Fotoman Cameras?

[Sisyphus]

Just when you think you aquired every camera possible, there is always something new that comes along.

I am wondering if anyone is using or has used a fotoman camera?

http://www.fotomancamera.com/default.asp

If you have, I am curious to hear some feedback; they look quite intriguing; handheld medium and large format cameras.

It might be time to sell the leicas?

Hope all is well in your part of the world,

:s:

 

[Todd.Hanz]

I think they went out of business...

Todd

 

[Nando]

Yes, but perhaps there are still some available from their inventory.

I've fantasized about getting a 45PS with a 47mm Super-Angulon XL a few times.

 

[dazedgonebye]

They are remaining open until stocks are exhausted.
If you want something, but it now or buy it used.

 

[venchka]

I held a 6x17 back in February. I forget which lens was on the body. I could get some serious Lust going for that format.

 

[Eric T]

There was never much of a market for point and shoot large format cameras. If I am going to the trouble to shoot large format, I want all the control I can get on perspective and focusing.
These cameras just had too may limitations. I thought about them for awhile but then came to my senses.

 

[dazedgonebye]

I held a 6x17 back in February. I forget which lens was on the body. I could get some serious Lust going for that format.

That would be ideal.

 

[dazedgonebye]

There was never much of a market for point and shoot large format cameras. If I am going to the trouble to shoot large format, I want all the control I can get on perspective and focusing.
These cameras just had too may limitations. I thought about them for awhile but then came to my senses.

Poor man's fotoman...getting its first workout this weekend.

 

[Sisyphus]

Thank you for all of your advice; they look intriguing. I was curious about how easy they might be to handhold, but I think you guys answered my questions.

Thanks . . .

 

[felix5616]

Fotoman 624

Fotoman 624

I have a fotoman 624 with 110mm XL an 210mm lenses. Great camera, well made. Produces beaufitul negatives. I may buy a lens cone for a 90mm lens before they are all gone. I contacted a designer/machinist and may have a similar body made that will take a phase one P45+ back on a sliding mechanism to do digital stitched panoramas.
I would pick up a photoman before they are gone. There is another company gaoresi, that also makes a 6x24 camera, with some additional features.

 

[peter_n]

I have a 617. Beautifully made and perfect for panoramics. I use a Schneider 110/5.6 on mine and I'm very upset they've gone out of business.

 

[majid]

Mark Denton used to shoot with a Fuji G617 but switched to a Fotoman 617.

http://www.markdentonphotographic.co.uk/fotoman.htm

 

[Sisyphus]

Majid,

Thanks for the link to the review; really appreciate it.

:s:

 

[branki]

Hej Steve,
what's that thing you got over there? Could you tell us more about it?
Is that an aerial camera?

/branki

 

[fdevan]

Poor man's fotoman...getting its first workout this weekend.

The Fotoman was a copy and an improvement in cosmetic build of the Granview. They bought four of them as I remember and the Fotoman appeared a little less than a year later.

Granview was aware of them and predicted what they did. The Granview had been available for nearly 10 years before Fotoman came along. Have you ever seen or used a 8x10 Granview?

http://home.mindspring.com/~granview/


Fred

 

[fdevan]

Hej Steve,
what's that thing you got over there? Could you tell us more about it?
Is that an aerial camera?

/branki

Its a GranView

Look Here http://home.mindspring.com/~granview/ This Not really the official site

Some clown pulled a flim flam with the registrar. All the documents were sent to keep the domain but an email with a double meaning was not done the way the duplicitous registrar instructed (as was the intent) and the next thing GranView knew some guy wanted a bunch of bucks to sell their name back to them. They refused to be extorted, and became invisable. Things were already strained due to a illness in the family.

 

[fdevan]

Steve:

If you or any other Granview owners have a question or problem feel free to contact me.

I have a 53mm Biogon and 65mm Super Angulon on mine.

Somewhere I should have the backfocus, and mounting info for most lenses. Somewhere!!!!!

Fred

 

[ChrisN]

Here's a shot taken with a Fotoman 45PS (4x5 point-n-shoot); 1/15th hand-held and braced. I'd intended to use the tripod but forgot the mounting plate!

 

[24x30]

Hello,

I own a 45PS since about 4 weeks. I use it with a SA 90/1:8,0.

It's fun to use.
It's easy to adjust.
It's not light weighted. 🙂
The quality is only acceptable due it's price. (In my case the screws are already corroded. Maybe the dealer was some kind of problematic. 😡)


I bought it to have 4x5 shots without using a tripod. If I would take a tripod with me, then my Toyo View would be the better camera. I wanted also to be faster and more mobil as I would be with the Toyo and a tripod, which it definitly is.

The 90mm (35mm equivalent would be 23mm) is wide enough for me. 47mm would be far too much (12mm). But with a mounted 90mm lens the max size for easy handling already is reached.

rudi

 

[ChrisN]

Hi Rudi -

That's odd about the corrosion on the screws - was it exposed to salt water at some stage?

Can you show us some of the photos you have taken with it? 🙂