Photo: Arca Swiss F-Field 4x5" Camera Review/Tutorial

[@acrobaticfish]

Keep making these LF videos! You are my fellow 4x5-kit-in-green-26L-mindshift-pack LFer, with the camera I one day hope will replace my fiddly but beautiful Shen Hao.

[@mike.thomas]

Hehe. Well you'll trade off a bit of weight and $$ for more convenient handling, that's for sure! Happy shooting!

[@BillMcCarroll]

Thanks Mike, always enjoy your videos and thanks for the tip on the app.

[@climberguy8682]

Great review, Mike! Thanks for taking the time and trouble to post it. Sometimes having to work your way through using less expensive equipment ends up making you really appreciate the expensive equipment once you finally break down and buy it. You find out about the shortcomings of the less expensive gear because you've had to try to work with it awhile. If you'd bought the Arca Swiss right out of the gate, you might not have understood just how good it is. This video would make me want to skip the pain of the cheaper alternatives. Thanks again.

[@mike.thomas]

Thanks for your comment. I appreciate it, and am glad you found the review useful!

[@kristijanfranjoivancic6769]

Superb presentation. As always!

[@mike.thomas]

Gitzo System 3 “Systematic” with long legs. I generally run it without the center column, because the legs are so long.

[@SharifAbdou]

Nice review Mike. Isn't that always how it goes? You try the cheapest solution to start, discover that path is less than optimal, upgrade to a slightly less cheap solution...rinse and repeat until you ultimately go for the somewhat costly solution that would have worked best from the start. Cheers.

[@mike.thomas]

Seems to be the case. Of course, in the early going I wasn't even sure I'd go deeper into LF shooting, so I didn't want to spend the money. But still ... same net effect :-). Thanks for watching and your always-kind comments!

[@itstimetogo49]

I totally understand rotating in and out of a hobby. I've done it many times. LF photography is not easy and trying to do it effectively while filming it for YT wouldn't be a lot of fun (IMO). I currently shoot with a Linhof, which is a great system...but heavy! Take care and thanks again for your videos.

[@skipmersereau1014]

Mike: Esp. appreciate "you can spend a lot of money trying not to spend a lot of money... and I wish I'd just bit the bullet." Yep. Says it in spades. The F-Field with the small front lens boards (will the Chamonix boards fit?) is an ideal. Love to find a used one. Not happening anytime soon. Duh. But the thing I've found and what's driven a real change of gears and got me into LF is that if you're going to all the trouble with a MF rig, the weight for LF isn't that much more (or at least doesn't have to be). And the payback... fab! So you go there. Bought an Arca Swiss B, then a Chamonix.... and should have just gone here. Oh well. In my next life ? Love your comments. Thank for the review.

[@skipmersereau1014]

Do Chamonix (Linhof) lens boards fit the Arca Swiss 6X9 (small, F-Field) front standard w/o an adapter?

[@itstimetogo49]

hi Mike...are you packing your AS F-Field in a backpack? I use a Lowe Pro and I believe it would fit fine. Second question...will the leather bag bellows handle a 110mm Schneider Super Symmar XL? Your videos are great....many thanks for posting them.

[@mike.thomas]

Yes, I use a backpack with the camera -- either a MindShift BackLight 26L or a FirstLight 40L, depending on what I'm taking along (I have a number of reviews of both bags here on the channel, along with "in the field" bits here and there. Please see my LF playlist here: kzbin.info/aero/PLiyOodRWDixOJHcNc7ZozaPKDxlasMfuQ). The leather bellows will handle a 110XL lens just fine, I imagine. I've shot down to a 90 f/5.6, and that's easy. I assume it would handle my 75mm Grandagon, but haven't tried yet (it's in a Technika board that I used with my Chamonix. I need to move it over!).

[@andrewcamoscio]

howdy, thanks for the overview! i just bought one of these and was wondering: does this camera need a proprietary or special film holder for the 4x5 format frame? thanks again :)

[@mike.thomas]

Glad you found it useful. The back takes any standard film holder. I used the same holders between Horseman, Chamonix, and AS.

[@kevin-parratt-artist]

This is a very helpful review. Thank you. 👌

[@itstimetogo49]

HI Mike, A couple questions...what's the widest lens you've used with the F-Field without vignetting and any tips on finding a used one? I knew they were scarce, but I never realized just how scarce. Many thanks.

