How Much Movement On Field Cameras?

[Enrique Vila]

Hi...

Last couple of weeks, some people have been telling me to change my Tech V in fa vor of a new Shen Hao camera.

The reason they say I should change, is that the Shen Hao is ligther and have mo re movements than the Linhof.

My real question for you guys is?

How much real movement do you use on a Field Camera?

Will the added movements of the shen hao be really usefull?

Thanks in advance...

[Jorge Gasteazoro]

Ah Heck Enrique, I have never used more than 3 to 5 degrees lens tilt or back tilt, specially in landscape photography. I beleive that if you plan to do some table top photography then maybe you would need more movement but for field or landscape as well as portraiture I would think that exchanging the Linhof for a Shen Hao would be foolhardy.

[paul owen]

Enrique, I second the previous posting! I tend to use approx 5 degrees front tilt together with a small amount of front rise/fall and occasionally rear rise. I've never used a Linhof or the Shen Hao, but the pedigree of the former would prevent me from trading it in, unless it really wasn't doing the job I wanted! IMHO Keep the Linhof! Paul

[Bob Salomon]

Didn't you start a thread similar to this on New Years Eve?

The answers won't change but if your V is in good condition there are lots of people who will trade you for the Shen Hao since they can sell tyhe V for more then a new Shen Hao.

If you really want one go do it. But repeated questions are not going to be the answer.

The concensus has been to keep what you have now.

[Kerry L. Thalmann]

"if your V is in good condition there are lots of people who will trade you for the Shen Hao since they can sell tyhe V for more then a new Shen Hao."

Or, he could sell the V himself on eBay and buy a new Shen Hao AND a new lens.

Enrique, this comes down to a matter of personal preference. The Linhofs are gr eat cameras that are extremely well made. Still, there is no perfect camera for all users or all uses. I used to have a Master, but I sold it in favor of a Te chnikardan TK45S. Based on my personal experience, I found the back movements o n the Master a royal pain to use. Very tedious and imprecise. I also found it difficult to use movements with wide angle lenses. And the bellows draw was a l ittle short for my longest lens (450mm Fujinon C). I found, for my needs, the T K45S superior for all these reasons. That said, David Muench uses a Technika, s hoots a LOT wth back tilts and ultrawide lenses. And who can argue with his suc cess? So, like I said, personal preference.

WRT to the Shen Hao, it is much better made and a more original design than I an ticipated. It is also one heck of a deal at current prices. But, like the Tech V, it is not the perfect camera for all users or uses. The back movements on t he Shen Hao are more complete (includes rise and shift) than your Tech V, and ea sier to use (IMHO). The Shen Hao offers a reasonably priced bag bellows (and ot her accessories) for movements with ultrawide lenses. However, maximum bellows extension is shorter than your Tech V and it weighs nearly as much.

Which is better for you? I haven't a clue. Only you can answer that. You say others have suggested that your V doesn't have enough movements for you. That's interesting - how exactly do they know how much movement you require? Have you ever bumped up against a limitation - a situation your Tech V couldn't handle to your satisfcation? If yes, would the Shen Hao allowed you to get the image y ou wanted? These are questions only you can answer. What is best for me, will not likely be best for you or anybody else. Follow your own path and choose wha t's right for you (be it your current Tech V, a Shen Hao or something else) - no t your "friends".

Kerry

[Michael Kadillak]

I second Bob's answer. 95-98% of what you will ever want to do with any large format camera can be done with the Linhof. This search for the "perfect" camera or the need for more movements beyond what you arleady have is a bunch of bunk.

The best way to resolve your situation is to just get out and make 50- 100 photographs and figure out for yourself what equipment issues you have. Sitting at your computer suffering through a perceived "deficiency anxiety" is a bunch of bunk, especially with a Linhof. You can get opinions from 20 people that will give you 20 different opinions. How you can relate this to your situation is beyond me. I have a Linhof Master and a Technikardan and they simply do not get any better. Period

[David A. Goldfarb]

This seems like an idle suggestion. Unless you don't like the Linhof for some other reason or you've run out of movements repeatedly and really feel you need a different camera for the kind of work you're doing, I don't see much reason to switch.

[Doug Paramore]

I don't know how you can run out of movements on a Linhof V. You might get to the point where the bellows might intrude with long lenses, but with a tilted bed and front and back tilt, you can get all the rise in the world. Same with front and back tilts for extra shift. I agree with Bob.

[neil poulsen]

At the most, I've used about 1 1/2 inches of rise for landscape photography. I suppose there are circumstances where one might need more, but they don't come along very often.

[Geoffrey_1456]

If I were you, I wouldn't sell the Linhof. I just re-visited your New Year's eve post, and no one was suggesting you to trade your Linhof for a Shen-Hao. As I said, they are two different kinds of cameras.

The answers to your questions reside in what you shoot. If you do general photography, you are unlikely to run out of movements. You might run out of bellows extension. If you do architecture or product photography, neither Linhof nor Shen Hao is the right tool for you (better look at Arca Swiss and Sinar P). Tell us what you do, we can then better help you. Cheers,

[Daniel luu Van Lang]

hi, Enrique The camera doesn't make the picture, I'm a beginner in LF an d I'd never used neither a Technika nor a Shen Hao, but if you grow weary in shooting with your Linhof, I'm sure you will find many good reasons to change it, And I'm sure your photos are going to be better with the new camera! Because pleasure is indissociable from shooting pictures, specialy in LF, as it's so long to set up all things. In that case, I think it's worth the money. Regards

[giancatarina]

i'm selling my technika V, because i've just bought a....technikardan S 45. I didn't have enought movements with my previous camera, i wasn't able to use a 55 with front rise (using a 6x7 back), but this is a specific case. the technika is a very good camera, but not friendl y with "short lens and movements" situation. if you want movement go for a technikardan S 45, arca F line, Sinar F2...otherwi se i'd stick with the technika.

[Adrian Ng'asi]

Enrique,

It sounds to me you have not exploited you full creative capacity to the optimal level. I do not own a Technika - I own a Baby Speed Graphic and I have read amazing reviews about this camera. I find my Baby Speed very functional for what I do and you should push yourself a bit further in the exploitation of the camera. Most great photographers used worst cameras and yet produced timeless photographs. Go out and work harder with the camera and you'll enjoy it.

Adrian

[Peter Free]

A couple of non-technical thoughts: (1) Consider the economics of collectibles. The Techika has been in a recognized class by itself, relative to its purpose, for the half-century I've been a photographer. To my knowledge, no manufacturer of light-weight field cameras has similarly separated itself from its competitors. This may have an impact on long-term, proportionately-retained economic value. The Tech is an engineering/manufacturing masterpiece to a degree that few cameras are. (2) Functionally, the solid hand holdability of the Techika is a plus. One of my favorite pictures was taken, hand held, in 70 mph winds above Colorado's timberline. Since I spend a great deal of time in conditions that generally defeat view cameras, I appreciate one that lets me get at least a few shots in "impossible" conditions.

Best wishes.