Which camera do I buy when jumping into 4x5

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My name is Jeff Rose, I live in Austin Texas. I have shot 35mm and 6x7 for about 20 years now. I am attracted to the 4x5 format and think a field camera attributes would meld with my persona. I have a few priority /dilemmas with my choice of a large format field.

 

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1, I do not want to spend more then $3000 for the body.

 

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2, I love macro photography

 

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3, I love landscape photography

 

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4, I love taking portraits. (disclaimer: I do have a solid 35mm system that take great portraits suitable to 11x14 images so portraiture is my third priority.

 

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Priority 1 and 2 and 3 are all pretty close in weight and I really do

not want to substitute one for the other.

 

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What do you suggest, am I out of my mind thinking I can realize this

camera?

 

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Any and all information is greatly appreciated.

 

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Jeff

[ellis_vener_photography]

I recommend the Canham 45 DLC.

 

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But then, I recommend that to everybody!

[ellis_vener_photography]

two things:

1.) the above post is not from me.

 

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2.) the person who did post it is about to be busted and outed publicly.

 

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3.0 Jeff, go talk to Jerry Sullivan at Precision Camera about your needs

[richard_deimel]

Obviously you want a field camera, and there are a number of them available under $3000, some considerably under $3000, that will suit your purpose. Just make sure that the bellows extension is sufficicent to get the reproduction ratio you are looking for in your macro work.

[gary_helfrich]

I would suggest that you buy an older Linhof Color rather than a

modern field camera if you are not sure if 4x5 is going to work for

you. Here are the advantages that I see over a DLC or a conventional

field camera:

 

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1) Cost. You can pick up a Color in great shape for $500. if you look

around. In the future if you decide that large format is not your cup

of tea, you can quickly resell it for what it cost you in the first

place. If you decide that you like 4x5 and want a more advanced

camera, you can either sell the Color or keep it for studio use.

 

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2) Macro. A monorail is going to be easier to use with long

extensions and large movements. The Color is also a more rigid and

stable camera than the Canham.

 

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The downside is that this is a bulky camera that is not that suited to

backbacking. If you take most of your landscape shots within a mile

or so of your car, this is not much of a problem.

 

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Spend the rest of your money on glass, not a fancy camera body. Not

only are modern lenses great opticaly, but they come with accurate

shutters. A classic lens with an idiosyncratic shutter is not fun

after you have lost a few great shot because the shutter ruined the

exposure.

 

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There are other older monorails like the Calumet and Omega that are

also a good value as well. My own feeling is that the DLC is a bit

overrated. It is a clever design, but the fit and finish leave a bit

to be desired.

 

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Perhaps the best advice is that you get an inexpensive body, a good

modern lens, and spend the rest of the money you have saved on film

and processing.

[ron_shaw]

I would recommend you try large format before plunking down 3k for a

body and another 1+k for a lens(s). LF is much different than 35mm and

MF, and having 4 or 5k sitting in a closet gathering dust doesnt make

much sense. Im not saying you wont like it (I enjoy it very much), but

I know at least 1 person who abandons it for every one that sticks

with it. Maybe try renting equipment, or picking up something used for

cheap (like an excellent Super Graphic) and try that for awhile. It

will also give you time and experience to find out what you need

before spending all that cash.

[brian_c._ellis]

I don't think that macro photography is one of the strengths of large

format. There are several problems. First,in order to get even to a

1-1 magnification the lenses tend to be on the long side - 150

and up. Secondly, you generally have a very long bellows

extension to get to 1-1, so it becomes difficult to see the

subject with so little light getting to the ground glass. Third,

large format in general can be cumbersome and somewhat unwieldy

when trying to focus on a flower petal that is three inches from

the lens. Fourth, because of the shallow depth of field you tend to

use very small apertures and because of this as well as

the long bellows extension, often end up with really long shutter

speeds. If you're photographing something that moves, the slightest

breeze can ruin your photograph and when you're using shutter speeds

of 15, 20, 30, or more seconds, which is by no means unusual, the

likelihood that a breeze will occur sometime during the exposure is

pretty great. None of these problems is insurmountable and I'm sure

some people do a lot of macro work with large format but personally I

wouldn't get into large format with the idea of doing macro work with

it. You might use large format for landscapes, and maybe portraits,

but stick with your medium or 35 mm formats for the macro work. Just

my opinion. Brian

[al______]

Go for it!! Canham 4x5dlc, wisner tech field, and a good lens and your

cooking. You have tried 35mm, and 6x7, and i assume your looking for

what your missing, so to hell with rational thought, grab one and

shoot.

 

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Don't forget to post what you shot :)

 

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best wishes

[ellis_vener_photography]

Well I found out who made the first post, it was a guy named Bill Daily , e-mail address is: wrdaily@aol.com.

