WTB: Horseman 45FA

[Marc Wilson]

Hi,

Having recently used a Toyo 45AII, lovely camera, well built, great movements, quick to set up and zero...but heavy on my many mile many hour many hill hikes...and so sold it for a Chamonix 45, half the weight, good movements, very flexible lenses, very light...but finicky and slow to set up and zero...but did I mention incredibly light...I am posting a long term look for a very particular camera.

A Horseman 45FA...for my needs, just the right mix of the other two cameras.

I know these cameras do not come up very often but it can't hurt to have this search out there.

Until then the Chamonix is great.

I am in the UK and yes, when I find one, the Chamonix will be for sale...but not until then!

Thanks,

Marc

[Tony]

Hi,

Having recently used a Toyo 45AII, lovely camera, well built, great movements, quick to set up and zero...but heavy on my many mile many hour many hill hikes...and so sold it for a Chamonix 45, half the weight, good movements, very flexible lenses, very light...but finicky and slow to set up and zero...but did I mention incredibly light...I am posting a long term look for a very particular camera.

A Horseman 45FA...for my needs, just the right mix of the other two cameras.

I know these cameras do not come up very often but it can't hurt to have this search out there.

Until then the Chamonix is great.

I am in the UK and yes, when I find one, the Chamonix will be for sale...but not until then!

Thanks,


Marc

Hi Marc I recently sold a Horseman HF to buy a Chamonix I'm not sure what lenses you have but my old HF was so small, I found some lenses would'nt fit
Tony

[Marc Wilson]

Thanks Tony.

My shooting lenses are Fujinon NW 125mm, nikkor M 200mm and schneider 90/8 so yes I'm fine with the FA and these lenses.
I had checked the fact sheet before to make sure that shows which lenses can be used, etc.

I think I may even be able to fold up the camera with the 125mm in place which will be a real bonus.

It has some limitations but all cameras are a compromise of sorts and this one, I think, is the closest to what I need.

I'll know for sure when I find one.
In the meantime the chamonix is an admirable camera.

Thanks,

Marc

[Tony]

Thanks Tony.

My shooting lenses are Fujinon NW 125mm, nikkor M 200mm and schneider 90/8 so yes I'm fine with the FA and these lenses.
I had checked the fact sheet before to make sure that shows which lenses can be used, etc.

I think I may even be able to fold up the camera with the 125mm in place which will be a real bonus.

It has some limitations but all cameras are a compromise of sorts and this one, I think, is the closest to what I need.

I'll know for sure when I find one.
In the meantime the chamonix is an admirable camera.

Thanks,

Marc

Hi Marc just noticed there's an FA on #-bay at the moment
Tony

[Marc Wilson]

HI Tony,

Do you mean the one in the states...very expensive, or there is also the HF here in the UK but again overpriced and also the HF back can only shoot in landscape.

Marc

[dustypixie]

There's a 45HF on ebay at the moment- I know it's not the same but I thought you might be interested.

[Marc Wilson]

Thanks,
Yes I saw that.
From what I have gathered the HF is the same as the FA except for the back and no soft viewfinder and a non fresnel screen I believe.
I think the usable lenses are the same but I have only found out from 150 up on that so am not certain at the wider end.
The problem with the HF is the back only fits in landscape mode.
You can turn the tripod head 90 degrees and the body also has a mount on the side so you can just do that also...

I almost always shoot landscape format but may be doing some vertical work also so I worry the HF may be 'harder' to use in those situations.
I don't think a camera should ever get in the way of how you work.
It should be nothing but easy and do all that you need without difficulty.

I'm looking at the FA for the positives it can offer me and feel the HF may just not to be right....a shame though.

Marc

[dustypixie]

Thanks,
Yes I saw that.
From what I have gathered the HF is the same as the FA except for the back and no soft viewfinder and a non fresnel screen I believe.
I think the usable lenses are the same but I have only found out from 150 up on that so am not certain at the wider end.
The problem with the HF is the back only fits in landscape mode.
You can turn the tripod head 90 degrees and the body also has a mount on the side so you can just do that also...

I almost always shoot landscape format but may be doing some vertical work also so I worry the HF may be 'harder' to use in those situations.
I don't think a camera should ever get in the way of how you work.
It should be nothing but easy and do all that you need without difficulty.

I'm looking at the FA for the positives it can offer me and feel the HF may just not to be right....a shame though.

Marc

It disappeared with the buy it now just after I posted anyway! Strange that... ! I guess it's best to wait until you can get exactly what you want bodywise- if I come across an FA I will let you know. I'm hunting for a 4x5 techihara/lenses/rollfilm back. Google managed to turn up one on ebay that finished some time ago with everything I wanted! Oh well, the search goes on!How are you getting on with the chamonix out of interest? They look great but I read that the 45n-1 can have issues with focus shift due to the way the fresnal screen is made?

Regards,

Lizzie.

[Marc Wilson]

Hi Lizzie,

The chamonix is a nice camera.
The one I have has been shimmed by the previous owner to fix the focus issue.
It's very very flexible in terms of lenses it can use and very light weight with a large amount of movements.
Over the years I have used everything from mpp's to ebonies and studio cameras to the hand held 54's to those that try to do everything at once!
They have all had their uses and been right for what was needed at the time.

Some did it rather more gracefully (Ebony SW45) than others (tachihara...sorry).

The chamonix will certainly do the job until I find the FA. (You can be first on the list for it if you have not found your camera by then!)
The Toyo 45AII I used recently was a lovely camera and exactly what I needed in terms of strength, movements, lenses, speed, etc, but rather heavy for where I was going with it.

In case you're looking for a relatively cheap lens to get going with I have a schneider angulon 120mm for sale here...

Thanks,

Marc

[dustypixie]

Thanks Marc- if I'm still looking I'd definately be interested in the chamonix! I appreciate your opinion as I have very little experience! I've used a wista and an MPP but owned neither so I'm looking for my first LF camera. I have lusted after the ebony but the price difference looks massive!

Lizzie.

[Marc Wilson]

No problems Lizzie.

Best advice I can give you is don't stress out too much about finding the perfect camera...your first certainly won't be your last.
Best to get one for not too much money if you can and spend your cash on lenses and film instead!

Marc

[dustypixie]

Hey Marc, I came across this from google:

http://www.pbase.com/image/54613075

If you click on the guys name he has a profile with an email address. You could email him ask if it's still for sale? Maybe he'd put on ebay for you!

Regards,

Lizzie.