Postby Walter Glover » 17 Jan 2015, 08:56
Hi Oscar,
To the side of your immediate dilemma, let me say that over the decades I have owned and used (commercially and recreationally) many Sinars. F2s, P2s, 4x5, 5x7 and 8x10. For technical control of the image elements nothing comes close to the ease of precise setting as the Sinars, on one proviso: FIRST YOU HAVE TO GET THE KIT TO THE PICTURE. Very at home in the studio on a giant Foba stand but on location it is kit best suited to working with assistants.
To that end, I have always sought out something more pack-animal friendly and, through costly experience, have drawn some conclusions.
Just recently I acquired a Shen Hao TZ-whatever. It was with me a week and I sold it. Bellows draw and rigidity were my major issues. And although the camera could be carried with the support stuff like meter, lenses and film in a shoulder bag, I was really surprised a the weight of the camera. It was about line ball with Linhofs I have owned and cursed.
I am waiting for the year to get started commercially and I think I am going to solve all my problems in one fell swoop: I am seriously looking at a 4x5 Chamonix. I have had a fiddle with one and shot some tests and I really quite liked it, despite there being none of the sort of precise setting of the Swiss behemoth.
It does fold but has a carbon fibre block with an internal rack and pinion to focus. It seems immensely smart and exrtremely well finished.
Just saying to have a look around.
Cheers, and welcome,
Walter Glover
"We see things not as they are. We see them as we are."
— Emanuel Kant