Good Deal For ARCA F Metric???

[Frank Petronio]

The 171 lenboard is not that much larger but it makes using a recessed board with a wide angle - or a larger lens in a Copal 3 shutter - a lot easier. Plus there are more used parts in the 171 format ~ so if I were looking for an AS I would see it as a benefit, not a negative!

[todddos]

Thanks for all the info guys. One more question....

What's involved in rotating the back to switch between portrait and landscape orientation on an Arca f-line?

[EOTS]

todddos,

there's a locking slider button on the rear standard, when you shift it up, you can take out the plate with the whole ground glass on it.

after taking it out, you rotate it 90 degrees and put it back in ... the locking slider will make a click and lock the plate again.

here's a photo of that: http://tomwestbrook.com/Photography/as_photos.html
search for "ground-glass locking slider"

best regards,
martin

[Frank Petronio]

todddos,

there's a release catch button on the rear standard, when you shift it up, you can take out the plate with the whole ground glass on it.

then you rotate it 90 degrees and put it back in ... the button will make a click and lock the plate again.



best regards,
martin

Takes only 3-4 seconds, super easy and secure, better than "rotating" backs that can bind up and add bulk.

Personally I like Linhofs and Normas as having high quality and value but if you can afford an AS-Orbix then they are very fine cameras, a nice balance of solidity and reasonable compactness - I believe they are going to be the lightest of the high quality metal monorail options and far superior to wooden folders.

[EOTS]

absolutely!

just a quick "BTW" ... the bellows can be replaced easily with the same principle
(there are two more instances of the release slider button to lock each side of the bellows,
and one instance of the release button is for the lens plate)

best,
martin

[Frank Petronio]

Their is a simple plastic ground glass protector that attaches to the back as well, it is worth searching for if not included. You could also fabricate one simply.

[jeroldharter]

That's a good deal for a hard to find camera.

I have the 141 metric with micrometric orbix that I bought new for much, much more than that price.

See if he will include the case which is an expensive item.

[Emmanuel BIGLER]

What's involved in rotating the back to switch between portrait and landscape orientation on an Arca f-line?

Actually the operation is so fast and intuitive, that one can easily attempt to do the operation after taking the film holder's dark slide off Don't laugh ! I already did it !

Linhof Technikas have a rotating back allowing to .. rotate to any angle (who has ever used this feature, taking a picture rotated, e.g. by 23.6 degrees ??? however with such a back you can make a fine adjustment of horizontals on the image itself without touching the tripod or the other camera controls) even with the dark slide off, without any light leak.
An admirable but complex and costly piece of engineering, a circular groove and 4 latches controlled by an annular gear. Superb ! I remember this impressive
device, familiar to Technika users, as one of my first vision of LF gear, when I used a Linhof Color monorail camera (a monorail with a technika front and back connected by a rail) ... 30 years ago.

[going slightly off-topic]
However, Arca Swiss have recently introduced such an optional rotating back for their 6x9 lines of cameras (110 mm frames, hence irrelevant here for 4x5" users). I've not seen this very new device yet and I'm not sure that it stays light-tight when rotating. Forgot to ask about this rotating device last time I visited Arca Swiss (shame on me, it's only 5 minutes by car from my office )
http://rodklukas.com/698/a-new-rotat...iss-rotamount/
Rod can probably comment.