Charles 46277 Loc: Fulton County, KY

I am retiring and selling down my amateur collection of large format. If you are interest in a camera, lenses, or accessories, all of the ones I have are very good or excellent--4x5 to 8x10. Each system has a variety of accessories for it. I could sell accessories separately for more money, and probably will, but some are made for the particular camera (mostly by S. K. Grimes machinists) and should go with that camera.
Arca Swiss 4x5 system with case and accessories
Toyo 4x5 with case and accessories
Burke and James 5x7 (refinished maple hardwood) with case and accessories
Linhof Kardancolor 8x10/4x5 studio camera with adapter boards and Packard shutter, replaced bellows, Majestic cast iron tripod, big lenses
Calumet 8x10--this is the only one I have that shows hard wear (before I got it)--I always liked and wanted this model for many features, but never got around to using it.
I also have a few cases of flashbulbs for the Speed Graphic, which I may keep.

There is too much to try and list or describe everything, but if you have an interest, send a private message about it.

Solomon Loc: Australia

I would be interested in either one of the 4x5 units, you didn't say a price? please let me know. Graham.
a photo of each would be nice.

Charles 46277 Loc: Fulton County, KY

Graham, I would say about $175 for the Toyo and case (also bag bellows), $325 for the Arca Swiss with case, both with lens board and recessed board (add actual shipping). Both are in excellent used condition. I will take them out today or tomorrow and see what else is with them, and take pictures for you. If there are additional accessories they would be options. I think I have small Packard shutters that could be mounted on either one, if you wanted to use lenses without shutters (big Packard shutters would not fit in the normal way). Both are rail cameras, but the Arca Swiss is often considered a field camera because it is so light (yet durable and precise). Both have large, sturdy lens boards (not the newer smaller boards) to accommodate almost any size lens or even #5 shutters, though Toyo is better for big heavy lenses. Both have an adapter board (included) to accept the standard boards for Linhof 4x5 Technika--I generally mounted all lenses, if possible, in those, so they would work with all my cameras. I would be hard pressed to find anything negative about Toyo. Even the big, robust construction is mitigated by light-weight alloys. Both cameras have adapter boards to accept the small Linhof Technika boards, which I use for almost all my lenses so they can be used on any camera.

Beeks

I was wondering if you might be able to post a a couple of pics. I'm interested in the 4x5' and would see the two. BK

Charles 46277 Loc: Fulton County, KY

OK, will do.

Tim Stapp Loc: Mid Mitten

Post photos of the Calumet 8x10 as well, please.

Charles 46277 Loc: Fulton County, KY

Here are photos of the Arca Swiss. It may be tomorrow before I get to the others.
See following message for other pictures.

Charles 46277 Loc: Fulton County, KY

The first picture here shows the only minor flaws I see--a small flaking of the paint near the number 3 on the lower scale. The previous message picture of the inside of the case shows a few small dark spots on the red velvet lining of the bottom of the case. The case is made of wood with leatherette and chrome, quite solid. Otherwise, the appearance is very nice, if not shiney-new (though some parts are).
The second picture here shows the contents of the case--everything fits in with some room for more.

Here are some details. There are two flat lens boards that are adapter boards for standard Linhof Technika boards. The lens comes on the Technika board. It is a Schneider Xenar 150mm f5.8 (that old sharpie!)--with the incredible electronic shutter that is very accurate at speeds from 1/500 second all the way down to 32 seconds--that's right, exact time exposures to 32 seconds (plus T for indefinite time exposures). The battery is good, and I include an extra (they are still sold online new). The shutter has a pc-connection for flash

The main rail is 18", which you might use all the time by itself, but there are two 6-inch extensions--for 24" put the long one at one end of the base, and the other two at the other end- (or use any combination).

The focusing screen is the brightest and sharpest I have ever used, and it has light markings to compose 6x6, 6x7, and 6x9 pictures if you use a roll-film back (not included). Standard accessories fit the back.

The bag bellows is my favorite, as I see things wide-angle, but it can be left on for normal and shorter long lenses as well (or as is for tele designed lenses).

The compendium shade attaches to the front and shades the lens all around--these sell for hundreds of dollars by themselves, and the ground glass is not cheap either.

I am including a couple of like-new film holders and a high-quality shutter release cable.

Any questions? You can also Private Message me if you like. It will ship in the case (boxed) with actual shipping charges.

lsupremo Loc: Palm Desert, CA

WOW, 50 years ago I’d have sold the farm before this gear. The fact I didn’t have a farm may have been a problem.

