Looking for a light weight LF camera

I have both a speed graphic and an Alpenhaus polaroid conversion. Very different beasts ...

I am starting to prefer the polaroid, it has a coincident rangefinder and viewfinder, much more like a leica .... The one that I got made does have some minimal movements, but I have never used them. I have two grafmatic backs, and when loaded, I can shoot them almost like a roll film.

While the Speed could be used the same way like WeeGee, I have just not got the range finder dialed in. However, with the 210mm Schnider, it's amazing! Much different pace .... Do a search for a my posts, and some images will pop up. I'll get off my laurels as I have about 10 more to put up on my site.

Dave
 
Thanks, everyone.:) For those who recommmended the crown/speed graphics, how often do you "move" it? Since if the polaroids and its equivalents are light anyway, I might as well be the one doing the moving. :)
 
Like a lot of others, I sing the praises of a 4x5 Crown Graphic. Light, and folds up to a very small and compact package. Marvels of simplicity and engineering, and darn cheap too. Furnish w/ the lens of your choice, although I am partial to the Heliars. I use a Polaroid reflex viewer w/ mine since I don't like focusing under a dark cloth, or the upside down image in the ground glass w/o one. My tripods of choice are cheap and old, but they're fine. A Tiltall is great and will set you back only $80 or so used. Get the original that's made by the Marchioni brothers in New Jersey. About 6 lbs w/ the head. Usually I like an even lighter tripod and go w/ a Star D (not the heavy ones w/ center columns) that is about half that weight.
 
You can handhold and rangefinder focus the modified Razzledog and Alpenhaus (and other) Polaroids, as well as the Crown and Speed Graphics. There are also these cameras called Linhof Technicas that are quite wonderful and Leica-like -- but $$$.

To use movements, you generally have to tripod mount the camera and work with the ground glass rather than the rangefinder. In which case the limited range of movements offered by the Polaroids and Graphics may be frustrating, but sometimes all you need is a little pinch.

But if you intend to use movements and tripod mounting, then a monorail camera like a Sinar F2 or Cambos or a Toyo G or dozens of others would be more useful, at the expense of bulk and weight.

If you value wood and lighter weight over metal and precision, then get a folding wooden field camera like a Shen-Hao or Chamonix or Ebony or Deardorff. If you want something solid but but compact, a metal field or technical camera will work best... and so on -- there are probably a hundred good options that are all good, it really depends on your needs. Many people buy and sell and swap and trade to see what works for them.

That said, a Crown Graphic is probably the best value and a good camera to learn from. The metal studio-type monorails are also quite a good bargain because all the hobby outdoor photographers have been conditioned into thinking they need a pretty wooden camera to make a nature picture ;-)

I've had two of the converted Polaroids. Razzledog is a great guy to deal with but they are not general purpose cameras, I think they make a good second alternative 4x5. I am not a fan of the Polaroid rangefinder itself.
 
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Frank Petronio said:
Get a "near mint top rangefinder 4x5 Graflex Pacemaker Crown Graphic with a cammed 135mm f/4.7 Schneider Xenar in a Synchro-Compur shutter with the narrow chrome speed adjustment dial" for between $275-$350 USD on eBay. Don't settle for less, this was the best version of the Crown Graphic. If the rangefinder or shutter need service, Fred Lustig or "the Camera Wiz" provide excellent service.

Get a Harrison Pup-Tent changing tent, ten Fidelity or Lisco plastic film holders, a Toyo Hood Loupe. And a #2 or 3-series Gitzo tripod or a Leitz Tiltall or other medium sized quality tripod.

And just shoot a lot of film.
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Best advice! The Ektars on the Graphics are also not bad, the 127mm I've got is a really nice lens. The Graphics are on the heavier side, but I couldn't live without the range-finder: a helpful tool!
 
For absolute minimum size, a KW Patent-Etui 9x12cm - that is just slightly less than 4x5", and these were pocket cameras indeed. Smaller than a 4x5 holder in width, length and edge height, and tapering from a 35mm lens bulge at the centre. The best versions came with a Tessar and Compur shutter good enough by current standards. 20's vintage metal holders are tiny too - however, they are quite surprisingly heavy.
 
Canham DLC. Lightweight, metal 4X5 that is a kind-of hybrid between a folding and rail design. I use mine with lenses between 65mm and 450mm, with the standard bellows, which is almost unheard of in the LF world.

This is not the most precise view camera (get a Sinar for precision), but it will lock down plenty tight and, with a hand-held level, give you enough control and movments for most any work. And Keith Canham will provide the best customer support out there.
 
I'm going to jump on the Crown Graphic train, even though I own one of the Nagoakas in 5x7 (the 4x5 would be a nice choice). I would go with Frank's exact setup-- truly amazing what you will be able to accomplish without destroying the bank. As Wayne pointed out, a Kodak 127mm would also be a nice pairing.

I own a Super Graphic that I got for a great price and have paired it with the 135mm Xenar and the Kodak 203mm. The added fun of this setup is the portability -- I now bring it along on business trips with just a few holders and a Gitzo traveler, a great way to unwind and re-focus after a long day of meetings. This sort of ultimate portability would certainly be possible with a regular field camera, but the Graphic makes it effortless.

Good luck,

JT
 
Thanks, everyone. :) Looks like the Crown Graphics are winning, and I'll still read up some more. Hoping I get a good deal on evilbay. Or maybe even Keh.
 
Be careful ebay. Some sellers have no clue what they are selling. Don't buy without a return policy. Lightleaks in the bellows are a deal killer. It usually costs more to fix than the camera is worth. A faulty shutter is a $50-$75 fix.

Too bad you aren't a member of the Large Format Photography Forum. There is a great MPP camera & lens for sale now for only $400. The English version of a Linhof Technika for a LOT less money.
 
sevo said:
For absolute minimum size, a KW Patent-Etui 9x12cm - that is just slightly less than 4x5", and these were pocket cameras indeed. Smaller than a 4x5 holder in width, length and edge height, and tapering from a 35mm lens bulge at the centre. The best versions came with a Tessar and Compur shutter good enough by current standards. 20's vintage metal holders are tiny too - however, they are quite surprisingly heavy.
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I have only seen that camera on ebay, but I have been tempted to buy more than once. It is indeed small.

I was going to recommend 9x12 for consideration myself. There are others as well that still aren't that heavy. Just a tad smaller than 4x5, but a lot easier to carry, and some good lenses as well. I think there might have been a couple of them with full movements at the front standard. Certainly some had rise and fall as well as shift, and side tilt wasn't uncommon, which can be used sideways for forward and back tilt.

The down side is getting one with a good shutter (figure on some time with lighter fluid), and worse, finding film holders. They are out there, just hard to find.

However, using them is fun, and they are light to carry, and hand holdable/usable.

If you are insisting on 4x5, you might want to consider Cambos. I don't recall the model number, but they had a monrail that was very light.
 
If you want the lightest, it's hard to beat a Nagaoka 4x5 at 2 pounds 11 ounces without a lens. (Yes, 2lb 11oz!)

And check this page for good reviews of lightweight lenses.
 
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