 

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Mr Daily has decided it is cute to start posting answers in my name, maybe yours too. I am of a mind to contact AOL about this guy, as I am of the opinion that what he is doing is at least unethical, if not illegal, and should get him kicked off his ISP(s) at the very least. what do you think.

[tom_meyer6]

I say go for it, Ellis!!!

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My advice on the 4x5 for your applications would be an old Linhoff Tech III or IV. They have a good range of movements including a drop bed for front fall, front rise by rack and pinion, front swings and shifts, the back revolves and tilts and swings on four pins that terminate in ball and socket joints in the corners of the back.

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The bellows on my old Tech III are about 16", the lensboards are flat (make 'em yourself) , they have a Graflock back for roll film and you can find the III's for under $500 in really good shape and the IV's for under $1000. Even if the bellows are bad, they can be replaced for under $150. .. And they fold up into a really good defensive weapon with a 135mm mounted inside...t

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Check out the wb site the moderator of this forum has for incredible details about these good cameras... Oh yeah, I use a 90mm no mine, no problem...t

[mike_long]

Ellis, I thought you were kidding when I read what I thought was your second post. You should nail him. AOL will not

look kindly on that kind of behaviour. This was a fairly innocent instance but he could cause you or someone else serious

reputation problems in the future.

 

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On to the original question, I don't think you should spend that much on a camera just because you have it. Find

something that is capable, has good resale value and costs much less. If you like 4x5, you can trade out of it and move

up. The lenses will still fit with the proper boards. If you don't, you can sell and, at worse, just lose a little.

[nigel_turner]

Hi.. I strongly suggest you go for one of Mr Wisner 4x5 'Pocket

Expeditions.' I recently bought the 8x10 version and I'm absolutly

over the moon with it. Not only is it a beautiful specimen to look

at.. it probably the most versatile large format field camera ever

built. Lucky for you they make a 4x5 version, which weighs under 4lbs.

Its will have more movements than you could ever reasonably need to

use, and when locked up will be very rigid. Check out this site.

www.wisner.com

This is the way I see it.. you get what you pay for and although they

cost in the region of $2,500 they will last you for the rest of your

life.. and whoever gets it when you are gone !

As for macro and large format.. I agree with other comments about the

unsuitability of this format for that subject.. particularly in their

natural surroundings. Not only the lenght of exposure requiring you to

take into account reciprocity failure, but unless you a mathamatician

and can handle the inverse square law.. (unlike me I may add) stick

with your other formats. As for lenses.. go for the best you can..

that usally means APO's. Good quality second hand ones abound.. you

just need to look. And don't over look Goerz Red Dot APO's.. still

some of the best lenses available. Hope this is of some use to you..

Good luck !

Sorry.. I'm not in favour of Canham or Zone VI.. each to their own.

[rich_sweeney]

My experience began(about 25 years ago)with the purchase of a metal

"Nu-View" (sp?) at a garage sale for $15 (including a 203mm Kodak in a

supermatic). Although not a lightweight, it served to introduce me to

the 4 X 5 format and it's basics. I found, among other things, that I

enjoyed the process (ponderous, intellectually challenging) as a

departure from 35mm. I also discovered that I preferred field work

(landscape and traditional urban scenes) which helped me to decide

what equipment would be best for me in the future. I would imagine

that an experienced photographer could discover this quite soon. I

thought that it was one of the wisest purchases that I have made.

[robert_a._zeichner]

After having read through some of the other comments I find myself in

sync with a number of points made by others. To do macro work, a

monorail with generous bellows will be an asset. To do field work, a

wooden or metal folder will be more transportable. A friend of mine

just got a new Linhof Technikardan which seems capable of both but I

think it may be a bit beyond your budget even before you buy lenses!

What I would suggest is what another contributor recommended....get a

used Color Kardan for around $500. Play with it indoors, learn all

about using movements, bellows compensation, focusing techniques and

so on. This will give you an opportunity to deal with loading film

holders, processing sheet film (if you do your own) and a number of

other handling issues one encounters in the world of large format. An

alternative approach would be to start with a used Wisner Traditional.

A new one is only $1500! I bought a mint used one for a third of that.

This would make landscape work your "training ground" instead of

tabletop work. You could do some close up photography with the field

camera, but it would be little trickier since these cameras don't have

the rigidity and precise machine-like adjustablity of a good monorail.

Don't forget that a camera and glass are not your only costs! You'll

need a spot meter, focusing loupe, dark cloth, film holders, case or

backpack, lensboards, a good, rigid tripod, long cable release, etc.,

etc. You might already have some of these given your extensive

experience with smaller formats, but chances are you'll need some of

them. What I strongly recommend is that you consider participating in

one of the many fine introductory workshops that are offered. I have

high regard for Howard Bond's view camera workshop. Just seeing some

of the different cameras people bring to these events and listening to

the questions and experiences of participants can be an education, not

to mention HB's 50+ years of experience and wonderful teaching style.

Good luck with your quest and feel free to e-mail me with questions.