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From: briand@tekig4.UUCP (Brian Diehm)
Newsgroups: net.rec.photo
Subject: Re: large format questions
Message-ID: <543@tekig4.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 20-Mar-86 13:36:24 EST
Article-I.D.: tekig4.543
Posted: Thu Mar 20 13:36:24 1986
Date-Received: Tue, 25-Mar-86 05:15:15 EST
References: <540@utastro.UUCP>
Reply-To: briand@tekig4Diehm.UUCP (Brian Diehm)
Organization: Tektronix, Inc., Beaverton, OR.
Lines: 47

>I would like to know if one needs to use
>bag bellows if one uses a 90mm wide angle lens
>on a 4x5 (monorail view). 

It depends upon how much movement (tilt, swing, etc.) you are planning on
limiting yourself to.  If you don't have a wide-angle 90, then you probably
won't need the bag bellows, because the lens itself will be your limiting
factor.  If you have a wide coverage lens (which you should), then you will
sorely feel the need for a bag bellows eventually.  Of course, if you never
use the large-format movements, you'll never know the difference!

>In that vein, does anyone know the difference(s)
>between a 90mm wide angle Caltar and a Schneider
>90mm Super Angulon (of the same f-ratio)?

Until a few years ago, they were the same lens with different markings.  Later,
Calumet changed their bulk-purchase agreement to buy Rodenstock equivalents,
and I'm not sure what Caltars are today.  Generally, if you plan to resell the
lens, realize the Caltar name won't hold value as well as the name brand.  But
if you only plan to take pictures :-) then the Caltar line is a pretty good
value.  Avoid the older Caltar I series (tessar-type triplets, generally) as
they are garbage.  Period.

>P.S. Are there any Graphic 4x5 users out there?
>Anyone have a wooden field camera they don't want,
>or one they like (I'm looking for recommendations
>and warnings, as well as possible sellers)

I purchased a Tachihara cherry-wood camera through Zone VI studios several
years ago, and loved it --- until it warped.  Watch out, wood warps, and there
IS definitely one critical part of a large-format camera:  the ground glass
must lie precisely upon the same plane as the film will when the holder is in
place.  This is what warped.  The camera is now useless, though when it was
working it was a wonderful tool.  However, one time I had to borrow a monorail
camera to get a certain picture requiring extreme movements.  The Wista 4x5 is
identical, I believe, and this warning applies to all the Japanese handmade
cherry wood cameras - Nagaoka, etc.

I now use the Calumet 540 monorail (the older Cambo design) and it is very
nice, though not so portable.

BTW, watch out for Zone VI --- Fred Picker personally refused to make any
adjustment on my $500 investment.  Never bought anything from them since.

-Brian Diehm
Tektronix, Inc.  (Opinions expressed above are personal, and do not necessarily
                  reflect any position taken by Tektronix.)