Tachihara Field Camera 4x5"
AJacobs
I like start with a large format camera. I've been looking around and a good
starting kit seemed to be a Tachihara 4x5" set with a 150mm APO Schneider.
Is anybody out there actually working with this camera and is it any good?
If not, are there good alternatives.
I am planning to use the camera for landscape an outdoor-portrait.
What about good black-and-white film? Tmax, Fuji, Agfa....
Arno Jacobs.
MLAFLY
In article <a.jacobs.1...@pobox.ruu.nl>, a.ja...@pobox.ruu.nl
(AJacobs) writes:
>I like start with a large format camera. I've been looking around and a
good
>starting kit seemed to be a Tachihara 4x5" set with a 150mm APO
Schneider.
>Is anybody out there actually working with this camera and is it any
good?
>If not, are there good alternatives.
>
>I am planning to use the camera for landscape an outdoor-portrait.
>
>
I am getting to be quite happy with mine and it will certainly do what you
want for landscapes and portraits.
However, there are a couple of important things to watch for. When I got
mine a year and a half ago, I didn't have a clue which end to look into.
So, I didn't know enough to check rigidity of the front and back standards
(and also positioning of the bright screen - but that's not the camera's
problem). As a result, when inserting a film holder, the back would pull
backwards and settle in a different position than when I focused. Since
the film plane positioning is so important, I got lots of slightly soft
chromes & negatives. I was able to fix it by applying on the hardware
that secures the back and it is now quite sturdy. This is dicey, however,
and I would check the back rigidity to ensure it is solid when buying the
camera.
Also, my front standard is now getting a little sloppy and this is from a
thin metal piece that the front standard hardware is riveted to. I cannot
sink a screw in it as it would affect extension. My only recourse, which I
intend to do this weekend, is super glueing that piece of metal down.
There is no reason it won't work and I'll be back on the road again.
Other than this necessary pre--purchase check or the requisite maintenance
if it is a problem, I have no complaints. Movements are liberal, it's
light as a feather, and looks reasonably nice. I wish it had 50mm more
bellows.
Don't consider my negative comments as a slam on the camera, just
something to look out for.
Mike
John Hicks
The Tachihara/Calumet Field is a very nice fairly low-priced camera,
much better than, say, the Rajah or Iston, but not in the league of
Wista, Wisner etc. I haven't wanted to do anything mine wouldn't do,
though, and it's steady once all the locking knobs are tightened down
etc.
Worth the price, imho.
As for lens choice, think of the lenses you like to use for the
intended work in other formats and select your LF lenses accordingly,
if feasible. For example, if you like to use a 28mm a lot in 35, then
you'd probably want a 90mm for 4x5; if you like to use a slightly
longer-than-normal lens, then a 210mm or maybe 240mm would be
appropriate.
But if the budget will stretch to only one lens, a 150mm, normal for
4x5, would be fine.
John's Camera Shop
Quang-Tuan Luong
The Tachihara is a good cheap/lightweight 4x5 camera,
which is quite popular. It is actually sold under
several names. I had very little complaints about it
as a 4x5 camera. I sold it only to get a good 5x7.
You can check my review on a LF home page at:
http://www.cs.berkeley.edu/~qtluong/photography/lf/
Tuan.
--
Quang-Tuan LUONG, Computer scientist, SRI +1(415)859-5138
333 Ravenswood av. EK231, Menlo Park, CA 94025-3493, USA
lu...@ai.sri.com http://www.cs.berkeley.edu/~qtluong/
Marc F. Hult
AJacobs wrote:
>
> I like start with a large format camera. I've been looking around and a good
> starting kit seemed to be a Tachihara 4x5" set with a 150mm APO Schneider.
> Is anybody out there actually working with this camera and is it any good?
> If not, are there good alternatives.
>
snip
>Arno Jacobs.
Arno:
For a review of the Tachihara, check out
http://www.cs.berkeley.edu/~qtluong/photography/lf/). Here you will also
find other useful information about starting out in large-format photography.
For a photograph, of a Tachihara, see figure 4-6 in Ansel Adams book "The Camera".
I recently took up large-format photography again after a 25-year hiatus.
For all I know, the used Graflex with which I battled may still be doing the rounds
alternately giving people the fits and great satisfaction. For me it was a struggle
that the camera won handily and I wasn't looking for a rematch.
