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Thread: Visit to Lotus View Camera

  1. #1

    Visit to Lotus View Camera

    Challenging a snowstorm of galactic proportions (read: driving 100 miles in a snowstorm that has caused some havoc around Salzburg, Austria) I visited Lotus View Camera today in search of some ULF answers.

    Without any pretense of being a review of the company or of its products (don't shoot on me, I'm just the piano player) I want to share with you some info hoping that it can be of some interest.

    First of all: Mr. Stroebele is a wonderful person, he can spend hours with you talking about his cameras, picture taking etc. He and his wife invited me and my wife for lunch and we had to decline fearing that our car could get stuck in the snow for good, this resulting in us accepting his offer for lunch, and for dinner, and for breakfast, and ... in fact, I left Lotus View Camera driving the car in reverse for about three hundred yards otherwise I would not have been able to climb up the hill and reach the main road. The car had gotten stuck already in enough snow to require this creative driving style. All this in spite of having snow tires mounted!

    Anyway, back to photography now. He had on display some 4x5, and an 8x10 that could be modified on-the-fly into an 8x20 by simply exchanging the back and the bellows. This is not the standard 8x20, in that it has a rail system in the back that allows one to slide in an 8x10 back (and bellows) or an 8x20 back (and bellows). Clearly this solution costs less than a full 8x10 and a full 8x20. The resulting 8x20 compromises a bit on overall rigidity because the bed is the one of the 8x10, and the rail system is not as rigid as a permanent connection to the bed. In fact, the bed of a "true" 8x20 is also larger. The "true" 8x20 weighs a bit more as well, but probably half a pound, not more. I have already an 8x10 so if I decide to go for the 8x20 I will order the real one.

    Lotus cameras have all movements both back and front, and I discussed with Mr. Stroebele the advantage of limiting the number of movements in the back for an 8x20 to decrease weight and rigidity. We did some math and it turns out that the gain in weight is probably negligible, around half a pound. By the way, the 8x20 peaks at slightly more than 7kg or 15 pounds. I lifted that 8x20/8x10 he had in his office and I was really surprised by how light it was. Yes, I will not do rock climbing with it but someone in great shape (not me) can do some serious backpacking with it. The advantage in reducing the movements in the back is not in decreasing the weight therefore but in increasing the overall rigidity. Yes, the camera would be more rigid and less sensitive to wind if the back had no shift and swing (say). Having said this, I personally need to do some thinking, I am not sure where to go on this.

    One reason I went to Lotus was also to discuss with Mr. Stroebele 8x20 vs 12x20, as I was (and still am, but to a lesser extent after the visit) debating with myself about the two formats. What he told me is that the 7x17 and 8x20 are fundamentally beefed up versions of the 8x10. The 12x20 and 14x17 are a totally different design, including some geared movements not present in the 7x17 and 8x20 to be able to handle very heavy lenses. And the "monster" 20x24 is yet another completely different design. Because of this there is a substantial step up in weight when going from 8x20 to 12x20. The 12x20 holders are also different in design and not just an oversized version of those for 8x20. The holders for 20x24 are different still, with some aluminum parts being required for rigidity reasons (Lotus holders are in cherry wood). He also showed me a 12x20 frame for the back and I have to admit that that size is a different ball game compared to the 8x20. 12x20 is a major step up over the 8x20, much bigger than what the difference in the areas of the negative may have one think.

    Craftmanship: ... it is outstanding. I understand why people commit unnatural acts to put their hands on Lotus film holders, now :-) They are very expensive but are indeed a work of art. As for the camera, being a picky, anal retentive, fanatic woodworker myself, the attention given to details speaks volumes about the passion that goes into bulding these cameras. It is a true labor of love.

    I have posted three pictures of the 8x20/8x10 camera in its 8x20 outfit. Again, this is not the standard 8x20 camera , but an 8x10 with the 8x20 back and bellows. The one I discussed at the beginning, in other words. I thought it would be of some interest anyway because there are not many hi-res pictures of Lotus cameras around (hence, the pictures are a bit heavy). The links are:

    www.resonantlink.com/lotus/l1.jpg

    www.resonantlink.com/lotus/l2.jpg

    www.resonantlink.com/lotus/l3.jpg

    I realize that all this may sound too enthusiastic. I am sure that using Mr. Stroebele cameras some shortcomings will show up, there is no such thing as a perfect camera, of course. I just wanted to share with you a simple "trip report", I have not test-driven his cameras. But what I saw was quite impressive.

