[LargeFormat] Sinar system.

[george day]

Jim is absolutely right: Linhof is the best of the bunch, period.  It took a
mere daliance with a Canham to come to a swift conclusion about that.  As
for Sinars, you won't be packing them far or at all.  In short, if you can
afford it, Linhof is the way to go.  Axis tilts, utterly secure detents (an
unforgiveable failing of the Canham, in my view.  Even Wisners -- and I
detest wooden cameras -- are superior in this regard), completely smooth
machining, far greater extension than you'll get from, well, anything else,
etc.

On 5/12/02 1:22 PM, "Jim Brick" <jim@visualimpressions.com> wrote:

> I went to Brooks Institute of Photography, and worked as a
> commercial/illustrative photographer for many years afterward.
> 
> I have owned and extensively used...
> 
> 4x5 Crown Graphic
> 4x5 Graphic View II
> 4x5 Calumet monorail (same vintage as the Graphic View)
> 8x10 Deardorf plus 4x5 back
> 4x5 Sinar P
> 4x5 Linhof Master Technika
> and now...
> 
> 4x5 Linhof Technikardan 45S
> 
> which for me, as a universal 4x5 camera, is hands down the best of the lot!
> 
> I would not trade it for anything. Incredibly smooth, very very compact,
> extremely easy to set-up, extending monorail - you only pull out what you
> need, will comfortably handle my 58 mm Schneider as well as my 720 mm
> Nikkor, degree marking on all movements, levels everywhere, and the list
> goes on...
> 
> It resides in my LF backpack exactly where my Master Technika used to
> reside. Perfect fit.
> 
> The Master Technika was a great camera but could neither handle a 58mm
> (barely a 75mm) nor a 720mm. The rangefinder was useless unless you were
> doing press photography so I had Marflex remove it. I replaced the
> anatomical grip with a leather strap (made for some versions of the MT.)
> After the frustrations of barely being able to use my 75mm lens and having
> virtually no back movements that could be controlled with any level of
> accuracy, I sold and bought the most wonderful Technikardan.
> 
> I owned a Sinar P and used a friends Sinar P2. All I can say is, great
> studio cameras, lousy field and location cameras. They don't pack easily
> and they are h-e-a-v-y.
> 
> The Deardorf is a "beautiful" camera. But it ends there. All movements are
> hit and miss. The camera sags and yaws on its own depending upon its
> orientation. Very inaccurate and very fiddly.
> 
> The Calumet and Graphic View II are simple, but very old and not compact.
> Good budget studio cameras.
> 
> The Crown is a nice camera for what it is. More of a hand held camera than
> a tripod camera.
> 
> IMHO,
> 
> Jim
> 
> 
> 
> At 06:40 PM 5/11/2002 -0700, Rich Lahrson wrote:
>> Hi Martin,
>> 
>>      I'm sure this subject is of general interest for this list in
>> particular.  I'm
>> currently looking to purchase a large format camera. I've used two 8x10s,
>> a Calumet and an Ikeda.  I'm considering smaller size.
>> 
>>      In any event, the principles apply regardless of format.  I've seen the
>> sales brochure when the then new Sinar P style was introduced decades
>> ago.  I was impressed by the principle employed and saw one in a large
>> photo store.
>> 
>>      Perhaps Linhof is more available in Europe, but here in the US there
>> is much more Sinar available, as indicated on the eBay.  Further, in the
>> large photo center of NYC more Sinar is available for rental than Linhof.
>> 
>>      That being said I'm very pulled to the Linhof Technikas solely because
>> of their quick setup and rangefinder option.  There's even a 5x7 previously
>> made.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>                                                       Rich
> 
> 
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