
Review Summary
Weighing only 6 lbs., and folding to a compact size, the rugged, all-metal 45AII meets the demands of pros on-the-go or the most avid 4x5 backpacker. It accepts lenses down to 45mm and up to 360mm telephoto with its tapered 324mm bellows extension. The 45AII features Toyo's 360° revolving back, full range of movements, and accepts a wide range of accessories including roll film backs up to 6x12cm.
The Toyo Field 45A II offers the best of possibilities with exceptional value in a full-featured, portable, ruggged and lightweight 4x5 technical field camera. Weighing a mere 6.1 lbs., and folding to a compact 4.2" x 7.4" x 8.2", it combines modern alloy durability with classic design. It offers a full range of camera movements, and unique features such as polymer coated parts for precision smoothness and Toyo's 360° revolving back. The 45AII shares many versatile accessories with the complete line of Toyo modular studio monorail cameras.
The 45AII offers creative image control ideal for field use, as well as many studio applications. The front standard offers rise, swing, tilt and shift. The rear offers tilt and swing. With these controls, correction of distortion, adjustment of depth of field, and manipulation of selective focus are all possible.
The 45AII offers a unique design combining compact frame, tapered bellows and drop bed displacement. This combination allows convenient use of wide angle lenses with a full range of movement. Unlike many other view cameras, the popular 90mm wide angle focal length can be used on a flat lens board offering easy access to all lens controls. The built-in tapered bellows eliminates the need for interchanging with wide angle bellows - an operation that can be a nuisance in the field, inviting dust and dirt inside the camera. The drop bed design allows unrestricted use of all wide angle lenses down to 45mm without unsightly obstruction of the camera's front edge in the picture.
Changing from vertical to horizontal framing is a breeze with Toyo's 360° revolving back. No worry of dropping a conventional reversible back, or allowing outside elements to enter the camera when changing position. An easy-lift bail arm allows fast and secure insertion of sheet film, Polaroid and many roll film holders without disturbance of camera settings or removal of the ground glass frame. The 45AII revolving back includes a precision factory-installed Toyo Super-Brite fresnel lens in front of the ground glass.