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View Full Version : What LF cameras are we missing on our form?



MJSfoto1956
29-Mar-2007, 11:29
Dear List,

Our current registration form renders a list of LF cameras from which users can select. As we are getting lots of people selecting "Other", I thought it time we revisit this list to add other popular LF cameras that might be missing.

For example, one set of cameras that is clearly missing from our current form are the individual Sinar series, which I have added below:


Arca Swiss Discovery series
Arca Swiss F series
Arca Swiss M series
Calumet Cadet series
Cambo SC series
Cambo Wide series
Canham all-metal series
Canham traditional series
Crown Graphic series
Deardorff cameras
Ebony S/SV/SW series
Ebony RW/RSW series
Fotoman cameras
Gandolfi Variant series
Gandolfi Traditional series
Gaoersi cameras
Gowland cameras
Horseman Field cameras
Horseman Technical cameras
Horseman View cameras
Horseman Woodman Field cameras
Kodak Master Camera series
Linhof Kardan series
Linhof Technika series
Linhof Technikardan series
Lotus View cameras
Polaroid cameras
Shen-Hao cameras
Sinar P series
Sinar F series
Sinar X series
Sinarcam
Silvestri cameras
Speed Graphic cameras
Tachihara cameras
Toho cameras
Toyo Studio/Field series
Toyo-Field series
Toyo-View series
Walker cameras
Wisner Expedition Field series
Wisner Technical Field series
Wista cameras
Zone VI cameras
Other (including collectibles)


So the question is: what can we add to make the above list better?
I appreciate any feedback

Jack Flesher
29-Mar-2007, 11:32
Ebony SU for one; then some older but popular cameras: Pre-F or M-line Arca-Swiss; Sinar-Norma; Plaubel. Of course you need add Carbon-Infinity for Ole :)

Schaubild
29-Mar-2007, 11:34
Sinar Normas are still very popular.

Joe Forks
29-Mar-2007, 11:35
Phillips for another

squiress
29-Mar-2007, 11:36
Wehman 8x10

Joe Forks
29-Mar-2007, 11:36
Burk & James....

Walter Calahan
29-Mar-2007, 11:41
Lensless Camera Mfg Co. for their wonderful large format pinhole cameras.

http://www.pinholecamera.com/

Louie Powell
29-Mar-2007, 11:47
Rajah, Chamonix, Seneca, Seroco, Folmer & Schwing, Rochester Optical, and Omega. And probably others that slipped into the adult-moment crack.

also - I'm confused between some entries that appear to be specific models, and entries that generically identify a maker

fred arnold
29-Mar-2007, 11:56
Burke and James, Bender, Seneca, Agfa-Ansco (singularly or combined), MPP, BuschPressman.

MJSfoto1956
29-Mar-2007, 11:57
also - I'm confused between some entries that appear to be specific models, and entries that generically identify a maker

Yeah, we are too. Originally we thought that certain makers of cameras (such as Sinar) could be categorized by a common thread (such as studio) and as such there would be no need to be so specific. Additionally, we didn't want the list to be too huge either. So we took what we thought was a reasonable stab at it and we have been since proven wrong. So now it is time to adjust things to better reflect "the real world". Clearly we are not going to subcategorize a camera maker that only has had 500 sales in the past 5 years into separate types. But equally, having a single Sinar category was an example of mistake. Then there is fine tuning such as: do we combine Crown Graphic with Speed Graphic as a single category or do we keep them separate? It will never be perfect, but I'm hoping for "good enough".

Keep the ideas coming!

Scott Davis
29-Mar-2007, 12:03
I'd say Crown/Speed Graphic as one category, and Graflex SLR as another. Thinking of which, that's another category you're missing - the Graflex SLRs.

Ted Harris
29-Mar-2007, 12:04
Have you cross checked your list against the latest edition of Strobel? There is a comprehensive list in the back. While it is not 100% complete it will make responding to this a lot easier.

Oren Grad
29-Mar-2007, 12:06
What do you mean by "Horseman Technical", other than cameras that would already be considered "Horseman Field" or "Horseman Woodman Field"?

What do you mean by "Toyo studio/field"? If you mean the VX-125 cameras, you should probably say that explicitly - I don't think it will be clear to everybody.

If you're going to differentiate wooden vs metal camera lines, you should list Wista DX and VX/SP/RF lines separately.

You left out the Wisner Traditional series, though I'm not sure what insight is gained by breaking out specific Wisner wooden camera lines anyway.

