5x7 Monorail Cameras????

[Pawlowski6132]

I hardly see any of these for sale.

Were these never popular "in the day"?

[Ari]

There's a Toyo 57G for sale right now on the forum.
They're rarer than 4x5 and 8x10, but they do exist.

[Tin Can]

I have wanted a 5x7 Horseman, but only saw it in a catalog and an out of date Japan only ad. Maybe they made 2, I don't know, but I have given up on 5x7 Horseman.

Sinar of course had one, but it had a metering back which made the back heavier and bigger than necessary. So I sold the 5X7 Sinar I had.

I now am satisfied with my several other 5x7 options.

I really like 5X7.

[toyotadesigner]

The problem is the format. You can't get any slide film for this format anymore, so the value for these cameras is close to zero on the market, which means that people who own a 5x7 monorail tend to keep the cameras and use a 4x5 adapter.

Even 4x5 monorails in good condition are rare.

I wouldn't sell my LF cameras either. They are too good to toss them for almost nothing. 1.000 Euro or 1.300 US$ is a bad joke for a precision instrument like an Arca Swiss 4x5 monorail.

[Pawlowski6132]

Yeah Ari, I saw that one.

I have a Omega (Toyo) View 45F rail which I really like: geared, reflex viewer...

I have a Kodak 5x7 field but, rarely leave the house to shoot LF and would like geared movements and a reflex viewer in that format.

Reason being is that I will be losing the ability to enlarge shortly and will only be able to contact print.

[evan clarke]

I have an Arca.. bought it on eBay.

[Pawlowski6132]

I have an Arca.. bought it on eBay.

Can I have it?

[Ken Lee]

You can get a 4x5 Sinar very easily and then get a 5x7 "conversion kit". I have one of these, and they're terrific.

[Ari]

The Toyo Gs do have some geared movements: rise/fall, shift and fine focus.
They are very well-built, and there are lots of parts cheaply available (tho maybe not as much for 5x7).
I used a 45G for a long time, ultimately finding it too large and heavy to suit my way of working (lots of moving about in urban areas), so you may find it ideal if you're only planning on using it at home.
They are incredibly solid and easily repairable as well, and I would put their precision on a par with any Arca Swiss camera.

[Vaughn]

I have a 5x7 Sinar 'Norma' -- have not used it yet, though. Too busy with 8x10 and 11x14.