Ebony RW810E/SW410E from Japan

[georgl]

I've been thinking about large format for quite some time, I've tested it and I like the whole approach to photography which is so different from "point & shoot" or trying to finish a 36 exposure 35mm-film...

I love the Technica, but it's 4x5" - I don't want to go through all the hassle when I can get 2 or 4 times larger slide ! ;-)

On Photokina I handled an Ebony and I think this is "the one" - at least for me! Strange, always hated wooden cameras (I'm an Engineer, I highly suspect plastics and wood and my logical choice would have been Keith's Canham ;-)
I'm still not sure about 4x10" (smaller and "Cinemasope" ;-) or 8x10" (can shot 4x10" as well) - but I'll figure that out.

Now to my question:
I've wanted to visit Tokyo anyway and I thought about getting it from there!? Can you get it directly from Ebony? What are the prices in Yen?

I still have about 6 months to rethink my decision (that's why I don't want to contact Mr. Sakanashi directly, yet), but I just want to have all the options available.

Thank you very much!

[engl]

Actually, there are 5x7 Technikas, the latest is the V version. These will give you around double the negative size of a 4x5. They are not plentiful, and neither are 5x7 film choices, I don't think you can get 5x7 slide film (but there are some 13x18cm slide films in Europe).

Anyway, I'd not advice you to get an Ebony or rare 5x7 Technika as your first LF camera unless your pockets are very deep. Half a year of using any LF camera will give you a much better idea of what you want in a camera, as well as help you figure out what format (if any) of the LF formats is for you. Size/weight, possible movements, ease of movements, wide/long lens compatibility, film choices, cost, setup time, shooting speed, GG size, viable print types and enlargements all vary with camera and/or format.

You have 6 months to your Tokyo trip, use that time to buy a used 4x5, you could easily resell it if needed.

Edit: Not related to photography, but it possible, avoid going to Tokyo in July (I used to live there). The summer in Tokyo is very hot and humid, and the rainy reason is in June-July. Less rain in August but humidity is still very high and expect 90F/32C every day. Spring and autumn are the best times to visit Japan, especially if you can time it with either the cherry blossoms ("Sakura") or autumn leaves ("Kouyou", easier to plan for).

[Ed Kelsey]

Be careful what you ask for You may get some no-name twit trying to kill your dream. I say go for it !

[Steve Hamley]

Nonsense. If you've handled it and like it, go for it. My first LF camera was a 4x5 Crown Graphic which was a gift. After that, I bought an Ebony SV45U about a decade ago, without having ever seen one, and still have it and use it.

It's true that you may change your mind and prefer an Arca, Linhof, whatever, but if you like the Ebony now there's no reason to argue that you might change your mind.

Cheers, Steve

[engl]

Be careful what you ask for You may get some no-name twit trying to kill your dream. I say go for it !

We may disagree about how much sense it makes to jump into large format with a 6000$ 8x10 camera, but I'm not going to start handing out personal insults to those who do not agree with me.

If he loves the Ebony it is not like some "no-name twit" on an internet messageboard is going to change his mind anyway. Unless maybe the "no-name twit" turns him to the Technika he also loves but did not know existed in 5x7.

[georgl]

Thanks for the weather advice - I hate humidity (it makes my wooden cameras swell ;-).

There are even 10 8x10" Technikas, I've seen one: an ugly, huge basterd... ;-)
No, 5x7 is an odd format (more so than cutting 8x10 in half ? ;-).

I've tried several cameras and had many complaints about various things (format, weight, rigidity, smoothness) - I was only able to handle the Ebony for a rather short period of time, but I haven't found any major issues - getting a used "for testing" (non 4x5) Ebony is a tricky thing in Germany anyway, there is not even a proper large format camera dealer in the capital!
6000$ (my estimation) is very expensive for me, but I've paid about the same amount of money over the last three years on lousy Chinese consumer electronics/computers which drove me insane with lousy engineering and build quality - I'll have to spend some serious money on quality, again ;-)

So no idea about prices and Ebony Japan?

[George Hart]

So no idea about prices and Ebony Japan?

Email Hiromi and he'll tell you.

George

[engl]

My guess is that Ebony do not sell a lot in their home market. Their webpage is outdated, they have no reseller links unlike for example Toyo and Wista who have up-to-date pricing and reseller information. Looking around the the stores in Tokyo that sell used large format gear, I don't think I've ever seen an Ebony camera. List price at time of introduction is available at ohban4x5.com but those are very old by now, and not available for the RW810 for example (the camera is not included on the Japanese page). Click エボニー on the left hand side, third from the top. The price is whatever is written before the 円 sign, the red text indicates reasonable second hand price (at some time...).

Sending an email to Hiromi is probably the way

[Daniel Stone]

if you've suspected wood and plastics, what about a Kodak Master View(usually referred to as a "KMV" on the web).

its a cast aluminum "clamshell" design, and is a very nice camera. Most of the time, bellows will go out to past 28", so lots of room for extension on close-ups, or with using longer lenses.

I have one, and its great! Bear in mind they're all over 50 years old now, but I expect to own/use mine for many more years

however: Ebonys are very nice, but the price IMO is WAAAAY to expensive. If you like it, and can afford the pricetag, go for it! But if you're budget conscious like me, you'll use what works, and save the rest of the money for film, paper, lenses, holders, etc....

and frankly, I don't baby my cameras. I don't throw them around, but I don't have to worry about gouging this expensive piece of kit if it hits a rock or something.

just my lousy $.02

-Dan

p.s. here's a link to one WITH a lens, and extra lensboardsNOT MY CAMERA LISTING BTW...)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=p5197.c0.m619

[Drew Wiley]

If you can afford an Ebony, go for it. They really are the most precisely manufactured folding wooden cameras, with the highest quality hardware. But there
are also cameras less than half that price that are functionally very good. Lots of
fine choice nowadays. But save plenty of budget for filmholders and lenses.