Thanks for the video! I think it's worth mentioning that the camera supports far more rise, fall and shift when you combine the front and rear standard movements - this works because the front and rear standard movements are symmetrical. Fall: You can get about 80mm of fall if you lean the rear standard back 15 degrees (maxed out), angle the camera down 15 degrees (front standard towards the floor, the rear standard will be at 90 degrees) then lean the front standard back 15 degrees to get it parallel with the rear. This gives you roughly an additional 60mm of fall. Rise: Works the opposite of fall described above except this is less precise because there are no mechanical stops to help guide you. Shift: You can get around 35mm of shift in either direction by swinging both standards at the same time. Both standards support 8 degrees of swing which is roughly 2cm of shift. If you then shift the front standard in the same direction you'll get an additional 7mm. The trick to this is pulling out the rear standard so it has room to swing.
Excellent video and very informative. I've owned a Toyo 45 field camera for about a year and it's my favorite 4x5 camera because of its precise movements and its ability to get razor sharp images in most field situations. You showed me a number of features that I wasn't aware of, thank you! One issue though: they're more expensive than you quote. Used decent models are $500 -$1500 and new ones are over $3k. Mine was in excellent shape for about $750, well worth it given the great feature set and weight/strength ratio.
if you lock the bed lock to the left side of the bed that you want to make the swing movement toward it will allow you to make the movement without the front standard moving. so if you want to do a left swing you move the lock to the left and vice versa for the right swing.
WOW great video, clear and concise. If a picture is worth a thousand words than a great video like this one is worth more than ten thousand words. I bought a Toyo 45A and learned so much. Thank you Nicos.
Nice review... I own one for a few years and if you don’t mind the extra 1.2Kg weight to the newer wood (Chamonix, Intrepid, etc.), the Toyo is the way to go - super sturdy, strong and build like a tank - everything is solid! Nico, I would suggest you put the camera back in “landscape” position as it is easier to explain all adjustments, mainly the function of hood and Graflex type accessories (6x7, 6x9 and 6x12 backs) and a few other adjustments. The Toyo 45A and derivatives are a tremendous view camera!
Thank you so much. That’s a great review. I have been looking at the Toyo 45A, and wondering about it as a first large format camera. It sounds like it would definitely fill the bill for landscape photography.
Thank You for this very informative ve presentation. I just bought a used one. I have a Zone VI that I've used, but this has a lot of buttons and levers I wouldn't have known how to work.
Great demonstration of large format movements. Would love to see something similar with a monorail camera that has more back standard movements. Would also like a demonstration of how the movements can be used to solve depth-of-field and perspective problems.
Very helpful, thank you, I just got a Toyo 45A, my first large format camera. Have yet to get some film! One thing I need to do, and your video doesn't show, is to replace the ground glass with a new one as mine is quite scratched. I'm hoping it's not too difficult.
I have one of these without the rotating back and though it's been really beaten up by previous owners it works wonderfully and has taken all the abuse I have thrown at it. Only thing I would say is that it really benefits from telephoto lenses, I have a 240mm for mine and it really doesn't focus particularly close because of the bellows length.
It would be good you provide some info like minimum focal length and the weight to make this comparable. Maybe a specs comparison table on a website would be good.
Nicos Photography Show weight, minimum and maximum focal length are really practical specs, even for beginners. Movement specs might not speak to many...
@@toulcaz31 weight is heavy AF compared to wood field cameras but it is built like a tank. It weighs about 6lbs I would say but it's the kind of camera that is going to last a lifetime and survive accidents unscathed. I like it a lot more than the Ikeda Anba I had for a while that was really flimsy. The Anba was nice and light but it sagged with a 210mm lens really bad or any time trying to focus close the entire bed would sag. The toyo is really robust and doesn't have problems like that. It's heavy but it's not any heavier than lugging around my 6x7 camera or my 6x6 for that matter.
Do the lens boards that fit an intrepid fit this? I am looking to replace my intrepid, it’s just not stable enough, the movements don’t hold stiff. For other work I have a sinar f2.
