Omega View 4x5

[ChrisP]

Anyone have experience with the Omega View 4x5? Good, bad, horrible? What do you think? What would one in good condition be worth? There's one on Kijiji (Canada's Craig's List).

Comes with:
Camera
Film Holders
Rodenstock 150mm 5.6
Rodenstock 90mm 6.8
Schneider 210mm 5.6 (needs cleaning)
Copal 300mm 6.3
120 Back
Developing Tanks, film and a couple other accessories.

What's a fair price for this assuming decent working condition?

Thanks in advance,
Chris

 

[oftheherd]

I seem to recall that several brands were sold from the same manufacturer, under different names, including Orbit. If that is correct, you won't be disappointed as long as the camera is in good working order. That is a nice set of lenses, but without knowing which Rodenstok and Schneider lenses you have, it will be difficult for anyone to guess what a good value would be. I would not hazzard a guess myself since I am unfamilar with them. BTW, is the Copal a lens brand or the shutter to another lens?

 

[unixrevolution]

Anyone have experience with the Omega View 4x5? Good, bad, horrible? What do you think? What would one in good condition be worth? There's one on Kijiji (Canada's Craig's List).

Comes with:
Camera
Film Holders
Rodenstock 150mm 5.6
Rodenstock 90mm 6.8
Schneider 210mm 5.6 (needs cleaning)
Copal 300mm 6.3
120 Back
Developing Tanks, film and a couple other accessories.

What's a fair price for this assuming decent working condition?

Thanks in advance,
Chris

I have the Toyo 45F monorail camera. Omega was one of the brand names Toyo sold under or acquired. To know the value, I'd have to know more about it.

What brand 120 back? Graflex is a lot different than say, Linhof. What format is the 120 back?

What brand shutters are on the lenses? Do they all work?

How many film holders? What brand?

 

[rpsawin]

The Omegas are real workhorses and generally have a good reputation. You might want to check out http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/ and post the same question.

Best regards,

Bob

 

[nlubis]

My LF is an Omega View/Toyo view 4x5 G (i think they are the same).
I'm very new in LF and monorail. But mine works with all the movement you need. Everything is solid.
As for price, I can only tell you what I paid for mine.
Camera, standard bellows, bag bellows, Nikon 210 5.6, hardcase, compendium hood, 24 rail. $240.

Have fun!

 

[graywolf]

Omega was the US importer of Toyo-View cameras in the 70-80's. They sold the bottom of the line model with their name on it. And the upper line models as Toyo's.

The earlier ones were the C & D with the D being sold as an Omega D. The C was the TOL of those two sold as Toyo's.

Toyo upgraded their view cameras in about 1977 with the E, F, and G. The E was the bottom of the line with a fixed bellows and reversible back, the F had interchangeable bellows, The top of the line G added a rotating back and improved movements and was available in 4x5, 5x7, and 8x10 models. The E was sold in the US as the Omega 45E.

I just picked up a 45G with problems last week and am trying to get it up and working.

For those who want to know there now is a GII, the same as the G but in all black, A GX the same as the GII plus base tilts, A CX with a smaller front standard to make it smaller & lighter . Plus a couple of other models and a couple of folding field cameras. All of those sell in the thousands of dollars range, but are in current production. So who says film is dead.

 

[unixrevolution]

Tom,

My Omega 45F has a rotating back. Were the backs on the E and F upgradeable?

 

[stompyq]

The camera is not worth a lot. I would not pay a lot of money since it's a entry level heavy monorail. Maybe $100-200 at the most. However the lenses you list should be worth a substantial amount. For example $300 for a Rodenstock 90mm 6.8 would be a VERY good deal. Out of curiosity Copal 300mm 6.3? Copal would be the shutter that the lens is mounted on. I would say bundled together $500-800 depending on the condition. Any lower and it's a very good deal. You'll get a complete LF kit with some excellent lenses and can always buy a better camera later at no loss.

 

[graywolf]

Tom,

My Omega 45F has a rotating back. Were the backs on the E and F upgradeable?

Yes, just a matter of changing them out, just held in place by a pair of Graphic style sliding clamps. Once you changed the 45F would have been pretty much the same as the older TOL 45C.

The only thing the 45G would have over it is the ability to upgrade it to a 57G or 810G. Actually the 45G was an 8x10 camera with a smaller back which is why it was so bulky and heavy and rugged.

BTW, as I understand it Toyo just markets the cameras they are actually made by a company named Sakai.