4x5 Wista, Tachihara, or Horseman?
Lionel S.
In article <3816481D...@home.com>, Georges Pelpel <gpe...@home.com>
wrote:
>Hi,
>
>I am considering a move to large format photography (4x5) with emphasis
>on nature subjects (landscape). So far my research centers around 3 wood
>field cameras that seem to answer my early needs: low weight, quality,
>affordability, flexibility. They are the Tachihara (or Calumet Wood
>Field XM), the Wista Wood Field and DX, and the Horseman Woodman 45.
>
>I am also interested in shooting panoramic format, so a 6x9 or 6x12 back
>would be great.
>
>I would greatly appreciate comments and recommendations about these
>cameras, their differences, advantages, and weaknesses.
>
>Thanks to all for any input.
>
>Georges Pelpel
--
Lionel S.
www.isn.net/~camera/camera.htm
Georges Pelpel
Brian Ellis
stuck on the front and a higher price tag. Actually, I thought I read
somewhere that Calumet is no longer selling the Woodfield so maybe this is a
moot point. I owned and liked my Tachihara and I would certainly recommend
it as a good all around, inexpensive field camera. I have no experience with
the other cameras you mention so I can't compare them.
Jukka Korhonen
> Georges Pelpel wrote:
>
> > Hi,
> >
> > I am considering a move to large format photography (4x5) with emphasis
> > on nature subjects (landscape). So far my research centers around 3 wood
> > field cameras that seem to answer my early needs: low weight, quality,
> > affordability, flexibility. They are the Tachihara (or Calumet Wood
> > Field XM), the Wista Wood Field and DX, and the Horseman Woodman 45.
> >
> > I am also interested in shooting panoramic format, so a 6x9 or 6x12 back
> > would be great.
I own a Horseman Woodman, and I like it. It's craftmanship is not SO great,
though, but it's a nice little camera and works well.
The Woodman has a graflock-back, which is a good thing if you are planning
to use roll film holders.
I think the Tachihara doesn't have it.
regards,
Jukka
david_j...@my-deja.com
capable that any of the others you've listed. It comes with 20" inches
of bellows draw which is inches more that the other camera's list. The
Traditional is an excellent camera and mine served me well. I think the
Traditional is the best camera offered by Wisner. I never missed the
extra features of the Technical field and the Pocket varieties are to
complex to unfold and fold. The traditional is a snap to set up.
A nice thing about Wisner's is that the price is fixed everywhere so
you can buy it from a local deal and not loss anything. You don't gain
from mail order either. So it may be a wash.
Regards,
David J. Simons
In article <3816481D...@home.com>,
Georges Pelpel <gpe...@home.com> wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I am considering a move to large format photography (4x5) with
emphasis
> on nature subjects (landscape). So far my research centers around 3
wood
> field cameras that seem to answer my early needs: low weight, quality,
> affordability, flexibility. They are the Tachihara (or Calumet Wood
> Field XM), the Wista Wood Field and DX, and the Horseman Woodman 45.
>
> I am also interested in shooting panoramic format, so a 6x9 or 6x12
back
> would be great.
>
> I would greatly appreciate comments and recommendations about these
> cameras, their differences, advantages, and weaknesses.
>
> Thanks to all for any input.
>
> Georges Pelpel
>
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
Richard S. Ross
I went to LF specifically for landscape photography while backpacking
to remote/high locations. Hence my camera had to be as light as possible
and supportable by a bogen 3001 tripod (with my pack hung from the
centerpost of course.) This narrowed the choices to the cameras you
mention plus perhaps the Gowland Pocketview and Wisner Pocket
Expedition.
The Wisner was way out of my budget and a little feature laden for
my taste, and the Gowland is a very stripped down monorail designed for
that 'special shot at the mountain top' as Peter Gowland put it to me.
So the light woodfields were it. I played with both a Tachihara and
a Woodman in a few stores on several occasions and found that :
The Horseman, while a nice clean camera with the smoothest working
hardware, is not very rigid or precise, and given the cost (~$1050),
did not seem worth it. (If weight is absolutely paramount, this camera
is actually about 1/2 lb lighter than the others.)
I mostly liked the Tachihara (except for the color!), since it was a
little more rigid, albeit with slightly courser controls. At half the
price (~$600) it seemed like a good deal.
I read alot about how the Wista DX, while similar in specs, was much
more precise and better built then either, so I searched for one. Only
Badger Graphics, who directly imports them, had a competitive price.
For a few hundred more than a Tachihara I now have the Cherrywood DX
model with which I have few complaints. In particular the levers to lock
down the movements are of much higher quality, the extension rail fits
in
its track more snuggly, and its easier (for me) to open and close. BTW,
I recently saw the new Zone VI ultralight 4x5 at Calumet, and was really
disappointed in the quality of the hardware used. It felt flimsy in
comparison.
Really though, these are all very useable and good cameras. Its a matter
of personal choice. I honestly would have prefered to purchase locally,
but the availability and price was just not here.
Good luck!
Richard
Sherman Dunnam
I just went throught this decision myself. I chose the Tachihara. I
checked out the other cameras you mentioned. The Calumet Woodfield is no
longer sold which is not a problem since it was a Tachihara with a $200
Calumet decal on it (expensive decals!). You can get a Tachihara at Midwest
Photo Exchange or Adorama.
I have only had the Tachihara for a couple of weeks but after two weekends
of shooting my impression is that the camera is very solid and very light.
I like the feel of the controls and haven't had any problems with movement
when inserting/removing film holders. Its major drawbacks are probably its
short bellows draw (but with up to a 210 it hasn't been any problem for me)
and its spring back rather than Graflok back. However I do use a Polaroid
holder for Polaroids and Quickloads and the back is fine.
I have a monorail but for field use the Tachihara is almost perfect for my
use (mostly nature and landscapes).
Just my $.02
--
---
Sherman Dunnam
http://www.flyfishingjournal.com
Feature articles, free fishing software and more!
Georges Pelpel <gpe...@home.com> wrote in message
news:3816481D...@home.com...
Brian Ellis
holders will work with the Tachihara's spring back. Since the Polaroid 545i
holder, the Readyload holder, the Calumet holders, and I assume the Fuji
Quickload holder (I never tried it) all will work with spring backs, I actually
liked the spring back on the Tachihara better than the Graflok type backs
because of the convenience (i.e. not having to remove the ground glass, find a
place to put it, and then replace it when you wanted to use an accessory
holder..