What is the lightest 4x5 field camera with a rotating back?

[Corran]

The OP hasn't specified why he wants the lightest camera. If I was more up for through-hiking, regardless of weight issues I would step down to MF, period, due simply to film handling. It is tempting to go for "the lightest possible" when contemplating / buying gear with the intention of going fairly far away from the car for photography. Of course issues with compatibility, flexibility, and of course most importantly personal preference will be better gauges of what camera one should get.

The good thing about all of these is that buying one used and reselling it if one doesn't like the camera for whatever reason is a pretty cost-effective strategy, as compared to the purchase of a digital camera which depreciates like a car. I went through several 4x5 cameras at the start until getting the Chamonix which I really liked and have had since. I even stupidly carried around a massive Toyo GII monorail some distances at the start. I kept that camera because it's practically worthless but it's good for architecture. Going more than 10 feet from my car is a chore. I am glad I had the experience though and learned on that camera the basics of view camera operation...but yes I was pretty quickly Googling "lightest field camera" too!

[xkaes]

a digital camera which depreciates like a car.

Not to be picky, but I'd say more like an asteroid.

[Vaughn]

Gowland was pretty handy at putting various backs on his 4x5 PocketView camera. I have the lightest variation -- you had to flip the camera, not the back! Right at 2.5 pounds with the Caltar IIN 150/5.6 on it. But I have seen advertised other versions -- Gowland did a good job of adapting backs -- might be a rotating one out there somewhere...add a couple pounds to the camera.

PS Found this review -- there seems to be some with rotating backs out there.

http://www.bnphoto.org/bnphoto/LFN/C...PocketView.htm

[Cor]

Had a Gowland Pocket view once, too flimsy to my taste, I "upgraded" to the rare Galvin 4*5 view camera (more frequently found as a 2*3 Camera, design is the same), a monorail which sets up quickly and is much sturdier. That is my lightweight camera together with a 90mmTopcor, 150 and 210 G-Claron lenses..in practice it is not so much the weight saving as well as the space saving of this small kit when travelling with my family in our VW Westfalia T4 bus camper...


Cor

[mdarnton]

So... back to the question, the Intrepid is 900 gm and has a rotating, not flipping back. After all the arguing with the OP about whether he wants what he wants, and why he's wrong, has anyone come up with a better answer than was given in the 4th post?

[Corran]

Wow I didn't realize that it was actually a rotating back. I am impressed.

[Max Grew]

Wow I didn't realize that it was actually a rotating back. I am impressed.

You can see the back rotating of the Intrepid at the 30s mark on this video

https://player.vimeo.com/video/18835...;quality=1080p

[Corran]

I saw the stop-motion video on their site but thought it was just illustrating a flipping back.

[mdarnton]

No, and it's a really nice iteration of the feature, too. Just the right friction and smooth. I prefer it to Graflex, Cambo, and B&J Press, all of which I do have. I don't have the 4x5 Intrepid, but playing with a friend's and marveling at the ergonomics that they get out of plywood and other simple materials is one of the things that convinced me to order the 8x10. Which does not have the rotating back, by the way--it's a flipper.

[Drew Bedo]

UMMM...TravelWide?

None lighter and if you shoot hand-held as it is designed for, the back rotates with your hands.

A similar optionn would be one of the Polaroid conversions, or a Graflex.