    Mr. Stroebele told me that the bulk of his cameras are 8x10, smaller and larger ones make up a much smaller percentage. Apparently he sells more 8x10's than 4x5's, then.

    Finally, these are interesting times :-) so it is probably appropriate for me to point out that I have absolutely nothing to do with Lotus View Camera, and if I will ever buy one I will have to break --- with a great deal of pain --- my very own piggy bank ...

    Cheers!

  2. #2
    Eric Biggerstaff
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Denver, Colorado
    Posts
    1,327

    Visit to Lotus View Camera

    I have always liked the Lotus products. I think they are very well made and beautiful. I played around with a 5X7 model once and found it to be very nice to operate, smooth as butter. My only hang up with it was the focus knobs stuck out a bit to far which made it more of a pain to pack, but that is minor.

    To bad they are no longer imported to the US. I contacted the Stroebele 's a couple of years ago to inquire about once again importing the camera and they were open to it but they wanted a pretty large initial order, and then the camera needed to be sent back to Austria for repairs which I thought might put a bit of a damper on sales. So in the end...........

    Glad to know you had a nice visit, I do think they are beautiful cameras.
    Eric Biggerstaff

    www.ericbiggerstaff.com

  3. #3

    Visit to Lotus View Camera

    Marco

    thanks for the report, I've used the standard 8x20 so have a fair idea of the workmanship in them. To me they're a cross between a Wisner and Canham and like you say, no camera is perfect. Pity about the price though.

    Did you get any photos inside the factory?

    Clayton

  4. #4

    Visit to Lotus View Camera

    Clayton,

    there was so much snow on the ground that you could not get to the factory from the office. No pictures, too bad. But I'll be back in summer...

  5. #5

    Visit to Lotus View Camera

    I was deciding on a view camera and ahd narrowed it to a Lotus 4x5 when they stopped distribution in the US. Ended up with a Zone VI . I like it, but would rather have had the Lotus.

  6. #6

    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    Vittorio Veneto; Italy
    Posts
    87

    Visit to Lotus View Camera

    I also visited Lotus few months ago and I fully back what Marco said. Very nice people and excellent products. The only problem is that, in my opinion, the cameras they offer in formats smaller than 8x10 are a bit overpriced and it is probably for this reason the the Lotus 4x5 cameras are not so popular.

  7. #7

    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    San Francisco
    Posts
    628

    Visit to Lotus View Camera

    The last version of their website stated that 5x7 was there biggest seller. Now they sell more 8x10's. Interesting; maybe my opinion is common, that if you step up from 4x5, you might as well go all the way up to 8x10.

    Beautiful cameras, but too pricey for my blood. Especially in US$...

  8. #8

    Join Date
    Jun 2001
    Posts
    348

    Visit to Lotus View Camera

    I can get all the Lotus products if anyone is interested. The prices are on my website www.deleon-ulf.com. They are redesigning the delrin, converting to brass gears and knobs for the American market this year. They are very good cameras. Emile.

  9. #9

    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Posts
    168

    Visit to Lotus View Camera

    Thanks for the story Marco

    I was in Salzburg about 10 years ago around this time of year & was amazed at how people could get around in the snow including people on bicycles on very narrow roadways! I lived in upstate New York & drove in a lot of snow but the Austrians know how to get through it all.

    I've always admired the Lotus products & maybe someday ...

  10. #10

    Join Date
    Aug 2001
    Location
    Austria
    Posts
    110

    Visit to Lotus View Camera

    Check this out:
    www.apa-images.at/cms/site/DE/bildinfo.html;jsessionid=ag02OxJZLLOd?psID=25669/4282/1&source=schnellsuche.html



    Thatīs the current situation in some alpine regions here. Scary!



    Referring to Lotus: There has been a very tempting offer on a mint 4x5 Lotus for about EUR 1700,- on the bay recently. Guess thatīs about half of the factory price. Still a lot of money ...
    But nice cameras and excellent craftsmanship!

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