Gem, I can read. But he also stated he shot fine art still life. add that to the plea about buying a first camera, I thought it was useful.Originally Posted by Gem Singer
Maybe not.
So you're keeping the Omega. Ok, thought I was helping.
bob
Gem, I can read. But he also stated he shot fine art still life. add that to the plea about buying a first camera, I thought it was useful.
Maybe not.
So you're keeping the Omega. Ok, thought I was helping.
bob
I own a Chamonix 045N-2 and can add a little bit on your comments. I have not handled a Wista and can not compare its build quality, but I can clarify that the front standard on a Chamonix is anything but fixed at a single position relative to the back. The front may be placed in any of five positions. Finer adjustment to zero the camera for infinity focus may be done using the generous fore-aft slide available for the rear standard. Both are visible in this image from the Chamonix Web site:
The bellows on the Chamonix 045N-2 is easily removable without tools. The front is secured by a slide clamp and the rear by two thumb-wheels. The so-called universal bellows is supposed to support ultra-wide angle lenses without resorting to a bag bellows. I have not been able to substantiate that claim for lack of a short lens, but can say that it nicely accommodates my Caltar-NII 90/6.8 to its limit of coverage.
While the 045N-2 supports generous rear swing, it does not feature rear shift. This is a change from its predecessor, the 045N-1.
While rise and tilt on the front are secured with the same set of knobs, I have not found it difficult to manage the two if you adjust and secure the rise first. Tilt may then be done without disturbing the rise adjustment by releasing two catches and adjusting the tilt using gentle finger pressure. It is difficult to explain why this works, except to say that there it takes less friction to secure the vertical adjustment than the tilt. Additional tightening may be applied if needed. Time will tell whether this sequence will continue to work well as the parts wear with use.
Front swing and shift, IMHO, is the weakest design point on the 045N-2. While the assembly is not flimsy, it is relatively easy to bump the front swing from its zero point. There is no physical stop. Ditto for front shift. The two use a common tightener and zero alignment is done by visually matching index marks on the standard with points on the focus plate. It is difficult to do a pure front shift without introducing a degree of swing. Correction requires a trip to the front of the camera. Back-and-forth. The positive trade-off to this design is generous shift and swing. So far, it has not be a huge issue in the field.
As to which camera has the shakier front...I don't have access to a Wista, so I can't say. I did have an opportunity to buy the similar Zone VI at a local shop, but opted for the Chamonix based on build. Perhaps the next time you are in the Portland, Oregon area you can drop by and we can do a head to head comparison.
In regards to the OP...as noted in the other comments, unless you really like the lighter weight and design features of the Chamonix or other wooden field camera, there may be other used options that will work well for less money.
Steve
wow thanks for all the info steve. unfortunately, i don't have access to the sale forum yet. does anyone know of any wisner technical camera that are going for a good price on there?
045n-1 doesn't have rear shift either. Only rear swing and tilt.
You are correct...sorry for the confusion. Hopefully I did not add too much to the cloud of erroneous information on the Web.
Steve
The camera is a Wisner Traditional and the seller is John Wilton. You should be able to PM him about the camera from his forum page HERE.
As for Wisner Technicals...B&H has a used one:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...SE/Wisner.html
There are also a couple on eBay.
Steve
I owned a 4x5 Wisner Technical Field camera for a while. One of its most attractive features was long bellows draw. It allowed me to use a 450mm Fujinon C, and to get closer than 1:1 with my 240 mm lens.
There are only a few field cameras which offer that much extension. Others include the Ebony and Canham, but they are positioned at a higher price point, and rarely appear in the used market.
We own a Chamonix 045N-1 for a little over a year now. We started with, and typically use a 6x12 cm roll back most of the time. This is a transition from med format to large format for us. The rollback provides a robust experimental platform in transition to the full frame of 4x5 inch.
The camera has enough movement to adapt to most any situation I've thrown at it. Some photos seem to defy physics by being able to keep most everything in focus from a few feet away to infinity and side to side. In short, I couldn't understand the need for more movement especially as a novice to large format...
We have only used 3 lenses so far, 135mm Xenotar press, 150mm Fujinon, 210mm Schneider. The problems with wide angle-short focal length lens focus offset have not been a problem for me yet. Evidently there are numerous users that dislike the Fresnel plate on the 045N-1.
Build quality? This camera is pretty darned solid IMHO. It's a very light field camera. We purchased an ultra-light Feisol traveler tripod with Photo-Clam ball head. These components, while very light, offer sturdy and easy positioning of the camera in a multiple of field situations, notably macro work too. We use a photo-backpack with internal velcro-pouches for the equipment to stabilize the tripod during use. The pack hangs from a hook on the bottom of the center stand.
Anyway, you should consider the entire investment carefully.
The camera alone will not get you to a field worthy photographic state.
Example,... everything said, the cost breakdown for our setup was as follows:
Camera, used, with lens boards and universal bellows = $700
Lenses, used, VG-EX cond =$50 +$200 + $250 = $500
Photobackpacker P2 and accs = $350
Feisol Traveller Tripod and accs = $450
Photoclam ball head = $200
Roll back 6x12 Horseman, used, = $350
Total cost: $2550, field weight approx 6.6 lbs including camera, tripod, ball head, and a light weight lens.
Tack on weight for film back of choice...
I hope this info is useful from one LF novice to another.
Bill
Ditto for me except that I have historically shot 35mm.
I can affirm that the camera purchase is only the beginning of expense. As has been pointed out on other threads, LF does not have to be a rich man's realm. However, there is plenty of space for unanticipated expense. My totals are about the same as yours, but for different stuff.
Chamonix 045N-2 with folding viewer + shipping: $901
Caltar II-N 150/5.6 (used): $249
Caltar II-N 90/6.8 (used): $300
12 film holders (used): $25
2 Bromwell lens boards: $78
2 Hakuba cable release: $28
Linhoff Super-Rollex 6x7 roll film holder (used): $172
Calumet C2 6x7 roll film holder (used): $50
Calumet C2N 6x7 roll film holder (used): $115
Bogen 3028 tripod head (used): $15
Fortunately, I already owned a suitable tripod. (whew!)
Cost on camera side of things: $1923
On the processing end:
Generic plastic daylight processing tank for "taco" method: $20
Nikor 120 SS processing tank and real (used): $5
Epson V700 scanner: $536 (ouch!)
Still needed, but purchases are on hold:
Dark cloth
4x loupe (my 8x Agfa loupe is a little too strong)
Changing bag
Better backpack
At this point, I am tired of spending money on this project and am thinking that maybe I should turn pro just to support my habit! Just to confirm that I know where the luxury items lie. Yes, could have made do with only one roll film holder. As it is, I take all three into the field (one with Ektar 100 and the other two with Acros 100) and generally use them all. I could also have waited on the wide angle lens. The combination is about $500 potential savings right there.
Steve
Check out KEH.com and look for large format folding cameras. Currently Press Folding cameras start at about $200. I don't currently see any used field cameras listed but have seen them in the $5-600 range. New Chamonix and Shen Hao start at $650-700. and it used prices go up from there. A Rail camera has same functionality except for folding up for less $. They all shoot the same (movements excepted)
Wally Brooks
Everything is Analog!
Any Fool Can Shoot Digital!
Any Coward can shoot a zoom! Use primes and get closer.
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