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What LF cameras are we missing on our form?
Dear List,
Our current registration form renders a list of LF cameras from which users can select. As we are getting lots of people selecting "Other", I thought it time we revisit this list to add other popular LF cameras that might be missing.
For example, one set of cameras that is clearly missing from our current form are the individual Sinar series, which I have added below:
- Arca Swiss Discovery series
- Arca Swiss F series
- Arca Swiss M series
- Calumet Cadet series
- Cambo SC series
- Cambo Wide series
- Canham all-metal series
- Canham traditional series
- Crown Graphic series
- Deardorff cameras
- Ebony S/SV/SW series
- Ebony RW/RSW series
- Fotoman cameras
- Gandolfi Variant series
- Gandolfi Traditional series
- Gaoersi cameras
- Gowland cameras
- Horseman Field cameras
- Horseman Technical cameras
- Horseman View cameras
- Horseman Woodman Field cameras
- Kodak Master Camera series
- Linhof Kardan series
- Linhof Technika series
- Linhof Technikardan series
- Lotus View cameras
- Polaroid cameras
- Shen-Hao cameras
- Sinar P series
- Sinar F series
- Sinar X series
- Sinarcam
- Silvestri cameras
- Speed Graphic cameras
- Tachihara cameras
- Toho cameras
- Toyo Studio/Field series
- Toyo-Field series
- Toyo-View series
- Walker cameras
- Wisner Expedition Field series
- Wisner Technical Field series
- Wista cameras
- Zone VI cameras
- Other (including collectibles)
So the question is: what can we add to make the above list better?
I appreciate any feedback
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Re: What LF cameras are we missing on our form?
Ebony SU for one; then some older but popular cameras: Pre-F or M-line Arca-Swiss; Sinar-Norma; Plaubel. Of course you need add Carbon-Infinity for Ole :)
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Re: What LF cameras are we missing on our form?
Sinar Normas are still very popular.
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Re: What LF cameras are we missing on our form?
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Re: What LF cameras are we missing on our form?
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Re: What LF cameras are we missing on our form?
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Re: What LF cameras are we missing on our form?
Lensless Camera Mfg Co. for their wonderful large format pinhole cameras.
http://www.pinholecamera.com/
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Re: What LF cameras are we missing on our form?
Rajah, Chamonix, Seneca, Seroco, Folmer & Schwing, Rochester Optical, and Omega. And probably others that slipped into the adult-moment crack.
also - I'm confused between some entries that appear to be specific models, and entries that generically identify a maker
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Re: What LF cameras are we missing on our form?
Burke and James, Bender, Seneca, Agfa-Ansco (singularly or combined), MPP, BuschPressman.
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Re: What LF cameras are we missing on our form?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Louie Powell
also - I'm confused between some entries that appear to be specific models, and entries that generically identify a maker
Yeah, we are too. Originally we thought that certain makers of cameras (such as Sinar) could be categorized by a common thread (such as studio) and as such there would be no need to be so specific. Additionally, we didn't want the list to be too huge either. So we took what we thought was a reasonable stab at it and we have been since proven wrong. So now it is time to adjust things to better reflect "the real world". Clearly we are not going to subcategorize a camera maker that only has had 500 sales in the past 5 years into separate types. But equally, having a single Sinar category was an example of mistake. Then there is fine tuning such as: do we combine Crown Graphic with Speed Graphic as a single category or do we keep them separate? It will never be perfect, but I'm hoping for "good enough".
Keep the ideas coming!
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Re: What LF cameras are we missing on our form?
I'd say Crown/Speed Graphic as one category, and Graflex SLR as another. Thinking of which, that's another category you're missing - the Graflex SLRs.
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Re: What LF cameras are we missing on our form?
Have you cross checked your list against the latest edition of Strobel? There is a comprehensive list in the back. While it is not 100% complete it will make responding to this a lot easier.
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Re: What LF cameras are we missing on our form?
What do you mean by "Horseman Technical", other than cameras that would already be considered "Horseman Field" or "Horseman Woodman Field"?
