Zone VI field cameras

I know that Zone VI used everyone from Ron Wisner to craftspeople in

Vermont to build there field cameras. And now the company is owned by

Calumet

and the cameras are being built by a contractor. It would be my

quess that

it is generally understood that some were built better or are a better

quality product than others. Which ones should I stay away from? Is

there a serial #'s reference chart that can be used to indicate what

camera came from where?

<em>"... It would be my quess that it is generally understood that some were built better or are a better quality product than others. ..."</em>

 

<p>"Purists" may value some over others for "purist-type" reasons, but

I would say there's no "real" way to predict "real" differences except

a side-by-side comparison of two specimens. No matter <em>who</em> built which cameras,

he/she had some good days and some bad days. Chippendale, Goddard, and Townsend didn't <em>always</em>

produce their bestby <em>definition</em>, they <em>couldn't</em>.

This is hand craftsmanship by imperfect human beings. Arguably more important than who

built it is who <em>inspected</em> it.

There was an article in View Camera magazine a while ago about the history of Zone VI cameras. Serial number ranges and builders are listed there. I think the earlier ones are better in terms of features for the price. They are generally undervalued on Ebay compaired to used Wisner field cameras. I often think of getting one myself as there aren't too many wooden 4x5 field cameras with 22" of bellows and the variety of movements. If I didn't already have a Canham field I would seriously consider the Zone VI. Good luck

<p>There have been several models of wooden field cameras sold under the Zone VI name: here is a previous thread on this subject: <i>Zone VI camera history info</i> at <a href="http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00Cilx">http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00Cilx</a>.</p>

My Zone 6 was picked because of the long bellows and the folding ability. The bag bellows is required for short lenses and full movement. Mine has laquered brass and is still shinny new. Nu Finish car wax seems to keep it from tarnishing.

 

Sometimes the the wood/brass camera attracts too much attention.

 

Poor customer service has killed the Wisner business so repairs may be difficult. One person tried for a repair for years and got nowhere until he put the problem up on the Large Format Forum. Ron Wisner then responded and promised to make things right. This was a really expensive warrantee problem. He is also known to take large deposits and never deliver the cameras.

 

Then again I had to go to Richard Ritter for a Zone 6 hardware item that was lost. Calumet wanted 3 times the money, and they still have not delivered and it has been 3/4 months now. They quoted 10 days. I`m glad I ordered from both on the same day.