Talk:View camera

While I'm not certian argentic is a widely accepted term for a film camera, I am certain that view cameras are both digital and film these days (especially with the stuff Sinar's been doing), so the term doesn't apply. Matt Gabriel

I not sure a view camera is so expensive compared to a Leica or a High end Nikon or Canon (argentic or digital). For instance see http://www.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php/masterid=771827 for the camera and http://www.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php/masterid=1011922 for the lens. Ericd 20:54, 21 May 2004 (UTC)

I meant relatively expensive compared to cameras as a whole. Anything compared to a Leica, High end Nikon, Alpa etc looks reasonable value. I was trying to suggest that they are not banged out in their millions by fifteen year old Chinese girls working 14 hour shifts! Nor did I mean they are bad value. But however you slice it an entry cost of £1000 compared to £20 for a compact and £150 for an SLR has got to be counted as something of a drawback. There are more expensive SLRs than £150 ones but then, there are more expensive view cameras than the Toyo! Monk Bretton 21:28, 21 May 2004 (UTC)

As far as I know they are no disposable view cameras :). You will use such an engine to have to have top quality. In fact a good view camera is cost effective compared to a top 35mm, a comparison with a digital SLR or a medium format camera like an Hasselblad will be much more disbalanced in favor of a view camera. BTW the Toyo is not the most expensive nor the cheapest but the Schneider is top glass I think you can get a Congo for 300-400 $.

Ericd 22:52, 21 May 2004 (UTC)

Okay, I changed the article a little to focus more on the mass-produced/limited production thing. I agree they are reasonable value--particularly after looking on the internet at some wierd types that aren't generally available here. But I still think cost ought to be mentioned. 95% of people when asked 'would you pay $1000 for a camera that didn't have autofocus?' Would give an emphatic 'No.' [Okay, I'm assuming that, I can't point to any peer reviewed research on the issue! :)] For what it's worth all the reviewers (all three of them!) on this website:[1] (http://www.photographyreview.com/pscCameras/Medium,Format/Linhof,The,Super,Technika,23/PRD_83167_3107crx.aspx) list 'cost' in the 'weaknesses' column. Perhaps a paragraph on the cost/value debate could be included. Monk Bretton 10:35, 22 May 2004 (UTC)

This is a Linhof, a brand known to be as cheap in it's category as Leica in 35mm. The Technika 23 is something different from a typical view camera : this the ultimate evolution of the Press camera concept you can use 120 rollfilms you can use it handheld you have scale focusing, a rangefinder, and an optical finder. You can make a reportage with a Technika while you can't do this with a Toyo. It's also worth to notice that the market for the Technika is very narrow, for those wanting to reduce costs, there are many used Speed Graphic with similar features at dirt price take a look at Ebay : http://search.ebay.com/speed-graphic_W0QQfromZR8QQsokeywordredirectZ1 even with CLA and a brand new Schneider or Nikon lens you can do the job for 25% of the price of the Technika.

Ericd 16:34, 22 May 2004 (UTC)

Old adage

I get a chuckle out of the "old adage" as twisted toward view cameras: "f/64 and be there a half hour early." There's probably not a place for it in the article... but it's fun to put things like this on the discussion page. Fg2 10:57, Mar 31, 2005 (UTC)