Shen Hao XPO45 experiences?

[Brian Ellis]

. . . It has always been my contention that you buy the cheapest camera that you can afford, and the most expensive glass that you can afford.

I understand the concept of buying the most expensive glass you can afford. I don't understand the concept of buying the cheapest camera you can afford. If I can't afford the cheapest camera then I can't afford any camera at all, in which case the lens serves little purpose.

[Rolle]

Hopefully you've read some of the reports etc. on the XPO.
*I wanted to be able to use my 72mm on this without a recessed board;
*I wanted plenty of movement, even at 72mm;
*I wanted to be able to use Sinar sized boards, bellows and shutters;
*I wanted more than 350mm draw;
*I wanted separate rise/tilt tightening knobs; and,
*I wanted this to be as compact as possible.

It does all of these (over 400mm draw, for what it's worth).

Lachlan, thank you, that is useful information. If it has plenty of movement with a 72mm without a recessed board, then a 65mm (at least with a recessed board) should be no problem. Have you tried a 65mm on your XPO without a resessed board? Do you use a bag bellows with your 72mm?

I am in Europe, and Robert White doesn't have XPO listed on their website. Perhaps I could order directly from China?

[Rolle]

Comparision of some important specifications between these two:

Ebony 45S / Shen Hao XPO45-A
FRONT
Rise 50mm /76mm
Fall 25mm / 15mm
Shift 38mm+38mm / 40mm+40mm
Swing 45°+45° / 40°+40°
Center tilt 20°+20° / 30°+30°

BACK
Rise 50mm / 55mm
Shift 60mm+60mm / None
Swing 20°+20° / 10°+10°
Center tilt 20°+20° / 30°+30°

BELLOWS EXTENSION
60-270mm / 70-350 mm

SIZE
21.0 x 20.5 x 12.0 cm / 22 × 26 × 13

WEIGHT
2.1kg (mahogany version 1.75kg) / 2.6kg

[Lachlan 717]

I understand the concept of buying the most expensive glass you can afford. I don't understand the concept of buying the cheapest camera you can afford. If I can't afford the cheapest camera then I can't afford any camera at all, in which case the lens serves little purpose.

Brian,

It's a bit of a play on words.

Yes, the lens reference is about money.

However, the camera affordability is about the minimum qualities you need. It's not about the financial affordability.

[Lachlan 717]

Comparision of some important specifications between these two:

Ebony 45S / Shen Hao XPO45-A
FRONT
Rise 50mm /76mm
Fall 25mm / 15mm
Shift 38mm+38mm / 40mm+40mm
Swing 45°+45° / 40°+40°
Center tilt 20°+20° / 30°+30°

BACK
Rise 50mm / 55mm
Shift 60mm+60mm / None
Swing 20°+20° / 10°+10°
Center tilt 20°+20° / 30°+30°

BELLOWS EXTENSION
60-270mm / 70-350 mm

SIZE
21.0 x 20.5 x 12.0 cm / 22 × 26 × 13

WEIGHT
2.1kg (mahogany version 1.75kg) / 2.6kg

Don't get too caught up on movements. For most field work, a couple of degrees of tilt/swing are all you need (those eBay shots of cameras contorted like pretzels are marketing BS).

Also, be realistic with the shifts/rises you're after. I got the 72mm as it gave me the most movement for the widest angle. 65mm (and shorter) give you very, very little movement.

And, you forgot to add one really important comparison: cost.

[Steve Hamley]

Life's too short to dance with cheap cameras!

Cheers, Steve

[rdenney]

A friend here bought a shen hao a couple of years ago and to be honest, it was rickety, poorly assembled and the lacquer was so thick that you couldn't even slide a film holder under the hinged back. I have also heard of folks very happy with theirs. And I was simply stating that the ebony is beautifully built..... I don't think that needs to be substantiated unless you are one of the "special" people.
Cheers... Richard

Oh, please.

Ebony cameras are nice, and expensive.

But they absolutely suck at accepting Sinar lens boards, Sinar shutters, and Sinar bellows.

Rick "noting build quality and requirements fulfillment are separate tests of a complete and correct system" Denney

[Steve Hamley]

All of the Ebony cameras except the 2x3 and 4x5s take Sinar boards.

Cheers, Steve

[rdenney]

All of the Ebony cameras except the 2x3 and 4x5s take Sinar boards.

I couldn't find a 4x5 model that takes a Sinar board, and since the OP was asking about a 4x5 camera, the fact that an Ebony 5x7 camera takes a Sinar board doesn't seem relevant.

There were specific requirements to which the XPO was specifically designed to respond. Copying an Ebony wasn't one of those requirements. That may have been the case with other Shen-Hao cameras--I don't know--but it wasn't for this one.

Not everyone will have needs that trace to those requirements. But if they do, a camera that doesn't fulfill them won't be fully usable no matter how well it is made.

We know what the requirements are for the XPO because the person who characterized his needs and developed those requirements has told us. I don't believe any Ebony was designed to these specific requirements. If the activities that lead to those requirements are not relevant to the OP, then maybe he'll decide to spend three times as much on your Ebony.

That's why my answer was to summarize the design requirements that the XPO fulfills. That provides a basis for an informed choice.

Rick "noting that the use of the Sinar shutter was a driving requirement for the XPO" Denney