wilsondl2 Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska

No tilts & swings or raising and lowering front. Oranges and apples. There is no all around camera. - Dave

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

No ... no there isn't, Dave ...

Just like life ... seeking the perfect camera is a Utopian Dream ...

Somewhere along the way, you have to make a compromise, or two ...

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

So, it IS the Rolls-Royce of 4x5 View Cameras, then ...

RodWms

Mine looks like that, but I didn't post the pic.
Used with: Schneider Symmar-S 210mm f5.6 Copal 1, Nikkor 150mm f5.6 Copal 0, & Rodenstock Grandagon 90mm f6.8 Copal 0 shutter.
Haven't used this outfit for years, but can't bring myself to get rid of it.
Rod

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

I don't blame you, Rod ... I wouldn't either ...

I realized after I wrote that - GoofyNewfie posted it ...

Grabbed a pic from the Net, I guess ... nice set of lenses, you have for it, and all ...

RichardQ Loc: Colorado

The Plaubel Peco Junior 4x5 view camera is, for my money, the most versatile and economical view camera ever marketed. It has interchangeable pleated and soft (for wide angle work) bellows, it can be precisely focused with either standard (using a geared track in the flat monorail), both standards can be swiveled and tilted, the front standard can also raised, lowered and shifted, all movements can be locked in place using easy to reach knobs, the film back can be turned to vertical or horizontal, both standards have accessory mounts (for compendium or 4x4 gel filter holder in front, view or rangefinder in back), and a handy wire frame for the focusing cloth. It has all-metal construction in both standards and the monorail, so it won't be mistaken for your furniture or a pretty decoration. The craftsmanship is outstanding. I bought two of them and still own one. Although it was discontinued in 1967 after about seven years on the market (Plaubel's sole owner was Goetz Schrader, a bachelor who designed his cameras and made his own marketing decisions). The Plaubel Peco Junior was marketed in the U.S. by Thomas Instrument Co. and the price in 1963 was -- gasp -- $239.50 plus lenses and accessories. They still show up on ebay occasionally, just as mine will when I go to that big darkroom in the sky! (One huge advantage of the Peco Junior 4 x 5 is that it can be folded flat by disconnecting the bellows from the front or rear standard and swiveling both standards so they are parallel with the monorail, which is 12-1/2 inches long. That package is less than two inches thick, so it fits into an attache case or some briefcases. The camera weighs only 5-1.2 pounds)

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

Yes, I remember it well, Richard ... I used a Plaubel at one of the studios in which I worked in the 70s ... it is well-made ... and very practical, too - from that aspect ... only thing is the all-steel construction, which made it a little on the heavy side ... requiring a pretty robust tripod ... still ... very good workmanship ...

soli Loc: London, UK.

I used a superb Sanderson 4 x5 with a Ross 3.5 lens when I was 18, 1945. It was super sharp. I still have it.

ssymeono Loc: St. Louis, Missouri

To judge by your overwhelming responses, the still fresh era of film photography is being missed by so many. I had looked forward to retiring and using my beautiful, barely used Tachihara when all of a sudden the digital revolution made film obsolete. Why couldn't we have both? Why can't we start a revolution and bring the good old days back?

(Download)

Darkroom317 Loc: Mishawaka, IN

Film never left, it is still available and used in several formats. It only left the mainstream user

GGerard

OK, thread that will not die.
Just in case anybody out there has developed (Ha, Ha) or rekindled an interest, KEH is having a sale on Large Format cameras, lenses, and accessories today 09/15/2017 through 1159 PM EDT.

Robert Bailey Loc: Canada

Are you aware that you can buy a digital back to insert into a large format camera instead of film?
At least 4 x 5 and 8 x 10 sizes are available, I believe, but they are quite expensive.

twowindsbear

Do you have a link for these items??? Especially the 4x5 version.

Robert Bailey Loc: Canada

Here is one.

http://largesense.com/products/4x5-large-format-digital-back-ls55/

If you google "digital back for 4 x 5 camera" a lot of what comes up are
adaptors that allow you to fasten another camera to the back of a 4 x 5 camera.

Robert Bailey Loc: Canada

Here is another one.

https://www.phaseone.com/search/article.aspx?articleid=2228&languageid=1