Tachihara cameras

by Q.-Tuan Luong for the Large Format Page

This camera seems to be available under several names, two of them being Osaka (distributed by Brownwell) and Calumet wood field XM. It is one of the cheapest fields at less than $700 (from Adorama in NYC, or Midwest Photo Exchange). Note that the Brownwell and Calumet versions are more expensive than the one distributed by Adorama. The only cheaper field cameras are the old classic cameras and the Graphics, which are significantly heavier, clumsier, and have much less movements, therefore, I would tend to say that it is the cheapest reasonnable field camera.

The design of this camera is quite classical for a double extension field camera. The only geared control is the front focus. There are scales for focus and shift (that I find of limited utility). When the front standard is used in its rail, all the locks are independant. The lensboards are compatible with Technika's and therefore easy to find new or used, and quite small. Since you don't need the precise fit of the Linhof boards, you can get cheap third party boards.

For a photograph of this camera, see figure 4-6 in Ansel Adams book "The Camera", or check the (highly recommended) book of Steve Simmons "Using the view camera". It is the wooden field 4x5 of which many pictures are shown.

Globally, I have found the Tachihara 4x5 to be a very capable small/lightweight camera and had very little complaints about it. It is also an excellent value. I sold it only to move to a better 5x7 camera. As pointed out to by Barry Sherman, the photographer Ray McSavaney, one of the best, albeit, unfortunately, not best known, large format pictorial (landscape and architectural, primarily) photographers on the planet, used his Tachihara for years, including for architectural work.

If you are going to buy a used camera, note the following warning by Mike Long (mlafly@aol.com):

"there are a couple of important things to watch for. When I got mine a year and a half ago, I didn't have a clue which end to look into. So, I didn't know enough to check rigidity of the front and back standards (and also positioning of the bright screen - but that's not the camera's problem). As a result, when inserting a film holder, the back would pull backwards and settle in a different position than when I focused. Since the film plane positioning is so important, I got lots of slightly soft chromes & negatives. I put a pair of vice grips on the "C" clamp for the back and squeezed it together. This made is a little more difficult to move the back standard but strengthened it considerable. You can go to far with this and I can''t envision a cure if you do. So, be careful. I would check the back rigidity to ensure it is solid when buying the camera.

Also, my front standard is now getting a little sloppy and this is from a thin metal piece that the front standard hardware is riveted to. I cannot sink a screw in it as it would affect extension. I tried super glueing that piece of metal down, but this did not work. A less permanent and more reliable fix was to replace all the metal washers on all the tightening knobs with nylon. I wish I could claim full credit for this but I read a review of the Wisner where the author said the nylon washers on the Wisner were not keeping with the overall beauty of the camera. But, you can tighten nylon washers tighter and still loosen them easily. This worked very well and the camera was solid when I finished. Other than this necessary pre--purchase check or the requisite maintenance if it is a problem, I have no complaints."

The Tachihara as a 4x5 camera:

• Like:
  • The camera is very light, at about 3.8 lbs. The earlier version was even lighter at 3.3 lbs. The newer version has brass hardware and a sliding back standard, which is useful for wide angles and the 5x7 extension. I folds extremely compactly.
  • It looks beautiful (like most wood fields) with red cherry wood and classical brass hardware.
  • There is a 5x7 extension (more on it latter).
  • There is a bellows extension (but I have not bought it, so no comments).
  • Due to short and very flexible bellows, it makes a great camera for wide-angles. I use a 58mm without need for a recessed lensboard, and I can still make some movements, which are back tilt and swing. The fact that the camera prevents me from doing other movements with this lens is not a drawback for me, since the lens that I use (a Rodenstock Grandagon) just covers 4x5. With a 90, you can do all the direct front rise/fall available, which is a total of 7cm. With a 75, because of bellows compression, you can rise or fall of about 2cm each way.
  • The design is reasonably good. The amount of movements is very adequate (tilts of about 30 degrees, swings of 20 degrees, rise/fall of 7cm) in particular, by using a combination of tilts and shifts, I can reach the coverage limit of the Super Angulon 120mm.
  • The ground glass is quite good (better for example than the one which comes with the much more expensive Canham): it is a plastic ground/fresnel piece protected by a thin sheet of glass, and is pretty bright.
• Limitations:
  • The camera is not very rigid. If it is windy, it's easier to get sharp pictures with my current Canham, for instance.
  • The front standard: the knobs are too small, and it is a pain to set them tight enough, particularly when the front standard is used out of its rail (needed to focus at infinity for the 58mm, or the 120mm with the 5x7 back)
  • There is only a double bellows extension (about 33cm), so the longest lenses which can be used are about 300mm. The bellows are just enough to focus a 300m lens at infinity. I believe that one could do better with the older model. One could use a backwards axis tilt of the lens combined with a forward base tilt to gain the distance needed. The newer model unfortunately allow only for a forward axis tilt of the lens so this is not an option.

