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Example only.. on 5x7, Sinar C2 & Sinar shutter.

Kodak 12" portrait Ektar @ f8.
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Rodenstock 300mm Jmagon H7.7 disc (one of six).
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As previously posted, there is no "best" camera. Only a camera that meets the image goals of the image maker... which is driven and determined by a long list of needs, factors and more..


Bernice

Beauty rating like "mint", "Excellent", "Ugly" and such often do not describe the functional condition of a Foto item unless the seller states then backs up their claim with a warranty or right of...

Got one of these 355mm f8 Gold Dot Dagors as a dealer loaner back when they were new_ish. Did some test images, the results were in some ways remarkable as to how contrasty the colors were (amplified...

Both 12" f4.5 lenses are single coated. Tried uncoated tessar lenses in the past. contrast is too low and flare prone.
That said, proper lens shade can make more difference than most realize. Of the...

On paper and in theory, the f4.5 Ektar and f4.5 Xenar should be much the same, in real world image making they are different.. Yes the differences are subtle yet visible for those that know what to...

Have used the 12" f4.5 & 300mm f4.5 Xenar (dealer freee-be as these barrel lenses back then had near zero market value) since the 90's.

The f4.5 Ektar has softer-rounder out of focus rendition at...

12" f4.5 Ektar has become the default 5x7 portrait lens, it is good in many ways. Full aperture of f4.5 is a nice option to have for Portrait work.
Not a small.
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12" f4.5 Portrait Ektar,...

90mm for 4x5 would imply a wide angle lens. What is the project, what might the technical demands for this project be, what camera ?

The default choice would be to get a modern 90mm wide angle...

Better to consider deeply what kind of images you're wanting to produce as a finished image..
Then figure out what optics could meet these needs, then camera that can properly support the needs and...

Packard shutters work, can work really GOOD. For BIG lenses, they are often the only solution. Exceptions might be a BIG leaf shutter like the Fairchild K35.

That said, IMO packard shutters should...

Difficulty with large aperture 12" / 300mm lenses for 8x10 and large aperture 12" / 300mm lenses in general, majority of them are older and in older shutters (IMO, not shutter speed consistent, not...

All Heilars were common back in the day, low cost specially in barrel of all focal lengths. It was easy and common to find long focal length Heilars often used for 8x10 in barrel for $50 or so. Tried...

This project cannot be any where near complete without considering the VAST amount of creative/artistic commercial work produced by many LF view camera image makers post WW-II to the late 1990's....

Ug, those where the era correct memories... They are part of my LF view camera history. Mixed with a long time friend who owned one of the largest color labs in SF back then...

Not just the Foto...

Right back to print goals, expectations and all related. Light fall off due to using a wide angle projection enlargement lens can compensate for light fall off of a wide angle taking lens, how good...

Print papers do not have any where near the resolution of film. This is partly why extreme high performance enlarging lenses are not always greatly beneficial. What is and can be visible is light...

There was a time way back when... Photographer's source books were one of the means of doing PR and promo.

circa 1993, 1996.
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Sample image:

Chicago 1996:
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Been decades. There was a time from the later 1980's to mid 1990's was partial income producing.

Made in studio product images (this can be technically and artistically-creatively demanding in...

Nothing like a good pawl-full in the morning...
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Bernice

Today's adder...

Given the current view camera preference by far would be a lightweight field folder view camera, does this imply the journey of view camera image making is much about the...

~Based on the current LFF user base that post... how much camera discussion is Field Folder view camera centric?~

~Based on the current LFF user base that post... how much camera discussion is...

Inspired by https://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?163188-the-quot-best-quot-5x7-Camera

the "best" 5x7 camera rose up the noted preference of light weight field folder...

That said, Sinar remains the view camera of choice.. But, y'all knew that already.


Bernice

Film holder are a different topic. Toyo 5x7 film holders would have been good, except that never happened.
Primary importance with film holders is film flatness (adhesive or some method of assuring...

"Best" 5x7 camera does not exist. There is no such camera as the "Best" camera for an extremely long list of truths, reality and facts.

What is realistic is what camera meets your image goal needs...

Long time owner/user of the 110mm SSXL and have used many of the last version offerings of APO plasmats.. They are higher contrast, but NOT higher resolution. f22 is a wonderful lens performance...

Suggestion, completely un-load the camera bag. Put only the TK, one lens-most often used, film holders and only what is needed to make images. Take this greatly reduced outfit for a photo outing to...

One of the user perks of using a Technika is precision, accuracy and stability. These are the aspects of the Technika that make it very nice to use and durable. They remain box folder cameras with...

This would be a "Penny Wise, Pound Foolish" question. Later 1980's decided to get a Seal 210M dry mount press, found a good used one for not too much $. Been using that same dry mount press to this...

SR71 camera...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbZVom0QPrg

Had a chance to see this same camera at Edwards Field some years ago. The mirror does double duty as a image stabilizer. Image of the...

Or, use with Sinar Shutter or similar shutter.


Bernice

As previously mentioned many times, modern view camera lenses from the big four Fujinon, Rodenstock, Nikkor, Schneider were all intended for the working photographer market. Majority of these folks...

Much like the 90mm question, any known good condition modern f5.6, 210mm from Schneider, Nikkor, Rodenstock, Schneider in a proper good shutter works. 210mm is such a common focal length a good...

What are your expectations for this lens, how will it be used? What kind of image goals are intended?

Basic run down on 90mm lenses for 4x5. Any modern 90mm from Fujinon, Schneider, Nikkor,...

Lihnof TK is not difficult to set up from folded. Set up the camera on tripod, unlock the camera at the base, swing the two standards apart on the telescopic rail into their normal positions, unlock...

Ymmv ~will~ vary.

Bernice

Which of your current lenses is used most often. This would be the primary consideration as it is possible the camera choices listed could have difficulty with the lenses used most often. From there,...

Did not note this previously, interesting to note 5x7 was more used than 8x10 back in the day. Do remember a photographer friend from decades ago who is no longer with us sharing stories of using a...

8x10 Hollywood famed folks prints were very common. There was a restaurant in LA that used these 8x10 prints as a eatery theme.

Making that 8x10 film negative was just the beginning, the...