Controls are clever enough to enable 'blind' operation while working under a dark cloth. The operation of the bellows extension and lens board adjustments are via positive and precise controls, which make you marvel at the overall quality.

In use it's a dream - the camera can be mounted to a tripod conventionally on its base or on its side or even on its head should movements and bellows extension require. It has substantial lens board extension enabling the use of up to about a 400mm non-telephoto lens and wide angle to about a 72mm (65mm with some work-around and limitations) wide angle lens with nearly a full quota of adjustment (subject to image circle coverage). It's an ideal 'in-the-field' technical camera enabling every type of adjustment to a relatively high degree of movement - lens rise and fall lens tilt and shift and lens angle.

If you want it 'simple' you can use it simple' At first the camera is deceiving - seems simple enough but, on close inspection one discovers many well engineered features. Every component is solid and precise from the ratchet style lens rise mechanism to the super smooth back rotation and adjustment mechanisms. The camera is like a big metal safe or clam shell in the way it folds closed and opens up revealing a plethora of clever engineering. It's a well thought out item from a user perspective as well enabling more complex use (adjustment of the focus plane and geometric corrections) or quite simple use for straight up large film shooting with your selection of a wide variety of focal lengths from a variety of quality large format lens makers such as Fuji, Nikon, Schneider and Rodenstock (to name a few) - all of which come in larger, faster (ease of focusing and bigger image circles enabling more use of movements) or smaller, lighter and slower lens versions (often more convenient in the field when weight and bulk is an important consideration). The overall finish is superb and something any owner will be justly proud of for many decades.Ī great feature is that it enables the fitting of 'universal' mount roll film backs, such as those made by Horseman - 6x7, 6x9, 6x12, should you wish to use that more convenient film type and enable large medium format frames and even some focal length 'extension' from the smaller than 4x5 frame sizes - an extremely adaptable / flexible camera.

It's all-metal construction helps to ensure accurate precision of movements and rugged long life construction. It is quality 'all the way' - superlative German design, engineering and manufacturing with precision attention to detail. Large format is the ultimate quality image maker with this camera being and outstanding field camera enabling an array of lens-board and back movements. This was my first LF camera to which I have added a mix of Schneider and rodenstock lenses - 90mm, 150mm, 210mm.

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