Hi Nico, I wanna start saying your videos are very helpful and down to hearth to understand. I have a question. I own a 45A and my back is not the revolving one you just showed in the video. Is that back a graflok? I recently looked up a holder for large fuji instax made by Lomography and it rerquires a graflok back to be mounted. I was wondering if the back you show in the video is for the 45A II
Great explanation. Thanks for the video! Do you recommend the Toyo 45A or the Linhof Master Technika for a new comer to large format photography? Thanks.
Definitely the Toyo. It's a perfect student camera. The Linhof has more movements but if it's old it'll need more services and the back movements are a pain. Depends what you're using it for too. Neither are good for technical architecture for example, but do fine for general architecture and urban environment, portrait etc. Longer lenses are a bit restricted on the Toyo and the movements are more limited, but enough for most use cases. Great landscape camera for example.
Hi Nico, One question: it appears there are no spirit levels built into this camera, are there specific level cubes to attach to this or do people typically just us e hand level on the front and rear standard? Thanks for the video, very informative. Tossing up whether to get this or get in line for a Chamonix F-2.
I'd love to to have one. Why do you call it a press camera? I think of a Graphlex as a press camera which has almost no controls. Thanks for the video.
Maybe I'm missing something here but all the online reviews say back has to be removed to change from vertical to horizontal on the 45A, but Nico just rotated the back. Which is it?
@@NicosPhotographyShow I think only the 45Aii has back rotation without removing it so you might be reviewing a 45Aii here. The camera in this video looks exactly like my 45Aii
I bought a brand new 45A II early last year from a Japan dealer who got the camera from the manufacturer directly...I'd done quite an extensive search on youtube on the operations of the 45A II and found 2 vids which are really good and comprehensive..
Thanks! That does make sense. Sorry I got it wrong. Would love to see others join the RUclips community with content, so please let me know if you share a video on this camera as Im quite tempted to pick one up.
This is true. There is no rangefinder. But there are many similarities to a press camera. The company that makes Toyo, Sakai Machine Tool, purchased the Graflex tooling from Singer (who owned it at the time). The first camera Sakai made was an improved version of the Graphic, a half-plate format camera. This evolved into the Toyo-Field 45.
Get the Toyo Camera here:
ebay.to/2WEvq3G
adorama.rfvk.net/0vVRM
Get Toyo Lens Boards here:
ebay.to/367muGZ
Polaroid 405 Holder:
ebay.to/2WFa8Te
Thanks for the video! I think it's worth mentioning that the camera supports far more rise, fall and shift when you combine the front and rear standard movements - this works because the front and rear standard movements are symmetrical.
Fall: You can get about 80mm of fall if you lean the rear standard back 15 degrees (maxed out), angle the camera down 15 degrees (front standard towards the floor, the rear standard will be at 90 degrees) then lean the front standard back 15 degrees to get it parallel with the rear. This gives you roughly an additional 60mm of fall.
Rise: Works the opposite of fall described above except this is less precise because there are no mechanical stops to help guide you.
Shift: You can get around 35mm of shift in either direction by swinging both standards at the same time. Both standards support 8 degrees of swing which is roughly 2cm of shift. If you then shift the front standard in the same direction you'll get an additional 7mm. The trick to this is pulling out the rear standard so it has room to swing.
This is a strong candidate for best camera of all time in my experience.
Excellent video and very informative. I've owned a Toyo 45 field camera for about a year and it's my favorite 4x5 camera because of its precise movements and its ability to get razor sharp images in most field situations. You showed me a number of features that I wasn't aware of, thank you! One issue though: they're more expensive than you quote. Used decent models are $500 -$1500 and new ones are over $3k. Mine was in excellent shape for about $750, well worth it given the great feature set and weight/strength ratio.
As a very new owner of this camera, I can only say thanks Nico for this very clear video on what I was looking for!
Here to deliver for people like you! Let me know if you need more help with LF.
if you lock the bed lock to the left side of the bed that you want to make the swing movement toward it will allow you to make the movement without the front standard moving. so if you want to do a left swing you move the lock to the left and vice versa for the right swing.
I’ve been procrastinating about a LF camera for over a year…this one might have to be it, thanks for reviewing it! 👍
You’ve taught your kids a lot about zooming and tracking focus during quarantine. Smart man
Gotta teach them young.
WOW great video, clear and concise. If a picture is worth a thousand words than a great video like this one is worth more than ten thousand words. I bought a Toyo 45A and learned so much. Thank you Nicos.
