Best lightweight view camera

Hi all,

 

I just rent a Linhof Master Technika for the weekend and I found it difficult

to do movements with this camera.

 

So I decided to go with a view camera. What would be the lightweight view

camera to do night time shooting outdoors?(buildings, landscape etc)

Some suggestions would be the Ebony RW45 & their SW45 which are both in the 3 lb. range. The SW is a wide angle non folder, the RW their lightest folding camera. I am supposed to tell you when recommending Ebonys that I sell them. But I also sell other cameras and without doubt recommend the Ebonys for 4x5. Know what you mean about the Linhofs. I had one for several years but always reached for the Ebony RW45 because it is easier to set up & use, so I finally decided to sell the Linhof.

Hi, it depends on your budget but if you're looking at Linhofs, then I would assume your's is pretty high!

 

My personal recommendation would be an Ebony non-folder. Maybe a 45SW or 45S. It all depends how much extention you need and the amount of movements really. I have a slightly modified 45S. Anyway, the Ebony's are light (you can make them even lighter if you ask for them to be made in Mahogany) and they provide great wide angle capabilities. I am a landscape guy so wides are my thing adn my widest lens at the moment is a 75mm and I have absolutely no problems using it. I can use enough movements to go out of the image circle coverage. My 45S is a little under 2kgs. Its sturdy and just perfect for me.

 

If you're working in the dark then any ground glass will be hard to see on. Getting a bright lens and a reflex viewer might help things. A rangefinder might be best if absolute accuracy in framing and focussing is not needed.

Earlier you asked several questions about LF cameras for use with long lenses (e.g., http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00KupA). If using long lenses is still a criterion, and now light weight has been added to the list, then one of the cameras that you should strongly consider is the Canham DLC. I had one and used it with lenses up to the 450 mm Fuji-C. When I had it, only one bellows was available, which I found didn't work well with a 72 mm lens when using significant front rise. Now a bag bellows is available, making the DLC an even more versatile camera.

 

The non-folding Ebony cameras recommended above aren't good choices for long lenses, but you didn't mention that in this question.

thanks michael and all. i prefer metal cameras so i dont know if the ebonys mentioned above are metal.

 

the focal lenghts i will use 90mm 150mm, 400mm or longer up to 720mm.

 

and yes, nite time foucing is hell of a challenge. i definitley need a reflex accessory, which i hiope i can find it and a super bright screen?.

 

what about sinar f2?

Have you considered a Shen Hao?

 

I love mine to bits. In fact... back later, it needs playing with ;)

The Canham DLC is a metal camera.

 

I haven't used a Sinar F2, but I don't think it is in the light weight field camera category.

 

If you want a camera that has the configuration of a monorail, but folds for transportation, take a look at the Linhof Technikardan. It is also a metal camera. My current camera is a TK45S. It also works with regular 450 mm lens. It is more rigid and precise than the Canham, but heavier.

 

I think you have to decide what is important to you, and also pay more attention to the answers to your questions. Once some cameras have been suggested, there are plenty of past discussions in the archives of this forum.

 

I don't see how a reflex accessory will help with night time focusing. Let your eyes adapt and use a loupe without too high of a power, about 4x to 5x. Most bright screens work by using by using a Fresnel lens to even out the illumination - this mostly helps with wide angle lenses. It becomes easy if there is an artificial light that you can focus on.

If you are considering a Linhof, you value precision and quality. Might I suggest Arca-Swiss? They are relatively light, less than a Linhof, very precise, easy to use and infinitely expandable.

 

I also might suggest Rod Klukas at Photomark in Arizona.

 

I got my truly wonderful Arca F-line Field camera from him. I could go on for pages about what a fabulous camera it is and how it works beautifully in the field, how it is Jack Dykinga's choice; look at his book on it and you'll be sold as I was.

 

I am certain the Ebony's are wonderful as well, and I have not used one personally, but there is something undeniably precise about the Arca. It's like any truly fine product, they all make photographs, the Arca just feels better doing it. You can take a cross country trip in a Yugo or a Lexus and get where you're going, and perhaps save money with a Yugo, but you'll feel better on arrival with the Lexus.

 

Good luck whatever your choice.

 

Eric

Questions to decide: what focal length range? weight range? cost range? how portable? used or new? how easy to setup/unfold? how easy to configure movements? wood or metal?