The 4x5 Tachihara as a 5x7 camera:

• Plus: This equipment is the lightest way to get into 5x7, and one of the cheapest, apart from using B&J and so on. A B&J costs about the same price than the 5x7 back. It weights two times more. The Kodak and Corona camera don't have full movements, as well as some Deardorffs. The Wisner and Caham are nice but cost $2500. This 5x7 combination is lighter than most 4x5 cameras, including the Zone VI and the Wisner. You have also a good multi-format ability (an important thing for me, since I did not know first which format I would prefer). The switch between the 4x5 and 5x7 is almost as fast as switching between horizontal and vertical (not taking into account the readjustments). You just change the back.
• Minus: The big drawback is that the internal geometry of the camera remains 4x5, thus there is a lot of limitations on the movements and long lenses that can be used. The limitations listed are not too bad for wide angle landscape photography.
  • When using short lenses (eg 120), the lens has to be in the camera. Therefore, there is no possibility of shifts, plus you have to use an awkward front standard configuration, plus the tilts are limited to the back. Lenses shorter than 120mm can't be focused at infinity due to the box+body+bellows+front standard not compressing to the flange focal length.
  • When using longer lenses, ther problem is that since the extension is a cone joining the 5x7 back to a 5x5 square, to avoid vignetting by the internal elements of the camera, the lens has to lie inside the cone. This is not a problem for the large border , but definitely one for the small one. It means: no extension longer than 260mm. In particular you cannot even use a normal 300m with the 5x7 back (but a 360 telephoto works). A 300mm on the 5x7 is the equivalent of a 60mm for a 35mm camera, thus this is pretty short.
  • With tilts, you have to be quite careful to avoid vignetting. I have found that with the 120mm (horizontal and moderate vertical) it is OK, but with the 210mm I cannot get enough vertical tilt in vertical format. Shifts are also extremely problematic.

Technical specs

4x5

• 4 pounds

• Folded closed size including knobs:  W 8 1/4" x  L 7 3/4" x H 3 6/8"

• Extension :  Minimum:  7.5cm  Maximum:  33cm

• Tilt:  F= 30 degree forward and 30 degree backwards
  R= 40 degree forward and 30 degree backwards

• Swing:  F=17 degree   R=23 degree

• New:  $700

5x7

• 8.5 pounds

• Folded closed size including knobs:  W 11 1/2" x  L 9 3/4" x 5"

• Extension:  Minimum:  4 1/2"/10cm  Maximum:  18/45cm

• Tilt:  F= 40 / 40   R= 40/30

• Swing:  F= 17   R= 23

• New:  $1400

8x10 Double Extension

• 11 pounds

• Folded closed size including knobs:  W 13 3/4" x  L 12" x H 5 1/4"

• Extension:  Minimum:   6" Maximum:  22-23"

• Tilt:  F= 40 /30   R= 30 / 40

• Swing:  F= 17  R= 17

• New:  $1400

8x10 Triple Extension

• 14 pounds

• Folded closed size including knobs:  W 13 3/4" x  L 12" x H 5 1/4"

• Extension:  Minimum:   6"/13.5cm Maximum:  34"/84cm

• Tilt:  F= 40 / 30 degree  R= 30 / 40

• Swing:  F= 17  R= 17

• New:  $2000

More info

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