I NEED YOUR HELP! 4x5 Field Camera

[Anthony Sanna]

I have been charged with helping my sister get into 4x5 from her current 6x6. I need some good recommendations on light-weight filed cameras and light-weight lenses. I'm still using my old 5x7 Deardorf, six-legged Majestic, and monster Schneider optics that I bought 30 years ago, and I haven't bothered to look at the market since. IOW, I'm not the "expert" she needs. Hence my appeal to the list.

A photo-friend of hers is strongly recommending the TOYO VX125, which looks like a great camera, but is awfully expensive. Since the camera is only the beginning of a long list of lenses, enlargers, tanks, etc. that she will have to purchase, I would like to give her some options for other good field cameras that would suit her needs.

Sooooo.... What would you all suggest in a light-weight 4x5, and correspondingly small optics? Her most used lens on the Hasselblad is the 120mm, so I'm guessing that a 240mm would be a good starting point for her main 4x5 lens. I know that Fuji and Rodenstock make little 240's. Any others? How about in the 150/135 range, or a wide angle?

Tony

[Doug Paramore]

Tony: What is she going to use it for? Indoors, outdoors, commercial work, portraits, backpacking, etc? What is the longest focal length and the shortest she will be using? All these criteria are important when choosing a 4x5. There are many on this forum with the knowledge to help make an intelligent choice, but more info is needed. Doug.

[Anthony Sanna]

Addendum to my Question:

My sister's gear is strictly for field work. She's not really a backpacker, but for treks from the car into the woods or around Death Valley she wants to have it as small and light as possible.

As far as lenses go, I think for right now she'll be using 240mm or less, although I would be hesitant recommending a camera with bellows limited to 300mm or so. Actually, there seem to be some nice 300mm small lenses out there as options to the 240mm, so it would be nice if the bellows draw would be enough to accommodate something of that focal

[Ron Shaw]

Most field cameras will have a double extension bellows, which will give you about 300mm, so using longer lenses will not let you focus close. I find that Death Valley screams for wide angles. A good used 90mm SA will give some dramatic near/far views on 4x5. Light weight also. If you want to use longer than normal, maybe a 210 would be more useful.

[Glenn Kroeger]

Anthony:

Here is my two cents worth... if she isn't into long backpacks, and a 300 is the longest lens she might use... I would recommend a Toyo 45 field, either a 45AX, 45AII or an older 45A... they can be had for about $1000-$1500...they are basically the same camera except for revolving vs. horizontal/vertical back... she needs to make sure 4x5 is comfortable before investing in something as pricey as a Toyo VX125. You should look at Kerry Thalmans and Chris Perez's recommendations for lenses. The 240 Fujinon is nice, but a 200-210 is more versatile if she is also going to have a 300. Personally, I use a 3 lens setup... a 110, 180 and 300. Many prefer wider and go with a 90-150-240 setup. A 110 and 240 would make a nice 2 lens combo.

[Michael Kadillak]

Your sister is the one that should be asking the questions. The range of applications, prices, accesories is far to wide to place anyone but the individual that will be behind the ground glass from the decision making process and the legwork leading up to it. I only state this from prior experience. The range of emotions relating from perceived expectations to realism after the acquisition is made is as wide as the Grand Canyon. I do not doubt that your expectations re sincere, but she will eventually need to understand all of this material to use the product. Put the ball back in her court and you will be actually doing her a favor.

If she does not have a computer, try the local library.

[Paul Mongillo]

I absolutley love my Phillips 4x5. It has an international back, a combination bellows that allows lens from 75mm to 300mm with the same bellows, a fresnel for easy focusing and it only weighs about 4.5 pounds. The design is well thought out and it is extremely rigid.

[Ellis Vener]

I strongly recommend the Canham 45DLC camera. Light (4.5 to 4.75lbs); very rigid ; needs no accessory bellows or extension rails for full movements with lenses ranging from 58 mm to the Nikon 720 mm telephoto; a very bright viewing s creen; can be focused with either the left (moves the rear standard) or right (moves the front standard) hand; can use Canham or Toyo lensboards, or with an a dapter, the Linhof technika boards; and is about or less than half as expensive as the Toyo.

As for lenses: the Schneider 110 XL Super Symmar, the 300mm f/9 M-Nikkor, and a 180 mm or 210 mm from Nikon, Rodenstock (or the Caltar II badged version of the same lens), or the Schneider. Does she have a tripod? if not she should get a Gitzo carbon fiber legset, probably the 1325, and unless she wants a ballhead, the BogenManfrotto #410, a m edium weight geared head.

[Paul Mongillo]

I meant to tell you how much my Phillips 4x5 cost. All of the above was just under $1800 with two lens boards. You can get it cheaper with a different back and bellows.

[Dave_958]

A pretty helpful review of 4 x 5 cameras, can be found in an internet-published article by Tom Fuller, '96 Mid Year Large-Format Camera Round-up, at www.rangefi ndernetwork.com/archive/ large-format.html.