[@mike.thomas]

The F-Field is not going to have vignetting issues with any lens, IMO, so long as the lens has adequate coverage for 4x5. The widest I've shot is a 90mm, but I hope to shoot my 75mm very soon, once I move it to an AS board. Re finding one. Yeah, they're somewhat rare. Best thing to do is get an account on the LF photography forum ASAP (there is a waiting period for B&S). Then, set yourself up a "watch" on eBay. Start watching the Adorama/B&H/KEH used gear. It might take you a couple months to find one, and be prepared to pay $2-3k for one depending on inclusions.

[@climberguy8682]

Forgive my ignorance, but what is the meaning of the abbreviation "B&S"? Background and Security? Thanks.

[@NonstopFFriday]

I recently acquired an Arca-Swiss F-Field 4x5 camera. I’m excited to take it out for shoots. I hope you see this question and will provide insight: The camera’s rise and fall, doesn’t have rise/fall detents. Where is zero for rise and fall?

[@mike.thomas]

It just has index marks, and if you look at the camera right at the beginning of my video you can see that the standards are at the bottom of the travel. All of the movements are relative, so there's not really a strong need for rise/fall detents in my opinion. Just get the format frames lined up reasonably well and then work on your composition from there. That said, I would be very surprised if Arca Swiss did not document somewhere which index mark on the front format frame you would want to set in order to have the rear and front perfectly aligned, even though there is no detent. It is an amazing camera, and I am sure you will love it!

[@Machster10]

What model Gitzo tripod is that you got there? thanks

[@normanzielke6108]

Is there any advantage of the 6x9 front format carrier besides the weight-saving? I am trying to figure out the difference between F-classic (both sides 4x5 ) and a F-Field (back: 4x5, front: 6x9).

[@mike.thomas]

Norman Zielke Hey, I seem to have missed this -- sorry! I'd say the only advantage besides size and weight is the camera would more naturally convert to a 6x9 sheet or roll-film setup if you wanted to go that way for some reason. The cameras with matching front and rear (F-Line Basic/Classic) are a bit less expensive, if you can find one. Again, sorry for the delay. Hopefully better late than never!

[@PictureSizeDoesMatter]

Hey Mike, I hope you’re well. With this camera, do you miss the 100mm rise on the front? Would the Seeds photo been possible?

[@mike.thomas]

The “Seeds” photo would have totally been possible, because this is the camera I used! 😉 I used indirect rise to handle the situation. See kzbin.info/www/bejne/laXLhmSeZaaNpaMsi=XlDnNzJEyHwAD7Na at about 8:50 to see it in action. I did get a bit of vignetting, but I also got the shot ;-)

[@mike.thomas]

Oh, and I’m doing very well, if I could just stop falling off my mountain bike! Hope you are well, too :-)

[@mike.thomas]

Hey, good luck with the channel. I just subscribed. No pressure ;-)

[@kentfraser9519]

Mike, thank-you for the review. This camera caught my eye on Ebay, so I did some research on it, and that included your video. I just bought it! This is my first large format camera, so I have some basic questions: 1) What is a good way to carry it in the field when I'm walking to a landscape spot? 2) Is there a Arca Swiss case for this camera, or should I just use a camera backpack? I'll hold off on questions about what lenses to get until I do some research on it. Thanks again for the video. It was very helpful.

[@mike.thomas]

Hi Kent. Congrats on the camera. If you look around here, you'll see I have a bunch of videos featuring me out and about shooting this camera. I tend to use Mindshift Gear backpacks for this purpose, and they make a few appearances, including putting the camera in, and taking out.

[@andyvan5692]

great video, and good explinations, but one point, most of the parts that hold the film/lens are called standards, THIS type of system camera is different, as each piece is a replaceable part, so they are named the "format frame" and "format carrier"; but if you describe the whole unit, aka from bed/mono-rail up to the film and lens, then they are called standards; same holds true on linhof,sinar, stenopeika and others, where one 'base' can transform into many film formats, due to the back/bellows being replaceable units, rather than an integral unit with the front, base, etc.

[@benjamindejonge3624]

Love this model and bellow

[@awfield]

Hi Mike thanks for the large format videos you put out. Where did you buy your Arca Swiss F-Field compact camera?

[@mike.thomas]

Glad you find the videos useful. I bought my camera used from a gentleman on the Large Format Photography forum. A used one is generally about 50% of new, depending upon accessories and condition. You have to be patient since they don't come up very often.

[@SD_Alias]

A Dream camera. Do you know if there are adapter to mount a lens in a linhof board to that arca 6x9 frontstandard? I know for the bigger Arca standard there are such adapters but here? Enjoy your wonderful camera!

