newbie Q: Sinar F1/F2/P or Toyo 45C?

[kamchow]

hello all, sorry for posting a newbie Q.

i'm thinking of getting a 4x5 LF camera.

there are some 2nd hand ones that look like the thing i need, including:

Sinar F1
Sinar F2
Sinar P
Toyo-View 4x5 (think it's the C model)

i'm mainly going to be taking architectural photos and i think those monorail type ones will fit the bill(?)

the buildings i'm going to shoot are in the 60m-70m height range.
mostly will only be shooting the outside - perhaps an odd shot or two inside the building.

so which of those will fit the bill?

and on a lesser note, could they also be used to take landscapes?

thanks.

[andreios]

Got an F1 myself, therefore I vote for the P without a moment of hesitation

[Ken Lee]

"could they also be used to take landscapes?"

Of course. I use a Sinar P. Often with a 5x7 back.

If you are looking for something as compact and lightweight as possible - because you intend to trek or climb - then of course there are more suitable cameras. But if most of your landscape work is done within walking distance from a car, then they are ideal.

There's nothing wrong with having all view camera movements available at all times, in a camera that is rock-solid.

[Frank Petronio]

Those are all fine cameras, they are more capable yet quite a bargain compared to the folding field cameras that are so popular with hobbyists.

I slightly prefer the Sinars but Toyos are also "system cameras" that can be expanded and upgraded. You may find the Sinar system larger and more plentiful.

In the end I would buy based on condition and value. The Sinar F2 is a popular camera for architecture because it is not too heavy or bulky, yet has all the movements and locks down nicely. Don't forget a bag bellows for your wider lenses.

[Ari]

Good time to get a monorail, they are selling for very little these days.
As others have pointed out, they are all excellent choices for your work.
I would just point out that if you're leaning towards Toyo, better to go with the G series; they are more robust and much smoother mechanically, plus the accessories are more readily available than with other Toyo models.

[kamchow]

thanks for your replies guys.

and yes, from what i can envisage on the trip, i'll be using a car to lug the gear around, so weight & bulk should not be an issue.


please bear with me as i ask some more Qs....

yeah i know about bag bellows which leads me onto....

a lens like the Super-Angulon 8/65mm, has a image circle diameter, at f16, of 155mm.

so, that lens will project is big enough to cover 4x5 (which is about 101 x 127), right?
just want to make sure i'm getting the right gear and not wasting time/effort/money on the wrong stuff.

does it matter if i choose the 8/65 or the 5.6/65?
i'll probably be stopping down to perhaps f11 or f16 anyway, probably in good daylight, so is there any benefit of f5.6 over f8?

one other thing... dust.

the place i'm going to will be pretty dusty.

so i'll have to use the changing bag thingy or a tent to load film.

either method is not too hard - is it?

[Ari]

For image circle data, go here:
http://graflex.org/lenses/lens-spec.html

or here:
http://www.largeformatphotography.in...s/LF4x5in.html

For dust, put everything in Ziploc bags, and a tent is better than a regular changing bag, as it keeps the top of the tent away from your hands.

[sanchi heuser]

I had problems with dust on the film.

I packed everything in ziplocks, cleaned my holders,
purchased a changing tent, cleaned the changing tent,
cleaned the inside of the bellows.
But the dust didn't stop

I realized that I always opened the dark slide directly after putting the film holder
into the camera. In that time the dust could easy settle on the emulsion.
After this I opened the darkslide only a few seconds before the exposure.
Mind that the vibrations from opening the darkslide - don't open it with fast impetus
and directly press the shutter. To have a solid camera helps.

Mmmhh, that hours stamping away the spots with PS while sitting
in the office were so relaxing

[Marizu]

a lens like the Super-Angulon 8/65mm, has a image circle diameter, at f16, of 155mm.

so, that lens will project is big enough to cover 4x5 (which is about 101 x 127), right?

Sort of. I have one. It is a very extreme wide angle.

It just about covers 5x4 with some brightness drop off to the corners. I wouldn't want to shoot colour film with it. There is a centre filter but this is often as expensive as the lens.

You will not get any excess coverage for front standard movements so I would not recommend it for architecture.

[Frank Petronio]

Many architectural photographers' most used lens is the 90mm, preferably a Rodenstock 90/4.5 Grandagon-N or the Schneider, Fui, Nikon equivalent. These have faster lenses have larger image circles than the less expensive 90/6.8 version. Expect to pay about $500 USd for a clean, used 90/4.5 if you're patient, most people ask for a bit more.

The next most favorite lens might be something longer....