I am in the process of supplementing my 35mm work with 4x5. I have read several threads related to my general needs, but I would like to open this thread to ad dress my specific concerns.
When I entered 35mm, I did considerable research on the overall system that I fe lt would best meet my needs (both present and future), and only then began to as semble (over several years) the specific camera and lens components which would best work for me. I bought the best equipment as I could afford it, and I have been pleased with the results. No small part of the data which I used for purch ase decisions came from discussions similar to the present one.
Looking down the road ten years, I would like to have two cameras, both for use in the field, one backpacking weight, and one perhaps a bit heavier and more rig id but still portable (I don't anticipate architecture or studio work). Hopeful ly they would be reasonably compatible in terms of lens boards, polaroid back, e tc. I would expect to probably have four/five lenses, 75/90, 150, 210 and 400, almost exclusively for landscape and micro work. The final product generally wo uld be 20x24 prints (or larger) of high quality. I would also like to anticipat e the use of digital recording of images, so far as that is practical and predic table at this juncture. What I would like to avoid is purchasing equipment and then selling-I know from my 35mm experience that I tend to hang onto equipment, so I would like to make every purchase count as best I can. I would expect to h ave the equipment for several decades.
I'm willing to spend the necessary amount as long a there is a substantial quali ty payoff, but I don't have unlimited funds. I'm not a Lexus or Rolex person-I drive around an 11 yr. old minivan that still runs like a top and have a Casio t hat serves just fine. But I appreciate practical quality and, for example, have generally purchased Nikon lenses except when the price differential became too large to justify (e.g., at 400mm). So what I'm looking for, I think, is 90-95% "perfection" at the best possible price.
What would be your recommendations for a reasonable starting point? From readin g and some hands-on experience, I'm thinking about starting with one of the foll owing cameras: Arca Swiss Discovery, Canham DLC45, Wisner Field Classic, or pos sibly the Toyo Field AX or AII. I would assume that a 210 and a 75/90 might be my choice for the first two lenses. What would be your specific recommendations ?
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