Well done Nico! Clear and straight to the point 👏🏼👏🏼
Thanks Carlos!
I've owned a 45a over 10 years. I like them. Thanks for the video.
Thanks! It feels like a durable camera to enjoy for years!
I’m just starting with a 45a. Can you explain how to use infinity stops?
Nice review... I own one for a few years and if you don’t mind the extra 1.2Kg weight to the newer wood (Chamonix, Intrepid, etc.), the Toyo is the way to go - super sturdy, strong and build like a tank - everything is solid! Nico, I would suggest you put the camera back in “landscape” position as it is easier to explain all adjustments, mainly the function of hood and Graflex type accessories (6x7, 6x9 and 6x12 backs) and a few other adjustments. The Toyo 45A and derivatives are a tremendous view camera!
I just bought this camera as my first 4x5! Can't wait to get it - I feel like a kid waiting for christmas morning :)
Thank you so much. That’s a great review. I have been looking at the Toyo 45A, and wondering about it as a first large format camera. It sounds like it would definitely fill the bill for landscape photography.
Thank You for this very informative ve presentation. I just bought a used one. I have a Zone VI that I've used, but this has a lot of buttons and levers I wouldn't have known how to work.
Great demonstration of large format movements. Would love to see something similar with a monorail camera that has more back standard movements.
Would also like a demonstration of how the movements can be used to solve depth-of-field and perspective problems.
Nice camera
But like my horseman 45fa
Are you going to do a review on the horseman 45 fa ?
Very helpful, thank you, I just got a Toyo 45A, my first large format camera. Have yet to get some film! One thing I need to do, and your video doesn't show, is to replace the ground glass with a new one as mine is quite scratched. I'm hoping it's not too difficult.
My 4x5 workhorse FIELD camera 😂 - great job. (From the Large Format Photography Podcast)
I have one of these without the rotating back and though it's been really beaten up by previous owners it works wonderfully and has taken all the abuse I have thrown at it. Only thing I would say is that it really benefits from telephoto lenses, I have a 240mm for mine and it really doesn't focus particularly close because of the bellows length.
Another great video presentation from Nico!
Thanks Joe!
The Technika lens board adaptors work just fine though, right?
Hi, it seems like the 6x12 roll back can only be attached vertically is there a way to use the graflok system horizontally?
Thanks
I just bought one after watching your video! Thank you!
Gently Nico, what is the shortest lens that I can mount on a flat lensboard? Thank You very much. Grazie. Giovanni
does the toyo field 45a mk1 come standard with the double extension? As in extension in both front and rear?
It would be good you provide some info like minimum focal length and the weight to make this comparable. Maybe a specs comparison table on a website would be good.
Good idea. It was more a breakdown of movements and compatible backs. Never been a spec guy with LF cameras.
For now found this. Will add it to the description. www.toyoview.com/Products/45AX/45AX.html
Nicos Photography Show weight, minimum and maximum focal length are really practical specs, even for beginners. Movement specs might not speak to many...
@@toulcaz31 weight is heavy AF compared to wood field cameras but it is built like a tank. It weighs about 6lbs I would say but it's the kind of camera that is going to last a lifetime and survive accidents unscathed. I like it a lot more than the Ikeda Anba I had for a while that was really flimsy. The Anba was nice and light but it sagged with a 210mm lens really bad or any time trying to focus close the entire bed would sag. The toyo is really robust and doesn't have problems like that. It's heavy but it's not any heavier than lugging around my 6x7 camera or my 6x6 for that matter.
Thank you so much for this video. Got mine (45A II) today and definitively needed this information! 🙏👍
Glad it was helpful! Enjoy your Toyo!
Do the lens boards that fit an intrepid fit this? I am looking to replace my intrepid, it’s just not stable enough, the movements don’t hold stiff.
For other work I have a sinar f2.
Pardon my ignorance but can this use regular 4x5 film holders like graphlex holders in the graflock back. Thanks
Yes, you can use all 4x5 film holders.
Hi Nico, Thank you for the video : )!!! Any small lens one could fold in with that camera? Thank you again, kind regards!
Never tried a small lens to close down on this camera, maybe a small 150mm or 135mm. But havent tested.
