Toko 4x5

[z_z1]

I have had a Toko 4x5 wooden camera for a year now. For the most

part I am very happy with it and I have found it actually has more

movements and rear extension than some of it's much more expensive

brothers and sisters.

 

My question is has anyone else on this board ever used one of these

cameras? I am also interested in finding out who the N.A.

distributor is just in case I need parts.

 

I have primarily used it for landscapes with 90mm, 150mm and 210mm

lens. Results have been comparable to my monorail, but with a LOT

less weight. In fact I have used this camera in the Rockies under

all kinds of conditions, the blistering heat of the Alberta Badlands,

and the sweltering heat of Bali.

 

My Blad gear is getting pretty dusty these days.

 

Eric

[chris_jordan3]

Hi Eric. Yikes, another Toko-- I thought they only made ONE of those cameras, and I owned it!! Or, maybe they did, and you now have the one I used to own...

 

I never found ANYWHERE that carried them, or had even heard of them. The bellows on mine was in need of repair (put a flashlight in there in a dark room and you got a nice starry sky projected on the walls, like those projectors in planetariums) but i couldn't find one anywhere. I ended up using a special tape called Gaffer's tape-- super sticky nasty stuff for some kind of drywall work.

 

I moved up to a Wista SP about 10 years ago, and never looked back...

 

Good luck,

 

~cj

[eugene_singer]

Just another example to prove that one man's planetarium is another man's substitute for a Hasselblad. I think it's time for my nap.

[merg_ross]

Toko Marketing introduced two versions in 1985. The Toko FL-452 with 14" extension @ 3.8 pounds and a list price of $699 and the Toko FL-451 with 12" extension @ 3.5 pounds and a list price of $599. At the time they were advertised as the only wooden field camera with rear focus. I have never used one and can't help with the parts question.

[joe_mcgloin]

<p>Yes, people use Toko 4x5 cameras -- because they are the best. But they had bad advertising and no one knows about them. But who cares, you have one. They are probably out of business, but made many models. I have a Nikki II and and FL-452. One cherry, one rosewood. I've used these for 25 years in rugged backpacking adventures, so you will probably never need parts. The thing most likely to break is the groundglass. No big deal. I'd recommend a Beattie Intenscreen even if you don't break the original.</p>

[joe_mcgloin]

<p>I hope to get a TOKO website set up and running soon. I don't know if they are still in business, but they are great cameras. It will be listed at "The world's most complete Fujinon large format website" at<br>

http://www.subclub.org/fujinon/</p>

[joe_mcgloin]

<p>My TOKO website is up and running, although it is still under construction. Take a look at<br>

www.subclub.org/toko/index.htm</p>

[joe_mcgloin]

<p>My TOKO website is up and running, although it is still under construction. Take a look at<br>

www.subclub.org/toko/index.htm</p><div></div>