 

My other suggestion is not to obsess about your first camera. Many of us have switched camera as we have gained experience. Unlike small and medium format photography, LF lenses aren't proprietary to the camera brand, so if you change your mind about the camera, you can move your lenses to new lensboards and use them with a different camera.

Go with what Michael says with these thoughts:

 

1) If your lens range is 90 to 400 or longer and you want metal then the lightweight

considerations are Linhof Technikarden, Arca Swiss (the heavist of the list), Toyo VX125,

Toyo AII/AX (with some type of extender for 400), Canham DLC and perhaps the Canham

T75/45 which is basically a metal camera in a wood box. I have used all of these cameras

to some extent and the Toyo A and Canhams extensively. None of them with the possible

exception of the Arca and the Toyo VX are going to get you out to 720, especially for close

work, although the Canhams are close and a top hat can work.

 

2) At the wide end you need to be very sure that the bellows are suppl eenough to work

with the lens compressed. This becomes a problem with longer bellows. The Ebony's for

example are very difficult to use with lenses shorter than 150 with their standard bellows,

you need their universal bellows or the bag bellows. We were working with an Ebony in

the field this weekend and found that with the standard bellows and a 135 lens rise was

limited.

I second the suggestion of an Arca Swiss. I got one of their "Field Cameras" -- it's the precision and ability of a monorail at the weight and size of a field camera! Not cheap, but simply the best trade-off here.

 

As Eric said, give Rod Klukas a call (Photomark - 602-244-1133)

 

Cheers,

Mike

As a long tern Technika user, I would suggest you learn to handle the technika. I can get the

camera in shooting position in less time than any other large format camera I can think of.

 

Bob

I third the suggestion to call Rod and get an Arca. I had an Ebony prior to moving to Arizona and meeting Rod, joining his LF class. I find the Arca MUCH easier to set up and take down, and it takes up the same amount of space and weighs pretty much the same as any other field camera. You will love it.

 

Rich

May I suggest you look at the Walker camera's it a composit body that the cats meow, I am told : but thats for you to judge:

\\\\Lauren

Take a look at the Wehman. Solid, light weight and extremely well built.

 

http://www.wehmancamera.com/camera.html

 

Kev

I use both a Linhof Technika III version V and Linhof Kardan Standard. Although the Kardan Standard is a monorail, it is lightweight-about 5 lb and has full movements and is suitable for a 90mm lens and even a 75mm lens. I modified a cheap backpack to hold it for field use by inserting a fiberglass box with padding. The monorail sticks out back but is protected by a fiberglass shroud. It does not have interchangable bellows but this is no problem since I use only 90mm and 150mm lenses for landscapes (210mm would also be OK, but not much longer). The Kardan Standard is often available on e-bay for $500 or less with lens. The camera is easier to set up than my Technika and has better movements (axis tilts), but not as compact or rugged. It is both easier to set up and much less expensive than the Technikardan and is also slightly lighter.

Ted said:

 

"If your lens range is 90 to 400 or longer and you want metal then the lightweight considerations are Linhof Technikarden, Arca Swiss (the heavist of the list)"

 

Not necessarily. It depends on which version/configuration of the ARCA-SWISS you are using. There are so many permutations, it's impossible to list them all. However, my camera, with the 171mm rear format frame, the 110mm front end, and the 30cm telescoping rail(450mm total extension) weighs 6 lb. 4 oz. That makes it considerably lighter than the Technikardan (actual weight = 7 lb. 8? oz.). It'a also less than a wooden Wisner Tech Field (actual weight = 6 lb. 13 oz) and in the same range as the Toyo ARII, the Walker and a Master Technika.

 

And that's with the older 171mm rear frame. With the new 141mm rear frame, the listed weight is 5.75 lb. and the Misura is lighter still. Just trying to point out that the ARCA-SWISS isn't really that much heavier, and in some cases is actually lighter, than the other cameras being discussed. It also has the advantage that it can be re-configured to meet just about any shooting need from ultrawide to ultralong lenses.

 

Since the topic is lightweight cameras, the original poster may be interested in this thread on actual camera weights:

 

http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?t=11736

 

Kerry

I would agree with Bruce-the Ebony RW45. Rigid as can be, as well as beautiful to look at in Mahogony and Titanium. I have used one for the last 5 years without any issues, using Nikkor lenses from 90-300. The camera sets up and takes down in seconds, once you are familiar with the process.