matt_docis Posted December 5, 2001 Share Posted December 5, 2001 What is the fastest/ easiest 4x5 to set up & use in the field? Are the rangefinders on Linhofs or Wista etc. helpful in accelerating the process? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sai_kit_ng Posted December 5, 2001 Share Posted December 5, 2001 I suggest you take a look at the Ebony non-folding series.The lens can be mount on the camera while it is in the bag,therefore setup in the field will in a minute time.Check it out on Ebony website, www.ebonycamera.co.Enjoy it.Kit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob_salomon2 Posted December 5, 2001 Share Posted December 5, 2001 Technikardan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_owen Posted December 5, 2001 Share Posted December 5, 2001 Ebony (try the SW45). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stefan_dalibor1 Posted December 5, 2001 Share Posted December 5, 2001 Arca Swiss F Line C - can be packaged with lens mounted, setup work is reduced to decollapsing the rail (if very short lenses are used, even this could be omitted).<br> When it comes to using the camera, this is a full featured, very stable and versatile monorail with excellent ergonomics.<p> On the downside is only the (compared to Ebony cameras) higher weight... this is the price for the IMHO higher rigidity of the Arca. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike_mahoney Posted December 5, 2001 Share Posted December 5, 2001 Agree with the above Arca answer. Discovery set up in the field is simply taking out of bag, placing on tripod and focusing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob_salomon2 Posted December 5, 2001 Share Posted December 5, 2001 Now you can see why you want to look at cameras at a well stoked dealer (there are many in the US) or at a show. <p> All the answers will direct the responders feelings without your knowing what the breadth of their experiences are with all of the possible answers or how the cameras would feel and work for you. <p> Just them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chad_jarvis1 Posted December 5, 2001 Share Posted December 5, 2001 How much speed do you need? Aren't you splitting hairs when you are talking about the difference between a 30-second and a 60-second setup time? And shouldn't the time required to compose a shot with a view camera be longer just by virtue of the process? Next to focusing and compostition and metering, I find setup time to be insignificant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
struan_gray Posted December 5, 2001 Share Posted December 5, 2001 Pinholes are the real speed demons as far as setup is concerned. Exposure is another matter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan_smith Posted December 5, 2001 Share Posted December 5, 2001 Try a Speed Graphic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_owen Posted December 5, 2001 Share Posted December 5, 2001 Bob When people post questions asking for advice, they probably realise that the opinions given will be somewhat biased. But they get the experiences of the others and not just salesperson talk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilhelm Posted December 5, 2001 Share Posted December 5, 2001 Crown Graphic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob_salomon2 Posted December 5, 2001 Share Posted December 5, 2001 "But they get the experiences of the others and not just salesperson talk " <p> And, unfortunately in many cases a bad decision for him if it is without hands-on knowledge. <p> You simply are not qualified to tell someone what feels best or works best for him. <p> You are probably larger or smaller, have different sized hands, different requirements, shoot possibly different things, are left or right handed. <p> To fill a specific requirement, weight, speed, handling, must be done hands on. <p> YOUR OPINION IN THAT REGARD IS NO MORE OR LESS BIASED THEN SOMEONE SELLING PRODUCT. YOU ARE JUSTIFYING YOUR DECISION WHICH MAY BE TOTALLY WRONG FOR HIM <p> Sorry for the caps I hit the wrong key. <p> But the emphasis doesen't hurt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim_galli4 Posted December 5, 2001 Share Posted December 5, 2001 Polaroid fixed lens with a handle grip to hand hold. You don't even have to stop the car, just point it out the window and take a picture! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_owen Posted December 5, 2001 Share Posted December 5, 2001 Bob, The point I'm trying to make, is this, if someone posts a request regarding peoples opinions on "which camera is best" then he/she must expect to receive biased advice. BUT I DON'T MAKE ANY MONEY FROM THIS ADVICE!! A dealer may well advise on stock simply because he sels it!! (True??) Most of us are not dealers so we simply give advice as is, and don't benefit from it financially. I would prefer advice from users of a certain camera rather than from someone who sels them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ken_miller3 Posted December 5, 2001 Share Posted December 5, 2001 I've owned two view/field cameras: a Calumet 45N monorail, and a Toyo AII (which I currently use). <p> Since I got the Toyo, the Calumet has been collecting dust - check for it on eBay in the next few weeks :-) <p> The AII (and the 'A', for that matter) are a snap to setup. Unlock the case, lift up the back, slide the forward standard forward, adjust the rise, lock it down, and you're ready for lenses. <p> Simple, and fast. Bit heavy for a field camera, but lighter than my Calumet. <p> -klm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilhelm Posted December 5, 2001 Share Posted December 5, 2001 I forgot to answer the second part of your question. I find the use of a rangefinder speeds the setting-up process considerably for many subjects, such