First 4x5 View Camera... Best Value Award:)

[Martin Aislabie]

Assuming a new (not used) camera:
Which 4x5 view camera do you think provides greatest value per dollar and why? Assume the main purpose is for Landscape photography.

Note: Even if this question was posed before I value your current-day opinions! Thanks!!

The question is really impossible to answer - the things you will need from a LF camera will be different from mine or indeed anyone elses - because what you shoot and how you shoot it, you will have unique requirements from your camera.

Having said all that, for a solid, well made landscape camera it is hard to beat the Walker Titan SF - http://www.walkercameras.com/SF.html

It will take just about every focal length you might want to shoot landscapes with.

It has enough movements to satisfy almost all landscape applications

However, its biggest selling point is its rock solid stability - which is a major factor in LF Cameras.

Being made out of ABS Plastic and Stainless Steel it isn't affected by the atmospheric conditions the way wooden field cameras are - so shooting in the deserts of the south west isn't going to cause it to go loose and wobbly plus the wet conditions east of Seattle isn't going to made it stiff and difficult to adjust.

They are more money than something like a Shen Hao - but it will last you a life time and be just as usable as the day you bought it

If you don't want to buy internationally (which is very easy) - try talking to Jeff at Badger - he will probably be able to get one for you

Good luck

Martin

[EASmithV]

throw in another vote for the graflex

[Jim Jones]

I think what we are all getting at here is, decide what features you want in a LF camera. What will its primary use be, how portable does it have to be, etc. Then do a bunch of homework, study as many types and brands, and configurations, as to what will possibly do most of what you desire. There is never one camera that does it all[conveniently], then ask your question as to which is the "best bang for the buck". You will still get more answeres than you need, and possibly more confusion.

These are the most important considerations. Do your homework! Understand any camera, especially used a one, that you intend to buy before spending money. Sometimes used cameras are missing significant parts such as tripod mounts. Many cameras use lens boards that are readily available or easy to fabricate. Others use esoteric boards that are scarce and expensive. Having the money to always buy new equipment lets one acquire much needed knowledge after purchasing the camera, but that can be an expensive, time consuming, and frustrating education. Having the perfect camera is not nearly as important as being the perfect photographer. In most circumstances, a new $4000 camera will produce no better photos than some well-used $100 models. It may be more convenient to use, but that saves only a small part of the effort that goes into producing most fine photographs. Consider the photographs you intend to make. If they will be huge prints hung in major galleries and museums, top quality lenses might be important and fine camera bodies nice. However, the most expensive prints on the market were sometimes photographed with mediocre equipment.

If owning the newest, most expensive, and best equipment is more important than justifying it with great photos, I apologize for wasting your time.

[Rick A]

Sage advice, Mr. Jones.

[mjs]

In my case it would undoubtedly have been the Calumet CC-400 monorail I bought from Ebay for the princely sum of $27 ($36 including shipping) a number of years ago. There was nothing wrong with it. I coupled it with a Fujinon 150mm f/6.3 lens in Supermatic shutter that cost me $63 and was in business. I was going through a period of very little spare money at the time, so this was a welcome find for me.

From the perspective of a new camera, I would have say that the answer for the vast majority of us would be 'whatever camera you have or can get.' I don't think there's really all that much difference between them, to be honest. You need a camera in order to take the picture; beyond that, whatever you can afford and are pleased to use is likely to be the 'best' one for you.

Mike