Wood field cameras and long-term effects of humidity

[badris]

Been lurking for awhile, so this is my first post. Here goes...

 

<p>

 

I currently have a friend/mentor's 4x5 Burke & James field

camera on loan for the summer, so I can try my hands at

shooting large format. So far so good! This brings me to my

question. I'm interested in purchasing a wooden field camera at

the end of summer. Given the possibility of me uprooting myself

and moving to the tropics sometime in foreseeable future, I

wanted to know how well a wooden field camera will stand up

with the high humidity of the tropics, both short and long-term.

I'm contemplating a Tachihara because of its price, but lusting

for a Wisner. However, if wood cameras don't hold up well in an

extremely humid environment (think Southeast Asia), maybe a

Toyo metal field camera or something similar would make more

sense?

 

<p>

 

Would appreciate any advice you could give. Thanks!

[ole_tjugen]

I don't really know much about this, as all my cameras are metal, but

perhaps you should consider Ebony? Think tropical wood...

[scott_killian3]

Ebony's are made of aged hardwoods and titanium. If you're

planning on going to a humid climate, I would recommend these

cameras. The metal won't rust and the wood would probably be

less susceptible to the elements. Check out

www.ebonycamera.com

[eugene_singer]

Badris, Wooden field cameras will hold up under tropical

conditions,if they are properly maintained. Moisture on the bellows

is probably the greatest problem. I have owned a Tachi and two

Wisners , and recently purchased a Shen Hao HZX 45-IIA for my wife.

It is in the same price range as the Tachi and about 1/3 the price of

the Wisner Tech Field. The Shen Hao is built with teak wood. The

Tachi is made of cherry wood. Wisner Traditionals and Tech Fields are

made of mahogany. Boat builders use teak and mahogany. Draw your own

conclusion.

[brian_ellis3]

If the cost of a Wisner seems steep, you don't even want to look at

an Ebony. I live in Florida where the humidity is usually in the 90%

range for three or four months a year and where it rains every day

(well, it used to rain every day) during those months. I owned a

Tachihara for several years and never had any problems with it.

Friends own various other brand wood cameras and I've never heard any

of them mention a problem with the humidity.

[brian_ellis3]

It occurred to me after posting the previous message that rust might

actually be a bigger problem with a metal camera than warping, etc.

would be with a wood camera. A friend of mine who lives near me in

Florida has a Linhof Master Technika and it's developed rust spots in

quite a few places in just the three or four years since he bought it

new. I don't know whether that's because of the humidity or not (my

Technika V doesn't have any significant amount of rust) but it's

something (else) to think about.

[david_clark4]

Hi Badris, I'd think any of the cameras mentioned could take far more

abuse of humidity than the lens and shutter. It seems the finely

polished tiny metal pieces in the shutter would be the greatest risk.

Or your lens could turn into a fish bowl. As far as woods, any wood

used in a camera is probably heat dried to insure stability - after

that procedure make your choice on your favorite color they are are

the same. Best, David

[daniel_luu_van_lang]

Hello,

In The 70s, I was living in Ivory Coast(for ten years), I was too

young to shoot in LF, but I remember humidity was incredible. I think

the wood of your camera should not be damaged but my concern is about

the bellows. Moisture can appear in less than one month if you store

it in a cupboard. In your case, I would think Teak, humidity is over

90% in the air, depending of the country. Lenses could also be

damaged with fungus, if storage is too long! I hope this could help

you.

Regards

[daniel_luu_van_lang]

I have just something to add to my previous post. Brian, you are

living in Florida and I think almost everybody in the US has Air

conditionned so that humidity and storage are not problems. In Africa

or south east Asia, you should keep those problems in mind. Aside

that detail, I completely agree with all the posters.

Best regards

[david_willis]

I'll second the suggestion for the Shen Hao. I've had one for over a

year, and it's been great. I've had no problems in a St. Louis

summer or a soggy Olympic Peninsula winter. The teak is beautiful

and stable, and I think it's the best bang-for-the-buck camera out

there. It is heavier than a Tachihara, though.

 

<p>

 

You may want to consider some sort of storage case for the camera and

especially the lens. I would probably look for something air tight

that you can put a dissicant in.

[brook_martin]

I once had termites eating an old Gundlach 5x7 while living in

Alabama. If it aint one thing it's another.

[stephen_willard1]

The most dimensional stable wood is Eastern White Pine. Most

hardwoods are not very stable, however, the humidity that the

woods are cured and the cameras are constructed under will go

a long ways in minimizing dimensional changes.

 

<p>

 

I believe most woods will tolerate a +/-35% humidity change

before a significant change in dimension is realized. Wisner

claims he manufactures his camera in 50% humidity at the

factory. This equates to a range of 15% to 85% humidity before

any changes are noticed. To further extend that range , he also

resorts to extensive lamination where every possible which adds

further stability. Whether his cameras will hold up in the tropics I

do not know. You might want to call him and talked to him about

this.

 

<p>

 

I am on the other end of the spectrum, living a very dry climate. I

have notice some movement when things get very dry with my

Wisner 4x5 Expedition, but not enough to effect the cameras

performance and rigidity.

 

<p>

 

Hope this helps.

[waldo_lee]

I don't know about long-term effects, but at the start of each summer here in coastal Nova Scotia when there's lots of fog and humidity, the wood in my Wisner Technical Field swells enough that focusing becomes difficult. I'm sure it would be worse in the tropics. There's probably no perfect answer.

[tom_perkins]

You may also want to consider a Walker Titan. No wood to shrink. You can find the specifications and some reviews at walkercameras.com. Good luck.