How much front rise do you use?

[David Karp]

Matthew,

I have been following your posts, and after reading about the type of photography you are interested in, here are a few suggestions. Please take them for what they are worth -- Not the right answers, just some possiblities to consider.

I agree that the Canham DLC is a good camera for you to investigate. It is kind of a cross between a field camera and a monorail camera. Many of the people who use it really like it. One day I was walking around Santa Barbara with my wife, and we came upon a couple of large format photographers. We talked to them for a while. One of them was Chuck Farmer. He recommended the DLC to me. I looked into it and decided not to buy it based on the review on this website, only because it was not strongly recommended for someone who photographs a lot of architecture. Since you will only be doing occasional architectural photography, this would be a good camera to consider.

Another one to look at is the Arca Swiss Discovery. Very light weight. Very well made. All the movements you will need. Abilty to grow into a great system. It also comes with its own rucksack. Ability to add longer rails if you want to use longer lenses. Problem is that everyone likes them so much it is hard to find them used. This camera was my first choice, before I came on a great deal on a used Calumet 45NX. The Discovery could be a great camera for you to photograph the urban landscape.

For what its worth, I use a 90mm f/4.5 Grandagon-N. I have used the tilts to accomplish some rise, but I prefer using the rise controls. If you have enough rise, you don't have to mess "workarounds" to accomplish your objective. This is all very individual -- a matter of personal preference. I was just afraid that a field camera like a 45AII or HD would run out of movements, and that I might run out of an opportunity to make an image by the time I accomplished the movement using a workaround. I guess that's why there are so many cameras -- So many photographers, each with his or her own preferences.

[Ellis Vener]

You'll do better with an Arca-Swiss FC, Linhof TK45s, Canham DLC or, as others have mentioned, an Ebony than either of the cameras you mentionedin your second post. I skimmed through the other posts but did any mention the indirect rise methid/ This is wher you tilt the base of the camera Usualy up for architectural work or downwards for tabletop work) and then tilt the two standards back to the vertical. This can add inches to the rise/ fall capabilities of your camera -- if the basic camera and bellows design will allow you to do so.

[David Kaufman]

I photograph urban architecture most of the time. I use a 90 f/4.5 Rodenstock Grandagon with a Sinar F and bag bellows. You definitely need a bag bellows to get full use out of the image circle of the 90mm. But in photographing tall buildings or parts of tall buildings in urban setting, or subjects like churches with tall steeples, I sometimes run out of image circle, which is a lens problem, not a camera problem. I have been thinking of converting to the Schneider 90 mm XL because of its larger image circle. Image circle limitations is definitely a problem in certain situations. If you want to photograph architecture, get the lens with the largest image circle available and the camera with the most rise possible. You won't be sorry.