I bought my Zone VI 8x10 (lightly) used in 1995 -- been quite happy with it. I have abused it over the years, but it keeps on working just fine. Not a great super-wide angle camera -- too much bellows, but can easily handle a 600mm (24") lens. I do need to tighten up a couple things before I go out next time, but just made a couple 8-minute exposures yesterday and everything seemed to stay in place -- hopefully develop this week, but I have a backlog of 120 film, also!
Not a light-weight camera, but not too bad. Fourteen pounds, maybe. It is the glass that can put on the pounds. The Fuji W 360 is 1.5 kilos (3.3 pounds)! Yesterday I could have saved a few pounds on my back and left the 360mm behind (and a couple film holders), and just taken the Fuji Ws 250mm/6.7 and 300mm/5.6. But you never know!
A nice tight 2D would be nice, but I have enjoyed the Zone VI and am glad I got it. I have used 2D and Deardorff 8x10s.
"Landscapes exist in the material world yet soar in the realms of the spirit..." Tsung Ping, 5th Century China
I would suggest to get a Rittreck view 5x7 camera with the 8x10 back extension. It gives you the option of a versatile 5x7 and can become 8x10 easily.
With the amount of budget you won’t get a decent 8x10 field camera, I had done that search two years ago and all the cameras offered to me are over 1500usd...also the cost of film holder is not that cheap either, plus a steady tripod and head. On the other hand a 5x7 shooting kit is so much more portable than 10x8 and you get a decent contact print size.
I jumped straight into 8x10 from 4x5 with paper negative and 6 film holders, the result is worth it, but lugging all those gear around really becomes too much in the end. Then I discovered 5x7, which is cheaper to shoot and so portable..
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"I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority"---EB White
On careful examination, I agree that it is likely a Linhof. The Horseman used one of two front standards. One was a cylinder that supported the 4x5 front standard. The other was a large L shaped standard with a square corner. The camera pictured has a round corner typical of Linhof design. Both the Linhof and Horseman are very heavy but also very sturdy. Thanks for the correction.
Thanks for all the suggestions guys! That 2D was mighty tempting and almost pulled the trigger, but have decided to go DIY instead. I know it was against one of my initial requirements, but i just couldn't find something i particularly wanted at a price i was willing to pay... so something's gotta give. I've picked up a cambo front standard which can ride on any 1x1" tube (i'll be using 8020 as my rail). Will order a bellows from ebay (was just planning on buying a replacement bellows for a cambo 8x10). So i just need to make the back frame, back end of the bellows frame, and film back. I plan on basically copying the woodyman/intrepid film back since that seems reasonably simple, just need to figure out how big to make the frame to accommodate an existing bellows design before i start making the back frame (see other thread ). will be doing zero movements on my back for now, and just rely on the front movements. Will post back as it comes together and final cost! I've got 2 weeks before the kids get back from a trip with their mom... not sure i'll quite make it, but we'll see!
oh, and i remember now, that camera in the picture was a Linhof. it weighed a ton.
Just thought I’d give an update. Attached pictures are my new cambo/Toyo Franken-camera! Ready to shoot it’s first sheets this weekend (although only in portrait orientation). It came in at 9.5lbs total which is a couple pounds heavier than I was originally targeting due to using another cambo front standard for the rear instead or just a simple friction slider, and having the bellows rear frame made from 1/2” plywood (originally I was designing for that part to be load bearing). No rear tilt or rear rise, and you have to change orientation like a Toho or Gowland lite by undoing the front bellows attachment and then rotating the whole rear onto another mount (which actually I haven’t made the “landscape” bracket yet). Probably ended up costing me about the same as buying an intrepid since I ended up buying a Toyo GG back and wasn’t patient enough to find a better deal, but I have tons of bellows draw to be able to shoot 1:1 on my 360mm, and it holds my 360mm Rodenstock Sironar-N f/6.8 with confidence!
Well, I'm new to the site, but I'll put in my two cents worth! I once had a Kodak 2-D 8x10 with a Commercial Ektar. A less expensive lens I had was a Wollensak 159mm Velostigmat "Extreme Wide Angle". You might find the Wollensak very reasonably, but as I recall it is a little flat on contrast. It did cover an 8x10 sheet of film, but I don't remember if there was enough coverage for much "swing" or "tilt". I'm thinking affordable, here... That was years ago...others are more up to date, I'm sure.
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