[@mike.thomas]

If I recall correctly, there’s not really enough room to make that work. I definitely had one for my Classic due to the huge front standard/lens board. The lens boards for the F-Field are lovely elegant things, and you should collect as many as possible ;-).

[@SD_Alias]

@@mike.thomas Thank you! meanwhile i found something at ebay that should keep the size of the lensboards at minimum: search at ebay for: Luland Arca Swiss 110*110mm to Linhof 99X96mm Lens board adapter

[@eduardocheca6080]

hello mike, this model is the F Field C right? and can i use any normal plastic ground glass protector on this camera?

[@mike.thomas]

I'm not sure about the 'C' part, unless that indicates that there is no micrometer or orbix movement, in which case, yes, it's a 'C' (I'm a little rusty). You'd want to use the Arca GG protector, in my opinion because it is designed to lock in very nicely.

[@eduardocheca6080]

Thanks for the replay, do you know where I could buy the arca gg?

[@mike.thomas]

@@eduardocheca6080 Search B&H, Adorama, KEH, and eBay.

[@1717jbs]

Great review Mike! Thanks.

[@mike.thomas]

Glad you dug it. :-)

[@johnkasianowicz6536]

Nice video, Mike. I recently picked up a used Arca-Swiss F-line 6x9 field camera + a 6x9 Horseman roll film back. The first few rolls of 120 film demonstrated that the latter had some light leaks, which I had the camera shop (where I bought the rig j fix. I’ll be taking the kit on a road trip in about a week and am looking forward to getting into MF photography. If I find that I like the process of using a view camera (I currently shoot with Leica 35 mm film and digital cameras), I’ll try to find a 4x5 back for this camera (and a bellows that works with the 110 mm front and 141 mm rear standards). What is the minimum and maximum focal length lenses you can use with the bellows you have on the camera shown in this video?

[@mike.thomas]

Hey, congratulations! I always wanted to try shooting MF on my F-Field, but never got around to it. You’ll definitely want to shoot 4x5 in order to get the most out of the F-Field, IMO. IIRC the leather bag bellows covers pretty short (I shot 75mm on it easily, and it should go shorter) to just long-ish, like maybe 300mm (I shot a max of 250mm). Best way to know is some Google research. The leather bag bellows is the must-have bellows because it’s so versatile. I think there’s a non-pleated one in case you ever want to go ultra-short (?) If you decide to get into the LF thing, contact me if you’re interested in lenses. I only have my Horseman 45FA left, and have a number of lenses that are incompatible with it, including my much loved Schneider Super-Symmar 120mm.

[@johnkasianowicz6536]

@@mike.thomasThe shop that sold me the A-S F-line 6x9 field view camera (with the folding monorail which rocks) had on hand three pre-owned Nikon 4x5 lenses (Nikkor-SW 75 mm f/4.5, Nikkor-W 150 mm f/5.6, and a convertible Nikkor-T ED 360 mm f/8 (+ the 500 mm f/11 rear element). I just received lens boards for the latter two and will put the gear through its paces over the next several weeks. I’m currently thinking that I might want at least a “fast” 90 mm and sub-75 mm lens to cover focal lengths for the 6x9 back. When I get a 4x5 rear standard, I’ll definitely need a few additional lenses. The camera also came with the non-pleated bag bellows and a short Arca-Swiss dovetail that accepts the monorail (I don’t use it, as I have an Arca-Swiss Core 75 tripod head). I might get an Arca-Swiss C1 cube soon for this camera and leave the Core 75 for my small cameras. I could even see getting a used Phase One digital camera to use with this camera (the new ones are far too expensive for me). The IQ3 100 monochrome looks interesting. My camera’s tilt actions are from the base, not on axis. Has that been much of a limitation for you?

[@mike.thomas]

@@johnkasianowicz6536 Well, sounds like you’re off to a pretty good start! Base vs on-axis tilt was never a problem. Just pay attention to what is on the ground glass. I’m not sure what loupe you are using, but I learned that a good one (I ended up with a Schneider) is a really good investment.

[@johnkasianowicz6536]

@@mike.thomas Thanks for the tip. I’ll know more after an upcoming road trip if photography with a view camera is for me (I’m quite sure it will be) and whether going larger than 6x9 is in the cards too.

[@johnkasianowicz6536]

My A-S 6x9 F-line filed view camera is on a 30:cm folding monorail and has the Normal 6x9 bellows. Not surprisingly, the Nikon 360 mm f/8 lens barely comes to focus at infinity. To properly this lens, I’ll need to purchase a longer 6x9 bellows, an extension bracket, and an extension monorail.

