching the back with the clips at the top. The backs are not interchangeable with the VX and RF. Though the bellows is the same, the method of attaching them at the rear is different.

The 45D and SP can use an optional 5x7 back.

Kumar

shutterfinger · Jul 10, 2018

Brian M Harris said:
if i get the RF version, I assume I can also focus through the ground glass and not use the RF as an option ???

Yes, you should be able to do so.
Rangefinders have to be calibrated to the lens in use by A.) internal adjustments of the rangefinder or B.) A cam custom cut for the lens in use and the camera. Camed rangefinders are set up on infinity and a start point of the focusing rails.
Test at infinity, 25 feet, 15 feet, 10 feet, and the closest distance the lens will focus to without requiring bellows extension factor. Slight errors in rangefinder adjustments / lens focal length errors will be off at distances closer than 10 feet, greater errors show up at longer distances.

P.S.
focus scales can be made for focal lengths other than those listed in the post 4. Make a scale for one of the calibrated lens, transfer that distance to the scale for the lens in use.

ic-racer · Jul 10, 2018

I use a Horseman Rangefinder for 6x9 and like it so I'd recommend the Wista RF. One possible issue is the Wista 45RF only works up to 180mm. In the 35mm film world the lenses that couple with the Wista RF give same diagonal view as 38mm, 43mm and 52mm lenses. Do you think that will be OK for your work? Of course you can go longer and use the ground glass. Probably up to 300mm lens.

B.S.Kumar · Jul 10, 2018

Focus scales can be made for any camera, regardless of whether it has a rangefinder or not.

The standard bellows on all Wista cameras extends to ~300mm. All the Wista models, except the N, also accept extension beds and longer bellows, as well as wide angle bellows. Top hat boards are available for up to 100mm extension. And of course telephoto lenses up to 500mm can be used with the standard bellows without any restriction.

Brian M Harris · Jul 11, 2018

B.S.Kumar said:
Do note that the RF couples only to 3 lenses - 135, 150 and 180mm lenses. For all other lenses, you must use the ground glass. So that is something to think about.
The differences among the various Wista cameras are minor.
45N - basic model, brown leatherette, fixed bellows, manual front rise/fall, tilt, shift, rear tilt, swing.
45D - usually brown leatherette, later ones with black leatherette. Front rise/fall, tilt, shift, rear tilt, swing, micro-swing.
SP - same as 45D, with the addition of front swing.
VX - same as SP, no rear micro-swing.
RF - same as VX, added RF

The N, D and SP have a different method of attaching the back with the clips at the top. The backs are not interchangeable with the VX and RF. Though the bellows is the same, the method of attaching them at the rear is different.

The 45D and SP can use an optional 5x7 back.

Kumar

Thank Kumar for your concise information !
For some reason I cannot reply to the message you left me - I am going stick with the RF, thanks

Brian M Harris · Jul 11, 2018

ic-racer said:
I use a Horseman Rangefinder for 6x9 and like it so I'd recommend the Wista RF. One possible issue is the Wista 45RF only works up to 180mm. In the 35mm film world the lenses that couple with the Wista RF give same diagonal view as 38mm, 43mm and 52mm lenses. Do you think that will be OK for your work? Of course you can go longer and use the ground glass. Probably up to 300mm lens.

Thank you

halfaman · Jul 11, 2018

Depth of field is so small in LF that it is beyond the precision of any rangefinder. You can use them but closing down to f/11nor ay least f/8.

Alan Gales · Jul 12, 2018

The reason to shoot fashion or portrait photography hand held is for spontaneity. David Bailey started this in fashion photography back in the 60's. He also used a 35mm camera because it is easier to be spontaneous with a smaller and lighter camera.

I think the Wista RF is going to be about a pound heavier than your RZ with waist level finder. With the eye level finder it will be a moot point. RZ lenses can get heavy too. The RF is larger and more unwieldy however.

Myself, I used to own an RZ and almost always used it on a tripod. I used a Pentax 645Nll for hand held shots of people. I'll admit that I do have a bad back which plays into it too some.

Just something else to think about before spending money.

Brian M Harris · Jul 13, 2018

Alan Gales said:
The reason to shoot fashion or portrait photography hand held is for spontaneity. David Bailey started this in fashion photography back in the 60's. He also used a 35mm camera because it is easier to be spontaneous with a smaller and lighter camera.

I think the Wista RF is going to be about a pound heavier than your RZ with waist level finder. With the eye level finder it will be a moot point. RZ lenses can get heavy too. The RF is larger and more unwieldy however.

Myself, I used to own an RZ and almost always used it on a tripod. I used a Pentax 645Nll for hand held shots of people. I'll admit that I do have a bad back which plays into it too some.

Just something else to think about before spending money.

I use the Mamiya RZ with WLF and eye level with 110mm/180mm without a tripod (I hate tripods when shooting portraits/fashion) I have good upper body strength but after a while the shoulders do ache.
But in this instance I will have the tripod handy just in case as a compromise !

Alan Gales · Jul 13, 2018

Brian M Harris said:
I use the Mamiya RZ with WLF and eye level with 110mm/180mm without a tripod (I hate tripods when shooting portraits/fashion) I have good upper body strength but after a while the shoulders do ache.
But in this instance I will have the tripod handy just in case as a compromise !

Yeah, that 110/180 combo is hard to beat. I had those two plus the 50mm ULD for other subjects. If you don't have the Mamiya "L" grip you need to find one. It makes the camera so much easier to shoot hand held.

If I wanted a Wista I'd go for the VX if I could find one. I don't care about the micro swing on the SP and the VX is lighter without it. Of course you will need the RF if shooting hand held.

Wista 45 RF or Wista SP Dilemma !

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