Which Chamonix 4x5?

[darr]

I have never had to use a loupe with a viewer. The viewer has a loupe built in.
Now, maybe my eyes are better than someone else's, but I do wear glasses and my eyes are 61 years old.
I have used loupes when a viewfinder was not available, but prefer the convenience of a right angle viewer (RAV) when available .

Currently I use RAVs with my Linhof MT, Sinar, and a Hasselblad RAV with my ALPA medium format digital & film cameras.
They feel natural to me whereas a darkcloth does not. If it makes me work faster, I generally use it.

[Tin Can]

Obviously opinions and eyes vary. Perfect eyes are great for photography!

Mine are far from perfect and have changed drastically over the last 5 years, now age 69

You will need to find what is good for you. Right now an Edmunds 9X loupe with darkcloth works for me.

I cannot use a folding viewer, it gets in the way.

I can't use a Sinar Bino RAV as it has the wrong magnification

I can't use the folding viewer on a SLR Graflex as the distance is off and a loupe can't get in there Yet!

Factory Fresnels are no good also, for me

I have struggled with 'seeing' focus ever since I had cataract surgery and replacement lenses put in my eyes, 2 years ago.

My right eye has severe glaucoma, but it's tunnel vision works best with the above loupe, my shooting eye.

after taking OFF my glasses

I now have a shoestring necklace for the the loupe and straps for glasses

I was born very nearsighted

You may be in for some experimentation, empirical method

Good luck!

[darr]

Obviously opinions and eyes vary. Perfect eyes are great for photography!

Mine are far from perfect and have changed drastically over the last 5 years, now age 69

You will need to find what is good for you. Right now an Edmunds 9X loupe with darkcloth works for me.

I cannot use a folding viewer, it gets in the way.

I can't use a Sinar Bino RAV as it has the wrong magnification

I can't use the folding viewer on a SLR Graflex as the distance is off and a loupe can't get in there Yet!

Factory Fresnels are no good also, for me

I have struggled with 'seeing' focus ever since I had cataract surgery and replacement lenses put in my eyes, 2 years ago.

My right eye has severe glaucoma, but it's tunnel vision works best with the above loupe, my shooting eye.

after taking OFF my glasses

I now have a shoestring necklace for the the loupe and straps for glasses

I was born very nearsighted

You may be in for some experimentation, empirical method

Good luck!

Randy,

I went back to college years ago to study visual impairments. I got the degree but only used the knowledge in my photography classroom.
I understand your vision has changed. You might be able to get your optician to have a magnification adapter made for a viewfinder if you want.
There are many devices that can be adapted to help with vision changes.

I had surgeries for glaucoma a few years ago, and my vision has changed, but I can still focus as usual (thank goodness).

The folder viewers never worked for me either, and a darkcloth is my last resort.

It is as you say: "You will need to find what is good for you."

Kind regards,
Darr

[Alan Klein]

What do you think of this lens? Look at the pictures. especially #4 - here is the sellers comments. What do you think? What does he mean the paint peeled off?

Seller's comments: The fourth image has the paint inside the lens peeled off.
But this is very noticeable because it was shot with a high resolution camera.
It is hard to see with human eyes.
This lens is beautiful.





https://www.ebay.com/itm/Mint-Rodens...p2047675.l2557

[Alan Klein]

It's the main lens in the middle labelled Serial Number 11226287

[darr]

Looks like Schneideritis on a Rodenstock ...

https://www.largeformatphotography.i...-Schneideritis

I cannot comment if it affects performance or not as I have not had a lens with it.
But read through the above thread to see what other photographers have to say about it.

[Kiwi7475]

This is one of the most expensive 150mm lenses one can buy — it’s been ballooning over the past few years for some reason. I’m not sure I’d start my adventure into 4x5 spending that much. It is a good lens but there’s many options that would go just fine in the 125-180mm range for like $200-$300 range. I’d invest in more lenses rather than one really expensive one.
Here’s some suggested reading:

https://www.angusparkerphoto.com/blo...x5-view-camera

https://www.michaelstricklandimages....5-large-format

http://www.largeformatphotography.info/lenses4x5.html

[Two23]

I agree it's way too expensive.



Kent in SD

[Alan Klein]

You really need to use a magnifier/loupe to focus sharply. The problem with all the "viewers" I've seen is they make it more difficult to stick my hand in there and hold a loupe. This is especially true for 4x5, which is really a pretty small format. I don't use any viewer at all and prefer to simply throw either a jacket or an x-large black t-shirt over the back of the camera and my head so I have easy access to the ground glass. I've never felt the need for a viewer. I've been using 4x5 and 5x7 for 25 years now. Save your money for something more important--there's plenty of more useful stuff to spend on.

Kent in SD

Thanks Darr and Kent. I didn't order the finder. I'll work the traditional way to see if I'm comfortable.

Is a black t shirt the best way or can someone recommend a light cover that works and folds away?

What's a good loupe for 4x5? The Chamonix comes with a fresnel lens if that makes a difference. I own a Schneider 3x (6x6) https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...upe-1758433263 wich is 3 power I believe and a Agfa 8x https://www.amazon.com/AGFA-8X-PRINT.../dp/B072M39GXZ

[Two23]

I use a black t-shirt in summer because it folds up compactly in my bag. In cooler months I just use a jacket. I don't think a 3x is quite enough and use a 4x. Sometimes I use this, and it works well:
https://www.amazon.com/Universal-Fol...ustrial&sr=1-4 .



Kent in SD