Horseman SW612, and alternatives

[thegman]

I've never seen a "nice" looking first version Veriwide (the compact one) as the chrome is nasty. But worse, the film transport and release are flimsy/funky. I've owned two, I would be afraid of needing to fix one and Ken Ruth, bless his soul, would take forever.

Sounds like you should go for the Linhof 612 if you can find one at your price. Next question is 65 or 135?

65mm for me, definitely, I'm after a very wide angle camera, a medium format alternative to my 4x5 with 75mm lens.

For the right price (i.e. the $2000 one in the classifieds which I should have snapped up), then that would be ideal for me I think.

The Plaubel Proshift is nice, but I feel I'd regret not going 6x12.