Let me chime in here as well.
I own Wista DXs, a Woodman and a later larger (real) Zone VI camera made by Richard Ritter. I have also looked at the Chamonix and Shen Hao models.
First, the ones I own: In the States, I hike extensively with my Wista DX. With recessed lens boards I can shoot down to 75mm (maybe even 65mm, I don't own one, however) and easily up to 240mm. With a top-hat lensboard I use my 300mm Nikkor M on the Wistas with no problems, but cannot focus closer than 5-6 feet. The movements on the DX include front rise, tilt and swing, back tilt, swing and shift. Bellows are 300mm. It is lightweight and compact and folds up with a smaller lens mounted easily (I leave a 135mm or my Ektar 203mm mounted usually). I own two of these and they are my "go-to" field cameras. Using "point-and-tilt" to get more rise than the front rise alone I can easily vignette my 90mm Super Angulon f/8. Warning: the Wista DXII is similar to the DX but lacks the shift feature (so did the Wista Zone VI cameras if I recall). I would not want a camera without shift somewhere.
My Woodman is even lighter than the Wista DX and is the camera I use in Europe. It will not take recessed boards, but I can use the 90mm on a flat board easily. It has 300mm of bellows and handles up to 240mm easily on a flat board. 300mm with a top-hat board. Movements are similar to the Wista but the shift is on the front standard and the back tilts are a little more limited. That said, I do a heck of a lot of architecturals here in Vienna with the Woodman and it performs fine for the most part. I can only think of one instance when I ran out of rise, even with "point-and-tilt" due to the limited back tilt. The Woodman will not fold up with a lens mounted, making the kit a little bigger. That said, I carry a small rolling/backpack carry-on hybrid pack with the Woodman, five lenses, two sets of six filters, 6-8 filmholders, meter and accessories on my back on my bicycle easily.
The "real" Richard Ritter Zone VI camera is a fuller-featured camera with longer bellows and more extensive movements (the same as other wood folders, front rise, tilt and swing, rear tilt and swing and shift on one standard, just more shift and rise). It, however, is significantly heavier and bulkier than the Wista DX or the Woodman. It usually stays in the car and gets used for shots relatively close to the car. The advantage is the ability to use a 450mm lens (although I had to do a few modifications on it to hold the bellows out that far!). The downside is the weight, especially if I want to pack the 450mm lens as well. It's pack weighs almost twice as much as the lumbar pack I use for the Wista kit. Sure, it has a lot more in it, but I don't like to carry it that far. It has interchangeable bellows if you can find the bag bellows for it. I've modified mine to take recessed Technika boards, but otherwise you'll need flat boards and a bag bellows to be able to use any movements on lenses 90mm and shorter.
If I were buying a new field camera, I'd look at the Chamonix 45n-2 (the 45n-1 had some issues with Fresnel placement; if you plan on only using a plain ground glass, then it would be fine too. If you like a Fresnel, then the 45n-2 is the way to go). The issue is the way the front standard mounts and how the tilt and rise are together on one control. I'd have to handle one to decide. The Shen Hao PTB is similar to the Chamonix in this respect. Both these cameras are really light (3lbs!), and the fiddleyness of the front movements may well be worth the portability advantage.
The Shen Hao TZ is a more conventional design, weighs 4.7 lbs and would be similar to a Wista/Tachi/Woodman but has significantly longer bellows, enabling the use of a 300mm lens on a flat board easily. The HZX is larger, a bit heavier and offers more of everything; bellows draw, movements, etc. I believe all the Shen Hao models now come with universal bellows, which should make using movements with shorter lenses easier. I would seriously look at the TZ if I were in the market.
My recommendations: I love my Wista DX. If you need lightweight and can live without a 300mm lens (or one on a top-hat board) then this is a super camera. The Tachi and Woodman would be in the same category, but don't fold up with a lens mounted.
If you need more bellows draw and still want to stay lightweight, look at the Chamonix and Shen Hao models. You'll have to decide if the front standard arrangement on the Chamonix and the PTB are worth the lighter weight. A TZ would be a nice compromise.
Since you have "heavy" cameras with full features already, I'd advise against one of the larger Shen Hao or Zone VI cameras, on the basis of weight alone. You seem to have that base covered already. They are, however, fine tools and if you need to use a 360mm or longer lens, they will handle that.
Many like metal folding cameras. I don't personally, but it is more a weight issue than anything else. I treat my gear with care and wood cameras have served me well. If you need something significantly more rugged (bulletproof!) then a metal folder might be a choice.
Hope this helps,
Doremus
Bookmarks