4x5 RF What one for a starter?

[Magpie]

I was wondering what 4x5 RF you would recommend as a starter? I have some lenses from my 5x7 but wanted to get a 4x5 with linked rangefinder.

I will have to buy over the internet as they are light on the ground down under.

Thanks in advance for all the advice😀

Brendan

 

[FrankS]

I'd recommend the Speed or Crown Graphic, or Busch Pressman old style press cameras. Two or three hundred for a clean complete working camera. The Linhoff is the Rolls Royce of this type.

 

[bmattock]

Depends on what you want to do with it.

For field use, not much beats a Speed Graphic. If it has a focal plane shutter in good shape, this also allows you to experiment with 'in barrel' lenses (lenses without shutters) but you can't easily shoot wide with a Speed. The rangefinder feature is very useful - as it was for press use back in the day.

Since you're far from the home territory of the Graflex corp, I'd make sure to get a good one that didn't need work, or be patient for lots of mail-order work.

 

[Keith]

I picked up a Crown Graphic a while ago that was advertised on P.net and Nelsonfoto ... Frank noticed it from memory. I can't remember what I paid for it ... somewhere between $250.00 - $350.00 US I think but I may be wrong. It came with a heap of film holders and is in pretty decent nick. The rangefinder needed adjusting which was very straight forward and the Compur shutter was dragging at the lowers speeds which was also an easy fix.

Keep an eye on the adds in the various forums that have a following for MF/LF and you will probably stumble over one if you're patient! 🙂

 

[kmack]

In addition to the suggestions already posted you may also want to consider the MPP, Burke&Jamess, Tower (made for Sears by Busch) and Meridian.

There is also the option of going with a 4x5 conversion from Littman or Razzle. Razzledog is located in your strange little land down under, I do believe.

BTW: see this thread on The Large Format Photography site as Dean Jones (Razzledog) teases Ash with the details of the building of Ash's 4x5 Razzle 900.

 

[venchka]

Or if you're really lucky you can accidentally stumble across a Pacemaker Speed Graphic, 2 lenses, flash, holders, etc. from the original owner for peanuts. I paid more for a Grafmatic back to use in the camera.

Be patient. They are out there.

 

[FrankS]

Those Grafmatic backs are cool.

 

[bmattock]

In addition to the suggestions already posted you may also want to consider the MPP, Burke&Jamess, Tower (made for Sears by Busch) and Meridian.

There is also the option of going with a 4x5 conversion from Littman or Razzle. Razzledog is located in your strange little land down under, I do believe.

BTW: see this thread on The Large Format Photography site as Dean Jones (Razzledog) teases Ash with the details of the building of Ash's 4x5 Razzle 900.

You know, that's a very good suggestion (Razzledog). He's quite a character, and has a good reputation. Being 'local' in some sense could be an advantage for you.

http://homepages.ihug.com.au/~razzle/

I try not to say the "L" word. An invitation to threats of lawsuits by a very strange and angry little man. I would not buy one of his (very high quality) creations if I won the lottery and they were a dime apiece. Your mileage may vary.

 

[Magpie]

You know, that's a very good suggestion (Razzledog). He's quite a character, and has a good reputation. Being 'local' in some sense could be an advantage for you.

http://homepages.ihug.com.au/~razzle/

I try not to say the "L" word. An invitation to threats of lawsuits by a very strange and angry little man. I would not buy one of his (very high quality) creations if I won the lottery and they were a dime apiece. Your mileage may vary.

I had one, couldn't get my head around it and sold it to a fellow APUG'er, same as the Razzle conversions - OK I guess but I feel the need for an 'original' - the ergonomics suit me better.

The Linhoff's look great but too pricey, will just have to keep looking I guess😕.

 

[BigSteveG]

Graflex also made a adapter which turns any graflok-based camera into its own enalrger....very neato....think its an Aristo light source.

 

[Luddite Frank]

Since you mentioned a 4x5 that includes a rangefinder, are you planning on "quick" shooting ( handheld?), on a large negative ?

Or are you going to want / need camera movements (rise/fall; tilts, swings, etc)
for things like architectural photography ?

If your goals are the former (large format on-the-go), then a press camera is probably the way to go; if you're going Graphic, try to find one with a "Graflok" back - gives you more options for finding/using roll-film backs, polaroid adapters, etc.
The "down side" to the press camera are the limited camera movements: there are no "back movements" to correct the film plane, and the front movements are limited to rise & fall, and horizontal shift.

If you might be getting into architectural photography or landscape/wide-angle work, then you might want to consider a "field camera" or a mono-rail. Field cameras are comparatively light and designed for tracking into the wilds; mono-rails MUST be used with a tripod, are heavy and somewhat awkward to lug about, but offer the greatest flexibility in terms of camera movements, revolving backs, bellows extension, etc.

You can usually find a variety of mono-rails going cheaply on e-Bay; I got a 1960's Calumet 4x5 the other year for about $100; another $150 got me a very nice Kodak Ektar 152mm lens in a Supermatic shutter (ex-Graphic) from Midwest Photogrpahic Exch.

Cambo and Linhoff are other good makes of LF.

Then there are the lovely wooden field cameras - Wista, Tachihara, Burke & James, etc... newer ones are pricey; older ones can be ... pricey...

These have some of the view camera movements - usually rise & fall, tilt, swing, and shift on the front standard; and tilt, and shift on the rear standard; usually plenty for landscape, portaiture, gen'l use.

A good introductory book is "Using the view camera", by Steven Simmons.

Beware of "antique" cameras - they look great, but may need to have the bellows replaced, lens / shutter work, custom adapter made to accept modern film-holders, etc... all of which can be done, at a cost...

Good luck & good hunting !

Luddite Frank

Forgot to add - you can find nice individual rangefinders either from hunting outfitters (Nikon, Leitz) or e-bay : Kalart, Heydes, Leitz, and others - you could put it on a lanyard, or some have a shoe-mount to go on the camera.