Upgrade my 4x5 - need input

[Robert Ley]

Hi Jack, I also cut my LF teeth on a Super Graphic. I upgraded to a Wista VX. It is a metal folding field camera that is built like a brick (about 6lbs.) with interchangeable bellows. Uses Linhof style boards (easy to get). It has an extension bellows that I have seen on Ebay for about $250 which will give you about 600mm of bellows and with the bag bellows which I picked up for less than $100 I can easily use my 75mm SA. I have a 360mm Schneider Tele-xenar and it easily focuses down to about 15 ft with the 300+mm of bellows. It has geared rise and locks down all movements very securely. I love my Wista and have yet to run out of front or back movements. I also use my camera for primarily landscape and have a Cambo SC for any architecture shot I might want to do. I picked up an adapter board so I can easily use my Wista boards with the Cambo. I also picked up my VX on Ebay for about $700 so it is well within your budget. Good luck in your search.

[Ole Tjugen]

Backpack-friendly monorail? That's easy - the Linhof Color. Not "Kardan Color", but the old, simple plain Color. Mine handles lenses from 90mm to 360mm, but the bellows extend to about 42cm. I just don't have any lens that long wihch fits the Technika boards!

I carry camera, six holders, extra film, changing bag, spotmeter, six lenses (90mm SA, 135mm Planar, 150mm APO-Lanthar, 210mm Xenar, 240mm Symmar, 360mm Tele-Xenar) in a Lowepro S&F Lite Trekker.

[Sharon S.]

Hi Jack -

One thing to consider with field cameras is the size of the back element of your lense should you decide to go wider than 110. Some of them cannot handle the large rear element.

[Wayne Crider]

I"ll guess you'd have to figure that we all have our preferences as illustrated. I too cut my teeth on a Super, but after stupidly selling it I returned with a couple of Crowns. I'm just now getting back to 4x5 after becoming annoyed that I can't shoot up an entire roll of film in less than a month or even more, so I figure I may as well be shootiing 4x5. At least then I can process something;

I've been looking and reading as you, as I'd like to move up too, but I guess like me you'll have to figure it out for yourself cause all we (others) will do is probably fuddle your mind up to the point where you won't be able to think at all. Asking which one around here can lead to a migraine. You know it's that too many options thing people encounter when buying stuff. Anyways, it's just too bad there's not a Rent A LF Camera store in every town. Anyways, in the price range you mention, although there's alot to choose from your 400mm requirement has more opportunities in the monorail venue.

In flatbeds check the Gandolfi Variant, Walker, Zone VI and Phillips which according to the article I'm reading in an old 1996 magazine, states they all are over 18" in extension. If it's useable I don't know. I'm sure by now tho you've read all the spec's and should know what your options are, so it might be prudent to ask about set up, rigidity, accessories blah blah blah. I've basically narowed my choices down to the Discovery, I like the idea of a reflex finder eventually, and rails and bellows can be changed easily, or an 8x10 Tachihara; For now. I figure that with an 8x10 I might be able to actually see a focused image without resorting to a magnifier. I have handled the Arca and with the short rail as an option the thing collapses in like 5 sec's. and the package is actually pretty small; Setup is just as fast. Leave the long rail on the tripod in the 90 deg position and it's off you go.

Let us know what you wind up with and how you like it. Maybe I'll be interested as well.

[Tom Smart]

I am cutting my own 4x5 eye teeth on a Badger M-2 that I got last spring. The camera is very light, portable and easy to use. Ocaisionally the adjustments slip, so I find myself tightening things down very well. The finish is a bit rough as noted above, but that doesn't matter. I have brought the camera backpacking on extended trips and day trips. Paired up with my Hakuba carbon tripod it is very easy to tote around without feeling burdened.

A was getting lots of light leaks in the beginning, and attributed them to my used film holders until, much to my surprise, I took the camera into a darkroom and looked at it with a flashlight inside the belows. My first discovery was leaks in the bellows attachment. At all for corners of the rear board the bellows was not glued down sufficiently. It was a relatively easy fix with super glue once I discovered the problem.

More light leaks were driving me mad, and I discovered that light was leaking through the spring back attachment - though the L-shaped rail that guides the film boards into place. I patched these up and things are now fine.

Despite my early frustrations I am happy to use this camera and can recommend it. Jeff was helpful over the phone advising me regarding the light leaks. But I'd wonder if anyone else has experienced similar problems.