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Toyo-View Cameras

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Use of a Toyo-View Camera inspires creation of an image as fine art. Where one can express a vision rather than merely take a picture. For those who require ultimate image quality and control, nothing compares with the results from a Toyo-View Camera.

Toyo-View Cameras have a great range of image control allowing you to create the unusual from the ordinary. Movements such as tilt and swing allow ultimate control over perspective, subject shape and focus, including dramatic increase or decrease in depth of field. Parallel movements including rise, shift and revolving back allow for freedom of composition without repositioning the camera.

The lack of automation and the simplicity of exposure setting emphasize technical excellence. The entire process brings the photographer to another level of concentration that ultimately results in a more expressive and refined vision.


For more information on large format photography technique, see the Toyo-View website HERE.


Lens Selection for your Toyo-View Camera

Selection of view camera lenses is simple, because you will most likely find that two lenses, a wide angle and normal, will cover most of your Toyo-View camera needs. We carry a large range of Pre-Owned Large Format lenses in stock. Browse our current selection HERE.


Normal lenses

For a standard lens, a 150mm lens is the most versatile for 4×5 camera work. It gives a natural perspective, and is useful for any subject from landscape and portraiture to still life. It is also an excellent choice for close-up and macro photography in the field, because you can achieve life-size reproduction (1:1) without any accessories. The slightly longer 210mm focal length, common in 4×5 studio camera work, is also widely used with field cameras. In 8×10 format, the normal focal length is about double of 4×5, or 300mm to 360mm.

Wide angle lenses

The 90mm lens is the most popular and versatile 4×5 wide angle lens, useful for a wide range of subjects from capturing vast landscapes, and both architectural and table top subjects. In 8×10 format, the 200mm is equivalent to the 90mm in 4×5 for a basic wide angle.

Field Camera Considerations

When using focal lengths longer than 210mm with a Toyo-View camera, you may consider choosing a telephoto design lens (usually designated with a “T”) rather than a regular design lens of the same focal length. For example, a 360mm “telephoto” lens may require only 260mm of bellows extension to focus at infinity, where a 360 “normal” lens will be require a full 360mm of bellows extension. Using only 260mm of extension for infinity focus will allow the use of additional extension for closer focusing. Telephoto lenses are ideally suited for field camera use because they require less bellows extension, are more compact, and lighter than equivalent focal length non-telephoto lenses.


Approximate equivalents of lens focal length

Screenshot 2021 10 07 at 14.01.33

Maximum aperture

Most large format camera lenses have maximum apertures of f/4.5 or f/5.6, which are excellent for viewing and focusing brightness. In some instances you will have a choice of the same focal length lens in two different maximum apertures. The f/4.5 lens will be brighter and easier to focus than a comparable lens with f/8.0 maximum aperture, but will be larger, heavier and more expensive. In actual picture taking, you will probably be using either lens at f/16 and image quality should be comparable.

Image Circle and Format Coverage

To get the greatest use of any view camera, camera movements are employed for adjustment of composition, or correction of converging vertical lines. When using camera movements, the image circle projected by the lens on to the film must be large enough to cover the film area without vignetting. The same concern holds true for coverage of larger film formats. For example, a 210mm lens designed for the 4×5 format may not project a large enough image circle to cover the 8×10 format. Conversely, a lens designed for the larger 8×10 format would easily cover the 4×5 format, and allow for generous camera movement in any direction.

When selecting a large format camera lens, check the lens manufacturer’s specifications regarding image circle and recommended maximum format to see which lens best suits your needs. The image circle is usually expressed in a millimeter diameter, at infinity, and at a specific aperture of f/16 or f/22. Note these specifications when comparing lenses from different manufacturers, as standards may vary.

Usually, lenses that cover large image circles are larger, heavier and more expensive. For field landscape photography, a minimum of camera movement is typically required. For table-top photography, where extreme camera movement may be employed, a lens with wide image circle coverage is preferred to avoid vignetting.


If you have any more questions about Toyo-View products, do get in touch with one of the team.

sales@teamworkphoto.com

0207 323 6455


 

josephallenfreeman

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