Arca-Swiss F-Classic Reviews

Rating
Reviewed by: Neil Poulsen
(Intermediate)

Review Date
June 23, 2003

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
4 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.67 of 5,
3 votes

Review 1 of 4

Price Paid: $450.00 from Portland, Or. camera

Summary:

Great camera. There's nothing on the market that I would prefer, if I owned only a single camera. I have mine with the leather wide-angle bellows, which is good up to 210mm.

Strengths:

Like monorails tend to be, it's very stable. For a monorail, it packs well if one has the 300mm telescopic rail. 4x5 doubles well as 6x9 w/roll-film back. A big strength for me is that the size of the camera bellows is generous for the 4x5 format. Extra room around the format cuts down on flare. Makes it possible to offer long bellows, like the 600mm bellows. Convenient and intuitive to use. System camera with good selection of accessories.

Weaknesses:

Accessories are expensive. Must be careful in purchasing used accessories. Some are not backwards compatible. Can't use 405 polaroid in vertical orientation.

Customer Service:

No service center in U.S.A. Many mixed reviews on service.

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Rating
Reviewed by: John Papandreou
(Expert)

Review Date
August 16, 2001

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5,
1 votes

Review 2 of 4

Price Paid: $400.00 from Bought at Loacal Auction

Summary:

I bught this at a Govenment Auction at a Bargin price the camera is Wonderful. I would recomend this camera to anyone wanting to do 4 x 5 Photography you will never buy another camera. The Quality of this camera is Outstanding.

Strengths:

Strong sturdy construction wonderfull movements, the Best 4 x 5 I have ever used

Weaknesses:

None I can find as yet

Similar Products Used:

Cambo & Sinar

Customer Service:

Haven't Used Yet

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Rating
Reviewed by: Julian Svedosh
(Expert)

Review Date
August 15, 2001

Overall Rating
4 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Review 3 of 4

Summary:

Precision and movement range of a studio camera, weight of an expedition camera, at a price way below the Technikardan or other competitors.

Strengths:

wonderful precision (as good as the technicardan)and ease of use. super light weight (a full outfit weighs less than my medium format kit).

Weaknesses:

Like all studio rail cameras, it doesn't pack and move as well as a field camera. So if you're on the go, it will get a lot of wear in your pack. I wiped out a bellows in this way.

Similar Products Used:

Owned: Linhoff Kardan, Canham DLC 45, Wisner 4x5 Expedition, Borrowed: Linhof Technikardan

Customer Service:

Good service, not always very fast.

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Rating
Reviewed by: Armin Seeholzer
(Professional)

Review Date
May 31, 2000

Overall Rating
4 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Review 4 of 4

Model Reviewed:
F-Classic

Summary:

I`m very happy with the Arca!

Strengths:

I work since 7 years with the Arca and she is very easy to handle, she is a lightwight but very stable. She is like a Swiss army knife a high quality product!

Weaknesses:

The kamera back is the only thing thad could be better. You have to look twice thad the filmcassette is on the right place.

Similar Products Used:

Sinar was to heavy and to expensive at this time.

Customer Service:

Not used up to now.

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