A Wista DX to learn on or not?

It doesn't make a huge amount of difference. They are all low end limited budget cameras that are OK. I would take the Wista. I think that they are made and finished better. You might also check out an Osaka, which is a more solid version of the Tachihara.

The Wista has base tilt only on the front end; I don't know about the Shen Hao, but extrapolating from my Shen Hao 5x7 the SH 4x5 may have both base and axis tilt (I'm sure someone will know). Base tilt will teach you more than you wish to know, perhaps. It's trickier than axis tilt and requires far more "iterations". Otherwise the Wista is great. Regards - Ross

Bruce, I did notice that Lens and Repro has (had) an Osaka, and it looks similar to the Tachihara, but seems to be Ebony w/ Stainless Steel hardware. Didn't see a price. Seems very nice.
Ross, this is what I found out about base tilts from B&H's specs. One thing I noticed is that the Wista and Zone VI camera look similar. Of course, the Zone VI would be much better with long lenses with it's 18" bellows.

Wista DX Rosewood

Tilts Front: 90° forward, 37° backwards
Rear: 90° forward, 16° backwards

Swings Front: 15° left or right
Rear: 12° left or right

Rise & Fall Front Only: 1.4" (36mm) up, 29mm down

Shifts Rear Only: 16mm left or right

Camera Back International 4x5 Vertical/Horizontal quick-change type
with fresnel focusing screen/protective glass overlay with 6x9cm markings

Interchangeable Bellows No

Minimum Extension 2" (51mm)

Maximum Extension 12" (305mm)

Lensboard Wista 96x99mm or Linhof Technika Type
Accepts all Lenses in #0 and #1 Shutters

Dimensions (HxWxD) 8.5 x 6.75 x 3.5" (21.6 x 17.1 x 8.9cm)

Weight DX Rosewood: 4.5 lbs (2kg)

Thanks guys. Any other thoughts?

The Osaka is made of cherrywood with multiple coats of lacquer that give it a rich finish. It runs around $750., takes technika lensboards. It has a strange rear swing. Each side of the camera back is moved forward separately to focus. If you want no swing move them the same amount. To swing, move one ahead of the other. It sounds a little goofy but actually is a good system. Needed swings are automatically used as part of the focusing. The camera has aluminum metal parts. It is made by Tachihara. We currently have a 5x7 Osaka in stock in our camera store.

Markus,

I own a couple of DXs and use them as my primary field cameras. I like the small size of the camera. It has tilts front and rear (not only front as a previous post mentions). Do get the DX and not the DXII which has no shift feature. An advantage of the DX is that smaller lenses will fold up into the camera mounted (I don't believe the Tachi will do this, not sure about the others). I leave my most used lens (a 135mm) mounted on the camera. I've modified my DXs with bubble levels and millimeter scales on the focusing rails.

Disadvantages are the bellows, which make using longer lenses difficult and also tend to bind and kink a bit with extremely short lenses, and the limited movements. That said, I use up to 300mm lenses on my DX with an extended lensboard and down to 75mm with a recessed board. Also, I've mastered extending shifts with the pan and swing technique. This could be used for the rise as well, but I find that if I mount my lenses offset on the board (like stock Technika boards come drilled), then I can turn the lensboard 180° and get a bit more rise when I need it. This usually does the job.

Other than that, I find them adequate for most everything I need in the field.

Hope this helps,

Doremus Scudder

It should be noted that besides Extension Lensboards Wista also offers extended focus beds and bellows for their cameras so you are not limited to the bellows length that the cameras come with.

A correction to Bruce's discription of the Osaka rear swing. The Osaka, Tachihara, Shen Hao, and Wista all have normally functioning rear swings. The Osaka, Shen Hao, and the Tachihara also allow the back to moved forward on the bed to move the front and rear standards closer together.
Bruce is describing the Anba Tekeda (sp) a very light weight camera of dubious quality. Very flimsy but I'm sure I'll be pilloried in short order for that opinion.
The Wista, Shen Hao, Osaka/Tachihara (same camera different importers) are all fine for what you want to do. I've used them all and they are all better cameras than I am a photographer. Make your best deal, buy some film and go to it.

Joe D.

"The Wista, Shen Hao, Osaka/Tachihara (same camera different importers)"
That is a bit of a simplification! Wista is a Japanese factory. Shen Hao is Chinese, isn't it?
In addition, Wista makes wooden cameras in several models out of cherry, rosewood, ebony or quince. The different Wista series have different features and specifications. It is not just a single wood 45 camera company!

I have owned two Tachaharas . They look nice, but are not very strong. I bought a Shenhao model TZ45-2B . It is the black walnut model with aluminum hardware. Its heaver than the Tacaharas, but built twice as good. Plus it has a grafloc back. They are also hand made. I paid 645.00 from badger grafic sales Check out there web site at badgergrafic.com. You wont be sorry.