Page 2 of 4 FirstFirst 1234 LastLast
Results 11 to 20 of 33

Thread: VDS 8X10 camera first impressions

  1. #11

    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Location
    Montreal, Canada
    Posts
    1,993

    Re: VDS 8X10 camera first impressions

    Drew - based on what I can find on the Catlabs site it looks to be $2,200 for the camera. That's a pretty impressive price point for 8x10.

    While it's nice to see there's enough demand out there to warrant new camera entrants, I have to be honest and say I wish some of these would really offer something new or "better" from a design perspective. Looking at the various offerings, it really doesn't seem like there's much innovation or improvement besides the obsession with weight. A few newer materials used sparingly here and there, but mostly the same old same old.

  2. #12
    Jac@stafford.net's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2012
    Location
    Winona, Minnesota
    Posts
    5,413

    Re: VDS 8X10 camera first impressions

    Quote Originally Posted by Michael R View Post
    [...] it really doesn't seem like there's much innovation or improvement besides the obsession with weight.
    Isn't that enough? Defeating the increasing strength of gravity is a virtuous endeavor. Maybe that is something only us oldies can appreciate.

  3. #13

    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Location
    Montreal, Canada
    Posts
    1,993

    Re: VDS 8X10 camera first impressions

    I suppose. Fair point.

    I'd just like to see someone really "raise the bar" rather than just oscillating within the old confines (weight vs rigidity) without anything groundbreaking. Just my two cents.

  4. #14
    おせわに なります! Andrew O'Neill's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    Coquitlam, BC, Canada, eh!
    Posts
    5,136

    Re: VDS 8X10 camera first impressions

    I wonder how one could raise the bar with these types of cameras, other than weight, as mentioned, without sacrificing movements, rigidity, etc.

  5. #15

    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Location
    Montreal, Canada
    Posts
    1,993

    Re: VDS 8X10 camera first impressions

    I have a few ideas. Also I wish some of the shortcomings (shortcomings in my opinion I guess) of traditional designs would be looked at, rather than just figuring out how to make the same camera a little lighter (and more rickety). There should probably be more field testing too. It seems like a camera is released and it's supposed to be the best, and then lo and behold either months or a few years later there's a revised version with "improvements" (ie fixes).

    Then again you can never get agreement on camera characteristics, so these are only my opinions.

  6. #16

    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    166

    Re: VDS 8X10 camera first impressions

    Quote Originally Posted by Michael R View Post

    I'd just like to see someone really "raise the bar" rather than just oscillating within the old confines.
    One of the confines that the newer makers (these folk, svedovsky) seem to be addressing is cost of entry to 10x8.

    Making truly innovative big cameras in the 21st century would I expect also mean rather a big retail price, given the relatively small market.

  7. #17
    Jac@stafford.net's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2012
    Location
    Winona, Minnesota
    Posts
    5,413

    Re: VDS 8X10 camera first impressions

    Quote Originally Posted by Michael R View Post
    [...]There should probably be more field testing too.
    Agreed. I had the enlightening experience of learning how our composites material engineers went about things. Rather than simply casting a new product in a traditional design, entirely new thoughts must be considered. Look for example at CF tripods. Largely the same old but in new materials. Certainly a weight savings, but I wonder.

    A project taken on by one chap was surprising. He went about to create violin bows in carbon fiber thinking the dimensional stability was a primary virtue. It was one virtue but the bows turned out to be too light! Balance in the hand, inertial qualities were things only a master violinist could evaluate. All is well now thanks to lots of feedback and his responsiveness.

    Being facetious: what we need is a view camera that is light when carried, but heavy on the tripod. That's the same dream of women's shoes that are larger on the inside than the outside.

  8. #18

    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Newbury, Vermont
    Posts
    2,260

    Re: VDS 8X10 camera first impressions

    Layton L-45A:Click image for larger version. 

Name:	L-45A Folded.jpg 
Views:	183 
Size:	43.2 KB 
ID:	146952Click image for larger version. 

Name:	L-45A.jpg 
Views:	201 
Size:	62.5 KB 
ID:	146953Click image for larger version. 

Name:	L-45A Showing Movements.jpg 
Views:	202 
Size:	51.3 KB 
ID:	146954Click image for larger version. 

Name:	L-45A w:Bag Bellows, Vertical Shift.jpg 
Views:	192 
Size:	50.9 KB 
ID:	146955

  9. #19

    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Boston, MA, USA
    Posts
    1,512

    Re: VDS 8X10 camera first impressions

    There is a link just under the photos to more photos.
    Google VDS camera and you will most likely find all the answers in the second and third results.

  10. #20

    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    667

    Re: VDS 8X10 camera first impressions

    Quote Originally Posted by Drew Bedo View Post
    Did I miss a link to a mfg page?
    Actually, perhaps... "Yes and No."
    --
    http://vdscamera.com/
    VDS Camera Homepage

    (Please visit a few days later!)

Similar Threads

  1. Svedovsky 8x10 first impressions
    By bthphoto in forum Cameras & Camera Accessories
    Replies: 13
    Last Post: 29-May-2017, 06:14
  2. Chamonix 8x10 - Teak: First Impressions
    By turtle in forum Cameras & Camera Accessories
    Replies: 21
    Last Post: 18-May-2012, 19:35
  3. Chamonix 5×8 camera - first impressions
    By Jiri Vasina in forum Cameras & Camera Accessories
    Replies: 11
    Last Post: 28-Dec-2010, 05:48
  4. A Greenhorn's first impressions for an afternoon with the new camera...
    By rugenius in forum Cameras & Camera Accessories
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 2-Nov-2009, 16:33
  5. Light Impressions?
    By Flexnib in forum Gear
    Replies: 15
    Last Post: 11-May-2008, 14:07

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •