Information
and suggestions for the best studio cameras and lighting equipment
based on 30 years of traditional landscape, nature, art, archaeology,
and architectural photography but yet by someone already at the
high-end of digital photography, as beta-tester for Better Light
4x5 format seamless panorama and turntable rollout modes.
|
Good
solid hardworking equipment, cost effective |
Top
equipment but price conscious |
If
money is no object for the best-of-class equipment |
| 4x5
or 5x7, we have a Linhof
(Technikardan) but it wobbles due to L-frame; new model is improved,
but L-frame not adequate for heavy digital backs |
Toyo
is the personal choice of Mike Collette, developer of the entire
line of Better
Light digital backs for 4x5 format. |
At
Photokina 98 we checked out every 4x5 camera around. We must
admit that for precision workmanship which means you get a rock
solid camera, we prefer the Arca-Swiss
and also the Cambo Ultima. |
Sinar
X and Sinar P is nonetheless the Rolls Royce of studio cameras,
mainly because it has an optional extra or add-on for every
single need you could ever imagine. |
| Portable
4x5 |
Wisner |
Arca-Swiss
Cambo
Wide (comes in various models with different Schneider wide
angle lenses, we have the 90mm version)
|
Sinar,
it is not exactly portable but if you have this much money you
can hire a photography student who will gladly carry it for
the experience using it. |
| Studio
tripods, since the rollout system requires two tripods, we recommend
several different brands |
|
|
In
addition to the quality of Linhof equipment I will comment on
the informative and pleasant people I have met the two times
I have visited the Linhof factory in Munich |
| If
you have a permanent studio you may prefer a camera stand; I
am a mobile sort of person so no camera stands |
under
review |
|
|
| Portable
tripods |
Ries
and Gitzo |
Ries
and Gitzo |
Ries
and Gitzo |
| Tripod
head for large format |
Manfrotto |
Manfrotto |
Manfrotto |
| Tripod
head for 35mm and medium format |
Kirk
head with Kirk attachments |
Arca-Swiss
with Kirk attachments |
Arca-Swiss |
| Repro
stand, copy stand |
initiating
reviews Kaiser Phototechnik |
|
Cruse |
| Light
stands (we use and recommend Bogen and Smith Victor) |
Bogen |
Bogen |
Bogen |
| HMI |
Coming
up for review |
|
|
| Tungsten,
portable |
Lowel |
Lowel |
Lowel |
| Tungsten,
studio |
Coming
up for review |
Hedler
(for Europe 220) |
|
| Strobe |
In
progress |
|
|
| Fluorescent
(for digital) |
Videssence
are great lights |
Coming
up for review (Grigull) |
Coming
up for review (Balcar) |
| Additional
lighting |
Reviews
planned for the future |
|
|
| Specialty
lights, for details |
Dedolights,
Hedler Profi-Spot |
Coming
up for review |
|
| Lamps
(the bulbs) |
BulbMan,
Reno and Miami |
The
largest distributor in the |
Country,
has everything. |
| Power
stabilization for lighting |
Sola
heavy-duty constant voltage |
Line
conditioners |
Sola
heavy-duty |
| Filters
for studio lighting |
ROSCO |
ROSCO |
ROSCO |
| Light
meter |
Minolta
flash meter |
Minolta
flash meter |
Minolta
flash meter |
| Flash
equipment |
Metz |
Metz |
Metz
(yes, we do like them) |
| Color
meter |
Minolta
color meter |
Minolta
color meter |
Minolta
color meter |
| Backdrop
material |
Nenil,
Teufel, Stuttgart, |
Nenil,
Teufel, Stuttgart, |
Nenil,
Teufel, Stuttgart, |
| White
backdrop material |
Superior,
but sold only in Japan, we could not find this |
Via
Superior Specialties in the USA even when we sent |
An
actual sample of the plastic-like material from Osaka. |
| Carrying
carts |
Kart-a-bag |
Kartmaster
by Kart-a-bag |
Kartmaster
by Kart-a-bag |
| Carrying
cases, camera bags |
Coming
up for review |
|
|
| Gray
cards and color checkers |
MacBeth
(GretagMacBeth) |
MacBeth
(GretagMacBeth) |
MacBeth
(GretagMacBeth) |
| Gyroscopic
stabilizer for aerial photography |
|
|
Ken-Lab |
Yes,
many of these products come from our corporate
benefactors and corporate sponsors yet we wholeheartedly recommend
equipment from any other company when their model is best-of-class
(such as Sinar). We recommend places to buy (such as Calumet) even
though we have no relationship with them, and do not even get a
discount (nor have we even asked)
Where
can you buy all the above equipment, we suggest Calumet, nationwide
via toll-free telephone. Stores in Chicago and New York (international
partners throughout Europe as well).
Where
to buy used large format equipment, we recommend Photo Gizzmo in
New York. Ask for Louis Shu.
"Coming
up for review" may mean we are planning to replace recommendations
elsewhere in the horizontal category, or will add a different brand
for the higher level studio.
A
blank space means we are still mulling over a variety of potential
choices.
We
rarely recommend low bid equipment. We prefer name brand and do
not tend to be impressed by aftermarket substitutes. We have bad
luck with Tamron and Sigma lenses, for example.
|
