Student 4x5 camera

My son will attend New England School of Photography in Boston in the fall and was told he needed a 4x5 format camera. Any suggestions on what is appropriate as a student camera? Thanks.

Something cheap. Best way to learn how to use the 4x5 camera. He will

also get to sample a lot of cameras while at school and will find one

he likes to use. The place to spend any money would be on the lens

this can be remounted on an type of lens board. If you want to help

your son education buy a camera with bad bellows and let him figure

out what is wrong and how to perform the cheap fix to keep the camera

working.

The Linhof Karda M on the school program is $895.00. This is a

full featured all metal monorail camera.

 

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Dealers like EP Levine, WB Hunt in the Boston area can help you

with student programs.

 

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there are similar savings on Rodenstock lenses, Heliopan

filters, etc.

Graflex Super Graphic with a 120mm Osaka lens- about $250-300 for the

camera (used), $350-400 the lens (new).

I don't think its a good idea to get your son a camera with a bad

bellows. He will have enough to learn without starting with a problem

camera. There are dozens of old 4x5 press cameras that come up for

sale on E-bay. You can get one such as a Speed Graphic or Crown

Graphic in good shape for around $300 with a lens. This is where I

would start unless the school specifically requires a monorail type

4x5 or something with larger amounts of movements.

I would think that the school would specify what type of camera they

wanted...i.e. field or monorail. It's going to make a huge difference

in what type of photography he can study. Personally, I'd say to go

with a monorail, and would steer clear of the bargain cameras like

speed graphics etc. The Linhof is a good deal, but even something

like a Calumet/Cambo 45N, Cadet, or the entry level Toyo would work as

well.When I was in college we had to use basic Calumet CC cameras, and

later on got into Sinar Alpinas. But it depends on what the courses

are like. If it has any studio shooting, or architectural work, he's

going to need a monorail with full movements.

If they are recommending a monorail camera: the Arca-Swiss

Discovery (base tilts) or the beginner level Toyo make good

starting cameras. There is also the Calumet Cadet, another fine

starter camera.

i dont think you can beat a good used cambo/calumet 45NX. my

apprentice just picked one up for $500. she got a schneider 135/5.6

for $250, and a bogen 3021 w/3047 head for $150. the older crown and

speed graphics are great cameras, but for learning, i would recommend

something that has good, full movements and more flexibility.

If money is a problem, get a used Graphic View 2 with the Graflock

back. For a lens get a clean, used Kodak 203mm f7.7 Ektar in

supermatic shutter. Suggest that you buy it from a photo dealer who

will provide a warrenty, rather than over eBay. He will also need a

tripod and half a dozen cut film holders. And good luck to the young

man.

Consider EBay as a place to purchase your camera. They always have

loads of cameras in their large format section. When bidding, I

always like to make sure that the seller has at least 50 or more,

upwards to a couple of hundred feedbacks, and no negatives. (Or,

check any negatives carefully to make sure that you're not taking a

chance.)

I would definitely get a monorail like a Cambo SC or the new version

the 45N. Something light, durable and full functioned. These cameras

are workhorses and there will be no limits to what he will be able to

do with them. You can find the N at www.calumetphoto.com under large

format studio cameras. The SC you can find on www.ebay.com. Both

cameras are one of the less expensive industry standard of todays

shooters. I caution you away from a flatbed field camera like the

Crown or Speed Graphic because he will not be able to use back

movements because they don't have them. In school, like I know the

profs at NESOP, he will need the back movements as well as full front

movements and should stick to a studio camera like the ones mentioned

above. He will need film holders, a meter (with strobe metering) and a

few other things to start. If they provide a list most of us can give

good suggestions also... Cheers,

Scott

Stephen,

 

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If your son is like the rest of the NESOP students, he'll dump the 4x5

after first semester, when it's no longer required. I've taken

evening workshops at NESOP, and it seems like the entire student body

puts their cameras on sale immediately afterwards.

 

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It would be wiser to purchase a decent multi-purpose lens (like a

135mm, or 210mm), and a used monorail. I would heartily recommend a

Calumet CC400 series. They're built like tanks, and will last a

lifetime. It's all metal, and can weigh a lot, but if memory serves,

the student's don't go hiking for landscapes - they'll do mostly urban

stuff, as well as architecture and a few still lifes. The calumet's

go for about $250-$300 on e-bay, or you can check out the local

"Want-Advertiser" classifieds if you're from Massachusetts/New

England.