What do you mean by "Toyo studio/field"? If you mean the VX-125 cameras, you should probably say that explicitly - I don't think it will be clear to everybody.
If you're going to differentiate wooden vs metal camera lines, you should list Wista DX and VX/SP/RF lines separately.
You left out the Wisner Traditional series, though I'm not sure what insight is gained by breaking out specific Wisner wooden camera lines anyway.
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Re: What LF cameras are we missing on our form?
Two of my cameras are on that list, the rest are probably better called "collectible". The Carbon Infinity may not be an antique, but it seems that most of the 60 made have ended up in collections...
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Re: What LF cameras are we missing on our form?
Theproblem is that there area too many missing ... if I count the ones that Louis mentioned + others I can think of that list is as long as the list you posed. Go to Strobel. Go to a couple of older editions and you will get the ones that aren't current. Bettr than polling the folks here.
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Re: What LF cameras are we missing on our form?
Probably should include all Graphic/Graflex models in one catagory since there have been so many variations along the same theme over the years...I've got three different ones myself but my favorite, the Super Graphic doesn't find itself on the list! The Busch Pressman has been mentioned in this forum a number of times and isn't on the list.
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Re: What LF cameras are we missing on our form?
Michael's problem isn't to make a comprehensive list of all large format cameras ever made, it's to come up with a reasonably parsimonious classification that captures the cameras used by his readers today, without lumping too many into the "other" category.
If he has 327 readers who use 327 different cameras, then this isn't going to work. But I suspect that's not the case.
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Re: What LF cameras are we missing on our form?
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Re: What LF cameras are we missing on our form?
For Wisner you list "Wisner Expedition Field Series" and "Wisner Technical Field Series". You can either:
--Reduce it to "Wisner Cameras"
--Keep two entries: "Wisner Expedition incl. Pocket and Flight" plus "Wisner Technical/Traditional/Lightweight"
--Expand it to include: "Wisner Expedition Series", "Wisner Pocket Expedition Series", "Wisner Flight", "Wisner Technical Field", "Wisner Traditional Field", "Wisner Lightweight Field"
(or some other combination of the latter)
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Re: What LF cameras are we missing on our form?
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Re: What LF cameras are we missing on our form?
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Re: What LF cameras are we missing on our form?
By specifying Cambo SC series, you indicate a desire to break down the Cambos into series. If you do, then you need to include the Cambo SC / Calumet 45NX, the Legend, the SF series, the Wide, the Ultima, and the Master PC.
In the Graphics, you have the Super Graphic and Super Speed Graphic.
There are Anbas and Nagaokas.
Meridians, and Tower Press Cameras.
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Re: What LF cameras are we missing on our form?
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Re: What LF cameras are we missing on our form?
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Re: What LF cameras are we missing on our form?
I could probably add to this extensively, as I have several hundreds of models and types that I have done screens for!
:D
Dave
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Re: What LF cameras are we missing on our form?
How about categories such as:
Technical - self-boxing w/ rangefinder (Technica, Horseman VHR, Crown/Speed Graphic, etc.)
Monorail - (Sinar, Horseman L series, Linhof, Arca, Calumet, Plaubel, etc.)
Tailboard/Flat bed - (Agfa Ansco, Burke & James, Calumet C1, Kodak Century, etc.)
Fold Forward - (Wisner, Ebony, Tachihara, Gandolfi, Wista)
Field, self-boxing - (Wista, Horsman FA, Infinity, etc.)
SLR - (Graflex, Meopta, Arca, Gowland, etc.)
TLR - (Gowland, others?)
Am I missing any?
Andy
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Re: What LF cameras are we missing on our form?
Yup Carbon Infinity is missing but the forum has three users, Ole, Paul and me. The other 117 made are MIA.
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Re: What LF cameras are we missing on our form?
American Optical, Century, Folmer & Schwing or maybe just have a category for pre-WWII American wooden flatbed cameras.
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Re: What LF cameras are we missing on our form?
