Wista VX or Toyo A A/X

[Steve Smales]

Hello experts. I am a reasonably competent LF photographer having used a Toyo 45 monorail for the last few years.

Having decided that LF is the way I want to go, I'd like to change to a field camera. I have a Nikon 50mm f5.6 and a Rodenstock 90mm f8 lens. I exclusively shoot Quickload and my subject matter is mainly landscape with some architecture. Usually the primary subject matter is within 100m. I generally shoot in flat light hence screen brightness and corner focus can be an issue.

Most of my pictures are landscape orientation.

I have more or less decided on either of the two above. Whilst I hope never to be hit by a bomb, I like solid engineering though this doesn't mean heavy.

Any views on which way to jump?
Thanks
Steve

 

[jeroldharter]

No experience with Wista, but I had a Toyo AX. Very good camera, solid as a tank but reasonable weight. Meets all of your criteria. More readily available than Wista I think. Only limitation is a fixed bellows and limited extension. You can still use a 300 mm lens for landscape but not a 450. Certainly enough extension for your lenses (I assume you meant 150mm vs 50mm). On the wide end, you can use your 90mm without a recessed lens board but the bellows are a bit compressed. I would not think twice about getting the Toyo.

 

[archphoto]

The trouble is there are so many way's to jump.

Yorkshire as in the UK ?
Check Robert White and see a lot of beautifull camera's......

I just got a Shen Hao HZX45-IIA next to my Sinar P2....

Peter

 

[raucousimages]

I have a Toyo 45AII and my wife uses a Wista. I like the Toyo more even though weighs more. There are also adaptors for Toyo 110mm boards and Linhoff/wista boards for the 158mm Toyo rail cameras so you don't need to switch boards when you change cameras.

 

[coriana6jp]

I have owned and used both a Wista SP & a Toyo 45 AII. Given the choice between the two I prefered the Toyo, it was a smoother and easier to set up. I know alot of people like the Wista cameras, but I found it a little clunky. I ultimately sold the Toyo because I found to use either rear or front swing was difficult. I ended up with a Canham DLC for traveling, which to me is much more capable than either the Toyo or the Wista. The down side to the Canham is it is alot less forgiving to careless operating.

Gary