[@itstimetogo49]

Hi Mike...another great review of an amazing camera. I'm currently using a Shen Hao...a nice camera but certainly not in the same league as the Arca. Given the costs of these beasts and the fact that most landscape pictures (at least the ones I take) don't require that many movements, does the Arca seem almost TOO much camera for what is needed out in the field? And yes...I too have the dreaded GAS disease. Cheers!

[@mike.thomas]

Yes, monorail cameras like the AS are probably too much for most landscape work. However, since the AS F-Field has so few constraints, and is so relatively light and compact despite its flexibility, it's my go-to camera for most things. Plus, it's just awesome in use, unlike my Chamonix which was sometimes infuriating, and my Horseman, which is nice, but quite constrained.

[@aerovision257]

I like your camera talking. One question for Arca Swiss field, can it add extension rails?

[@mike.thomas]

Aero Vision Glad you enjoyed the video! Yes, you definitely can use extension rails with the Arca system.

[@MrUpsidown]

Watching the video might help?

[@itstimetogo49]

Hi Mike...I'm looking for an Arca Swiss F-Field and wondered how you've liked yours? I see that you're doing more music-related stuff these days Did you end up not liking LF photography? Finally got over the GAS syndrome?

[@mike.thomas]

I absolutely loved my F-Field and LF photography, and if getting back in, would either buy another one, or possibly get another Chamonix (the improved F2 model, I think, or the non-folding model (more likely the latter -- less to fiddle with)). WRT moving on from photography, rotating serious hobbies is something I do from time to time. Whatever I'm into kind of pushes everything else to the side, until I've had enough of it. So, I cycled back into music production and dropped photography (temporarily) as an art form. I'd also gotten a bit burned out from producing YT content alongside actual shooting. It became sort of a burden and took some of the fun out of shooting, eventually.

[@rbruce63]

Outstanding! Can you measure exposure at the ground glass,to avoid the formulas for bellows compensation?

[@mike.thomas]

They may have an accessory back for that, given the catalog is bursting with accessories for the F-Line and M-Line systems. Of course, you'd probably have to hand over your firstborn to obtain one.

[@rbruce63]

Mike Thomas It's a Swiss make after all! Enjoy it and post soon a snow scene in large format, perhaps color transparency?

[@darrylroberts6546]

Hi, does the bellows, when contracted have to be pushed out to stop it from appearing in the photo?

[@mike.thomas]

Darryl Roberts No. it folds perfectly.

[@darrylroberts6546]

@@mike.thomas Thank you.

[@cedarandsound]

I'm going to assume the front element will not take Linhof type lens boards.

[@mike.thomas]

Correct. The front frame takes an Arca Swiss specific board. I belive there are adapters, though the fit would be very close, so I may be wrong about that. Fortunately, there are Chinese boards that mate perfectly, so you can save some money over the AS ones that are priced as if they are made of hand-hammered gold. However, you’d lose the easy move from camera to camera that you can often get with a Technica-style board. Trade-offs.

[@darrylroberts5235]

Should I spend the extra 2K versus a Chamonix? I want something that will confidently last at least 20 years. Thank you.

[@mike.thomas]

Well, there is little comparison between the two. Not sure if you’ve seen my Chamonix review, but check that out (kzbin.info/www/bejne/q4GtnXuils2onNk). That said, Chamonix apparently fixed a lot of the issues with that camera with the next version, and many people did not care about the issues that I point out, anyway. I LOVED how the Chamonix felt and it worked well despite the fiddling that I complain about. If I were to buy a Chamonix again, I’d get one of the H cameras. They are non-folding, but rather you just collapse the bellows/railinto a pretty compact package, a little like how the Arca-Swiss F-field does. Easy to keep a lens on, and quick to set up. There are always trade-offs. The Arca Swiss F-field is amazing, but keep in mind AS works at its own pace, and you may find it very difficult to find a camera, or parts. It is quite a bit heavier than the Chamonix, but that’s just because the Chamonix is so light. The F-Field is amazingly light for a monorail camera. I *think*, if I were buying today and wanted a camera with lots of movements, I’d try the Chamonix H and see how it worked for me, rather than hunting down an F-Field (or whatever might be current or available now from AS). That said, I kept my Horseman 45FA, if that tells you anything. It has fairly limited lens compatibility, but the thing is a freaking tank and fits in an over-the-shoulder camera bag. I had mine re-bellowsed and I expect it to last the rest of my life (I’m 59). If you haven’t seen them, check out my videos of that camera, too.

