Where to start - which camera?

[Frank Petronio]

A 135 should suit you well but note that most of the popular ones (Rodenstock 135 Sironar-N or Schneider APO Symmar or Fuji/Nikkors) have relatively small image circles so you can not make huge movements with landscape subjects. In practice this is rarely a problem, the reality is you might get half an inch of rise but not several inches.

One could argue about getting a more expensive versions like the Rodenstock Sironr-S or Schneider APO Symmar-L to have large image circles. If you are confident that a 135 lens will suit you - and I get that it would - you might budget more for the lens knowing you will probably swap cameras around once you learn some preferences.

[Frank Petronio]

Also, just as a general comment, there is a lovely and very professional Toyo 45G for sale in the classifieds for $425. That is a great, versatile monorail with extra lensboards and a bag bellows that will last a lifetime and be capable of shooting almost anything in large format, from extreme lenses to close-ups to the most demanding professional situations. There is usually something equally good listed at any given time. If you can't see the listing yet, look for "bdkphoto" amongst the member listings (I have no association).

Most people would pick up a 1980s-1990s vintage 210/5.6 Schneider Symmar-S MC in a Copal 1 shutter for about $250 to use with a camera like that.

You could also pick up a ~$400 (usually much less than that) Graflex Crown Graphic (with a good, sharp 135/4.7 lens included) to use as a lightweight field camera that can even be handheld, with its rangefinder focusing (in addition to ground glass focusing of course).

Together both would cost less than the popular Chinese wooden cameras that are so trendy and often recommended, mindlessly in my opinion.

Perhaps the light wooden Chamonix or Shen-Hao are good compromise cameras but how would you ever know what you're missing?

[Corran]

My Chamonix 4x5 is every bit as rigid as my Toyo GII. Movements aren't as precise and you don't have as much front rise. That's about the only compromise for the 15 pounds of savings on weight.

Oh, and I can use my 720mm lens on the Toyo, but not on the Chamonix, but I just bought a top-hat extension to rectify that

*BTW, I think both camera systems have merit. Which is why I have one of each. But for landscapes, give me a wooden field camera, every time.

[Jim Jones]

Scanning 4x5 film eases the requirement for wide coverage lenses and in-camera perspective control. A lot can be done with a high resolution 16 or 48 bit image in an image editor.