So the first camera I bought in this decade's bout was a Burke and James (B&J) 4x5.
I found it to be exactly as described by various postings and comments --
inexpensive, sturdy, reasonably versatile, and not too heavy or too pretty to
actually use. For me it was a "first" camera although surely it has been a "life-long"
camera for others.
I mention the B&J because the second camera I bought, a Tachihara, was also exactly
what I expected after reading posts and talking to experienced people like those
in r.p.e.l-f. Although more expensive than the B&J, it is prettier and lighter -- but
with some additional drawbacks. I have reluctantly decided to sell it too, and will replace
it with two different cameras -- a Calumet-Gowland Pocket 4x5 and a Wista or Weisner.
(Incidentally, I find the Gowland to be an outrageously neat contraption. There are several
versions, but the one I stumbled across weighs 10 grams less than my Nikon N90 body and folds
to the size of a large paperback book).
If you can find a Tachihara in one of its variously named versions
at an affordable price in the Netherlands and you like what you read about it,
you can't go too far wrong getting it. I also opine :-) that purchased new ($1000 with 2
lensboards from Calumet), it is overpriced.
.... Marc
-------------------------------------------------------------
Avon Scientific 803 Osceola Ave St. Paul MN 55105-3329
-------------------------------------------------------------
Rmdeimel
What is this Calumet-Gowland pocket 4x5? Never heard of it, and it sounds
exciting.
Dick D.
Barry Sherman
AJacobs <a.ja...@pobox.ruu.nl> wrote:
>I like start with a large format camera. I've been looking around and a good
>starting kit seemed to be a Tachihara 4x5" set with a 150mm APO Schneider.
>Is anybody out there actually working with this camera and is it any good?
>If not, are there good alternatives.
>
>I am planning to use the camera for landscape an outdoor-portrait.
>
>What about good black-and-white film? Tmax, Fuji, Agfa....
Lots of people put the Tachihara down because it's inexpensive and doesn't
have huge movements or lots of accessories.
But you might take a look at the current issue of _View Camera_ magazine. The
cover photo was almost certainly taken with a Tachihara. The photographer,
Ray McSavaney, is one of the best, albeit, unfortunately, not best known, large
format pictorial (landscape and architectural, primarily) photographers on the
planet. He's used his Tachihara for years, including for architectural
work.
Wonderful photographer. Wonderful photography. He does quite nicely
with the Tachihara.
Barry
--
Barry Sherman, Amdahl Corp. | Art does not reproduce what we see.
b...@oes.amdahl.com | It makes us see. -- Paul Klee
My opinions, not Amdahl's |
Jadlupp
I bought a used Tachihara 4x5 with 5x7 back extension, 90mm Fujinon lens,
150mm Schneider and 210MM Schneider, six holders and a Gitzo tripod, all
used, for $1,000 four years ago. I really like it, well enough, in fact,
to have just bought an 8x10 Tachihara.
My favorite lens, for the way I see things, is the 210mm.
My front stand is also a little lose (it has had lots of usage), but,
other than that, I have no complaints. Very beautiful camera outfit.
Don Upp
Jared Radin
a.ja...@pobox.ruu.nl (AJacobs) wrote:
>I like start with a large format camera. I've been looking around and a good
>starting kit seemed to be a Tachihara 4x5" set with a 150mm APO Schneider.
>Is anybody out there actually working with this camera and is it any good?
>If not, are there good alternatives.
>I am planning to use the camera for landscape an outdoor-portrait.
>What about good black-and-white film? Tmax, Fuji, Agfa....
>Arno Jacobs.
I have had my Tachihara for several years, and believe that due to
it's smaller size and lower weight, the camera may be slightlyflimsier
than some other brands, but since I go hikeing, I think it's worth it.
If you can afford it, I would recommend a 90 and 210mm lens.
Stephen Tyler
Jared Radin wrote:
> I have had my Tachihara for several years
> If you can afford it, I would recommend a 90 and 210mm lens.
How much movements can you get with the 90mm lens?
How close can you focus your 210mm lens?
Do you ever find this a limitation in practice?
--
Stephen Tyler, Canon Information Systems Research Australia
ste...@research.canon.com.au Ph: +61 2 805 2948 Fx: 805 2929
Snail mail: PO Box 313 North Ryde NSW 2113 AUSTRALIA