Hi, everyone,
So I'm getting a brand new field camera for myself. I set out at the beginning of 2019 to drop 105 pounds. I'm 57 down so far. So it's time to start planning that 105-pound goal prize to keep the motivation up. This camera is going to replace all my 4X5 cameras (currently, a Cambo II SCN, Anniversary Graphic, and Super D) and I'll be parting ways with my barrel lenses (this makes me pretty sad, but it's a compromise.) I'll be using (more will probably be added) a 75mm (Super-W-Komura retrofocus with 103mm register distance), 90mm f/6.8, and 210mm f/5.6. And I need to fit the camera and lenses in my hiking day bag (film backs and tripod are carried separately.) So I made the attached PDF table of all the in-production 4X5 field cameras that I could find to compare specs. I figure it will be helpful to other people, too. It includes Canham, Intrepid, Gibellini, Stenpeika, Shen Hao, Chamonix, and Toyo (all of these except the three set aside at the bottom were for sale new in at least one location.)
But really, I want to hear from people who have used the Canham DLC2, Gibellini ACN45, and Stenopeika 45SE2 about your experiences with them. Those are the three that I'm most leaning towards. What I'm hoping to learn are things the spec table cant' tell me, such as how easy they are to pack and unpack, how well they handle, if they're rigid in the wind, etc. Basically, all the user-experience-type of stuff. Also, the A.G. up front was for my reference as a comparison for possible new cameras versus what I know I can hike up foothills with. Double question marks means that I couldn't find the data online anywhere.
Thank you, everyone for your input. I hope that the table is a helpful reference.
P.S., Hello from the top of Horsetooth Mountain (Ft. Collins, CO), from OP and his Anniversary Graphic.
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