[LargeFormat] Re: Horseman or Gandolfi?

[Gavin Hubbard]

Hi Dan

I'm not sure why your dealer described the Horseman as being "not in the major leagues". In my experience the Horseman cameras are both very well designed and very well-made. Their higher-end models are definitely in the same league as systems produced by Sinar & Linhof etc. I personally use a first generation 450B monorail and I've been very happy with it. Perhaps Horseman cameras just aren't big sellers in the USA?

However, this isn't particularly important as you've made an excellent choice in the Kardan-M (and got a good deal on it). Happy shooting :-)

Regards,

Gavin


> Its apparent that each person has his/her favorite.  I went to a local
> dealer today and wound up getting a Linhoff Kardan-M.  Unfortunately, I'll
> have to wait until a weekday to use it because I can't figure out how to
> attach the bellows, and the instructions are in German.
> 
> The dealer discouraged my getting the Horseman (not in the major leagues)
> and the Gandolfi (not as good as they once were and it, like all field
> cameras, doesn't have rigid, precise movement).  He doesn't carry the
> Technikardan 45S because of price; the Technika is not suitable for my needs
> (its main feature is folded-up size and I won't be doing any backpacking),
> and Ebony didn't come up in our discussion.  A Plaubel looked appealing but
> he said parts are hard to find and anyway, I already have a vintage camera.
> We looked at the Wisner wood field camera ($1500), Arca-Swiss F-line ($2400)
> and Linhoff Kardam-M ($800).  I think I'm not ready for a wood field camera.
> Darryl has some good points.  Between the Arca and Linhoff, price was the
> determining factor.