Re: 4x5 camera suggestions

[Russell J Rosener <rrosener@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

The Speed Grapic or Crown Graphic is the best way to get into large
format. A crown Graphic has everything but the focal plane shutter, which
you rarely need anyway. In the midwest I have seen Crown Graphics as cheap
as $175.00 with a 135mm Optar lens. Not a bad lens either. Although it
does not have all the tilts and swings a monorail view camera does, it has
the advantage of being portable. 
        Unless you have shot 4x5 before and are comitted to the format, I
would definitly invest a small sum of money to get started. I see students
decide to be the next Ansel, or Weston, and blow big bucks on a new Sinar.
Two years later they usually sell the 4x5 equipment for half what they
spent on it. Don't go hog wild on lenses first either. I always advise
students to wring the utmost out of the equipment they have.

Russ Rosener


------------------------------