Why doesn't everyone have one of these...

[Curt]

Raphael, I can't speak for the Tachihara because I bought a Shen Hao model camera. Perhaps the Tachihara is more in demand, I know that the camera and lens "intro" set is a very good deal.
Curt

[Curt]

I had just poured my cup of coffee when the UPS truck drove up and the driver sprang out with a small box. I put down the cup and and went to the door. He handed me the package and was off again. I saw the big brown truck through the window.

I opened the box and in the popcorn packing was a bubble wrapped brown camera with black hardware. I opened it and inspected every inch looking for the flaw that would allow me to say, no wonder it was so cheap, but I couldn't. It was "fit and finished". The bellows is impeccable and the wood is warm and silky to the touch. The hardware is machined very nicely and works great. I bought a Satin Snow ground glass also and a Linhof cable release. It comes with a #0 lens board so I fitted my Schneider 150mm lens to it and believe it or not the camera can close with the lens attached and the lens cap on it. I was really surprised, the bellows compacts well and there is no forcing to it. All of the movements work as specified and the image is as expected on the ground glass, which is ruled in a kind of dot line pattern. It takes international accessories so I can use my roll backs just fine.

I have a Susan Hayward movie on the TV, an old black and white, and I noted that SH, Shen Hao, was initialed on one set of the knobs. I think I will call my camera "Susan" as in SH, Susan Hayward.

Bottom line: it's all that I expected it to be and will provide years of use traveling.

Curt

[razzledog]

Robbo, I sure like the looks of this camera.......Kinda Carbon Fibre/stainless steel looking?
I checked out the XL wide 4x5 and 5x7... WOW! is that a trick looking unit:

http://www.walkercameras.com/titan-xl-wide-4x5-01.html


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