Shen Hao TFC69-A

[mark.s]

I found this interesting 6x9 camera on the shen hao website and have some questions for people who have experience with it: Whats the shortest lens it can handle with some rise? Is it accurate enough for wide angle lenses? Are there problems with parallelity? Would you recommend it for landscape and architecture/cityscapes?

[vinny]

https://www.badgergraphic.com/store/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=3164

[mark.s]

thank you for the link, lots of movements and pretty cheap.
But it seems like its not a very popular camera?!
I really would like to hear some first-hand experiences from people using a TFC69-A.

[Light Guru]

thank you for the link, lots of movements and pretty cheap.
But it seems like its not a very popular camera?!
I really would like to hear some first-hand experiences from people using a TFC69-A.

I do not have that camera but I did look at it when buying a camera. I would say the season it is not vary popular is because it quite limited on how far the bellows will extend. The HZX 4X5-IIA is the same price an can be used with a lot more lenses because of the bellows extension.
https://www.badgergraphic.com/store/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=120

[vinny]

what he said. many of the shenhao cameras have very limited bellows in both directions. 55mm for a 6x9 neg? that's just silly

[mark.s]

i just found this interesting review of the ebony sw 23 and the shen hao TFC69-A : http://www.getdpi.com/forum/large-format-cameras/7104-little-guy.html
it looks like the shen hao is a copy of the sw23


"My SW23 focuses down to 46 mm on a flat board which means about 35 mm on a recesses board ....the Shenhao looks like an exact copy so it should be the same."

[ImSoNegative]

you would be much better off buying one of there 4x5 field cameras and using a 6x9 back, that's what I do, and I can use my 305 claron on it and can go as wide as I want since I have a bag bellows but I use mostly the long lenses with 6x9

[Oren Grad]

If I were interested in shooting only 6x9 I'd rather have the more compact, dedicated 6x9 camera than a 4x5. The issue with the Shen Hao is whether its construction quality is up to snuff - not just fit-and-finish out of the box, but how well it will wear over time compared to a more expensive camera like the Ebony on which it is based. If you're going to be shooting short lenses on 6x9 you really don't want a camera with sloppy standards or alignment problems.

Unfortunately, I don't know that enough experience with this camera has been reported for there to be a clear answer on this.

[ImSoNegative]

this is true, only time will tell. the one I have seems pretty solid, as far as compact goes I don't know if you could get a camera anymore compact and lightweight as a shen