william_henderson Posted January 12, 2003 Share Posted January 12, 2003 I have been offered a Toyo CX with a 210mm6.8 lens for 550.00. The camera has never been used and comes with a LF carrying case. My question is whether this is a great deal since these low end LF camera prices bounce all over the lot. I have never used LF but have spent much time with MF and 35mm. Thanks for the advice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aaron_rocky Posted January 12, 2003 Share Posted January 12, 2003 4x5 entry level monorail(camera only) like toyo calumet/cambo worth around $100 nowadays. Don't pay too much for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael_kadillak6 Posted January 12, 2003 Share Posted January 12, 2003 I would recommend that you determine what you will use a large format camera for and then evaluate the price point. If you to work in a studio or do architecture out of your car, it may be the ticket. If you want to do landscape on the trail in the back country, you will probably want a a more compant camera and there are many to chose from. Nothing more important than having the right tool particularly when you are starting out. Just my two cents. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jnanian Posted January 12, 2003 Share Posted January 12, 2003 hi william - the toyo cx is not a bad camera. while it is the low-end of the toyo monorail cameras, it takes all the accessories that the other toyo cameras will accept - bag bellows, roll film holders, focusing loops &c. it takes the smaller ( 110 mm square) lensboards like the field view cameras. i had been using a graphic view II for about 12 years and decided last year to sell it, and get a used toyo cx. i have been using it on location and in a studio quite a lot, and have not had any problems at all ( it's been about 1.5 years). i have heard bad reports about the new entry level field camera ( toyo cf?), but not any bad press about the view camera. it sounds like the price you were quoted was reasonable considering the case and lens are probably worth $200-300. good luck john Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim_galli4 Posted January 12, 2003 Share Posted January 12, 2003 See if you can get the price down $100 to $150 bucks. At 400-450 it's a great place to start and when you're ready to move up (if you ever need to) you'll easily get your $ back. I just bought that lens today on Ebay for $225. $100 is low for camera by itself but $225 is believeable. If there are additional accy's like film holders, dark cloth, meter, Polaroid back etc. etc. those are things that you may need that will drive the ultimate price back up. The fact that it has it's case and is virtually new is attractive. I'm sending you an ebay sale off-line as a comparator. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lacey_smith4 Posted January 12, 2003 Share Posted January 12, 2003 the clincher may be the lens. Name, vintage? ( I make the assumption it is a bit older) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael_briggs2 Posted January 12, 2003 Share Posted January 12, 2003 I will venture a guess on the 210 mm f6.8 lens: is it a Rodenstock Geronar? The guess is because this is one of the few lenses with that focal length / aperture and because it is frequently included in budget kits. The lens is described by Rodenstock as a budget lens: it is a triplet, meaning it uses three glass elements. A 3 element lens would be a disaster for 35 mm photography, but will work surprising well for LF because of the reduced enlargement of the negative to the print, assuming that you don't intend to make giant prints. However, the optical performance is unquestionably worse than the more typical plasmat design of 6 elements in 4 groups. One of the best ways to answer these price questions is to use the completed auctions option of the advanced search on ebay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueviews Posted January 12, 2003 Share Posted January 12, 2003 According to B&H, the lens in the CX kit is a Geronar and list is like $1200 with the case. If you are in the studio I think it will be fine, for schlepping around it is not very compact. As others have said the lens is not the finest but it is more than acceptable. As for Aaron's comment, I for one haven't seen too many Toyo or Cambo cameras for $100 that are in any kind of reasonable condition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witold_grabiec Posted January 13, 2003 Share Posted January 13, 2003 Having devoted considerable time to watching Ebay I will say this: - $200/300 is needed on an older Toyo/Omega or Cambo monorail in v. good to excellent shape, this could sometime include a case and a few film holders, always read the fine print because $100 can get you a mechanically OK camera but may have a broken ground glass (an easy $100+) or some cracked parts (none of this, "of course", affects picture taking ability), you can get a good one but just be a little carefull and count the extras (especially film holders, but also lens boards, polaroid holder, focusing loupe) as it affects the value of the deal immensly - you can get a fine lens (especially Fuji's) in the $200's in excellent (glass spotless) shape So it adds up to about same price. As it was pointed out earlier, if you can make it $400 or so, you got yourself a great deal, otherwise I would suggest considering other options. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eugene_singer Posted January 13, 2003 Share Posted January 13, 2003 William, I am assuming that you realize that the Toyo CX has polycarbonate (plastic) controls. I have heard of cases where the tripod blocks have cracked. The 210 lens is NOT a six element,top-of-the-line, lens. The price for the outfit seems high, even with the carrying case. Keep looking. Even if you need to pay a little more, you can do much better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darrell_harmon Posted January 16, 2003 Share Posted January 16, 2003 How about a Calumet/Cambo 45N or 45NX? They are both nice cameras and not too expensive. I have a 45NX and it is very solid (and heavy). Darrell Harmon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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