10x8 camera advice

[Eamonn Doyle]

Hi..
I've been using an old Burke and James 10x8 camera for about a year now.. and have decided to go ahead and get something a lot better. I'm looking at the EBONY SW810 and the RW810. Primarily it will be used for environmental portraiture .. so I'll be taking it around with me a lot.. but won't really be looking to drag it up mountains or deep into the forest .. so weight is not a major issue for me at the moment.

I'm wondering if any of you have any thoughts on the EBONY cameras ? One of my main concerns is that it's very stable [the Burke and James shakes about a LOT!] .. and also I'm looking for something that is relatively smooth and quick to use as it will be mostly portraits I'll be doing.

Any thoughts or other recommendations would be really appreciated !!

Thanks very much..

Eamonn / Ireland

[venchka]

Similar topic from a week ago.

http://www.largeformatphotography.in...ad.php?t=48479

I'm sure that the Search feature here will turn up a vast amount of information for 8 x 10 as well as 10 x 8 cameras.

[Richard M. Coda]

I found (when I had an Ebony) they were like Rubic's cubes trying to fold them back up. Maybe it's just me. Sold that and now have Arca-Swiss cameras (4x5 field, 8x10 and 11x14 back for 8x10). Set up is quick and take down is just as easy. Costs about the same. Weighs about the same. Very solid cameras.

[jb7]

More 8x10 users in Ireland-
things are looking up...

Sorry, can't help you, don't use an ebony...
another Arca user...

venchka is right-
search for 8x10...

[jnantz]

I found (when I had an Ebony) they were like Rubic's cubes trying to fold them back up. Maybe it's just me. Sold that and now have Arca-Swiss cameras (4x5 field, 8x10 and 11x14 back for 8x10). Set up is quick and take down is just as easy. Costs about the same. Weighs about the same. Very solid cameras.

you were probably able to buy a year supply of paper or film with the change as well

[Steve Hamley]

I'd think a RW810 would be fine for environmental portraiture. It's a very nice camera.

I've never had a RW810, but do have an RW45 and a SV810U, and they aren't hard to fold up. The main thing is to make sure the movements are zeroed or they won't fold up properly. Not hard to figure out though, that's step #1 in the instructions for folding the camera up.

Cheers, Steve

[Robert Fisher]

Steve, from my personal experience with Ebony, Arca and Sinar, the SW810 Ebony is the king of stabilty in LF 810 bodies. The Ebony folders are not even close to the SW in terms of rigidity.

Like a total idiot, I sold mine a couple of years ago but recently ordered a new one fron Jim at MW.

[venchka]

More 8x10 information........

http://www.largeformatphotography.in...ad.php?t=32607

[Steve Hamley]

I'm sure the non-folders are more rigid, but the SW810 has a maximum 380mm of draw. Depending on how you define environmental portraiture, a short bellows might be limiting. If that's enough, the SW would be a fine choice.

Cheers, Steve

[resummerfield]

......now have Arca-Swiss cameras (4x5 field, 8x10 and 11x14 back for 8x10). Set up is quick and take down is just as easy. Costs about the same. Weighs about the same. Very solid cameras.

Do you happen to have any pics of that 11x14 back for the Arca?