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The little guy
- Thread starter Lars
- Start date
Lars
Active member
Some technical notes:
- 6x9 cm non-folding field camera, made in ebony and titanium.
- Image area with Horseman roll film holder 56 x 84 mm.
- Extension 46-157 mm, I use lenses from 47XL to 180. 47XL with full movements on flat board. I also have a back extender which adds 60-90 mm, and the 180 sits on a tophat board.
- Bottom plate is a RRS rail configured for 76 mm shifting for panoramic stitch. Two frames give a 56 x 160 mm frame which has to be stitched digitally after scanning.
Modifications:
- A Toyo level was added on top, original levels removed. The camera usually sits on a small low tripod, original levels were mounted under and on the side.
- Front tilt was modified from 20 to 30 degrees by machining the titanium hardware slightly (Dremel and tungsten carbide router bit required).
- A Horseman angle viewer was added - the frame was permanently attached to the viewer frame.
My smallest travel kit is something like this:
- SW23 with Apo-Symmar 100 or Apo-Digitar 120 attached
- Gitzo G1128 CF tripod with a small ballhead and short center column.
- focusing loupe
- Light meter
- Horseman 6x9 rollfilm holder
All in all, it doesn't even require its own camera bag. The camera goes into a pouch, and the tripod packs well inside any daypack once the head is removed.
Roadside lupins catching the last sunlight. Ebony SW23, Apo-Digitar 120 @ f/11 on E100SW (straight scan).
- 6x9 cm non-folding field camera, made in ebony and titanium.
- Image area with Horseman roll film holder 56 x 84 mm.
- Extension 46-157 mm, I use lenses from 47XL to 180. 47XL with full movements on flat board. I also have a back extender which adds 60-90 mm, and the 180 sits on a tophat board.
- Bottom plate is a RRS rail configured for 76 mm shifting for panoramic stitch. Two frames give a 56 x 160 mm frame which has to be stitched digitally after scanning.
Modifications:
- A Toyo level was added on top, original levels removed. The camera usually sits on a small low tripod, original levels were mounted under and on the side.
- Front tilt was modified from 20 to 30 degrees by machining the titanium hardware slightly (Dremel and tungsten carbide router bit required).
- A Horseman angle viewer was added - the frame was permanently attached to the viewer frame.
My smallest travel kit is something like this:
- SW23 with Apo-Symmar 100 or Apo-Digitar 120 attached
- Gitzo G1128 CF tripod with a small ballhead and short center column.
- focusing loupe
- Light meter
- Horseman 6x9 rollfilm holder
All in all, it doesn't even require its own camera bag. The camera goes into a pouch, and the tripod packs well inside any daypack once the head is removed.
Roadside lupins catching the last sunlight. Ebony SW23, Apo-Digitar 120 @ f/11 on E100SW (straight scan).
Lars
Active member
If it's any consolation Shen Hao will make a copy of this camera, in aluminium and walnut: http://www.shen-hao.com/TFC69A.html
The entire setup in a MiniTrekker.
The entire setup in a MiniTrekker.
Already available in their store in Shanghai in both the normal Shen-Hao wood and aluminum, and in a darker wood and black metal. The first one looks very lovely :angel:.
Although weight-wise it would be only 300g less than TFC45-IIB.
Anders
Jonathon Delacour
Subscriber Member
Although in my heart I can't imagine returning to film, this "little" camera is enormously appealing to me. So much so that I zipped over to the Ebony site and spent (rather too much) time looking at the different models and reading the explanation on folding versus non-folding cameras.
Out of interest, could one use a MF digital back with the SW23?
Thanks for the post!
Out of interest, could one use a MF digital back with the SW23?
Thanks for the post!
scho
Well-known member
Lars,
I decided to follow your lead and give the Shen Hao TFC69-A copy a try for my 6x9 kit. Latest construction is with Burma teak and anodized aluminum. Seems to be well built and has full movements on the rear as well. Images below.
Camera, two Horseman backs, three lenses (one on camera), assorted tools, loupe, meter, film, etc. all fit nicely into a Domke F2 shoulder bag.
