If you are going to shoot 8x10, consider just making contact prints. If you are going to shoot 4x5 (or 5x7) then an enlarger does become part of the equation. In either format look for a camera that has lots of bellows draw without need for accessories like extralong bellows or intermediate standards that would allow you to link standard bellowss together. My favorite large format cameras right now (for portraits or location work) are the one made by Keith Canham @ K.B. Canham. he makes cameras from 4x5 to 8x10 and maybe beyond. Try http:// www.thefstop.com/menu.html for on-line info & pricing. Also a good place for advice and lenses. A 300mm (like the 300mm f/9 M-Nikkor) is a great head & shoulders portrait lens for 4x5, approx. equivalent to a 100mm lens in a 35mm system, and a similar lens would be a 600mm for an 8x10. Figure you'll need about 50% more bellows length for head & shoulders studies. The 450mm f/9 M-Nikkor is also a terrific lens. But the truth is you can do wonderful portraits with virtually any lens & camera.