I've been researching, and it looks like for my first LF 4x5 camera, since I want portability, I'm looking at a Speed Graphic or Crown Graphic or Busch Pressman. I like the simplicity of the press cameras, and don't (initially) expect to use movements. I will be mostly doing landscapes and being portable. It's also been brought to my attention that some of the rail cameras are fairly portable, like the Calumet Pocket View.
Since I do want to definitely process color, it looks like most of the Crown or Speed Graphics were 1950's or earlier and so will be uncoated or only single coated, which from what I've been reading is not desirable for color processing.
For my first lens, from my landscape desires and what 'normal' size is, I would like to have somewhere around the 135-150mm range lens length. At the moment, I'm specifically considering a local purchase of a Speed Graphic camera with a 135mm lens. I've haven't talked with the person and gotten the age of camera or lens yet.
Question 1:
Any recommendations about this like: "skip the press camera lenses if you are taking color", or "not optimal, but a post 19xx year lens will perform well enough to give you an appetite for more without discouraging you from the LF world" or ...
Question 2:
For a better multi-coated lens, the best deal I've seen is something like a used Nikkor-W 135mm for about $200us on KEH. Do I need to just bite the bullet and get a separate lens if I'm processing color using the press camera? Also, would a lens like that still fold up into a Speed Graphic (Crown, Busch)
From my questions you can probably see that I would like to start with an inexpensive camera that included the lens, rather than paying for an additional lens. Of course I will still need to also get the other accessories and processing equipment too, so the are more startup dollars required.
I appreciate any input.
Gary.
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