Received a Shen-Hao FCL810-A

[laurenVC]

Hi,

This past weekend a neighbor was moving and gave me this camera for free. I'm a bit thrown off because when I looked it up, the only price I could find was this one - https://www.badgergraphic.com/index....product_id=925

That model has a "C" at the end, but it seems to be very expensive! Anyway, I've been dreaming about getting into 8x10 and would love to get this camera in shape. To be honest it seems to be in great condition, but I can't find anything on the camera and am just a bit lost in general.

Does anyone have any advice on how to get started or any contacts on who I can ship this too to see if any small pieces are missing? I'm going to wait to buy a lens until I know I have everything else I need for the camera. Appreciate any help or thoughts!

Here is the camera
https://ibb.co/Z1KJZTtQ

[MartyNL]

Congratulations!
The camera looks fine.

Take some time to find your way around the camera and large format photography and then enjoy.
Any questions, just fire away on the forum.

Have you done any large format photography before?
Do you know anyone into photography?
Or is there a decent photography store in the neighbourhood?

[laurenVC]

Thank you!!

I dont know anyone specifically into large format photography. I'm in LA though, and just found a shop that may be of help!

[xkaes]

I'd assume everything is A-OK. There are lots of user manuals on-line -- some are free. Yours might be available. If not, try to find one for a similar model. The basic features will probably be the same.

And if anything is missing, you can probably get spare parts.

[Kino]

A very generous neighbor!

Not an inexpensive camera, but you will need at minimum a lens, lens board, film holder(s) and a good tripod to get started.

Suggest you start by reading the LF Home Page information (button above in tool bar).

And, as always, you can return here with your questions and I am sure someone will have the information you need or know where to find it.

[drew.saunders]

It looks like the Sinar/Linhof lens board adaptor that's listed as included with the camera is still on your camera, but upside down. It's not critical, but likely more convenient to flip it over. You want the sliding "latch" part of the adaptor board to also be on top.

What that adaptor lets you do is use any lens in either a Sinar or (very common and smaller) Linhof board on your camera. Most likely, unless you have very large lenses, you'll prefer the smaller Linhof style lensboard, so flipping it over will make your life easier as you go.

If your very kind neighbor still has lenses, tripod, etc. offer to buy them!

[Ed Richards]

The first thing to check is whether the bellows has any holes. I am sure others also have suggestions on how to do this. One way is to stretch out the bellows with the back off in a dark room, shine a bright flashlight on the outside, and look for light inside. You can then put the flashlight in the camera and look for light from the outside.

[xkaes]

Since your neighbor gave it away, my guess would be that he wasn't going to use it anymore -- and that he probably didn't even use it very much. Do you know anything in that regard?

Check the wood for scratches, scrapes, dents, etc. -- even minor ones. Especially check the bottom, where it connects to a tripod. There should be some signs of use on the paint. If you can't find any, it's probably spent most of its life in a closet.