On 4X5 wooden field camera what function would you like to have?

[GPS]

..
Now, make it possible to set up the camera, and knock it down, in only a few seconds. Let all the parts stay together. Let the camera be very light, and let it be very small when it is folded up.

In other words, if you can make an Arca Swiss camera that offers extreme bellows extension, all geared movements, folds down very small, and sets up in immediately - and which is much lighter - then I will be very interested.
...
.

A good point, Ken. Not all the people realize that an Arca Swiss can be transported and used as a field view camera but with much better functions. To set up an AS on a tripod can be done quicker than a wooden field camera - and with all the movements ready to use. The external box for an intelligently packed AS is easy to make, even to find and in such a case you never look back at a wooden beast...

[evan clarke]

A metal monorail 8))..EC

[Gordon Moat]

Basically I have the movements I want on my Shen-Hao HZX45A-II. I don't miss not having front shift, since I like using rear shift. One thing I think would be nice to have would be rear geared focus movement, in combination with front geared focus movement. In other words, two choices for focus in the same camera body. I would also be happy with an accessory item to add onto my Shen-Hao that would allow geared rear focus movement.

The other thing that would be nice would be accessory shoes. One could be used for a viewfinder, and another perhaps to mount a flash or for a different viewfinder position. Of course these are not essential items for beginners, though I would like the added convenience.

Ciao!

Gordon Moat
A G Studio

[Robert Oliver]

more bellows draw than just 12"...

[GPS]

..

The other thing that would be nice would be accessory shoes. One could be used for a viewfinder, and another perhaps to mount a flash or for a different viewfinder position.
Gordon Moat
A G Studio

You can buy the accessory shoe from Fotoman for next to nothing. They will be pleased to serve you.

[Songyun]

Well, not everyone can afford Arca Swiss.
I guess that front rear shift combined with rear swing can give floating axis swing.

[MIke Sherck]

More bellows draw is my #1 interest. 12 to 14 inches (300mm-360mm) isn't enough. 20" (508mm) would be perfect. 18" (458mm) would be acceptable. Other than that,
front rise/fall
front axis tilt
front swing
rear tilt (axis tilt perfect, base tilt acceptable)
rear swing
rear rise/fall is convenient but not absolutely necessary to me

Mike

[reellis67]

I've got two Koronas (4x5 and 8x10) that have nice movements for what I need:

front rise/fall, tilt, shift, swing
rear tilt, swing
Plenty of bellows and fairly light weight

That may not be enough for everyone, but it does the trick for me...

- Randy

[walter23]

Shift ability, either with direct shift or by using front and rear swings. can be very useful in the field, especially if you are photographing buildings.

I use shift very often to either fine tune composition without moving the tripod, or decouple composition from perspective & point of view. I think it's a vital function and I'm pretty glad I ended up getting a shen hao instead of a tachihara because of this. Yes, it could be reproduced with swings, but sometimes I get things focused up and then realize I want to shift a tiny bit for compositional reasons.

[Oren Grad]

Front rise (lots of it!), rear swing and tilt are enough. That's all my 6.5x8.5 Eastman No. 2 has, and I seem to get by just fine with it. Oh yes, it has both front and rear focus, but I could live with only one or the other.

If I were allowed a modern convenience, I'd add front tilt, either base or axis. Indeed, I don't think I'd buy a brand new camera without. But I don't need it.

It's not necessary to have a camera that can twist into a pretzel.