Best Lightweight Metal 4x5 Field Camera?
JMM Garza
Folks,
I wouldn't buy a wooden field camera...just a preference! Done it...didn't
like 'em! But I am in the market for a lightweight metal camera. It should
be simple and elegant. And yes I know about lenses, etc. I just would like
to get some opinions on cameras.
Toyo, Horseman, Linhof, Canham(sic), Cambo, Arca-Swiss etc.
Thanks,
--
Jesús M. Mena Garza
P H O T O G R A P H Y
SF, CA USA
A Z T L A N
http://www.sirius.com/~jmmgarza
Remove - NOSPAM - to send me E-mail!
Steve Alley
Hands down, the Canham DLC45 is the one to buy. Light,
relatively sturdy, one bellows and every lens I want to use.
Steve
JMM Garza wrote in message <3544D062...@sirius.com>...
evp...@insync.net
In article <DYj11.19$uL5.2...@news.inreach.com>,
"Steve Alley" <twi...@snowcrest.net> wrote:
>
> Hands down, the Canham DLC45 is the one to buy. Light,
> relatively sturdy, one bellows and every lens I want to use.
>
> Steve
I absolutely agree,
The Canham DLC.
Ellis
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Peter De Smidt
Steve Alley wrote:
>
> Hands down, the Canham DLC45 is the one to buy. Light,
> relatively sturdy, one bellows and every lens I want to use.
I know this is not what the original poster asked, but why would someone
want to buy the original Canham 4x5 instead of the DLC45? Yes, the
original can be made into a 5x7 and has longer bellows. Is there any
other operational difference? Are they both equally rigid?
Regards,
Peter De Smidt
JMM Garza
Steve,
Canham DLC45...at what price point?
JMMG
------------------
kir...@msn.com
In article <3544D062...@sirius.com>,
NOSPAM-...@sirius.com wrote:
>
> Folks,
>
> I wouldn't buy a wooden field camera...just a preference! Done it...didn't
> like 'em! But I am in the market for a lightweight metal camera. It should
> be simple and elegant. And yes I know about lenses, etc. I just would like
> to get some opinions on cameras.
>
> Toyo, Horseman, Linhof, Canham(sic), Cambo, Arca-Swiss etc.
>
> Thanks,
> --
> Jesús M. Mena Garza
> P H O T O G R A P H Y
> SF, CA USA
> A Z T L A N
> http://www.sirius.com/~jmmgarza
> Remove - NOSPAM - to send me E-mail!
>
taken apart and folded up (even the mono-rail). You will never run out of
movements with this setup. One model is called the F-line (4X5 Kit, $2044)
and the other less expensive (the rail do dads are not as slick) Discovery
Kit ($1239). I bought an old Basic A and and it is great. These can be
found used in the $400-$600 range. The old rails were modified in the F-line
so that the gears and up rights will go on a new rail. Old bellows will not
work on new uprights and visa versa. They make a neat fold up rail. The
www.bhphotovideo.com has pictures of all the various parts. ARCA-SWISS can
be reached at 442 Belden, Chicago, IL 60614, 773-248-2513. FAX 773-248-2774
So what is the down side. Damn few used bits around and the new bits cost a
fortune. Example, the offical price for the 40 cm Folding Opitical Benche,
which is what they call the monorail is $633. A synthetic wide angle bellows
is $283. (These are 1996 prices) Be warned, they do not sell the old parts
any more for the Basic A version.
I love my ARCA, but there is a down side.
evp...@insync.net
>
If the question is "What is the Best lightweight Metal 4x5 Field Camera?" I
think you have ask two deeper questions, and those are what are you going to
be using it for? and how much are you willing to spend for the "Best"? I have
a very good friend who only does architectural work, and he owns three Linhof
Technikardans, which Bob Saloman (I spelled your name right, Bob) will be
happy to tell you is the best in the world. If you are doing more Nature/
Landscape/ Backpacking type work, and you don't need to use extremely wide
(65mm & shorter) lenses with movements or very long lenses or have a need to
do macro work with something longer than a 150mm lens, you should look at at
the Linhof Technika V or Master Technika camera: when folded up you have a
rigid box to protect everything, and it feels great to use. On the other
hand there is the Canham DLC at US$2150 (add $150 for the fresnel version,
and another US$150 for the Technika adapter board.) This is far less than
what either Linhof will cost. but you don't need to buy either a w/a or an
extention bellows as the DLC utilizes a new design and fabric for the
standard bellows that let's me use all current lenses from my 65mm (with full
shift) to my 450mm Nikkor-M. So you save a bit of money there. Is it a
perfect camera? No, but what is? As far as movement go, the only thing
lacking is rear rise and fall. But I can tilt the tripod head up or down and
do displaced mowements instead. I might have liked a set of levels on the
side of the rear standard but I understand why they are not there. The camera
is extremely stable and tight; it handles really well; The screen is very
bright and even with the wide angles it is easy to see the entire image; it
appear that if necessary, the camera would be easy to field strip & clean; it
comes with it's own case, when folded and packed up it it is very small and
it weighs only 4lbs. 11oz. As opposed to my Arca Swiss F-line, which weighs
an easy 8 and 1/2 lbs. and rides in a calumet case which weighs another
11lbs. I do have have the folding rail so mine might be heavier than the A/S
4x5 FC. The Arca is a great camera. It handles really well, the movements are
very smooth and (with the bag bellows and their standard lens board) you can
use everything from a 150mm to a 45mm). As Kirk Fry mentioned, the down sides
are price and availibility of accessory parts, but Photomark in Phoenix,
Arizona and The F-Stops Here in Santa Barbara, California are good dealers.