Ole Tjugen
29-Mar-2007, 12:06
Two of my cameras are on that list, the rest are probably better called "collectible". The Carbon Infinity may not be an antique, but it seems that most of the 60 made have ended up in collections...

Ted Harris
29-Mar-2007, 12:09
Theproblem is that there area too many missing ... if I count the ones that Louis mentioned + others I can think of that list is as long as the list you posed. Go to Strobel. Go to a couple of older editions and you will get the ones that aren't current. Bettr than polling the folks here.

Vick Vickery
29-Mar-2007, 12:09
Probably should include all Graphic/Graflex models in one catagory since there have been so many variations along the same theme over the years...I've got three different ones myself but my favorite, the Super Graphic doesn't find itself on the list! The Busch Pressman has been mentioned in this forum a number of times and isn't on the list.

Oren Grad
29-Mar-2007, 12:17
Michael's problem isn't to make a comprehensive list of all large format cameras ever made, it's to come up with a reasonably parsimonious classification that captures the cameras used by his readers today, without lumping too many into the "other" category.

If he has 327 readers who use 327 different cameras, then this isn't going to work. But I suspect that's not the case.

Terence McDonagh
29-Mar-2007, 12:19
Korona

alec4444
29-Mar-2007, 12:20
For Wisner you list "Wisner Expedition Field Series" and "Wisner Technical Field Series". You can either:

--Reduce it to "Wisner Cameras"
--Keep two entries: "Wisner Expedition incl. Pocket and Flight" plus "Wisner Technical/Traditional/Lightweight"
--Expand it to include: "Wisner Expedition Series", "Wisner Pocket Expedition Series", "Wisner Flight", "Wisner Technical Field", "Wisner Traditional Field", "Wisner Lightweight Field"

(or some other combination of the latter)

jnantz
29-Mar-2007, 12:25
szabad

Ron Bose
29-Mar-2007, 12:35
Agfa Ansco

David Karp
29-Mar-2007, 12:35
By specifying Cambo SC series, you indicate a desire to break down the Cambos into series. If you do, then you need to include the Cambo SC / Calumet 45NX, the Legend, the SF series, the Wide, the Ultima, and the Master PC.

In the Graphics, you have the Super Graphic and Super Speed Graphic.

There are Anbas and Nagaokas.

Meridians, and Tower Press Cameras.

David Karp
29-Mar-2007, 12:36
Argentum

Ron Bose
29-Mar-2007, 12:36
MPP, DeVere

Dave Parker
29-Mar-2007, 13:58
I could probably add to this extensively, as I have several hundreds of models and types that I have done screens for!

:D

Dave

Andy Eads
29-Mar-2007, 15:05
How about categories such as:
Technical - self-boxing w/ rangefinder (Technica, Horseman VHR, Crown/Speed Graphic, etc.)
Monorail - (Sinar, Horseman L series, Linhof, Arca, Calumet, Plaubel, etc.)
Tailboard/Flat bed - (Agfa Ansco, Burke & James, Calumet C1, Kodak Century, etc.)
Fold Forward - (Wisner, Ebony, Tachihara, Gandolfi, Wista)
Field, self-boxing - (Wista, Horsman FA, Infinity, etc.)
SLR - (Graflex, Meopta, Arca, Gowland, etc.)
TLR - (Gowland, others?)
Am I missing any?
Andy

Edwin Lachica
29-Mar-2007, 15:10
Yup Carbon Infinity is missing but the forum has three users, Ole, Paul and me. The other 117 made are MIA.

David A. Goldfarb
29-Mar-2007, 15:16
American Optical, Century, Folmer & Schwing or maybe just have a category for pre-WWII American wooden flatbed cameras.

Jim Rice
29-Mar-2007, 15:27
Mentioned in passing but pretty popular here: Calumet C-1.

SAShruby
29-Mar-2007, 15:32
Cirkut Camera

Paul Ewins
29-Mar-2007, 16:53
I would suggest for Graflex having the following:
Graflex Press (Crown Graphic, Speed Graphic, Super Graphic, Century Graphic)
Graflex SLR (Auto Graflex, Graflex RB, Series D, Super D)
Graflex View (Graphic View)
While not entirely correct, this is the commonest way you see people refering to the cameras. For instance the RB Super D is often just called a "Graflex Super D", leaving out the RB part.

Likewise I think there should be a combined Kodak/Orbit/Calumet C400/401 etc entry and a Kodak/Calumet C1 entry as these will be relatively popular beginners cameras and the beginner is unlikely to know the lineage of their particular model.