Mentioned in passing but pretty popular here: Calumet C-1.
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Re: What LF cameras are we missing on our form?
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Re: What LF cameras are we missing on our form?
I would suggest for Graflex having the following:
Graflex Press (Crown Graphic, Speed Graphic, Super Graphic, Century Graphic)
Graflex SLR (Auto Graflex, Graflex RB, Series D, Super D)
Graflex View (Graphic View)
While not entirely correct, this is the commonest way you see people refering to the cameras. For instance the RB Super D is often just called a "Graflex Super D", leaving out the RB part.
Likewise I think there should be a combined Kodak/Orbit/Calumet C400/401 etc entry and a Kodak/Calumet C1 entry as these will be relatively popular beginners cameras and the beginner is unlikely to know the lineage of their particular model.
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Re: What LF cameras are we missing on our form?
Under Tachihara, note the various other labels that the same camera carries, such as the Calumet Wood Field XM.
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Re: What LF cameras are we missing on our form?
Grover, manufactured by Burke & James, Inc., Chicago in 4x5 & 8x10
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Re: What LF cameras are we missing on our form?
Busch Pressman,
Burke and James (Grover, Watson, Press, Commercial,...)
Gundlach - Korona.
I see Eastman / Kodak master but, what about all the wooden models? Surely, the 2D has alarge enough following to be called out.
I too would lump the Crown and Speed Graphic together in one group and break out the Graflex RB series on its own.
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Re: What LF cameras are we missing on our form?
How about the the Graphic View I and Graphic View II.
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Re: What LF cameras are we missing on our form?
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Re: What LF cameras are we missing on our form?
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Re: What LF cameras are we missing on our form?
Calumet rail cameras other than the Cadet series. I still use a CC-400 monorail. Their C1 is heavy as a tank but still popular for 8x10, judging from Ebay sales.
Second the Wehman -- nice 8x10 camera.
Burke & James - monorails in 4x5, 5x7 and 8x10. Tailboard cameras in 4x5 and 5x7. Their 8x10 flat bed field camea.
Ansco 4x5, 5x7 and 8x10 cameras (also known as Agfa-Ansco.)
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Re: What LF cameras are we missing on our form?
Depending on the point of the question, maybe you should have a option for shopmade? I know many are making their own these days.
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Re: What LF cameras are we missing on our form?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Colin Graham
Depending on the point of the question, maybe you should have a option for shopmade? I know many are making their own these days.
Great idea! I hadn't thought of that one.
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Re: What LF cameras are we missing on our form?
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Re: What LF cameras are we missing on our form?
Eastman and/or Eastman improved model of the Century
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Re: What LF cameras are we missing on our form?
Ikeda-Anba
Nagoika (sp?)
Seneca
Rajah
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Re: What LF cameras are we missing on our form?
I have a few that aren't on the list:
Conley 8X10 tailboard
Rex Labs 4X5 Press style police cameras (2). I bet not many have seen, or heard, of these.
Premo "B" 4X5
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Re: What LF cameras are we missing on our form?
I can add three that I own:
Arkay Orbit 8x10 (aka Calumet and Burke & James)
Super Graphic 4x5
Linhof Color 4x5 (rail)
Not to mention the 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 cameras
Linhof Super Technika
Graflex (baby) Speed Graphic
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Re: What LF cameras are we missing on our form?
Don't forget the B&S Hobo.
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Re: What LF cameras are we missing on our form?
I second the vote for Gundlach Korona, especially the various View, Banquet and Home Portrait models.
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Re: What LF cameras are we missing on our form?
You might add the Linhof Color to the Technika category--it's essentially Technika parts on a rail.
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Re: What LF cameras are we missing on our form?
Hello,
I am a user of the Arca-Swiss Monolith 4x5 camera. I may be prejudice, except I have used every camera in the last 35 years and I prefer this camera to even the Sinar Norma, Sinar P2 and my all time favorite camera based on build quality: the Linhof Kardan BI.
Let the games begin,
Mike