Suggestions for lightweight 8x10

[Richard M. Coda]

Richard, Arcas are great $800 cameras.

Where did it say $800?

[Frank Petronio]

You can only have two out of the three desired factors: budget, weight, strength ;-)

It helps to really analyze what you will be doing... everyone says they want a superlight camera but the reality is that if you are going backpacking you're more likely to take the 4x5 anyway, so maybe weight isn't the first or second priority? In which case a heavy but solid and inexpensive monorail is the best bang for the buck. As uncool as they might be....

The metal Toyo 8x10 field is a nice camera, although I remember Chris Jordan complaining that he stripped the focusing gears due to dirt and they were not "economically replaceable".

[Mike Castles]

Richard Ritter makes a nice light 8x10, his website

Also, my Rambles (blog) contains photos and my impression of the camera after using it.

[Jim Rhoades]

Old, heavy, (13lbs.) not so ridgid but the most instinctive and wonderful 8x10 you can find, a V-8 Deardorff.

[Ole Tjugen]

You can only have two out of the three desired factors: budget, weight, strength ;-) ...

Frank is right, pick any two.

Mine is a Gandolfi Traditional. Not the lightest, but far from the heaviest. Not the cheapest, by far. Not the strongest, but very very close. Since I bought it second-hand (and unused, as far as I can see), the price was not too bad. Among wooden cameras I find it difficult to believe that there could be a more stable one which still allows a fair selection of movements - a classic rear-focussing German "Reisekamera" has a more stable front, but no front tilt at all. The weight is as low as it can be while still being strong enough to support a 360mm f:5.6 Symmar - which incidentally weighs almost half as much as the camera.

[bulrich]

Just got a Chamonix 810 and it was tons lighter than my Ebony RW810. Great camera. Even makes me a bit worried it's so light.

[Daniel_Buck]

I've settled down with a Chamonix 4x5 and 8x10 for my backpacking, they are both good cameras and serve my purposes nearly perfect! :-)

[John Brady]

My Ebony slw810 weighs in at 7.5 pounds and is rock solid. Its a non folder but still very compact and simple to use. It doesn't have all the movements of a traditional view camera which is why it is so solid and light. Also it favors wide angle so if you're a tele shooter this won't be the one for you. Not cheap but well worth the investment. For me it is perfection.

www.gladesgallery.com

[Henry Suryo]

Please pardon the shameless plug, but since you ask for suggestions: FS: 8x10 Phillips Explorer (Revised).

Definitely the lightest, smallest, most rigid 8x10 around and I'm certain to regret selling it, but my Deardorff's been with me longer and sadly can't keep both at this time.

[mccormickstudio]

I'll also give kudos to the Chamonix. My backpack with Chamonix 8x10, three lenses (some big), five film holders and misc gear is a manageable 26 pounds, tripod not included. They may currently be on a long lead time - check with Hugo Zhang on this list.