Hi Nico, I wanna start saying your videos are very helpful and down to hearth to understand. I have a question. I own a 45A and my back is not the revolving one you just showed in the video. Is that back a graflok? I recently looked up a holder for large fuji instax made by Lomography and it rerquires a graflok back to be mounted. I was wondering if the back you show in the video is for the 45A II
Great explanation. Thanks for the video! Do you recommend the Toyo 45A or the Linhof Master Technika for a new comer to large format photography? Thanks.
Definitely the Toyo. It's a perfect student camera. The Linhof has more movements but if it's old it'll need more services and the back movements are a pain. Depends what you're using it for too. Neither are good for technical architecture for example, but do fine for general architecture and urban environment, portrait etc. Longer lenses are a bit restricted on the Toyo and the movements are more limited, but enough for most use cases. Great landscape camera for example.
Hi Nico, One question: it appears there are no spirit levels built into this camera, are there specific level cubes to attach to this or do people typically just us e hand level on the front and rear standard? Thanks for the video, very informative. Tossing up whether to get this or get in line for a Chamonix F-2.
I just use a small construction level. Works great. I own the Chamonix and Im a bit biased but I like it more.
@@NicosPhotographyShow Thanks for the quick reply! I agree the Chamonix looks great and rave reviews. It's a price / availability trade off.
@@NicosPhotographyShow hi again can you share what the ball head is you’re using there? Looks quite nice.
I'd love to to have one. Why do you call it a press camera? I think of a Graphlex as a press camera which has almost no controls. Thanks for the video.
Linhof Master Technika review are you still going to do it ? Thanks
I did make an overview, cant do a review as its not my camera.
Cant be so difficult to organize a Linhof Technika??
Not sure I follow.
Can the bed be sunk to shoot with 75mm lenses?
The Toyo Roll Film Holder will attach as shown in the video, but it will also fit under the ground glass.
I now have one and its really slim. Its pretty nice to be able to use it under the ground glass.
Recommend getting the 500 megapixel digital back
I would honestly love to see a Linhof Master Technika or a Linhof Technika V, maybe even a Canham metal field camera.
Will try and get my hands on them, the Linhof will be easier.
Maybe I'm missing something here but all the online reviews say back has to be removed to change from vertical to horizontal on the 45A, but Nico just rotated the back. Which is it?
I havent seen any version that doesnt rotate, but maybe its not always like that.
@@NicosPhotographyShow I think only the 45Aii has back rotation without removing it so you might be reviewing a 45Aii here. The camera in this video looks exactly like my 45Aii
@@Raevenswood the camera here is the 45A-1. You can tell as all of the knobs are silver, compared to the 45A-2 which has black knobs.
Can you do a LInhof Master Technika? Cheers
Got one on the way, will have it up soon.
What’s the difference between this and the second model
the AII has rubber grips on the front and back standard...thats all. basically it's the same build with the same movements as the 1st version.
I have the Aii and it takes a standard Linhof lensboard.
I bought a brand new 45A II early last year from a Japan dealer who got the camera from the manufacturer directly...I'd done quite an extensive search on youtube on the operations of the 45A II and found 2 vids which are really good and comprehensive..
This one in the video is the 45 A ii (2nd model), which is the only one with a rotating back. Very handy to keep dust out of the camera.
I’ve wanted my own 4x5 since I used one at university… 45As on eBay are… really reasonable 😸 compared to the linhof technika I used in school 🤣
4x5 is living a great resurgence so its never been a better time.
sorry about misspelling the name
Imean but i lik my horseman 45fa
Dude that is not a press camera, is a field camera. You should have done your research.
Thanks! That does make sense. Sorry I got it wrong. Would love to see others join the RUclips community with content, so please let me know if you share a video on this camera as Im quite tempted to pick one up.
This is true. There is no rangefinder. But there are many similarities to a press camera. The company that makes Toyo, Sakai Machine Tool, purchased the Graflex tooling from Singer (who owned it at the time). The first camera Sakai made was an improved version of the Graphic, a half-plate format camera. This evolved into the Toyo-Field 45.
Hello there. I own a 4x5 Sinar , may be you can talk a little bit about the camera and its movements. Thanks.