Fun just to look at the images of these things

Thanks for that, Frank

Charles 46277 Loc: Fulton County, KY

Correction--the two lens boards are one flat and one recessed (not two flat), both adapters for Technika boards. I am including a third board--a blank, undrilled Technika. (Plus the board already on the Schneider lens.) The back is Universal (Graflok).

Also, the lens is the faster F4.5, not the usual F5.6.

Solomon Loc: Australia

sounds like the Toyo is the one for me. I never used one of those cameras before and feel my photographic journey is missing something. I am only on a pension so Money is tight. so could you please put my name on the Toyo and send some photos. thanks in advance
Graham

Charles 46277 Loc: Fulton County, KY

OK, I won't sell it without giving you first choice. Watch for details tomorrow. I never used one until I bought my first one (a press camera), and I tossed away 35mm forever when I saw the results. But I did study books on it voraciously--you need at least one good book (I used the public library, but many colleges give library privileges to the community). I am in a sense self-taught, but I worked in a camera store and I read over a hundred books on it. One good book about the whole process is worth much more than surfing the web.

There are many sites on line that help with large format traditional photography, but I think you ought to get at least one introductory book that is entirely aimed at large format. I don't know of live classes on this--even college photography classes are all about digital and especially commercial graphic arts. Most successful photographers (nearly all) have never learned large format, or very little, but some still use it and it continues to do things that digital cannot do.

Be prepared to work slowly--learning slowly but shooting pictures slowly. That is the hardest part for many people, but the most rewarding in the end--if you spend a good bit of time on one shot, you will find that that alone improves your quality. Looking at everything upside down and backwards in the camera forces you to see how the elements in the picture are balanced (or not). Using a magnifier (a loupe--eBay) to examine sharpness makes us look very closely at what we are doing. You will need a light meter, but actually you can use a cheap old 35mm camera to see what exposure is called for (even if the camera is otherwise broken). Start with a sunny day with the sun behind you--that is the ideal for general views (not portraits--they squint). In sunlight, set the aperture of the lens on f16. Then set the shutter speed (on the lens) according to the ISO of the film you use. If it is ISO100, set the shutter on 1/100. It it is ISO 200, set 1/200. There will still be trial and error with the camera and lens you use. Start with test shots where you increase the shutter speed one notch, decrease one notch, and shoot one as normal--see which one looks best in the pictures.

They sell a little gadget where you can develop your own black and white 4x5 film in daylight. You can load your film in a dark closet, then pour in developer, etc., according to instructions. After it is developed and washed in the gadget, dry it on a line with a clothespin. Then scan it in a high quality scanner and print the scan, or have Kinko make a scan for you to print at home.

Charles 46277 Loc: Fulton County, KY

Here are pictures of the Toyo 4x5.The last picture shows a Canon digital back--this is not included, but it shows the Graflok back, which is--you can get the Canon or Nikon adapters on eBay (fancier ones now).

I said yesterday it had a case, but it turns out it doesn't. To compensate you get

1. Three backs (4x5 film, roll film, and Graflok)
2. Front and back standards, plus a new in box third standard--you can use the long ellows and the bag bellows together for more extension
3. Two model G rails (same as Toyo 5x7 and 8x10 cameras)--one is the standard 20" rail, and the other is a 10" extension for 30 inches total. You can get additional extensions (hard to imagine...)--they screw in.
4. One Toyo lensboard cut for #1 Copal shutter (can be made bigger) and one #0; one Toyo adapter board that accepts Linhof Technika boards (allows switching to other cameras with that mount), one Technika board.
5. One new long bellows (I just took it out of the package and put it on--never used), plus one Bag bellows for short to medium lenses.

I will take $175 for the standard rail camera with Technika adapter board, 4x5 film back, 2 Toyo boards, and roll film back. Or $200 for everything listed above. I have a very nice Schneider 135mm F4.7 Xenar on Technika board for $75 more.

Private Message to offer.

Charles 46277 Loc: Fulton County, KY

The Arca Swiss is sold--thanks!

Solomon Loc: Australia

i couldn't send a reply from your last message for some reason. iyes I still want it. but ill have to wait until my next pension day to have some spare money to send you.. if this is ok then I thank you.. if you are in a hurry and can't wait I understand. however if you give me the time ill appreciate it. graham