Zone VI 8*10???

David: It should be a good camera. Are you talking about a new or

used one?

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Regards,

They are very good, high quality, but they no longer have a lifetime

warrenty. Pat

I'm looking at a used one. And I'm wondering if the camera is rigid

enough? I'm thinking about field use, so is the weight comparable to

others? Does if have enough extension? Thanks

Based on Ron Wisner's design of the 4 X 5. Relatively light,

adequately flexible. Plenty good for what you have been shooting.

Some accessories available - reduction backs, fresnel, lensboard

reducer (which, for some reason, is also an extension, rather than a

recessed board). Comes with a bail opening back which is nice on an

8 X 10. 30" + bellows draw if you cantilever the front out. They

say you can squash it down to 90mm. Don't know about Calumet's

service though. You're looking at used, right David? Wood, you

could fix most of it yourself if it broke.

Marv likes his,

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http://frontpage.home.net/mthompsonn/l_f.htm

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drop him a line

David: I've had a couple of these. (First one taken in a

burglary.) It is a well made and solid camera. I find it plenty

rigid with a 360 mm Nikkor in Copal 3, which is a pretty big hunk of

glass. It will also handle a big 480 mm Nikkor process lense with a

Packard Shutter hanging on the front of it. They aren't light, but

then most people don't take up 8X10 photography in order to pack

light. I have an old Zone VI catalog (1992) and will send you a jpeg

of the description which covers bellows draw and weight and all other

specs. Though there is nothing wrong with this camera, if I had to

do it over again I'd probably go with a Deardorff model with front

swings, which I think is several pounds lighter. I just like DD

cameras and didn't know anything about them when I got my Zone VI.

(Check the info I send you with someone who knows on the DD weight to

make sure it is really lighter.)

They ('dorff vs. Zone VI) should be pretty close in weight -

the 'dorf goes ~12 - 13 lbs. and the Calumet catalog I have lists the

Zone VI at 13.75 lbs.

Lioe Sean say's....yes I do like mine! (Haven't forgot about you

Sean, it's just been a busy spring!)I can't attest to 90mm, haven't

tried it, but I have shot a good few with a 121mm Super Angulon and

it...almost...covers...8X10. Takes a little tilting back of the front

standard, but is easy to do. Make it 7 1/2 by 9 1/2, with a really

neat perspective but not much movement (I haven't need much with that

wide an angle lens). There may be lighter 8X10's, but when comparing

the weight of elephants it is just relative, they all are heavy.

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It handles a 19 and 25 inch lens quite well, longer and you do run

out of bellows closer than infinity. The movements at 10" to 15" are

very good and the controls all work smoothly. Like a previous poster

said, wood can generally be fixed, I haven't had to yet thank

goodness. I don't know what you are shooting now, but the switch to

8X10 is a bit daunting. Aside from the camera itsself I just found

the transition from 4X5 to be more than I expected. Everything is in

the same place but the places are further apart. Try to stop down a

19 or 25" lens from behind the camera! All in all though I found it

to worth the work, there is nothing quite like that big negative!

As for repairs or more info on the camera talk to Richard

Ritter,www.lgformat.net. He worked at Zone VI for 15 years and knows

more about this camera them anyone around. He now specilizes in

the repair of collectable cameras from the 1800's and large format

cameras. I have seem his shops he can make almost any thing from wood

to metal parts.

He also does an impressive job of restorting Deardorffs.