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In my quest for a 8x10 field to get started in the format, someone is proposing to sell me a Tachihara 8x10, used but not abused, for 500 euros...

Is this a good second hand price ? I look around (ebay etc) but very few ever come out for sale, so it's hard to get an idea of the s/h prices...

Sounds like a good price. The Tachihara 8x10 double extension is a relatively inexpensive camera new (I bought mine new), but it works very well, nice and backpackable, reasonably sturdy, good movements. If it is in good condition then its sounds like a good deal.

Quentin

Thank you Quentin, I think that if I can get a couple of 8x10 darkslides in the deal somehow, I'm going to buy it...
Wheee, 8x10, my wife's eyes are going to pop out when she sees that

You'l love it I shoot so much digitally, but all stages in the experience of using 8x10 are rewarding and a complete contrast to digital stuff. Just wait untll you get some trannies or negs from it an stick them on a light table....

Quentin

PS word of warning - my wife thought I'd gone barking mad when I broght my Tachihara home for the first time

Hey! will you guys stop talking about this 8x10 stuff I think I'm getting format envy, feeling inadequate with my measly 4x5

Here's the deal; I'll let you play with a real Ebony if you let me play with your 8x10 at the next get-together

Hey Joanna, 4x5 is ok...for a smaller format

Quentin

Quentin, are there things to check in particular when buying a Tachi 8x10 ? (apart from the obvious belows..) ie are they mechanically sound ?

Are the lensboard "standard" somehow and/or easy to manufacture ?

Do you have a 4x5 reducing back ? I was thinking it would be great to use really long lens for 4x5 portraiture...

It seems I migth not be able to get more than one DDS in the deal tho, so I'll have to hunt for more...

I purchased mine new from Teamworkphoto in London. The bellows were new, so no probs there. The lens board is standard, as I recall. Not much to gow wrong. Just check al the knobs turn and tighten properly, nothing warped, etc.

I don't have a reducing back... I'd never use it. 8x10 is more different from 4x5 than I had thought it would be, and its that uniqueness that is part of the appeal (eat your heart out Paul!).

You are focusing on what looks like a television screen. You have 4 times the surface area of 4x5. I also use a 22mp digital medium format camera. I just did a preview scan from a recent 8x10 shot that I have cropped a bit. I scanned it at just 800ppi. I still ended up with a file more than twice the size of the 22mp camera file even at at 8 bit. Even allowing for grain redundancy with film, that is still a serious amount of data to work with and it is yet to be scanned on my drum scanner...

Quentin

There we go; done deal. The camera went to a repairman I know, who checked it up and did a general CLA, checked the bellows etc. I even got the CLA in the price, so I'm a happy camper.

So it's in the post ! Now I need to find DDS, and err.. some film

Can't wait!

That's a nice looking piece of machinery. You might want to try this place for film - it certainly worked out economically for 5x7.

http://www.renedecaluwe.nl/forte/forte_films.html

Received the camera, it's indeed in a good shape, I'm a happy boy !

The lensboard is Sinar; is it Sinar "anything special" ? What other lensboard can fit on it ?
I'm going to make an adapter for the Graflex boards, so I can keep the Ilex and the Dagor on the smaller boards.

I believe that the large (140mm x 140mm) Horseman boards/adapters will fit.

Barry

Thanks, it appears to be quite common indeed !

I'm delighted with the camera so far. I looked up all the movements, but is there a way to have "shift" ? I managed to get some by swinging the back and the front, but it's not very efficient...
On the graflex it took me some time to discover how to use the shift, thats why I ask

I have a Copal 1 Horseman board for sale right now. PM me if interested.
Charles

Lovely camera Takes me back to my Deardorff days But I still have flashbacks about the weight I had to lug

Re: lens panels - I'm sure that there is also an adaptor available that will allow smaller Linhof/Wista fit panels (98mmx96mm I think) to be used on these cameras - saves space in the camera bag.

Good luck

Paul