I do aerial photography and want to take some personal 4x5 B&W shots when I am in the air. although I long for a beautiful wooden field camera with brass hardware, reality is that I will be working in a swamp and flying around in small aircraft. The last helicopter I worked in was used for also used for varmint hunting And so function comes first and I can live with spartan aesthetics. I want to do this affordably, and so I likely will get a simple "modern" field camera if I cant find an used Fotoman within my means.
I am now actively shopping for a used field camera. I do NOT need much if any camera movements, although some decent RISE (only) might serve me if I need the camera as backup to my monorail. I see many offerings, especially Wista, and some Horseman, and Toyo (the latter 2 brands more expensive it seems). Side note: When I made a living shooting 4x5 color trans, I used Horseman monorail and liked it very much, and still use it for pet projects today.
My question today is: without the need for much movements, do any of these field cameras have an advantage in being somewhat more rigid when locked-down? I am thinking of turbulence in the air, and sometimes of work from other vehicles like work boats.
GIVENS:
0. 4x5 B&W neg film
1. Hand-held work with vibration present
2. 125-150mm lens. Prefer to use modern lenses
FEATURES/CRITERIA:
0. Rugged and rigid when bed and movements are "locked-down"
1. One thing that I can't tell is which ones have Graflok back, which I prefer.
2. The ability to have a good hand-strap or even better, add a grip is a big plus. Do any of these have affordable Linhof-Technica-type grips affordably available?
3. I need to be able to frame the shot hand-held so I need a finder of some sort. Ease of having this or adding one is a plus. Again, I wonder about the RangeFinder (RF) models - does the rangefinder also function as an accurate viewfinder for subjects at infinity?
4. I do NOT need much (or any) camera movements like rise/fall/swings. Maybe just some conservative front rise. Nothing more really.
CANDIDATES:
a. Wista 45D. These are plentiful and affordable.
b. Wista 45RF (having rangefinder might be nice - will that allow me to frame a shot accurately (100%) at infinity focus?)
c. Horseman FA Nice option if I can find a zoom finder at affordable price.
other: I dont see many affordable Toyos out there. Still looking as I write.
old press cameras? Do any classic Speed-Graphic-type cameras have Graflok backs?
note: should I consider some others in the $500-range?
Ideas welcome. I am just loving the process of shopping for a used field camera and a lens!
HERE IS A RUNNING LIST OF NOTES & UPDATES ADDED:
-I've never seen any of these in real life. In picture-shopping on-line, I am tending towards the Horseman FA.
-My old Horseman LE monorail has Graflok back - is that Horseman-flavor of Graflok or is it truly universal? Is it more like Sinar?
-It appears that the Wista 45RF has Graflok back and that the rangefinder has markings for framing common focal lengths. Built-in rangefinder seems handy and well-protected.
Wishing you great light!
Paul
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