It's not the vehicle, it's the journey...
Steve K
It's not the vehicle, it's the journey...
Steve K
Why so many Toyo 45a recommendations? I don't think it has any mind-blowing movement differences vs the Wista I currently own, it's also not any lighter.
The "desire" for an Ebony lies mainly in that they are not too vintage, and the materials used appeal to my inner craftsperson.
I used to pine for a Walker titan simply due to the upstart nature of the materials he chose in an industry dominated by wood and brass at the time.
Chamonix because I did like the camera and they are in current production and Hugo was a please to communicate with.
As for lenses;
I don't yearn for expensive glass. I've got a pretty decent stable of budget to mid-range stuff that allows decent movements on my 2 formats. Sure, there are a couple of "special" lenses I wouldn't mind like the Fujinon C 600mm. I have 600mm covered in a different manner though and for about an eighth the cost.
I may jump on something wider than 90mm for 4x5 at some point, but it's nothing I'm actively seeking out.
I used to have the Walker Titan SF 4x5 and it certainly seemed indestructible, plus you could still chat with the camera maker. But it was surprisingly heavy, too.Originally Posted by MTGSeattle
It's black, what other reason its needed?
It's a good, solid, still relatively inexpensive metal field camera. The geometry of the front standard allows it to have several millimetres of fall which Wista 45s and Linkof Technikas don't offer. Swing on front and rear, shift on front. My experience is that it works with lenses as short as 65mm (in a recessed lens board) without the need to drop the front bed in portrait and landscape orientation.
Its only downside is that unless it's the "L" version it needs an adaptor to use Linhof Technica lens boards, and the adaptor does not fit into the folded camera. Minor gripe.
i've been using my Speed Graphic with a reversed front standard (which is practically the only movement I need) for 30+ years now. I always say I should upgrade but I never get around to it. Does the job for what I do which is landscapes. I'll probably end up buying a Chamonix F2 one of these days. I was casually looking for an Ebony for years but I never pulled the trigger. I don't bother anymore. I guess what I am saying is I don't bounce around. Now if you want to talk about 35mm cameras then I must appear to have schizophrenia....
Out of the cameras you currently have I'd keep the Canham.
I have a nice one for you to satisfy your mid-life crisis as I am selling mine (the camera):
Thank you, Vaughn. I stand further educated regarding the Toyo 45 now.
I'll likely keep everything for the time being and hopefully get out and use the Canham some more. We seem to have landed in "event" season around here, so my weekends have been pretty full lately.
Get an Ebony. They're the finest of the wooden folders in terms of precision craftsmanship, are pretty too, and are now expensive enough to garner serious bragging rights. They can cost nearly as much as a Leica lapel pin or a Porsche label belt buckle. I can't brag about my Ebony because I bought it back when it was still quite reasonably priced.
Heck Drew...my actual Porsche (944) cost less than the average asking price for a "mint" Ebony 4x5!
A Porsche, being one summum of mid-life crisis, can't take photos (*), doesn't inspires creativity, is noisy, needs smelling combustibles, can't be packed in a (Peli-) case, instead you need a good lockable garage, is not so suitable for backpacking, no off-road in the landscape, is expensive to use, not to mention the taxes and maintenance costs and you need to be of age and having a (drivers-)licence...
A (folding-)camera must be a godsend!
(*) you can only take photos of it, not with it, and in very rare occasion you can seduce a model with it in your dreams...
Don't worry, there are Germany made camera's too...
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