From: sparks@col.hp.com (John Sparks)
Newsgroups: rec.photo
Subject: Re: Zone VI 4x5 view comments ?
Date: 18 Dec 1992 16:47:00 GMT
Organization: HP Colorado Springs Division
NNTP-Posting-Host: hplsdrq4.col.hp.com

In article <parsons1-171292183256@17.5.10.191> parsons1@applelink.apple.COM (Don Parsons) writes:
>In article <1992Dec14.152551.6976@spectrum.xerox.com>,
>mcfarlan@aurigaxerox.com (Doug McFarland) wrote:
>> 
>> 
>> I'm thinking of moving into large format with a Zone VI 4x5 view.
>> 
>> Does anyone have any comments good or bad on this camera ?

>I do not have one, but have a friend who does. From what I have seen, I
>came to the following conclusions. I hope others will either add to or
>correct anything that I have said.

I have a Zone VI camera that I have had for about 4 years.  I have also
been using view cameras of other types for about 10 years.  For my use
(mostly landscapes on dayhikes) the Zone VI is the best camera I have
ever used (or seen for that matter with the following exceptions:  the 
similar Wisner field cameras and the very expensive Linholf Technikardan).

>Cons:
>* According to the Calumet catalog, it does not allow interchangeable
>bellows. So, you could not, for example, add bellows for wide angle lenses.
>(I am curious to know what the shortest supported focal length is for this
>camera.)

This is wrong.  The Zone VI camera does have an interchangable bellows.
With a bag bellows, you can probably use a 58mm or 65mm.  However using
lenses shorter than about 100mm at infinity requires moving the front
standard closer to the film plane than is possible with the len standard
vertical.  You have to move the front standard closer to the film using
the base tilt then make the lens board vertical again using the axis
tilt.  This works ok in practice, but is not the most convient way to
work (in particular, front rise/fall becomes weird as it will move the
lens closer or further from the film affecting focus).  If wide angle
use is important and portablitiy is not, then choose something else like
a Sinar F1 for about the same price and weight, but not folded size (or
if price is not an issue get a Technikardan which I heard John Sexton 
call the best wide angle camera he ever used).

>* It does not have fine adjustment knobs. Instead, the knobs are for
>holding current adjustments. Once you loosen a knob, you manually move the
>component (such as the front standard), and then tighten the knob to hold
>it in that position. With some view cameras, you have knobs to slowly and
>precisely Rdial-inS fine adjustments.

It has geared focus, but the other adjustments are all sliding.  In practice
this is never a problem, moving the standards in small amounts and locking
them in place works very well.  Most view cameras have only geared focus, only
the most expensive, heavy studio cameras have all movements geared (for
example the Sinar F, the best monorail camera I have ever personally used
had no geared movements except for focus, but the expensive, heavy Sinar P
has all geared movements for quite a price in dollars and weight).

>* Many of the adjustments do not have marked scales that allow you to make
>adjustments that are guided by numbers. This would be nice if you wanted to
>re-create specific adjustments. With the Zone VI view cameras, you go by
>rough approximation.

Actually none of the adjustments have marked scales except for little
dots for center positions.  In practice, I have never wanted any.  The
Sinar I used to use had all the scales, but I have never used them there
either.  The only use I can imagine for them is if you work in a studio
and often have to take down the camera to photograph something else
before finishing the setup.  Even here, the scales will only provide a
"rough approximation" of what you really need.  To achieve precise
focus, you must use a loupe and focus on the ground glass, not rely on
scales on the camera.  Focusing isn't really that time consuming that
having to redo it from scratch is really a problem unless you are a high
volume comercial studio.

>Pros:
>* When folded, they are VERY small.
>
>* They are very light.
>
>* They are beautiful cameras. The workmanship is amazing. This is one of
>the few cases where I would say the camera itself is a work of art.
>
>* You canUt beat the guarantee.

No complaints here although there are less flexable alternatives that
are less expensive, lighter and smaller, but don't have the interchangable
bellows, have less extension for closeups and long lenses, and are generally
less rigid (the wooden Zone VI is more rigid than the old steel Calumet
I used to own and weighs less than half as much).

>* They are much less expensive than most of the alternatives.

The only real alternatives if you need either the maximum extension
(like me) or a wide angle bellows in a portable package are the Wisner
Technical (more money and more features), the Wisner Traditional (about
the same features and money) and a Technicardan (lots more money).  If I
were getting the camera today, I would probably buy a Wisner Traditional
instead (it has more extension, costs about the same, I think it has
about the same guarantee, and doesn't contribute to Fred Picker's wallet).
In general, I have no complaints about the camera.  In use, for the kinds
of photographs I make, it handles very well.

>When it comes down to it, the most important single component (in terms of
>making high quality images) is the lens. The lenses you will be using with
>a Zone VI view are the same as the ones you will be using with any of the
>alternatives. With good technique and composition, images you create with a
>Zone VI camera will be every bit as good as what you could create with any
>other view camera. Some of the alternative camera just have features that
>might make things easier for you.

Or harder depending on how far you have to travel from you car to make the
photograph.  Every design is a compromise, you just need to decide what the
most important features are to you.

John Sparks
Newsgroups: rec.photo