Name: Tachihara 4x5 Cherrywood Field Camera
Brand: Tachihara
SKU: VW45FC
Price: 869.95 USD
Availability: Discontinued
Rating: 4.29 (7 reviews)

Tachihara 4x5 Cherrywood Field Camera

Tachihara

Adorama

Top Rated Gear: Tachihara 4x5 Cherrywood Field Camera

I decided to play with a view camera to experience technical movement photography.  Based on reviews (e.g. Ken Rockwell), this seemed like the camera to get if I wanted to carry it around.  

I have found this camera very easy to use and light weight.  I use Rodenstock Grandagon 90mm f/6.8 and Sironar-n 210mm f/5.6 lenes.  I ended up getting both from Adorama.  I hunted some on auction sites, but those lenses usually got bid up to around or above the used Adorama price, so I snagged them from here.  The lenses were both essentially perfect, even though Adorama rated them E- or E.

Recommended "backpacking" lenses are usually slower (e.g. f/8) than the ones I got.  But, I wanted brighter lenses to help me focus.  The 5.6 and 6.8 lenses are not that much heavier, and I only have two of them.  I find them ok to focus, especially with a dark cloth.  Getting a good 4x focusing loupe is important (I got a used Toyo).

I'm shooting a Fuji PA-145 "polaroid" back for 3x4 film (no one makes the 4x5 instant film anymore).  That way, I can see my results right away and learn about the camera!

The Case Logic CPL-106 DSLR Camera Shoulder Bag fits the camera very well.  I use that and a Kelty Redwing fitted with a Pelican 1525 Padded Divider Set to carry all the parts around (including the camera in the case logic case).  I use my Really Right Stuff tripod head (they make a view camera foot) on my gitzo CF tripod.  

I'd recommend you also get the Adorama spanner wrench for copal-0 and copal-1 lenses.  You'll need it to transfer lenses to the 96x99mm lens boards used by the camera.   

I use a free Light Meter app on my iphone 5.  No, its not as good as a spot meter, but its free and for what I'm doing right now with instant film, its close enough.

Great light weight field camera

If I knew how easy the 4x5 camera was to use I would have bought one many years ago. The results are amazing for such a simple camera

EXCELLENT PRODUCT

This is my fourth field camera, as it was also my first.  After owning the Wista and the Toyo field cameras, each with its own advantages, I came back eventually to the Tachihara as the best all-around combination of features.  Its "packability", as well as its fit and finish, is the best.  It takes a light touch on the movements and practice to get things right with ease, but it becomes second-nature, The movements are more than adequate for almost any need. For packing, a 135mm or so lens will fit reversed inside the folded camera. Add a QuickLoad holder and a few QL sheets (and a tripod, of course) and you have a rig that weighs no more than an average 35mm or DSLR kit, but gives vastly superior results.  I have taken mine on hikes and cross-country skiing trips and found it easy to carry for hours at a time (and I'm past seventy).

Form Follows Function and More

A very good little 4x5, bright screen, accurate focus. A bit flimsy and has an odd rear swing in which each side moves forward separately with knobs. Kind of ugly but does the job and costs little.

Tachihara 4x5

I have used two of these over the last 20 years. I have been impressed with the quality of construction and the light weight for a 4x5 camera.

Good field view at a reasonable price

I worked for 30+ years as a commercial photographer shooting food, small product and architectural work with the company's monorail view cameras which are less than optimal for location work. I had lusted after a wooden folding field camera and especially the beautiful Tachihara cherry wood 4X5 view [...] After my retirement I started my own architectural photo practise and the first thing I bought was the Tachihara. As expected, the wooden field camera has proven to be an excellent architectural camera. It sets up quickly and is rigid in the right places. I had made an old Crown Graphic due for a while but this was much better. The only draw back I can think of is that its so pretty civilians mistake it for a restored antique and have a hundred questions whenever I set up in a public place.

Pretty as a Picture

I love that it is lightweight and compact, very easy to travel with.  The only problem I have with it is that it is very flashy; the gold knobs and cherrywood make people flock to it.  This sometimes makes it tough to get the picture.