toyo 45a vs wista vx ?? which is better?

[great]

hi

i'm considering between 45a and vx.

they are similar price

which is better camera?

[DG 3313]

I can't speak for the Wista but, it depends on what you want to do with the system. Do you pack in or shoot from the car? Is the beauty of natural wood more important than rock solid construction of a metal field camera?

I have the Toyo 45a and am very happy with it (as a field camera). I test drove two wood 4x5 cameras and they seemed to be too flimsy for me. I'll leave the technical stuff for the technical folks.......

Don

[BradS]

its like asking "chocolate or strawberry...which flavor of ice cream is better?"

They're both excellent at what they do. Pick one and be happy!

[Alan Gales]

The answer may lie in which lenses you plan on using.

The VX is more versatile. It supports a bag bellows for wide lenses and a front extension rail and long bellows for long lenses. If you like wide or long lenses you will probably prefer the VX. You are forced to use a bag bellows with the VX for even moderate wide angle lenses so if you plan on using 90mm to 210mm lenses you may prefer the Toyo.

Both cameras have strong followings so it really depends upon you. I like Chevy trucks. You may like Ford.

[cyrus]

Wood is prettier, that's for sure!

[Alan Gales]

Toyo 45A and Wista VX are both metal cameras.

[great]

can vx's standard bellow equip 90mm to 210mm lenses?

[cyrus]

Toyo 45A and Wista VX are both metal cameras.

Oops my mistake. I confused the VX for the DX

[Alan Gales]

can vx's standard bellow equip 90mm to 210mm lenses?

I have read that for 90mm and shorter lenses you need the bag bellows. The bellows draw with the standard bellows is similar to the Toyo's at around 12" so a 210mm lens is no problem. You can probably use a 300mm at infinity but you can't close focus it.



Ok, I just looked up an old post by Bob Salomon. Bob is an expert on Linhof and Wista. He says per the Wista SP instructions, Wista recommends using a bag bellows for lenses 125mm and shorter. The SP and the VX are the same camera except the SP has a rear microswing feature.

[Alan Gales]

Oops my mistake. I confused the VX for the DX

No problem, Cyrus. I get confused sometimes myself with all the designations on different brands of cameras and lenses.