When asked, Vytas replied:
1. If you were to choose a favourite film camera from your collection which would it be?
I have had and still have, many film cameras, but one of the ones that I have had the longest and love the most is my Shen Hao HZX45-IIA 4×5. It is a compact field camera with all the front and rear movements that you could possibly want. It is small and very light, precise enough for anything that I have asked it to do, and while it is not as well built as a Linhof Master Technika, the price is right for my frugal practice.
2. How long have you owned this camera?
I believe that I have owned it for about 15 years.
3. How did you come to own this camera?
4. What things do you enjoy most about this camera?
What I enjoy the most about the camera is the 4×5 negatives that it produces. 4×5 negatives still have the best detail and tonality for the look that I try to create, and they are easy to develop and scan (as opposed to 8×10 or larger). It is compact and quick to setup and tear down, fits nicely into my backpack, the bellows come off easily and I can replace it with a bag bellows for my wide angle lenses, and as mentioned before has all the view camera movements you could want.
This is a photo from the camera/lens combination above. It is a Downy Woodpecker home in the Jericho Forest. Tri-X 320 developed in HC-110.
Shen Hao HZX45-IIA 4×5 with a lovely vintage Ilex-Claumet Caltar 215mm f/6.3 lens from the early 1960s (?).
