[LargeFormat] 5x7 Cameras - some feedback

[Les Newcomer]

Clive and I follow the same path,

I like Eastmans and Folmer & Schwings, he prefers Ansco's and B&Js.

with the exception of my Calumet 4x5, all of my LF cameras would have been
bought new by either my father or my grand father, as they all pre-date me.
Even my Crown graphic has me beat by  2 months.

The workhorse is my circa '45 2D, I've got a 6" circa 1898 dagor and a
Protar C set for it My fancy camera is my circa '02 Folmer and Schwing RB
cycle graphic with an 8.5" dagor in a sector shutter.  comming on line is an
ansco. The 2D has a packard in it while the ansco is bare.

Les


And Clive, you'd better be looking for a looonnng Protar set for that Korona
or it'll be a waste of bellows!   Actually a long landscape lens would work
fine since the camera shake would lessen any benefit of the sharpness of the
protar  ;-)

> From: Clive Warren <cocam@blueyonder.co.uk>
> Reply-To: largeformat@f32.net
> Date: Tue, 28 May 2002 21:29:07 +0100
> To: largeformat@f32.net
> Subject: [LargeFormat] 5x7 Cameras - some feedback
> 
> At 7:28 am -0700 28/5/02, Rich Lahrson wrote:
> snip
>> I'm looking at 5x7 size cameras, but will take my time to decide.
> snip
> 
> There are a number of us on the list using 5x7 cameras - tell us what
> you are interested in and perhaps you'll get some feedback from users.
> 
> I use a Korona and a B&J field camera that are 5x7 but also use 8x10
> cameras with 5x7 backs mainly for portraiture. The most recent
> acquisition is an 8x10 Korona field camera with a Bausch and Lomb 15
> 1/2" Portrait lens. This has a 5x7 back and I'm still looking for an
> 8x10 back for it........
> 
> As far as the Korona goes, I am a great fan. For a 100 year old
> design they do a pretty good job. Lighter than the Kofak or Agfa
> equivalent and fairly stable. If you compare them to some
> contemporary cameras they are wobbly but there's something about
> using an old camera that appeals to me - apart from the price :-) All
> you need to do is wait for 10 seconds after setting up with the
> darkslide out to take the photo - I would do that with a modern
> camera anyway.
> 
> The 5x7 B&J field is a little more challenging even though it is a
> modern camera compared to the Korona. The only thing I would change
> is the locking mechanism for focus travel. Apart from that it is made
> from Maple and has more movements that you're ever likely to need
> unless you use it in the studio for still life work. The red bellows
> and grey painted wood are a hallmark of the cameras. There is a photo
> of the camera being used in the Abbey House Studios, Tintern in the
> f32 Discussion Forum at :
> http://www.f32.net/cgi-local/discus/show.cgi?93/248
> 
> I also use a 5x7 B&J Grover monorail. These are actually a nice
> camera and very light, however most have had heavy use and
> restoration requires machining skills. When the rail is worn you are
> stuffed - they are made from alloy and do wear. I should really
> replace the bellows on mine but am going to try that Elmer's (PVA)
> glue and lampblack trick on the myriad of pinholes that have now
> developed. I may give it a real treat next year with a new set of
> bellows from the Camera Bellows company.
> 
> As you may have guessed, all of my cameras are at least 30 years old
> and still going strong.
> 
> Cheers,
> Clive
> 
> 
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