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Custom Bellows is a wonderful resource. They've replaced several bellows on view cameras I own. The only problem is, if you have any cameras without them - even with light tight bellows - you have to get those refitted also . . . They just look so beautiful, yeah?

I want to get back to Paul's post about my KMV/Calumet 4x5 view camera. His point is well taken: a wood 4x5 is lighter, folds up smaller, and wood is nicer to the touch in cold weather. And Paul's camera has the same bellows capability. More in fact - you can fit a bag bellows to his.

So why do I use the heavier, bulkier, metal 4x5 camera? If this were a legal argument I'd be hard pressed to make it.

I'll merely say this - as someone that's been involved in photography for many years - I should probably have my head examined.

Maybe I'll have my head examined in Vienna! I can stop at a few cafes before my appointment . . . ? But the doctor may say my case is hopeless; and "maybe you should live somewhere besides America for a while, ja?"
 
Ian Grant said:
Unfortunately the Titan moulds were lost by the company doing theABS casting , this happened to other companies as well, The moulds for the Paterson Orbital here also lost albeit for a different material.

Ian
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I thought it was only the SF 5x4 that was affected by this - Mike Walkers other Cameras being still available? I hope so as I am thinking about buying another to add to my 5x4 SF.
 
He does indeed make other cameras in 5x4, 7x5 and 10x8 sizes. They are the wide-angle type. I presume that the greatest loss was the die for the base-plate, which is quite intricate. I have one of the last ten. The knobs are different from yours. He also makes the Ilford pinhole camera. A very helpful chap. Can't say how Covid will have affected the business.

Walker Cameras | Large Format Cameras & Accessories | Home Page

Walker Cameras is the home of the World's first ABS mould-injected plastic large format camera, the Titan SF. Also the Titan XL 4x5, 5x7 and 8x10. Walker Cameras is also the manufacturer of the HARMAN TiTAN Pinhole Camera range.
www.walkercameras.com
 
Mine is serial number 005, one of the first he made and sold direct before he had distribution. He did upgrade it with spirit levels for me and made me a couple of extra lens boards for a grand sum of about £16 at the time. I have always found him very helpful as you say.
 
Following the recent discussion about the relationship between Zone VI and Wisner cameras, here is the “Zone VI Classic”. It is the camera made by Wisner for Zone VI. Only about 150 were made. Afterwards, the companies parted and made their own line of cameras. C1EFB73A-E256-443B-A885-50B98283DF02.jpeg
 
Very similar to the Vermont-made version. The knobs are bulkier on the Picker model, the clip for keeping the folded camera shut is in a different place, there is an extra lower slide to hold the lens board and there seems to be some different metalwork on the side of the rear frame, which I can’t quite make out. It’s possible that the rotating back is clipped differently, too.
 
That’s not a lower slide, but a fixed stop for the bottom of the lensboard. I think what you see on the side of the rear frame is a brass surround for a level. The slides that secure the back are the same as those used on other Wisner made cameras.
 
I had meant that the Picker model had an extra slide. Yes, it could be a level; the Picker one has a level behind an oval cartouche, but higher up. There are two more on the back. The back itself is held by sliding clips, whereas it looks as though the Wisner has a spring-and-pin system, if that describes it adequately. There are other small differences, like the screw heads, but the similarity is very striking. They could easily be Mark I and Mark II from the same stable.
The Picker took a wooden lens-board slightly bigger than Linhof and an adaptor was easy to make for mine.
 
Recently upgraded to a Sinar 8x10 P1 (I already have a 4x5 F1). Nice thing is it has a 4x5 reducing back so I can shoot everything I did before with a few more options.

Apparently the camera was owned by a technician who worked for Terence Donovan, and I got it for what I think is a very good price.
 

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I also got a Graflex recently (which has been giving me lens/filter woes) but I really fancy an MPP.

And then I discovered these:
www.thephotoforum.com

Kodak Specialist II

Just bought a Kodak Specialist II on ebay which I collected on Sunday evening. This is a British made Half plate camera however 7x5 film holders are the same fit. Came with the optional tripod block, extension rail, flight case and 6 sheet film holders. Most of the movements are geared and...
www.thephotoforum.com www.thephotoforum.com

But that is 5x7 (as if I don't have enough problems o_O)
 
I purchased this shem hao HZX a couple of weeks ago and I'm nearly ready to go out and play with it.
 

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lharby said:
I also got a Graflex recently (which has been giving me lens/filter woes) but I really fancy an MPP.

And then I discovered these:
www.thephotoforum.com

Kodak Specialist II

Just bought a Kodak Specialist II on ebay which I collected on Sunday evening. This is a British made Half plate camera however 7x5 film holders are the same fit. Came with the optional tripod block, extension rail, flight case and 6 sheet film holders. Most of the movements are geared and...
www.thephotoforum.com www.thephotoforum.com

But that is 5x7 (as if I don't have enough problems o_O)
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That Specialist 2 was a bargain at £100 with it's case, two lenses, and a darkcloth. The downside was the holders in the kit re Half plate but they are the same external size/fit as 7x5 DDS however rare and expensive here in the UK. I found some at a good price from someone I know in the US.

It's is here earler in this thread :D

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I made a conversion board so now I can use my Wista 45DX lenses with the camera particularly my 240mm Nikkor W, but also my 300mm Nikkor M and 360mm Tele Xenar. I made a similar conversion boarsd for my 10x8 Agf Ansco cameras.

I have 3 other 7x5 cameras, two needing restoration, it's becoming time to start selling off some excess cameras . . . . . . . . . 10x8, 7x5, and 5x4

Ian
 
Ian Grant said:
That Specialist 2 was a bargain at £100 with it's case, two lenses, and a darkcloth. The downside was the holders in the kit re Half plate but they are the same external size/fit as 7x5 DDS however rare and expensive here in the UK. I found some at a good price from someone I know in the US.

It's is here earler in this thread :D
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Super thank you for the link.

Is there any way this camera could be modified to shoot 4x5?
 
There was a 5x4 reducing back available from Kodak for the Specialist 2, while not in my 1960 Kodak Professional CAtalogue I have seen them for sale seperately and with cameras. Kodak made adapted Half plate DDS to take Quarterplate 4¼x3¼ film, and also Postcard sized 5½x3½ film. My camera came with a holder adapted to take 5x4, in fact checking I've at least 3 adapted for 5x4 and it's not difficult, I think I picked up some extra half palte holders and hadn't looked at them there was a sheet of FP4 in one - now fogged :D

It was quite common with older book form plate holders to have inserts to use samller sizes, in fact I think they are in a 1940 Kodak Professional cataloge.

Because of the Specialist 2 is a triple extension camera the bellows don't comress enough for particulary wide angle lenses, the cameras had an optional Dallmeyer 4¼" f6.5/11 Dalcoated wide angle lens (approx 110mm) set in a recessed lens board. f6.5 for focussing f11 widest for actual use. These came without a shutter. so the camera is not really suitable for wide angle work.

Ian
 
Marley said:
Once you have shot 7x5 you will probably prefer it to 5x4 ... I do
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I would have loved to have made that jump - I have a number of lenses that will cover all the way up to 8x10. The problem is that I silver print and finding an enlarger for these larger formats is painfully expensive ...
 
thronobulax said:
I would have loved to have made that jump - I have a number of lenses that will cover all the way up to 8x10. The problem is that I silver print and finding an enlarger for these larger formats is painfully expensive ...
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I can see that's an issue. I chose to go the digital route after negative as living in a flat in London it's impractical to have a darkroom.
 
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