A/S makes a terrific compendium lens shade/filter holder combination and also
a reflex viewing hood which is great. EXPENSIVE but great. I switched from a
Sinar C to the Arca because of one feature: rise/fall and lateral shift are
in the focus plane. There are several major landscape and architectural
shooters in the US who currently use the Arca. the Arca is slightly more
expensive than the Canham. IMHO these three are currently the "best" metal
4x5 field cameras, in terms of techological development. To draw an analogy
with automobiles these three brands (L,C, & A) can likened to the Mercedes,
the Porsche, and the BMW. But you have to ask yourself the question what am I
going to do, and I think that it is important that you touch (if possible)
all of the cameras you are interested in and see what feels best to you. Make
you just want a small large format folding camera that takes normalish
lenses. In which case look at the Toyo, or the Horseman, or the Wista. These
are well made made cameras too. Just remember it's the images you make that
count. Good luck, Ellis Vener; evp...@insync.net
Bob Salomon
Amen, The best is what works best for the individual buying the camera and
no one else.
Obviously if one runs out and buys a Canham and then wants to use a 35 or
45mm lens that person has a problem.
OTOH if one buys a Technika and wants a 700mm lens there is another problem.
Rather than taking a shotgun approach and receiving answers from assorted
people whose needs, expertise, economics, etc. are not necessarily the
same as the questioner a smarter and more practical approach would be to
decide what one wants to do with 45, what one wants to shoot. What lenses
are required for the application, what budget you need to stay within,
etc.
Then see what camera/s can do what your needs require and then look at the
cameras first hand and form your own opinion as to fit, feel, weight, etc.
Then ask for unknown people's recommendations.
Bob
PS: Let me know if you would like technical specs on the Linhof Master
Technika, Technika 2000, Technikardan or Rodenstock lenses and Heliopan
filters.
--
PLEASE SEND ALL E-MAIL TO ME AT:
bobsa...@mindspring.com
HP MARKETING CORP. Gepe, Giottos, G-O light, Heliopan, Kaiser, Linhof, Pro Release, Rimowa, Rodenstock, Rollei, Sirostar
Bob Wheeler
Bob Salomon wrote:
> <snip>
>
> Then see what camera/s can do what your needs require and then look at the
> cameras first hand and form your own opinion as to fit, feel, weight, etc.
> Then ask for unknown people's recommendations.
>
> Bob
Forming a first hand opinion is very important, since specs only go so far; however, when I tried to do this a couple of
years ago HP would not ship one to my dealer on spec, so I bought something else from a company that would let me look
before buying.
--
Bob Wheeler --- (Reply to: bwhe...@echip.com)
ECHIP, Inc.
Malcolm Lockwood Authorized User
To JMM Garza:
You asked about the best lightweight Metal camera, Well I am both a dealer
and before that and still a user I feel that the Canham is tops. I use
Linhof which is not what one would call light, though good and Canham
wooden model as well as a Toyo
GX in the studio and if I were going to purchase a new 4x5 the New Canham
would be my choice. Good Shooting. Malcolm Lockwood.
JMM Garza <NOSPAM-...@sirius.com> wrote in article
<3544D062...@sirius.com>...
JMM Garza
Folks,
I get the distinct impression that the Canham DLC-45 is an excellent camera.
Over the past thirty years of shooting (response to discussion group question)
I've used lenses in the 65 to 300 mm range exclusively. I enjoy working with
quality equipment! Now I'll be searching San Francisco for a store that
carries Canham. Some cameras exude precision and quality
(Sinar/Leica/Hasselblad). I'll soon learn if the Canham fits the bill.