as portraits and landscapes. I can often use the built-in optical viewfinder, and not refer to the ground glass image at all. But the item which usually consumes the bigest chunk of setup time is the tripod. Once you get used to handling it, a Graphic can be hand held for an amazingly large percentage of shots. I gotta admit that it does take a lot of the fun out of it, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew_cole1 Posted December 5, 2001 Share Posted December 5, 2001 My experience is with a Wisner 4x5 Trad. and a Crown Graphic. My normal setup to photo time for the Wisner is probably several minutes, but I'm not rushing it (includes contemplation of lens/filter, movements if necessary, pulling out the darkcloth and trying to focus my f8 lenses, etc.). <p> With the Crown, assuming its limitations work within your needs, simply open the front, pull out the lens, focus on the glass (or rangefinder) (faster than with my Wisner because of faster lens and built in focus hood), film in and shoot. <p> I've used the Crown as a point and shoot wandering around New York before, works great, not too slow to use, but does draw too much attention if there are people around. <p> Now, as for comparison of the images, I only use the Crown for handheld shots because its images are simply not as good (from a technical standpoint) as the images I get from the lenses I use on my Wisner. I am only using the 127mm lens that came with my Crown. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neal_shields Posted December 5, 2001 Share Posted December 5, 2001 Back when I was a kid, you used 4X5 to achieve resolutation. With some of today's modern films, you may never take a picture where you will be able to tell the difference in an enlargement between 4X5 and 645. My wife has a Contax 645 with Zeiss lenses that is esentially point and shoot if you want it to be. If you are going to use movements to tilt the focal plane, and take enough meter readings to use principals of zoneing, you are a better man then I, if initial set up time is more than 10% of total set up time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott walton Posted December 5, 2001 Share Posted December 5, 2001 The one you get used to! I have a Cambo SCX in the studio and a Linhof Tech III for location and pleasure shooting. Both can be set up in about 15-20 seconds from the cases. I have a rangefinder on my Linhof but I rarely use it... just for quick composition... just my way of shooting. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jorge_gasteazoro3 Posted December 5, 2001 Share Posted December 5, 2001 Paul, I agree with Bob, the Technikardan is one of the fastest if not THE, and I don't see any harm in Bob recommending it, specially with his wealth of knowledge and experience. Don't come down on him just because he works for HP Marketing, he has been a good contribuitor of this forum and has demonstrated he has the experience necessary to recommend this choice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellis_vener_photography Posted December 5, 2001 Share Posted December 5, 2001 There is a 4x5 wide angle camera out of britain that looks dead easy to shoot with. There are also the Sinar Handy, Cambo Cambowide, and Horseman wideangle cameras.<P>Outside of that I think a great deal of set up speed wil have to do with how you trnsport the camera. A Sinar P2 or Arca-Swiss Monolith or any other of the big monorail cameras will be extremely fast to set up and shoot with if you carry it in a big enough case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neal_shields Posted December 5, 2001 Share Posted December 5, 2001 Everyting in life is a compromise. This question may have been triggered by Wisner's full featured camera. I do not own one but have read critizisms about how hard it is to fold. However, that is probably because he goes to a lot of trouble to be sure that the image doesn't shift when using tilt and swing to focus. This is a compromise I will gladly make if I ever have the price of a small car to blow. <p> If we are considering used cameras, how about the Super Speed Graphic, it has greater front movements than a speed or crown, is thinner (will accept wider lenses) and has a revolving back and is all aluminum. Compaired to used Linhofs, it also has the advantage of having light tight bellows. <p> If in terms of convenience we group 4X5 cameras in order from: Press, Technical, View, Field, I would place it somewhere between a Press and a Technical. <p> Aside: With a Speed Graphic and standard plate holders, the UP photographer was able to take three stills of the Hendenburg between the time it exploded and when it hit the ground. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob_salomon2 Posted December 5, 2001 Share Posted December 5, 2001 "A dealer may well advise on stock simply because he sels it!! (True??)" <p> Paul. <p> You are totally missing the point.I did NOT say to ask a dealer. <p> I said go in a handle them yourself. Take your advice by looking. Not asking blind questions. <p> And remember. The question was the quickest and all I said was TK. <p> I could also make a point for Kardan M (very fast), Master Technika, Technika 2000, Wista Cherry, Rosewood or Ebony or RF, VX or SP. <p> But then that would be biased as, except for the Kardan M, the TK is the fastest. Once you are familiar with its' operation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linas_kudzma Posted December 5, 2001 Share Posted December 5, 2001 My Wista SP metal field camera is incredibly fast to set up. Pop it open and go. A big plus is that it�s more stable than ANY wood field camera I've ever seen, and costs less than a Linhof. The Wista metal fields are much under appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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