[@darrylroberts5235]

@@mike.thomas I'm leaning Arca, for "Indirect rise," is the Chamonix capable of this?

[@mike.thomas]

@@darrylroberts5235 I don’t see why not. Indirect rise is just aiming the camera up and setting the standards at 90 degrees from the ground (give or take any relative tilt you might want). Any Chamonix that has rear tilt (they all have front, so far as I know) can do it, I’d say.

[@ddolde]

I once owned one great camera

[@tseumd58]

Love this video

[@willfly111]

Large Format is about the lenses not the camera. The camera is simply a light tight box that does not much else!! You can pretty much get the same results from a Cambo using the same lens as the Arca Swiss. Arca may be a bit of a smooth operator when it comes to movements but seeing as you get pretty much the same output, is it really worth the money?

[@mike.thomas]

Daniel Cross What you say goes for all cameras, really. Did I ever claim otherwise? Some people appreciate qualities beyond the basic purpose of a tool: that it feels really good in use, is elegant in design, folds down to a small package, is machined with incredible tolerances, etc. There’s something for everyone. If you don’t think an Arca Swiss is for you, nobody is going to make you use one. Others are willing to pay for the experience in addition to basic function.

[@andyvan5692]

one positive that you didn't mention, that the back is universal, or a Graflock style, Not a spring back, like on field cameras, Monorails are universal, they can accept the most accessories; esp. with this style back, the ground_glass frame comes off (of the format frame-the bit you rotate in the standard to change from portrait to landscape) so large 120 film backs, polaroid holders are able to go on, as these are commonly >1" thick, the limit of between the glass holders, so many formats of film can be shot on one camera system, you don't have to own a separate 6x7, 6x9, 6x12 camera to shoot the format, and, as the dof is greater the smaller the format, it is easier to learn the camera on smaller film, then shoot sheet film once thougourly familliar with the controls, and metering with the camera.

[@maxieboy]

You seem to be confused. Spring back and graflok/international backs are not mutually exclusive. All large format cameras have a spring back. That’s what’s used to hold the film holder. Most camera models, both field and monorails, are graflok compatible.

[@andyvan5692]

@@maxieboy yes, I realise that, but the point is that 'spring backs' are screwed on and one-piece, and graflok is a two part frame, the 'format frame' and the 'ground-glass frame', and are flexibly connected together, so for polaroid holders the GG frame can be jettisoned, and the locking bars employed to secure the holder in place; the format frame being the window which fits on the standard itself, and is the bit you remove to rotate from portrait to Landscape view, the colloquially called "spring back" has the spring connecting the two parts together, but semi-permanently, so you cant remove the ground glass frame without tools, in a Graflok system you can, the spring is hinged on the Ground glass part, for toolless removal.

[@andyvan5692]

​@@maxieboy I should clarify myself a little, what I meant by hinged on the format frame, is that there is a pin on the standard side, onto which a hook from the spring back latches, this is the toolless part, you press on the spring arms, and push the gg upward 1/4 inch or thereabouts letting the hooks disengage the posts then pull the gg towards you, freeing it from the standard, then the bars are exposed to let the thick holder grab the film plane (it is designed that way {with the exception of Lomograflok backs, which have a spacer for the instax cartridge to get the focus plane right}, the gg is placed via ridges on the format frame to lay at the point of film sheet position when the holder is in, so focus is accurate most accessories of the 1930's and up to lomograflok are engineered in, as they were available at the time, most modern LF field cameras like Shen hao, Intrepid, etc have conformed to this standardisation, otherwise, like ULF [12x20 and so on, above 8x10] the manufacturer makes holders specific to their cameras' dimensions and focus plane).

[@diveaddict6885]

Awesome camera. You want to learn how to shoot get a 4x5

[@jacovanlith5082]

A Linhof Technika Master might be better.

[@creepyloner1979]

or an old graflex and $9000 worth of hookers and blow for the price of the linhof.

[@johnrome5827]

You like many video makers are moving and jerking the camera around too much. I can't focus on your camera.

[@mike.thomas]

You are watching a video demonstration of the camera, so it will be moving. There are still pictures of the camera elsewhere on the internet.

[@TimLowe]

The thing sounds like a nightmare. I have a wooden folding camera with no of those problems and pretty much the same weight. Check out www.flickr.com/photos/harebaremi/33280471580/

[@mike.thomas]

Tim Lowe A nightmare? Did you comment on the right video? I love this thing!