Well, I know this is probably a pointless question. I've seen a lot of these threads, and know how they typically go, but I must say I now understand why there are so many of them.
I have been saving for a while and now have the money to buy a (used) Ebony camera. I know that X (insert your favourite here) is a much better camera, and that a camera is only a box. But I hear they work good, and I think they look beautiful.
Anyway, what I can buy is dependent on what is available, and right now that seems to be a choice between a 45s and an SV45Ti. I have been going back and forth this morning; one hour i'm certain the 45s, and the next I'm certain the SV45Ti. This is my thinking:
I want a general purpose field camera. This rules out (in my mind) the very short versions (RSW, SW), and the RW, which seem best suited to landscape.
45s
Pros - Simple, elegant, light, made of ebony, non-folding
Cons - 270mm bellows extension, non-folding
SV45Ti
Pros - Folding, light, made of mahogany (which makes it light), 500mm bellows extension
Cons - Folding (takes longer to set up), made of mahogany (its not ebony)
Thinking
I used to use an Ikeda Anba that had slightly less that 300mm bellows extension, I messed about this morning with my Tachi seeing what I could mount and use at 270mm, and it seems fine for my normal work set (90, 135, 210). I also mounted a 250mm, which worked okay. So what would I use 500mm of bellows for? Also, I have a B&J 5x7 and a studio camera at home that have pretty long bellows, if I needed them.
I have a family, and when I'm with them its difficult to spend a long time setting up for one photo, so rapid set-up would be a real bonus.
The 45s is ebony, and really beautiful.
On the other hand, the SV is the original Ebony design, the camera that made the company's name. It will never run out of bellows. This camera can do anything, and because it is mahogany rather than ebony, it weighs the same (more or less) as the 45s. Its also a very beautiful camera.
So, what to do? I think I'm leaning towards the 45s, but who knows how I'll feel in an hour....
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