Alan Davenport
29-Mar-2007, 17:04
Under Tachihara, note the various other labels that the same camera carries, such as the Calumet Wood Field XM.

Jim Ewins
29-Mar-2007, 17:13
Grover, manufactured by Burke & James, Inc., Chicago in 4x5 & 8x10

BradS
29-Mar-2007, 17:55
Busch Pressman,
Burke and James (Grover, Watson, Press, Commercial,...)
Gundlach - Korona.
I see Eastman / Kodak master but, what about all the wooden models? Surely, the 2D has alarge enough following to be called out.

I too would lump the Crown and Speed Graphic together in one group and break out the Graflex RB series on its own.

Dominique Labrosse
29-Mar-2007, 19:08
How about the the Graphic View I and Graphic View II.

j.e.simmons
30-Mar-2007, 05:24
Orbit

naturephoto1
30-Mar-2007, 05:35
Toko

MIke Sherck
30-Mar-2007, 06:22
Calumet rail cameras other than the Cadet series. I still use a CC-400 monorail. Their C1 is heavy as a tank but still popular for 8x10, judging from Ebay sales.

Second the Wehman -- nice 8x10 camera.

Burke & James - monorails in 4x5, 5x7 and 8x10. Tailboard cameras in 4x5 and 5x7. Their 8x10 flat bed field camea.

Ansco 4x5, 5x7 and 8x10 cameras (also known as Agfa-Ansco.)

Colin Graham
30-Mar-2007, 07:47
Depending on the point of the question, maybe you should have a option for shopmade? I know many are making their own these days.

MJSfoto1956
30-Mar-2007, 07:50
Depending on the point of the question, maybe you should have a option for shopmade? I know many are making their own these days.

Great idea! I hadn't thought of that one.

Ken Lee
30-Mar-2007, 09:16
Eastman Kodak View No 2A

Kevin Crisp
30-Mar-2007, 10:07
Eastman and/or Eastman improved model of the Century

Kevin Crisp
30-Mar-2007, 10:11
Ikeda-Anba

Nagoika (sp?)

Seneca

Rajah

Glenn Thoreson
30-Mar-2007, 11:08
I have a few that aren't on the list:

Conley 8X10 tailboard

Rex Labs 4X5 Press style police cameras (2). I bet not many have seen, or heard, of these.

Premo "B" 4X5

al olson
31-Mar-2007, 07:36
I can add three that I own:

Arkay Orbit 8x10 (aka Calumet and Burke & James)
Super Graphic 4x5
Linhof Color 4x5 (rail)

Not to mention the 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 cameras
Linhof Super Technika
Graflex (baby) Speed Graphic

George Losse
31-Mar-2007, 07:56
Don't forget the B&S Hobo.

Jrewt
14-May-2007, 17:23
Burke and James 8x10

Rafael Garcia
14-May-2007, 17:30
I second the vote for Gundlach Korona, especially the various View, Banquet and Home Portrait models.

Roger Krueger
14-May-2007, 18:08
You might add the Linhof Color to the Technika category--it's essentially Technika parts on a rail.

Mike Herring
14-May-2007, 18:22
Hello,
I am a user of the Arca-Swiss Monolith 4x5 camera. I may be prejudice, except I have used every camera in the last 35 years and I prefer this camera to even the Sinar Norma, Sinar P2 and my all time favorite camera based on build quality: the Linhof Kardan BI.
Let the games begin,
Mike

Matt Miller
14-May-2007, 18:34
Rittreck 5x7. I don't know much about them, but just recently purchased one and am impressed so far.

Ted R
2-Jun-2007, 20:16
Kodak View Camera Model B 8 x10
Kodak View Camera Model B WP (61/2 x 81/2)

both these are of British origin.

Richard Kelham
3-Jun-2007, 04:58
Kodak View Camera Model B 8 x10
Kodak View Camera Model B WP (61/2 x 81/2)

both these are of British origin.


There is also a half-plate version, sometimes known as Kodak Specialist. To avoid Michael's list stretching beyond the half-mile point, perhaps these could all be filed under Kodak, along with the Master series

Similarly, why separate eg Sinar into all its model categories, or Linhof into Technica, Kardan, etc? If you do that then MPP must also be divided into Monorail, Micro-Technical, and Press; De Vere should be divided into De Vere and De Vere Devon, and so on ad nauseum.

John Kasaian
5-Jun-2007, 08:17
Graphic/Graflex ?

CG
6-Jun-2007, 09:47
Sinar Alpina??

CG
6-Jun-2007, 09:48
Sinar Handy