 

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Again, invest in a better lens and a used body. If your son decides

to continue on with Large Format, the lens can always be remounted

into another system's lens board.

Stephen:

 

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Having taught intro college classes, I would definitely recommend a

monorail. The movements are much more intuitive, allowing the student

to focus on the concepts rather than the mechanical details of the

camera. The Calumets mentioned above are fine... another low cost but

rugged model is the Toyo 45CX, which I have seen on Ebay for <$300.

Well here's another thought, I don't know how practical it will be,

but the school I attended provided the view cameras (although they

were not fancy...just old Calumet CCs and a few Alpinas). We students

would occasionaly go in together and buy equipment and supplies and

share....like a case of film or whatever. If for some reason, a view

camera is not required for more than one course, he may be able to

share a camera with someone else. I don't know how practical this

would be, but it would sure cut the cost especially if he's not going

to use it later on. We had about 125 people in my class and only about

25 cameras....we signed up for them in 3 hr. blocks for the studio, or

maybe (if lucky) could get one for a weekend....one other thing would

be to try to ask around the campus to see if there's any used cameras

up for sale. Our school had a bulletin board for used equipment and

stduents were always selling off gear at the end of the year. Medium

format was required for us, lights & camera & lab gear was provided.

Toyoview 45CX, brand new + gobs of stuff, $450ish with proof of

student status at a university. Geared fine focus, full movements,

rotating back. Only hard part is finding a lens (or lenses) that won't

break your budget.

 

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As for the Arca Swiss Discovery:

 

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I found it amusing when I asked Arca Swiss if their student discount

placed the Discovery at below $1000.00 and/or near the price point of

the 45GX. They kindly replied that there was no way that they would

ever sell a discovery at below $1000.00, and that a 45CX was no-where

near the same camera as the Discovery. Probably true. Just keep in

mind you're still going to be shelling out mad cash for a good lens

and film holders.

 

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It really depends on your wealth factor.

 

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Don't buy your son anything used unless you really know your stuff

about old cameras. 50 year old graphics and whatnot are usually an

extremely bad gamble compared to cheap new monorails - sorry to step

your toes, guys, but you gotta admit it :)

If it was me I'd search Ebay for a Cambo monorail sold as an "outfit"

with a decent lens in a modern Copal shutter. Make the seller give

you a reasonable guarantee that the thing is going to be serviceable,

then take it to someone who will know and have them check it out for

you. I sold a Cambo 5X7 with a modern f6.1 210 Xenar on Ebay with

film holders and everything someone would need and only got $650 bucks

for it. Absolutely no reason that buyer couldn't have made great

photo's with it.

Before making a firm decision I would contact the school to see

if they have a pool of lenses and acessories that students can

use. If so, getting something compatible with that would make

sense. Similarly, most rental houses will have standardised on

one brand (usually Sinar).

 

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I use a Sinar Norma, which is often sold cheap because it's an

older model. It is beautifully-made and very rigid with precise

movements. Best of all, it's fully compatible with modern Sinar

lensboards and accessories. For my purposes, it beats the

cheaper modern 'starter' cameras hollow.

FWIW, I've gotten the chance to use a Toyo 45CX and was more than a

little disappointed with it. Granted, for the price, it's not a

terrible deal, but I think you could do better finding something used

in a similar price range. The standards on the camera are anything

but rigid, the controls are all a bit finnicky, and the large scale

use of plastic throughout the camera make it rather flexible in

places where I would prefer it to not be. I also get the feeling

that under certain circumstances, certain plastic parts would be

prone to cracking. At OU, we have a few of these for general studio

work, and after using one once, I nearly pulled my hair out then

drove the 6 hours home and back to get my Linhof. I know Toyo is

marketing the 45CX as a beginner's/entry level 4x5, but after using

it, I don't think I would recommend it, especially to a new LF

shooter. When you're new to 4x5, there are a million different

things to get used to, and having your camera do things you don't

want it to would add unneeded frustration.