Seeking perfect field 4x5 camera.

[Frank Petronio]

Apparently finding the right word is as hard as finding the right camera.

[rdenney]

Apparently finding the right word is as hard as finding the right camera.

No. Finding the perfect word is as hard as finding the perfect camera.

Rick "exceeding his obnoxiousness quotient for the day" Denney

[John Kasaian]

John, I think you mean the 4x5 Special, which would be my choice for a 4x5 wood field camera.

The Special would have longer bellows to work with (I'm guessing) but at the cost of wieght and bulk. The Baby is a true 4x5, not a 5x7 with a 4x5 back. maybe the new Deardorff factory could build one for the OP? They are kind of rare.

[E. von Hoegh]

I've done so. Many times. Using colorful descriptions that have garnered pained expressions from passersby. Apple's spelling replacement algorithm for the iPhone is particularly appalling--almost as bad as my accuracy on that tiny touch keyboard with my big, fat thumbs.

Rick "didn't do any good" Denney

It's nice to know I am not alone in believing spellcheck and allied programs to be the work of the antichrist, assisted by all available demons.

[Corran]

So all these suggestions for Ebony/Linhof and you've got $4k to spend. Any reason you need to spend that much, other than to possibly feel better about your purchase?

Here's an option: A Chamonix 4x5. I have the 1st version and it takes my 47mm XL all the way to a Nikkor 500mm tele. If I bought the extension it would easily take my 720mm tele. It's extremely light-weight but still rigid, at least for a field camera. Only about 1/4th your budget or less used so you have more money for the important things like lenses, film, and gas/plane tickets!

[anglophone1]

My super Tech , grip, viewfinder, 90, 150 and 240 hoods , filters etc. cost around USD 2500 right here.
Why spend more?
It is quality full stop
( you can wreak havoc but not quality)

[timparkin]

So all these suggestions for Ebony/Linhof and you've got $4k to spend. Any reason you need to spend that much, other than to possibly feel better about your purchase?

Here's an option: A Chamonix 4x5. I have the 1st version and it takes my 47mm XL all the way to a Nikkor 500mm tele. If I bought the extension it would easily take my 720mm tele. It's extremely light-weight but still rigid, at least for a field camera. Only about 1/4th your budget or less used so you have more money for the important things like lenses, film, and gas/plane tickets!

I have to agree with the Chamonix - it's the lightest camera that takes those lenses and with the extension with go to 720mm (if you can find one). It also has enough movements to do what you need it to and you can spend the extra money you have left over on a Maxwell fresnel which will then reek of quality every time you look through it.

The alternative would be an Ebony 45SU for that real 'reeking of expense' smell. It's twice the weight of the Chamonix though but so, so beautiful to use.

I have both of these cameras and if only I could afford an Arca Swiss F-Line I'd have the perfect set of cameras (there is no perfect single camera). Chamonix for lightweight, Ebony for fast focus and wonderful control, Arca for precision and 8x10 convertability.

Tim

[E. von Hoegh]

The Special would have longer bellows to work with (I'm guessing) but at the cost of wieght and bulk. The Baby is a true 4x5, not a 5x7 with a 4x5 back. maybe the new Deardorff factory could build one for the OP? They are kind of rare.

The Baby had a pretty small lensboard. The special has 19" bellows. To use a 24" long focus lens, you'll need 30" of bellows as a minimum, which means a V8 with a 4x5 back.

[Leigh]

What do you mean by "600mm", the optical focal length or the flange focal length (FFL)?
The FFL is the only dimension that matters, and it can be much shorter than the optical focal length.

For example, two 600mm lenses and their FFLs are:
Fujinon T 600/9, FFL = 409.6mm
Nikkor T 600/12, FFL = 383.9mm

The FFL is the distance from the film to the lensboard when the camera is focused at infinity.

- Leigh

[ashlee52]

I've been through most of the folding field cameras, and still have and use the Chamonix, DEARDORFF 4X5 SPECIAL, AND ANSCO 5X7. But frankly a Sinar packs just as easily and will do everything the poster wants. Except they too cost only a fraction of the budget... perhaps $450 for a nice Norma or F1. There is nothing that I know of that can be done with aNY view camera that can not be done with a Sinar.