Which (cheap) 4x5 monorail to get? (portrait use)

[fotch]

I could not believe you could not change the format and did a search and found you can do it, just not as easy as a rotating back.

"The film back is not rotatable, but is easily taken out and put back vertically or horizontally without much fuss. "

[2F/2F]

SINAR Fs and Ps do not have a revolving back either, so it is not something that was skimped on for the A.

[fotch]

Sinar must think. whats the hurry.

[John Kasaian]

How about a B&J Rembrandt? Two rails being better than one (and all that!)

[thicktheo]

a plug here for the Sinar A1 (aka Alpina I believe) - a very decent entry level monorail - doesn't have the revolving back but it has everything else

I can't seem to find any info about this camera, apart from its comparison to the other Sinar models. Moreover, I can't seem to find any one available on ebay (to check photos, etc)...

How about a B&J Rembrandt? Two rails being better than one (and all that!)

Now there's a camera I definitely can't find any info about.

[Paul Kierstead]

Sinar must think. whats the hurry.

It only takes a few seconds (at least on F & P series). Flip a lever, take off back, put back on, push down lever. Probably 3 seconds? About the time of inserting a film holder and pulling the slide.

[fotch]

It only takes a few seconds (at least on F & P series). Flip a lever, take off back, put back on, push down lever. Probably 3 seconds? About the time of inserting a film holder and pulling the slide.

Well that is pretty good then.

[2F/2F]

I agree that it is not effectively less quick than turning a revolving back that has a button or a lever on it. I always end up fiddling with those way more than with the flipping SINAR mechanism. Now, the Linhof revolving backs are another story. They just pop nicely into and out of place without any fiddling. However, when it gets down to it, I don't find any practical difference between the different ways of changing orientation unless shooting hand held. If I have time to set up a tripod or studio stand, I have 10 seconds to turn the glass the other way.

[thicktheo]

So I finally got an Omega/Toyo View 45D for 76$ - camera arrived yesterday, all seems fine, now I need a lens and I'm good to go.

Good to go, I say? Not really - I'm somewhat anxious about my tripod - it's the typical Manfrotto 055XPROB with the three way head, and while it surely can hold the camera weight, everything I touch results in vibrations that shake the whole assembly. Can I do anything to improve the tripod's stability or do I need to get a bigger one?

[thicktheo]

No, it's not too heavy, I think it's the head that's not too stable for such a big camera.

I'm looking around ebay and a (used) 029 tripod head can be had for a quite nice price - I guess it totally fits all current Manfrotto tripods, yes?