4x5 Field Camera option

I have no idea what I am talking about when it comes to LF photography, but here is a pretty comprehensive resource.

http://www.largeformatphotography.info/

My dear Simon,
"why would I select a Linhof Technica over Horseman, over Speed Graphic etc etc.?"
I've been using a Linhof Master Technika for several years.
Before I purchase one, I asked the same questions, but now, I am able to answer to them ! ;>)

Why a Linhof ? In a few words,the answer is very simple : "because it is the best field camera ever built".

1. you have two choices : View or Field camera ? IMO the Field camera is easier to carry, and to set up.
2. wooden or metal field camera ? A metal camera is slightly heavier, but sturdier, and more precise. That's my choice.
3. why a Linhof over Horseman or Graphic ?

• Movements of front rise and shift, front and rear swings and tilts are more important on the Linhof Master Technika than on the Speed Graphic or the Horseman 45FA.
• The front rise is geared on the Linhof. That is very helpful for architecture, most of all if you use heavy tele lenses : the geared rise is more accurate, and you don't have to hold the lens with your fingers for rise and fall.
• You can use lenses from 72/75 to 360mm. I use a 400mm tele on mine. With a special device, or a special lensboard, you can use also 58 or 65mm wide angle lenses, but they are not rangefinder-focused.
• The movements of rise, swing and tilt are not so easy with a 72/75mm lens than on a view camera, but you can rise, swing and tilt sufficiently for landscape and architecture. With a 90mm wide angle, no problems.
• With the appropriate cams, you can use the rangefinder for focusing the camera. It is very useful for handheld photography. You'll make some photos handheld you'll never do with a view camera on a tripod.
• The Speeed Graphic or other Graflex cameras are better for street photography and reportage that for architecture. They have poor movements, the Kalart rangefinder is sometimes hard to calibrate, and on last models, the cams are difficult to find.
  On a Linhof, you put the cam, the lens and it is ready for focusing.
  
• On Horseman 45FA, the lensboard is very small, (80x80mm vs. 96x99mm for the Linhof) and all lenses cannot be mounted on it. (Only Shutters # 0 and 1, not #3, mostly used for long and tele lenses). On the Linhof, you can use #0, #1 and #3 shutters.
• The flange focal distance (the maximum length you can draw the bellows) is 249mm (front) + 23mm (rear), vs 430mm on a Master Technika.
  On the Linhof, the built-in triple dropbed extension allows the use of tele lenses up to 500 mm or macro lenses without any accessories.
• Graflex cameras, (Speed-Crown-Century-Anniversary-Pacemaker) are older cameras, no more produced. The used market is very important, but it will be sometimes difficult to find the exact accessory needed.
• Last, don't forget the Wista folding metal cameras : SP, RF and VX. The RF is the only with rangefinder, but with a very narrow range of lenses. No wide angle lenses can be used other than groundglass focusing. The Wista SP is a good camera, but with less movements than the Linhof Master Technika, and has no rangefinder.
• The Linhof can be used with a viewfinder mounted on the top of the housing. It is the best one, for handheld composition and with parallax correction for close photography.
• A Master Technika or Super-Technika IV or V can easily be bought used. It is a standard among field cameras, and they are still manufactured.
• Last but not least, Linhof cameras are manufactured with very high engineered requirements, rock-solid and very accurate. These cameras are suitable either for hand-held focused photography or for studio or location shots on a tripod.A Linhof lasts a lifelong.

i just started with LF and have no technical expertise, but seeing how you're looking to do a little research before purchasing, i would recommend sending an email to the cambo up in the netherlands at:

Cambo Fotografische Industrie BV [cambo@wxs.nl]

or checking out their wares at:

http://www.cambo.com

i recently purchased a used cambo sc in great condition for $399 off of sleazeBay, and after a quick request for accessory information, the cambo people were more than happy to send me all their catalogs faster than you can say "please take my money." (possibly a moot point, because all of that information can be found on their site in the form of PDF docs as well.)

good luck in your quest.

man, that was like going on after the beatles....

I am not going to contradict Jean-Louis but it all comes down to $$$$. If you can afford the Linhoff he suggests you will not be sorry. For the rest of us, the Wista technical camera can be had for about $1000(used). Some people like the look and feel of wood and you can spend between $600 and $3000 on one of these. It is also worth looking at the Toyo 45A and AX. Since their new carbon fiber field camera has no rear movements I would avoid that for architecture.

Something to consider, too, is you mentioned "architecture" as an interest. For that style of shooting, you really should consider a rail camera, like the Sinar F1. Bed cameras (field cameras) generally have limited movements. That being said, I have both, and shoot with my Wista SP most of the time. It's quicker set up, physically smaller, and tough as nails. It has sufficient movements for what I usually need, Can take a range of lenses from 72mm to 360mmT without changing the setup, and if I want a longer lens, Wista makes a bed extender and extension bellows, as well as a full range of attachements, backs, bellows and gizmos to do all sorts of stuff. It's basic design and quality is very similiar to the Linhof, at about 1/3 the price. It even has a few features the Linhof doesn't have (sorry Linhof fans...) The one thing the Linhof has that I wish the Wista had was a replaceable drop bed for extreme wide angles. The widest lens I can use and shoot 4x5 with is a 72mmXL.

The biggest drawback to a field camera ia a short bellows which limits how long a focal length you can use. If you have a long bellows, then short focal lengths either won`t focus because the bellows will not compress or there is no movement because they are tight.

My compromise was a Zone IV with 20" bellows and the optional bag bellows which allows short length and movement. Downside is changing bellows in the field, extra cost, having to cary extra bellows.

I came from a monorail and find the compromise excellent.

Watch the weight of Linhofs. They are really well made a sturdy, but some of the models are very heavy.

Well, okay, so someone else broached the rail option.

After careful consideration and poking around and reading people's commentaries I ended up buying an Arca-Swiss 4x5 "Field" Camera (I think they advertise it with the ""'s). It certainly is an option. Uses 6x9 front with reducing bellows to a 4x5 back - reducing size and weight. The Linhof Master Technika is more compact and quicker to setup (you can actually have a small lens mounted and close camera? Convenient - I don't have one so don't know details). But "quicker" is pretty relative. The Master Technica certainly is more difficult to lose parts to (the Arca-Swiss breaks down into 5 pieces for lugging - I leave bellows on the front and rear movements). But I have been taking it into the field. And using it in studio. It is well built, rock solid lockdowns.

But I think in the end it all comes down to how much $$$'s you want to spend. Zero detents to start from a known position and rear movements and solid, non-slip lockdown I would assume are musts for fine architectural photography.

I have had view cameras and a Linhof Tec III. The III is outfitted with a 65mm (with recessed board) to a 360mm and I have never had any trouble. As stated, it is a bit on the heavy side as far as field cameras go but I would rather have that then a feather light blowing in the wind. You will be fine on most building with a 90mm to start. Press cameras don't have the back movements that you will need. Technical cameras are what you want to look for.