New lightweight field monorails: Toyo VX125 and Arca-Swiss Misura

[beepy]

I've been seeing a couple posts for a lightweight "field' monorail lately. I now know of two:

<blockquote>

<a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?

O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=388266&is=REG&addedTroughType=search">

Arca-Swiss Misura 4x5</a>

<br>

<a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?

O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=149076&is=REG&addedTroughType=search">

Toyo-View VX125 4x5</a>

</blockquote>

<p>

I had remarked on the Misura before, but have not seen it. I just saw a Jade Green Toyo-

view VX125 at <a href="http://www.kspphoto.com/">Keeble and Shuchat</a> in Palo

Alto, CA, USA. I stopped dead in my tracks. And started asking questions. What I thought

was a display monorail to hold the camera up was actually a folding telescoping monorail.

The VX125 is light as a feather - lighter than my Arca-Swiss 4x5 Field camera, and seems

to be considerably more practical to collapse to a very totable size. This with all geared

movements that felt beautifully smooth and precise.

<p>

This is not a cheap date. For those with a fetish for a

<a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?

O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=88691&is=REG&addedTroughType=search">

beautiful Jade Green</a> you'll pay an

additonal US$1,500 accoding to B&H Photo.

<p>

Truly a beautiful little camera. (No, I didn't buy it:-)

[claudia franco]

? beepy,

 

Actually the Toyo-View VX-125 is not a new camera; it's been on the market for at least 5-6 years. Used models are frequently available at reasonable prices; check Robert White's current second-hand listings.

[paul_owen]

Robert White is listing a green (used) VX125 at the moment!

[beepy]

Ah! My mistake - I hadn't seen it before at K&S, and never noticed it at B&H.

[j.baxendell]

Incidentally this is the first review I have seen of the Misura.

 

<a href="http://www.galerie-photo.com/misura_peronne_us.html">Review</a>

[donald_hutton]

The VX125 is available in two different models - the VX125 - more expensive with geared rise and the telescoping rail and the VX125R which has no geared rise and a fixed rail - see this link for details: http://www.toyoview.com/Products/VX125/VX125.html You can buy a VX125 in both black and the jade green - both are a substantial premium over the R model.

 

I use a VX125 for shooting architecture - it is a fabulous camera - I tried all sorts of other solutions before settling on it - Sinar, Arca F-Line etc. I in fact sold the first VX125 I had only to replace it again after a couple of months. They are very expensive new but do pop up used for around $2500-$3000 for the VX125. The R model is easy to find for around $1500-$2000. As has been mentioned, they have been on the market for around 6 years. I'd highly recommend it, but the new sticker price is very off-putting (and maybe a little OTT). If you can find one for around $2500 and shoot mostly with a wide lenses and need very precise movements, fast set-up and a light compact camera, there's nothing to touch it.

[subrata_chattopadhyay]

<p>I'm planning on buying the Toyo VX 125 R.<br>

However, this review (http://www.largeformatphotography.info/vx125.html) denigrates the VX 125R compared to the pricier VX 125. The major objections raised by the reviewer are - no geared movements for front rise and fixed rail.<br>

I'm planning to use the VX 125R for architecture and landscape. I'll start with film (6x12 roll film back) and then might step up to a digital back.<br>

My questions to this forum are:-<br>

1) What compromise am I making by settling for a fixed rail?<br>

2) Will it be possible to replace the fixed rail and put in the telescopic rail at a later point in time?<br>

Thanks in advance for your help.</p>