Thank you Fred for doing this. I have this camera. I used to use a Deardorff (13 years) and struggled quite a bit with focus and controls. I bought this camera about 8 years ago and it's very easy to set up. I have a backpack it fit in so I can transport in the field easily. I will admit the shorter the hike the better. Film backs, lenses, meter, tripod and everything else it does get heavy. But the nice thing is my images are sharp corner to corner. Awesome camera!
The Arca-Swiss 8x10 F-line is one of the most sturdy cameras available. Any motion with any 8x10 would more likely come from the tripod and head combination. A golfers umbrella spread across your back and with the handle clamped under your upper arm works excellently to cut wind.
Hi Andy Van - This 8x10 Arca Swiss was custom designed for a west coast photographer. The Arca Swiss is very easy & quick to set up in the field & the controls are silky smooth. It is a great field camera & you just have to find a larger backpack - maybe one by LowePro. I have had the advantage to try a number of different view cameras & really enjoyed using the Arca Swiss - both 4x5 & 8x10. I had a felt tube made for the monorail for back packing to protect it. Also please see the scale focusing video - originally learned this when using the Arca Swiss but only had the Canham available for the video. Also grafmatic magazines are still available only on the used marked. Also the Arca Swiss has one of the best fresnel - ground glass combinations for easier focusing & viewing.
good video, nice to see you reviewing a "mono-rail" 8 x 10 instead of field cameras all the time. how do you find monorails? do they work just as well as field cameras, if not as compact, are the 4 x 5 monorails as good as this arca swiss 8 x 10 ? How easy is it to carry them, have heard the "backpack" option (as in photobackpacker.com) only works for field camera sizes, as your site also confirms (the cases used by the canham metal cameras) is there an aftermarket option for this size of outfit. also are grafmatic magazines (4 x 5" , 6 sheets) still available.
Thank you Fred for doing this. I have this camera. I used to use a Deardorff (13 years) and struggled quite a bit with focus and controls. I bought this camera about 8 years ago and it's very easy to set up. I have a backpack it fit in so I can transport in the field easily. I will admit the shorter the hike the better. Film backs, lenses, meter, tripod and everything else it does get heavy. But the nice thing is my images are sharp corner to corner. Awesome camera!
The Arca-Swiss 8x10 F-line is one of the most sturdy cameras available. Any motion with any 8x10 would more likely come from the tripod and head combination.
A golfers umbrella spread across your back and with the handle clamped under your upper arm works excellently to cut wind.
Hi Andy Van - This 8x10 Arca Swiss was custom designed for a west coast photographer. The Arca Swiss is very easy & quick to set up in the field & the controls are silky smooth. It is a great field camera & you just have to find a larger backpack - maybe one by LowePro. I have had the advantage to try a number of different view cameras & really enjoyed using the Arca Swiss - both 4x5 & 8x10. I had a felt tube made for the monorail for back packing to protect it. Also please see the scale focusing video - originally learned this when using the Arca Swiss but only had the Canham available for the video. Also grafmatic magazines are still available only on the used marked.
Also the Arca Swiss has one of the best fresnel - ground glass combinations for easier focusing & viewing.
It is a very friendly camera to use in the field. Very easy to se up & convenient in the field.
Thanks Fred. Obviously a very precise instrument that must be quite costly. How convenient is the camera to use in the field?
good video, nice to see you reviewing a "mono-rail" 8 x 10 instead of field cameras all the time.
how do you find monorails? do they work just as well as field cameras, if not as compact, are the 4 x 5 monorails as good as this arca swiss 8 x 10 ?
How easy is it to carry them, have heard the "backpack" option (as in photobackpacker.com) only works for field camera sizes, as your site also confirms (the cases used by the canham metal cameras) is there an aftermarket option for this size of outfit. also are grafmatic magazines (4 x 5" , 6 sheets) still available.