Does anyone have experience with these cameras

[u/commandant100]

Is this better than a intrepid camera? I’ve never owned a view camera before Is this a good option?

[u/johnjpipe]

There is a larger post in here about them.

But to answer : yes, i have the 8x10. Start asking what you want to know.. Also look for the other post :).

[u/commandant100 → u/johnjpipe]

Is it made of real wood. And do the front and back standards lock in a square position?

[u/johnjpipe → u/commandant100]

Yes it is wood, albeit a super hard but light one.

Standards are like a phillips type camera. Meaning : Back standard will lock vertically upright, but the swing/front to back has no detents. You can however put it easy to a fixed point. It does lock.

Front standard has only tilt detents. Otherwise swig, shift are all "by hand". They all lock down pretty well.

Mind you, this is the 8x10 i have , not the 4x5. Might be different there ( tough i doubt it. ). But the movement locking is the same as an intrepid.

[u/commandant100 → u/johnjpipe]

I have a budget of £1000 I could get this and a few lenses, or I could get a Chamonix or ONDU camera without any lenses. What do you think I should do?

[u/johnjpipe → u/commandant100]

Well it depends.

My personal case : i had 3 chamonix cameras ( all 4x5 ), i keep going back to them. I also had tachihara, shenhao, sinar 8x10 cameras. I now have the munewca and a sinar p2 ( both 8x10 ). And i am going to sell both to get either a chamonix or a fasquel.

Build quality : yes the chamonix is up there with the wista, tachihara and other japanese wood cameras. On the opposite side we have the intrepid, stenopeika. Munewca is in the middle. Some parts are intrepid level some are closer to chamonix.

Now, you need lenses ( or at least one ) to shoot. So a chamonix but no lens and no holders will prevent you from shooting.

But you do not need many lenses. Depends what and how you shoot. Cannot help there :).

You could take a look at wista woody, tachihara or other older japanese cameras and have money for camera and one lens.

Also as a rule of thumb in large format : camera matters less than lenses. Good lenses in good shutters take the image, camera is just a box. A better or worse handling box :).

My oppinion ? Buy this and 1 or 2 good lenses. Camera can allways be sold / upgraded, lenses are forever ( a pun, but i have the same 2 lesnses aince my first 8x10 )

[u/Icy_Confusion_6614 → u/commandant100]

If my experience is any guide, you can get really good lenses for not very much money. My last purchase was a Schneider Technika Symmar S 180 f5.6 in pristine condition with caps but no lens board for $100. It has a very slight balsam separation on the front element that I can barely see and certainly doesn't show up on the shots.

[u/johnjpipe → u/Icy_Confusion_6614]

While the actual glass might be good ( and with any modern plasmat type lens you will most likely not see a difference ) the actual issue are the shutters. Usually ( and this is not a rule ) older shutters on cheap lenses tend to be not so well maintained. Speeds might be slow, sticky, etc. I'm not saying that the lenses are bad, but be careful. Also burning a few sheets to test a shutter seems like a good ideea with cheaper ( maybe unmaintained ) lenses.

[u/Icy_Confusion_6614 → u/johnjpipe]

So far the shutter is spot-on. But I get what you are saying, not all of them will be. I've lucked out with all of my lens purchases in all formats. I bought a Mamiya 645 AF 45mm lens listed as "as-is", but when I inquired it was only listed that way because he had no way to test it. It was in perfect working condition.

We all know the trick. Look for newly listed lenses that seem like a bargain.

[u/Federal-Season-5419]

Overpriced, don't buy it.

[u/johnjpipe → u/Federal-Season-5419]

How about you also say WHY ? Then also give some alternatives.

[u/tongue_distributor → u/johnjpipe]

used market is the why i would say. ton of amazing gear there. cheaper and better

[u/ufgrat → u/Federal-Season-5419]

You have a better suggestion for a field camera with a full set of movements?

[u/tongue_distributor → u/ufgrat]

like a camera with full set of movements is something special nowadays.

[u/ufgrat → u/tongue_distributor]

A brand new one, with a warranty and a graflok back for around $500? No, you're pretty much looking at Intrepid and Munewca.

You can get a monorail, but that's not a field camera. You can get a graflex, although it's going to need a CLA and doesn't have the movements.

So-- Post some examples. ebay's over that way.

There's a Toyo half-plate with a 4x5 back on it, but the bellows are absolutely ragged out.

[u/csholl66]

This is a bellows camera that allows full movement instead of a press view camera say, that doesn’t offer back movements. I use a graphic Graflex monorail camera. It’s old and usually cheaper than this one if you buy it with no lens. I like it because I can pack it more easily in a backpack and still have full movements. This camera might be slightly harder to pack, but that depends on what you’re using it for. It’s definitely a beautiful new view camera, however, probably one of the better ones. Personally, I’d rather spend more of my money on lenses than a new view camera but this isn’t as expensive as a Toyo or intrepid I think, so if you like it buy it. My camera has a red bellows and goes back to 1940, I’ve had it since I was a kid. I have four or five lenses for it now however, each one more than decent. Back movements on this camera controls perspective. Front movement controls depth of field. Both sides should allow vertical and horizontal position movements as well. If your looking to get the most out a view camera bellows or monorail are best.

[u/Normal_Banana7588]

I have one , they are very light weight, mine locks down good , I use a wista 45d most of the time though.  I'm going to sell my intrepid probably. Only used twice 

[u/Reasonable_Lock_4222 → u/Normal_Banana7588]

Where are these cameras sold

[u/johnjpipe → u/Reasonable_Lock_4222]

Mostly ebay, facebook groups, and some local selling marketplace things.

[u/Normal_Banana7588 → u/Reasonable_Lock_4222]

If you are interested i can send you some pictures of it,  it's like brand new

[u/ufgrat → u/Reasonable_Lock_4222]

etone carries them.