Just received the camera so not much output to show yet. Ran a roll of TMAX100 through to check things out and here is one image from that roll.
http://www.pbase.com/scho/image/130402605/original
Carl -
That's extremely cool. A couple of questions if I may:
* How rigid is the rear standard? Is there any apparent flex when you load it with the weight of the rollholder?
* How much rise/fall does the bellows allow with the 100 you've got on it? How about if you compressed it further to mount a 75 instead?
Thanks...
...Oren
That's extremely cool. A couple of questions if I may:
* How rigid is the rear standard? Is there any apparent flex when you load it with the weight of the rollholder?
* How much rise/fall does the bellows allow with the 100 you've got on it? How about if you compressed it further to mount a 75 instead?
Thanks...
...Oren
scho
Well-known member
Oren,
The rear standard exhibits no apparent flex with the rollholder loaded - very rigid.
I can get about 40mm rise on the front standard with the 100 on board and about 8mm fall. The rear standard rise is also about 40mm. I haven't tried my 65mm yet.
Jorgen Udvang
Subscriber Member
Here's are two questions from someone who will of course never, ever :ROTFL: consider buying into yet another format:
- What does the Chinese TFC69A cost?
- I see that they also have a 6x17 version, a kind of TripleXpan with movements. Is there any reason to believe that the wider format would introduce unexpected loss of quality or other problems? Is there a way to shoot with these in vertical format?
Edit: Does it make sense to use a compact camera for test shots/metering with these, or is a conventional meter more appropriate?
- What does the Chinese TFC69A cost?
- I see that they also have a 6x17 version, a kind of TripleXpan with movements. Is there any reason to believe that the wider format would introduce unexpected loss of quality or other problems? Is there a way to shoot with these in vertical format?
Edit: Does it make sense to use a compact camera for test shots/metering with these, or is a conventional meter more appropriate?
stephengilbert
Active member
Badger Graphic lists the TFC69-A at $685, without film folder.
https://www.badgergraphic.com/store/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=3164
https://www.badgergraphic.com/store/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=3164
Thanks - that sounds very promising indeed, and all the more so at the price.
Whatever works for you is fine. I use a meter myself - it's simple and transparent and I'm used to it.
T
tokengirl
Guest
Sweet!Ebony SW23. Fits in a (very large) pocket.
I have been pondering the MF film question for a while now. I have a Horseman 6X7 roll film back that I use for my pinhole camera, but being able to use it with an actual lens would be nice too. I have not really thought about a view camera because I have zero interest in fooling around with sheet film, but roll film backs are readily available so maybe it's something I should consider. Maybe next year's project.
mediumcool
Active member
I second this. I would love a small camera that could run an AFD back with some movements using a 35 Schneider or Rodenstock and bag bellows.
How big are the lens panels and the minimum extension I wonder?
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scho
Well-known member
Jorgen,
I've never used a 6x17 back, but only issue I can think of might be film flatness in the holder.
You just unlock the back (two simple slide locks on top of camera) remove and rotate for vertical use.
Lars
Active member
Wow, that looks very... familiar.
Looks like a great camera, for a great price. At below $700 it's really a steal.
TIP: Get a Toyo two-directional level and attach to the top of the rear standard. If you look at the pics of my SW23 above you can see that I did that mod to my camera. The Ebony originally had levels at the side and bottom, and sincy my tripod is not very high it was a bit of a hassle to line up the camera.
6x17 flatness is really up to the film holder, but since the film isn't very wide and curved the other way it's usually not a problem unlike with sheet film. Besides, with all the movements you are more likely to mess up the plane of focus anyway.
I've been staring at that 6x17 for quite a while. I really like that format, and I'd be willing to replace my Ebony 4x5 with a 6x17 (just not a $7K Ebony).
Yeah these 6x9 cm cameras are so much more manageable than 4x5 if that is a priortity. Just have your reading glasses handy - the groundglass image is not very big so you need to look closely when composing.
My SW23 focuses down to 46 mm on a flat board which means about 35 mm on a recesses board. It allows for plenty of movement with a 47 SAXL on a flat board. The Shenhao looks like an exact copy so it should be the same.
However they are made for a much larger image format than MF digital (56x84 mm versus 35x50 mm) so extremely short focal flange distances might be a problem. You'll probably be ok with a 35, especially if it's a retrofocus design - Schneider 38 SAXL works on a recessed board.