[LargeFormat] Newbie Here

[Douglas Cooper]

I've been using a Pocket View.  Peter Gowland has made many different models
over the years -- mine has more movements than most, I think:  front swing,
rise and tilt; rear swing and tilt.  I also had him put focusing knobs on
both the front and rear standards.  It's incredibly versatile, if just about
impossible to zero...

If I need something fully aligned, I lean on my Super Graphic, which is
another great option if truly portable 4x5 is your goal.  Not as light as
the Gowland, but ergonomically better in many ways.  You should be able to
find either of these cameras, used, for under $500.  (Midwest Photo's a good
place to check for Super Graphics.)  The Linhofs are nicer, certainly, and
you get rear movements, but the Super Graphic can do most of what the Linhof
can do, and is in fact better for wide angle lenses.  Read Stephen Gandy's
advice at www.cameraquest.com -- he has a good essay comparing the Linhof to
the Super Graphic.

cheers,


Douglas Cooper
www.dysmedia.com



On 2/1/01 4:38 PM, Pam Niedermayer expressed the following:

> Depending on the lenses you'll want to use, which in turn determines
> the bellows length you'll require, you may want to take a look at the
> Gowland Pocket View. I found a used Calumet labelled one for not much
> money that I'm rapidly falling in love with, weighs just a bit more
> than 3 lbs. It's slightly modified from the straight Gowland; but if
> you can live with 250 mm or less or if you can use telephotos for
> longer lengths, its 12"+ bellows should be fine. OTOH, if you want to
> use longer lenses, not telephoto, you'll need to get longer bellows,
> which is where the Wisner (don't think the Pocket Expedition version
> is all that heavy), Ebony, Phillips, and Canham shine. I don't know
> much about the Master Technikna.
> 
> Pam
>